Posted: July 13, 2004

Athletics: Culpepper Nips Runyan In 5000M Final - Krummenacker Finishes Fourth in 800m

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

SACRAMENTO (12-Jul) -- In a thrilling sprint finish, Shayne Culpepper broke Marla Runyan's undefeated streak in 5000m races against other Americans on U.S. soil, taking her first U.S. outdoor title and locking up her second career Olympic Games berth.

Culpepper, whose husband Alan won the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon last February, ultimately prevailed in a four-woman battle for just three precious Olympic team spots. She crossed the finish line in 15:07.41, just 7/100ths of a second ahead of Runyan. Shalane Flanagan was third in 15:10.52.

Off of a tepid early pace, Flanagan had slowly moved the field to closer to a 15 minute finish time by leading nearly every lap.

"I'm a front runner and when the pace was slow early, I didn't want to let it stay that way because I've trained so hard," she explained.

Flanagan led Amy Rudolph, Runyan, Culpepper, Carrie Tollefson, Jen Rhines and Missy Buttry lap after lap. Rhines and Buttry eventually fell of the pace, leaving the other four to battle it out on the last lap. Runyan made the first move at the bell, and by the time the front group was rounding turn-3, Rudolph had fallen slightly back, and out of contention. Runyan started her surge for home with authority at the top of the homestraight and appeared to have the win, but Culpepper simply willed herself forward, catching the taller Runyan in the last two meters.

"This was one of the hardest races of my life," said Culpepper. "I had to dig really deep. I knew Marla had a great kick, so I tried to save something for the last 100 meters."

Runyan, who had won the last three U.S. 5000m championships in a row, got spiked during the race and was bleeding from her left shin after the race. She had given it her all and thought that she had the win.

"I had no idea that (she) was there at the and, but to be honest, there was nothing I could have done about it. I was tightening up about 10 meters too soon, and she got me."

Culpepper, whose winning time was well off of the Trials and U.S. record of 14:45.35 set by Regina Jacobs at the 2000 Trials, is having a career year. Back in March she won a bronze medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships over 3000m. She smiled with delight when she was greeted trackside by husband Alan and their two year-old son, Cruz.

Amy Rudolph finished fourth in 15:13.74, Jen Rhines fifth in 15:19.15, and Carrie Tollefson sixth in 15:25.55 Rudolph plans to come back to race the 1500m on Thursday, as does Tollefson, Flanagan and possibly Runyan.

"I think it would be fun to run the 1500m, and, obviously, I could use some help with my speed and kick at the end," commented Runyan. "I'm going to rest tonight and make that decision in the morning, but chances are I think I will run the 1500m."

In the 800m finals, Jearl Miles-Clark prevailed over Nicole Teter and Hazel Clark in the women's final to make her fifth Olympic Team. She skipped her heat in the 400m after making the 800m team. Pre-meet favorite Jen Toomey did not make it to the final, her training slowed by a knee injury. On the men's side, Jonathan Johnson used a bold front running strategy to win his first U.S. open title, in a personal best 1:44.77 over Khadevis Robinson (1:44.91) and Derrick Peterson (1:45.08). All three will be first time Olympians.

The overwhelming favorite David Krummenacker had positioned himself well for a top-3 finish, but was simply outlegged by the other three men, leaving him to finish fourth in 1:45.67.

"I felt good coming into the meet, but I felt some fatigue today," said Krummenacker. "I didn't have it in the kick. Sometimes, you are just off. I'm qualified in the 1500, but I probably won't run it. I'm going to go back and talk to Coach to see what is next."

In the men's 3000m steeplechase qualifying the Big 4 all advanced to the final: Anthony Famiglietti, Steve Slattery, Daniel Lincoln and Robert Gary. Winning times in both heats were nearly identical: Famiglietti won heat 1 over Slattery in 8:26.51 and Lincoln the second over Gary in 8:26.57.

In the first round of the men's 5000m, Matt Gonzales of the University of New Mexico won the first heat in 13:44.19, with six athletes bunched tightly behind him, including favorites Matt Lane (4th) and Louis Luchini (6th). Last year's U.S. 5000m champion Tim Broe won the second heat in 13:42.19, again leading a tightly bunched group to the line. Adam Goucher, the man with the fastest personal best in the race, finished tenth in the first heat and didn't advance. Jorge Torres advance on time, finishing seventh in 13:44.78 in heat 2. Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman, who were first and second in the 10,000m final last Friday, did not start.

Hornet Stadium goes dark for two days, with meet action resuming on Thursday when the opening round of the men's 1500m takes place along with the men's and women's steeplechase finals.

For complete resutls of today's meet, visit: www.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/schedule.asp.