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Tegankamp gets first U.S. Open Title at Indoor Championships

Posted February 24th, 2007 at 11:09 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Matt Tegenkamp filled a major hole in is résumé today when he ran away from the field to win his first U.S. open title at the AT&T USA Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center here today.

The 25 year-old former University of Wisconsin star got his only serious challenge from three-time U.S. indoor champion Jonathon Riley, who was able to keep close to the tall redhead through 2400m (6:16.89). But with a strong acceleration with three laps to go, Riley was left behind by Tegenkamp, who managed a sub-30 second final lap, to finish in 7:46.08. Riley held his position to finish in 7:49.73, and a resurgent Sean Graham got third in 7:52.31.

Of winning his first national title since winning the U.S. Junior Cross Country Championships in 2001, Tegenkamp said, “It’s great. With a national championship, no matter what it is, is’s a big thing.”

In the women’s 3000m, the race was essentially for second. Shalane Flanagan, who said she had a “hangover” of fatigue after the recent U.S. Cross Country Championships where she finished second, trounced the field with her 8:56.74 clocking.

“It felt really, really good,” she said and added that she felt motivated to run new personal best times in her outdoor season. “I don’t think it’s pressure,” she said of her raised expectations. “I’m excited. It’s going to be a good summer, hopefully.”

Steeplechaser Lisa Galviz came close to her indoor personal best with her 9:10.75 second place finish. Emily Field was a surprising third in a personal best 9:11.32. Kara Goucher, who was expected to compete and possibly challeng Flanagan, did not make the trip to Boston from Portland, Ore., because of illness.

Shayne Culpepper, who is rediscovering her love for the mile, won that event in a strategic race, 4:34.42 to 4:36.12, over Sarah Schwald.

“I just feel that I am so untapped in this event,” said the 2004 IAAF World Indoor bronze medalist at 3000m. She added: “I really want to see what I can get out of myself.” She plans to run the 1500m at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka in August.

In 800m qualifying, Tim Ramirez, the former Azusa Pacific athlete, recorded the fastest time, winning the first of the three heats in 1:49.11. But all eyes were Nick Symmonds, the former Division III star who won the second heat. He followed the pace before starting his drive for home on the backstraight, coming around the field on the outside of the final turn to win comfortably in 1:51.51. He was just following the instructions of his coach, Frank Gagliano.

“He said, ‘Win it with as little effort as possible,’” Symmonds said.

Symmonds, who ran a 3:56.72 mile this indoor season, confirmed that he won’t contest the mile tomorrow where Alan Webb is expected to compete. “I don’t really feel like running two races tomorrow,” he said.

Sam Burley won the third heat in 1:49.93, just holding off Matt Groose by 3/100ths of a second.

The AT&T USA Indoor Championships continues here tomorrow with three finals in the middle and long distance events: the men’s and women’s 800m and the men’s mile.