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Lead Stories: Sunday, October 12, 2008

Flanagan & Ritzenhein Dominate U.S. XC Champs

Posted February 16th, 2008 at 8:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

Shalane Flanagan and Dathan Ritzenhein each brought their “A” game to Mission Bay Park here today, running away with their first long-course U.S. Cross Country titles in commanding fashion.

Flanagan, who struggled with the high altitude in Boulder at last year’s championships where she was soundly beaten by Deena Kastor, jumped quickly to a five second lead after 2 km of the 8 km race, and expanded it with each lap. She was unrelenting, pressing all the way to the finish line to win by a whopping 70 seconds in 25:26.

“I had a blast,” said a beaming Flanagan who liked the grass course and the warm conditions. She added: “If we could have venues like this I would be coming every single year.”
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Ritzenhein Wins U.S. Cross Champs Despite Sore IT Band

Posted February 16th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

PHOTOS: Taken by Adam Jacobs (TheFinalSprint.com)

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Flanagan Earns Impressive Victory at U.S. XC Champs

Posted February 16th, 2008 at 4:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

PHOTO: Taken by Adam Jacobs (TheFinalSprint.com)

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Flanagan Enters U.S. XC Championships as Favorite

Posted February 15th, 2008 at 4:21 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field

At last year’s U.S. Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo., Shalane Flanagan had high hopes for victory. Her main rival, Deena Kastor, was in the midst of heavy training for the Boston Marathon, and Flanagan had been flying on the track, just setting an American indoor record for 3000m: 8:33.25.

But Boulder’s mile-high altitude played to Kastor’s favor (she was one of the few athletes who actually came down from a higher altitude to race in Boulder), and Flanagan was soundly beaten by about about a minute over the 8 km course.

“Boulder was really tough for me,” said Flanagan recalling the race on a teleconference today. “I felt really ill afterwards. Maybe it was altitude or just the effort of the race. There were a couple times on the course when I literally considered throwing myself off the course. I was completely exhausted and it took me a few days to recover.”
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Flanagan, De Reuck Interview Excerpts from USATF Teleconference

Posted February 15th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews

USA Track & Field served as the host to a media teleconference Thursday afternoon featuring two-time USA women’s cross country champions Shalane Flanagan and Colleen De Reuck [Pictured].

Flanagan and DeReuck discussed their preparations for the 2008 USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, where both open and junior men and women will look to earn a spot on the Team USA squad for the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.

The championships in San Diego will feature six races that will determine national champions for masters men and women; junior men and women; and open men and women. The event will be televised in association with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships February 24, from 5-7 p.m. on ESPN 2.

Excerpts from Thursday’s teleconference with Shalane Flanagan and Colleen De Reuck follow:
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