Marti Malloy, right, stands on the awards podium in an international competition last year. The 2004 Oak Harbor graduate is closing in on a berth on the USA Olympic judo team. - Photo courtesy of Marti Malloy
Photo courtesy of Marti Malloy
Marti Malloy, right, stands on the awards podium in an international competition last year. The 2004 Oak Harbor graduate is closing in on a berth on the USA Olympic judo team.

Malloy nears spot on Olympic team

By JIM WALLER
Whidbey News Times Sports editor
December 27, 2011 · Updated 11:38 AM 

Marti Malloy is traveling the world with hopes that her journey ends in London in July.

The 2004 graduate of Oak Harbor High School is competing in a series of international judo events that will determine the qualifiers for the 2012 Olympic games in England. Currently she has a firm grip on a spot on the USA Olympic team.

After a series of strong showings, Malloy has worked her way up the world rankings and now sits 10th in the 57-kilogram class, best among Americans. The top 14 earn automatic entries into the Olympics.

Malloy said, “The cut off doesn’t come until April, but thanks to my fifth-place finish at the World Championships last August, I am almost positive I will be on the Olympic team.”

She recently spent six weeks training in Japan and finished the stint with a seventh-place finish in Tokyo earlier this month.

Malloy followed that effort by placing fifth in the Judo Grand Prix Qingdao in China Dec. 16.

After returning home for the holidays, she will compete at the World Masters tournament Jan. 10 in Kazakhstan.

“It is an invite only for the top 16 players in the world in each division and a huge point tournament for the Olympics,” Malloy said.

She will be in Europe through February, taking part in qualifiers in France, Hungary and Germany.

If all goes well, she will return to Europe in July for the London games.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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