Goucher Kicks Past Flanagan and Rhines for 5,000m Victory
Posted July 5th, 2008 at 1:35 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
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The women’s 5000m final at the 2008 US Olympic Trials featured a rematch of the top two finishers in the 10,000m (Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher) as well as several other medal threats in the Beijing Games. The race did not disappoint as Goucher stormed past Flanagan and Jen Rhines to claim victory in the last lap.
The race began at a controlled pace as Renee Metivier Baille, Lauren Fleshman, and Molly Huddle took turns leading the pack in the first kilometer, which was reached in 3:08.36. Sensing that her chance at the A standard was slipping away, Stanford alum Arianna Lambie went to the front and led for several laps, reaching the 3k mark in 9:12.68. Her efforts led to a six-person breakaway with Flanagan, Rhines, Goucher, Fleshman, and Sara Slattery in that order. The group continued to click off laps without much rearrangement until American Record holder Shalane Flanagan asserted herself with 1200m to go, breaking up the pack almost instantly.
It quickly became a three-person race with Flanagan, Rhines, and Goucher in contention. Flanagan dropped 66 and 66.5 second laps before the bell but was unable to shake Rhines and Goucher. Shalane continued to push the pace on the last lap but faded slightly as Jen Rhines pulled up on her shoulder with 150m to go. At that point Kara Goucher swung wide and sprinted past both Flanagan and Rhines for the dramatic win in 15:01.02. Jen Rhines qualified for her third Olympic team by finishing second in 15:02.02 while Shalane Flanagan took third in 15:02.81.
After the race, Goucher was ecstatic with the victory but was unsure whether she would attempt to double with the 10000m in Beijing. Flanagan likewise was unsure of her schedule but also indicated that the 10000m was her priority. If either of them elect to skip the 5000m then Lauren Fleshman (who finished fifth tonight but ran 14:58 for the A standard earlier this year) would take their place. Regardless of who runs the 5000m in Beijing, the US will field a formidable squad that will be among the world’s best.
1 Kara Goucher Nike 15:01.02
2 Jennifer Rhines adidas 15:02.02
3 Shalane Flanagan Nike 15:02.81
4 Sara Slattery adidas 15:18.88
5 Lauren Fleshman Oregon TC Elite 15:23.18
6 Arianna Lambie Nike 15:29.99
7 Julie Culley New York A C 15:34.43
8 Rebecca Donaghue New Balance Boston 15:35.48
9 Tasmin Fanning Virginia Tech 15:41.05
10 Molly Huddle Saucony 15:42.19
11 Melissa Cook New Balance 15:48.44
12 Maureen McCandless New Balance 15:54.50
13 Angela Bizzarri Illinois 16:03.99
14 Amy Hastings adidas 16:07.03
15 Teresa McWalters Stanford 16:09.44
– Renee Metivier Baille Nike DNF
Related Stories:
- Flanagan, Goucher Advance to Second Final of Trials
- Flanagan, Goucher, and Begley Take Charge Through First Half of 10,000m Final
- Faces in Races: Flanagan, Goucher & Huddle Lead the Way in Women’s 10,000m
- Flanagan Earns Impressive Victory at U.S. XC Champs
- Meseret Defar Wins Women’s 5000m Gold; Rhines Bests Flanagan
Tags: 5000m, Eugene, hayward field, Jen Rhines, jennifer rhines, Kara Goucher, Olympic Trials, oregon, sara slattery, Shalane Flanagan, Team USA, track & field trials, track and field, track trials, u.s. olympic track & field trials
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