Posted: June 25, 2006

Athletics: Clement & Galaviz Take Saturday U.S. Distance Titles

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

INDIANAPOLIS (24-Jun) -- Treniere Clement defended her national 1500m title while Lisa Galaviz moved up from runner-up last year to win the 3000m steeplechase title on the pentultimate day of the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Clement, competing in only her second season as a professional, executed her race plan with precision, moving up from a tight pack in the last 200m before unleashing her sprint on the homestraight to bank her victory in 4:10.44.

"This was just as fun at the first one," said the former Georgetown athlete of winning today's title.

Clement has improved remarkably under the coaching of J.J. Clark since becoming a professional in 2004. She only ran 4:12.21 while at Georgetown, but under Clark's coaching she has gotten her personal best down to 4:04.40 set earlier this year at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. Moreover, Clark has helped boost Clement's confidence and ability to race well in any scenario.

"It's kind of crazy," Clement explained of her improvement. "I surprise myself all the time."

Former University of Michigan star Lindsey Gallo chased Clement to a solid second place finish in 4:10.72. "I'll take that!" Gallo exclaimed after the race. "I felt really good. I came in here just wanting to go for it."

Sarah Schwald finished third in 4:11.60, ahead of Carrie Tollefson who had run the 5000m final the night before and was no doubt fatigued.

"I'm glad I did it," said Tollefson of the double. "I'm ready to run fast (later this summer)."

Tiffany McWilliams did not start today's final because of minor injuries she sustained when struck by a car yesterday while running near the stadium.

In the women's 3000m steeplechase, Galaviz won a tactical race which was led for the first five of the seven laps by Carrie Messner who was running alone several seconds ahead of the field. But as the leaders finished the sixth lap, Galaviz had moved to the front chased by Kelly Strong and Kristin Anderson. Messner was clearly tired, and would fade to sixth place at the finish.

"I'm going to go now and see if I can hold on for 400 meters," Galaviz remembered telling herself when she took the lead from Messner just before the bell.

Coming out of the final turn, Galaviz had a commanding lead, but the unheralded Anderson, whose best achievement to date was winning the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor 5000m crown for Central Missouri, burst down the homestretch in an unlikely effort to catch Galaviz.

"For a second at the end I was gunning for her," said the petite Anderson after the race.

Galaviz was unaware that she was being chased and, running flat out, only got to the finish line 4/10ths of a second ahead of Anderson, 9:57.58 to 9:57.98. It was the first time that Anderson had broken ten minutes for the event.

Anderson was very satisfied with her second place finish, and looked forward to her next appearance at these championships.

"I've got to give myself something to aim for next year," she said.

The AT&T USA Outdoor Championships conclude today with the 3000m steeplechase final for men, the 800m finals for men and women, and the 1500m final for men.

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