Flanagan, Goucher, and Begley Take Charge Through First Half of 10,000m Final

Posted June 28th, 2008 at 12:41 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Background:

The Women’s 10000m at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials will showcase several potential medal winners at this summer’s Beijing Games. Leading the way will be Shalane Flanagan (30:34.49), Kara Goucher (31:26.48), Molly Huddle (31:27.12), and Katie McGregor (31:37.82), all of whom have attained the Olympic A Standard of 31:45. Flanagan holds the American Record in both the 5000m and the 10000m while Goucher took bronze in the 10000m at last summer’s World Championships.

This event will serve as both the USATF National Championship and the qualifying race for the US Olympic Team. The three members of the team will be the top three finishers in this race who have met the Olympic A Standard, either in this race or with a previous effort. Thus the aforementioned “Big Four” will only be focused on place, while others will have to push the pace to make the team. This sets up an interesting dynamic and surely a dramatic race.

Mid-Race Update:

The Women’s 10000m is underway at the 2008 USATF Olympic Trials. The weather in Eugene is a bit warm, with temperatures in the low-80s with significant humidity. The race started at a pedestrian pace with Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan leading the field through a relaxed 81 second quarter.

Shortly thereafter Magdalena Lewy Boulet took the lead in a move reminiscent of her courageous run at this spring Olympic Marathon Trials. Lewy Boulet picked up the pace a bit but the A Standard still seemed unachievable. A few laps later Shalane Flanagan took over the race, leading Kara Goucher, Amy Begley, NCAA champ Lisa Koll, and Katie McGregor in a breakaway. Sara Slattery, Blake Russell, and Molly Huddle have maintained contact at the front of a sizable (10-12 runners) chase pack. The A Standard may be realistic if the women up front continue to hammer as they are now.

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