Loren Groves knew she faced long odds entering the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Only the top three finishers make the U.S. team for next month's Beijing Olympics, and Groves was ranked 14th among 24 qualifiers in the hammer throw.

That's why Groves was not all that disappointed with her performance Thursday night in Eugene, Ore., although she wishes she would have thrown better.

Groves, a Scott City High School graduate who recently completed her junior season at Kansas State, finished 18th with a distance of 199 feet, 9 inches. The top 12 advanced to today's finals.

"I wish I would have thrown a little better," said Groves, whose season-best distance was 214-5. "But under the circumstances, considering my coach didn't come out here because he was sick. ...

"I really didn't expect to make the [Olympic] team this year. Most people [in the hammer throw] don't hit their stride until their late 20s."

Added Groves: "It was still a great learning experience. I had a lot of fun. A couple of the girls talked to me, gave me a pep talk, said you're really young, one day you'll be where we are. It cheered me up."

Groves, a three-time All-American at Kansas State, said her experience at the Olympic Trials has given her confidence that she has what it takes to make a strong run at an Olympic berth in 2012.

"I think that once I graduate, I will make some gains and progress more," she said. "Since I am so young ... I think just competing there really will help me."

Groves' next competition will be July 18 through 20 at the North America and Central America Championships in Mexico.

"I was selected for the U.S. team, and I'm looking forward to it," she said. "Then I'll get ready to go back to school."

Jessica Cosby was first in the first round of the Olympic Trials hammer throw with a distance of 228-8.

Also advancing to the finals was Southern Illinois University product Brittany Riley, who had the fourth-best throw at 219-6. The 12th and final qualifying throw for today's finals was 212-3.