Posted: June 27, 2005

Athletics: Jackson Wins Steeple; Shook Doesn't Make Team

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

CARSON, Calif. (26-Jun) -- The U.S. record holder for the 3000m steeplechase and the favorite to win the national title, Briana Shook, finished a disappointing fourth here on the final day of the U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Home Depot Center.

Shook, 24, who was disqualified after apparently winning last year's U.S. championship race when she missed a water jump, steadily led today's final for the first four of the seven and one-half lap race. She was followed closely by Elizabeth Jackson, Ann Gaffigan, Dawn Cromer, Carrie Messner and Lisa Galaviz. Jackson, 27, kept her eye on Shook and made sure she didn't get too far ahead.

"She usually runs a quick first half," said Jackson who considers herself a strong closer. "I wasn't sure what kind of shape she was in."

On the backstraight of the sixth lap, Jackson went around Shook who appeared to be laboring. By the time she reached the homestraight, Messner had joined her and Shook was falling back, quickly. Jackson and Messner ran side by side until the final 200m when Jackson surged ahead out of the water jump with 150m to go. She sprinted to the finish on the backstraight, dipping under 9:40 for the first time in her career.

"My coach thought I was very capable of running under 9:40," she said of her 9:39.78 clocking.

In the final 50 meters, Galaviz laid down a powerful sprint to pass Messner and take second in a personal best 9:40.58. Messner rounded out the podium with a 6-second PB of 9:41.37.

"I had a big smile, I'm going to make a world team," Galaviz said effusively after the race. "I'm so excited."

Messner, 28, agreed. "It's so exciting," she said of the first-ever world championship steeplechase for women to be held in Helsinki in August. "It wasn't even an event when I was in college."

Shook, her right ankle taped and her calf bleeding above the tape line, did not speak with reporters.

The jubilant Jackson, however, spoke a quite a bit. She recounted how persistent problems with the illiotibial band in her right leg and bursitis in the right hip had hampered her running beginning two years ago. She thought about quitting, she said, but decided to stick it out for personal reasons.

"I just went through a rough year and a half," she said. "This year I really went for it."

Should she make it to the final in Helsinki , she will be taking part in the greatest ever women's steeplechase.

"I will be absolutely honored and thrilled," she said.