New for the 2011-2012 seasons, the America East Daily Word, a collaboration between AmericaEast.com and AExtra, will recap the previous day's games and on goings on our nine campuses and provide links to previews, recaps, features and exclusive coverage.

It’s certainly one if not the ultimate goal, for any track or field athlete – representing your country and competing at the Olympics.

Two of America East’s best are one step closer to London after their performances this weekend.

Binghamton’s Erik van Ingen and Boston University’s Allison Barwise, both All-Americans during the indoor season, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials June 21-July 1 in Eugene, Ore.

Van Ingen qualified in the 1,500-meter run after placing first in the event at the Virginia Classic with a time of 3:38.06 to come in under the qualifying time of 3:39.0. Van Ingen’s time is the third fastest collegiate time in the nation this season. He becomes the second Binghamton athlete to take part in the Olympic Trials as the 2008 NCAA pole vault champion Rory Quiller competed that same year.

The Press and Sun Bulletin has more details on van Ingen’s feat while the Pipe Dream takes a look back at his illustrious career in Vestal.

Barwise took her jumping talents to Princeton, N.J. for the ECAC Championship and cleared 1.87 meters in the high jump to win the event and meet the qualifying standard. The fifth-place finisher at the NCAA Championships during the indoor season, Barwise posted the nation’s second-best jump this year and came in just short of the Boston U. school record.

The Daily Free Press has more on an impressive junior season for Barwise.

For more of the Daily Word, check out the AExtra Blog.