Posted: May 30, 2005

Athletics: Kidane sets U.S. All-Comers record at Payton Jordan U.S. Open

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Ethiopian star Werknesh Kidane bettered her own U.S. women's all-comers 10,000m record Sunday night at the 2005 Payton Jordan U.S. Open at Stanford University's Cobb Track & Angell Field in Palo Alto, Calif. The third event of USATF's 2005 Outdoor Championship Series, the Payton Jordan U.S. Open will be televised May 30 from 10-11:30 p.m., Eastern Time on ESPN2.

The meet is named in honor of former Stanford track and field coach Payton Jordan, who brought the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials and the famed 1962 U.S.-U.S.S.R. track meet to Stanford.

Running virtually by herself throughout the race, Kidane, who placed fourth in the 10,000m at the 2004 Olympic Games, finished in 30 minutes, 19.38 seconds to better her previous U.S. all-comers standard of 30:41.40, set June 7, 2003, also at Stanford. Her performance is the fastest time in the world this year. Fellow Ethiopian Merima Hashim was the runner-up in 32:14.18.

Another 2005 world outdoor best was posted by Ethiopian standout Markos Geneti, who won the men's 5,000 meters in 13 minutes, 8.59 seconds. Kenyan Meshack Sang was the runner-up in 13:20.26, with 2003 U.S. Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Jorge Torres bettering the 'A' qualifying standard for the 2005 World Outdoor Championships with his third-place finish in 13:20.57.

In the men's 10,000m, Ethiopian standout Gebre-agzibher Gebremar ran the fifth-fastest time ever on U.S. soil in winning the race in 27 minutes, 11.57 seconds. Kenya's Dejene Berhanu was the runner-up in 27:12.22, with Ethiopia's Solomon Molla third in 28:25.27

Fleshman posts U.S. seasonal best

A three-time NCAA women's outdoor 5,000m champion while at Stanford, Lauren Fleshman looked right at home on her collegiate track Sunday night in posting the fastest time by an American this year. Fleshman ran alone for most of the race in winning the 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 15.63 seconds. Last year's U.S. Open winner Blake Russell was the runner-up in the second-fastest time by an American this season of 15:26.60, with 2004 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Carrie Messner, placing third in 15:47.37.

Two-time Olympian and four-time national champion Seilala Sua posted a seasonal best Sunday night in winning the women's discus against a solid field. Sua's winning throw of 60.83 meters/199 feet, 7 inches, bettered two-time Olympian Suzy Powell's runner-up toss of 59.86m/196-5. 2002 national champion Kris Kuehl was third with a best of 57.78m/189-7, with 2004 Olympian Stephanie Brown placing fourth with a throw of 55.35m/181-7.

2004 Olympic Trials champion Erin Gilreath posted the second-best mark by an American this season in winning the women's hammer with her winning throw of 70.14 meters/230 feet, 1 inch. Gilreath owns the best throw by an American this season with her toss of 71.14m/233-5 May 13 in Atlanta. LSU standout Brittany Henry was the runner-up with a best of 68.17m/223-8.

Athlete Quotes

Seilala Sua, winner, women's discus (60.83, 199-7)

I'm happy because I got a season best. I haven't been throwing near of what I am capable of. I'm now building toward the 200-foot mark. I'm capable of doing that in my sleep. My training is getting better now. I'm working toward US Nationals.

Erin Gilreath, winner, women's hammer (70.13, 230-1)

My training is going well. I was hoping for a PR (72.12, 236-7). But a win is a win. I'm glad I had another meet clearing 70 meters. I'm building toward the important meets. I have two more important meets before the US Nationals."

On the mild weather conditions:

This is not like Florida. (She competed in the U.S. Outdoor Championships at Stanford in 2003). I forgot how cool it got. I saw the temperatures in San Francisco were 50 and said 'No!'

Jorge Torres, third in the 5,000 in 13:20.57, a personal best and World Championship "A" Standard

Palo Alto is the place to come out and get PR's. It was no different tonight. I've setting PR's here since I was in college. The fans were amazing. The support was awesome. I'm happy I got the "A" standard.

Lauren Fleshman, winner of 5,000 in 15:15.63.

These were perfect conditions. We had a great crowd and they were very supportive of all of us. This is the fastest that I have run by myself. The time is a "B" standard. I guess I will have to get the "A" standard at Carson.

The following is a look at the schedule for Monday's final day of the 2005 Payton Jordan U.S. Open.

11:10 a.m. Men's Triple Jump
11:15 a.m. Men's Olympic Development 800 Meters
11:20 a.m. Women's Olympic Development 800 Meters
11:25 a.m. Men's Discus
11:30 a.m. Boys' 4 x 100 Meter Relay
11:35 a.m. Girls' 4 x 100 Meter Relay
11:40 a.m. Kids' Half-Lapper
11:50 a.m. Women's Pole Vault
11:55 a.m. National Anthem
12:00 p.m. Women's Shot Put
12:03 p.m. Guckenheimer Women's Long Jump
12:07 p.m. Men's Olympic Development 1500 Meters (Section B)
12:14 p.m. Men's Olympic Development 1500 Meters (Section A)
12:22 p.m. Stanford Federal Credit Union Men's Pole Vault
12:27 p.m. Nike Men's 1500 Meters
12:37 p.m. Women's 100 Meter Hurdles
12:42 p.m. Men's Javelin
12:45 p.m. Men's 110 Meter Hurdles
12:50 p.m. Tribute to Payton Jordan Video
12:58 p.m. Women's 800 Meters
1:04 p.m. Men's Long Jump
1:10 p.m. Visa Men's Shot Put
1:14 p.m. Men's 800 Meters
1:22 p.m. Men's 3000 Meter Steeplechase
1:35 p.m. Women's Olympic Development 1500 Meters
1:43 p.m. Tartan Women's 1500 Meters
1:52 p.m. Nike Women's 100 Meters
2:00 p.m. Visa Men's 100 Meters

Fans can compete, too!

For the first time ever , track & field fans around the country now have a chance to share in the success of their favorite athletes, picking the male the female they believe will be crowned Visa Champions as part of the Visa Championship Series "Watch. Click. Win." Online Sweepstakes. Fans can support their favorite athlete on his/her journey by logging onto www.usatf.org and voting for the male and female athletes they think will be the Visa Champions at the end of the outdoor season.

Following their favorite athletes online and via television broadcasts, fans may submit an entry once an hour, once a day, once a week, and may change their entries as the Visa Championship Series progresses. By logging onto www.usatf.org , fans can select the athlete they think will win the title of Visa Champion, and the winning point total that will be assessed to their top performance, using the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics. Fans began submitting entries on Wednesday, April 27, 2005, with entries closing on June 17. Only each fan's most recent entry for each category (male and female) will be eligible.

For more information on the 2005 Payton Jordan U.S. Open, the Visa Championship Series and the Visa Championships Series "Watch. Click. Win." Online Sweepstakes, visit www.usatf.org.