Three soldiers with the Army World Class Athlete Program advanced to the Team USA women's boxing Olympic trials thanks to top-three finishes in their respective weight classes at a qualifying event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, late last month, while an active-duty officer and a former soldier found success on the men's side.
Spc. Rianna Rios took second in the 132-pound class at the event, which wrapped up June 27, and fellow specialists Alex Love and Naomi Graham took third in the 112- and 165-pound divisions, respectively.
Spc. Naomi Graham
Photo Credit: Army World Class Athlete Program
Love will make her second appearance at the team trials after falling short in 2012. It'll be the first trip for Graham, an ammunition specialist who joined the Army in 2013, and for Rios — she is no stranger to big tournaments, having won her ninth state Golden Gloves championship in April in Denver.
Capt. DeRae Crane
Photo Credit: Army World Class Athlete Program
Crane sat out the gold-medal fight with an injury, but still punched his ticket to the Team USA men's trials, set for Spokane, Washington. USA Boxing has not announced a date for the event.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
