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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Flanagan Edges Goucher in Olympic Trials 10k; Begley’s Strong Finish Earns Third

Posted June 28th, 2008 at 1:00 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

The women’s 10,000m at the 2008 USATF Olympic Trials was billed as a “clash of the titans” and did not disappoint. Heavyweights Shalane Flanagan [Pictured] and Kara Goucher outlasted the field and the muggy conditions to stage an epic battle over the final three laps, with Flanagan using a blistering final quarter to secure the victory. The star of the night, however, was third place finisher Amy Begley. Begley needed the Olympic A Standard to make the team and got just that with a heroic effort that included pacing Flanagan and Goucher for long stretches and closing hard to finish just under the standard.

Going into the race, most people had their eye on the four Americans who had achieved the Olympic A standard (31:45.00): Flanagan (30:34.49), Goucher (31:26.48), Team USA Minnesota’s Katie McGregor (31:37.82) and Molly Huddle of Run Providence (31:27.12). The American Olympic team is comprised of the top three finishers in the Trials race who have also achieved the A Standard, either in that race or in a previous meet. This rule allowed the aforementioned “Big Four” to race for place while the rest of the field needed to worry about keeping the pace honest to achieve their Olympic dreams. The A standard became extremely difficult to attain on this night due to the warm and humid conditions (low 80s with significant humidity).
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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.
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Stadium Record & NCAA 10,000m Title for Koll

Posted June 13th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, College

Hometown favorite Lisa Koll, the American collegiate 10,000m record holder from Iowa State University, shattered the Drake Stadium record here tonight to win the NCAA women’s 10,000m, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior Shadrack Songok successfully defended his NCAA men’s 10,000 crown. Both athletes had to contend with warm and humid conditions as the NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships concluded its second day.

Koll, who earlier this spring shattered the American Collegiate 10,000m record with a 32:11.13 at Stanford University, charged into the lead less than a lap into the race and proceeded to run away from the field, covering the first 1600m in 5:13 and 3200m in 10:25.

Behind her, a tightly bunched pack that included Stanford frosh Alex Gits, Providence’s Danette Doetzel, Boston University’s Marisa Ryan, Iowa’s Diane Nukuri, Arkansas’ Denise Bargiachi, Wisconsin’s Katrina Rundhaug, and several others battled for the medals and critical team points. At 3200, the chase pack was almost 30 seconds behind Koll.
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NCAA 10000m Record From Koll

Posted April 5th, 2008 at 3:21 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Iowa State sophomore Lisa Koll broke Alicia Shay’s NCAA 10,000m record at last night’s Stanford Invitational meet at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

Koll passed race leader Blake Russell with two laps to go, finishing in a personal best 32:11.13, bettering Shay’s record of 32:19.97 set on the same track at the Cardinal Invitational meeting in 2004. Russell, who will run the Olympic Trials marathon in Boston on April 20, finished second in 32:14.91. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, who will also run in the Trials, was third in 32:33.02.
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