Posted: June 26, 2006

Athletics: Fleshman, Lagat Kick to USA 5000 Meter Titles

By Charlie Mahler, Running USA wire

INDIANAPOLIS - (June 23, 2006) - Opening up a late-evening of distance event excitement, Team Running USA's Lauren Fleshman and former Kenyan two-time Olympic 1500 meter medalist Bernard Lagat each won career-first USA titles at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Fleshman, who acknowledged getting pity applause for her 17th place finish in this event in 2001, got the right kind of crowd support for her kicking win over Kara Goucher this year.

The Stanford grad clocked a 15:12.37. Goucher finished at 15:14.13; pace-setter Blake Russell was third at 15:19.07.

As is her wont, Russell got the endurance evening off to an honest start. Russell led the event for more 3600, getting matters underway with 72 second laps, but slowing to 75s late in the second mile. She led a group of eleven runners thru the mile in 4:49; a group of five, that also included Team Running USA's Sara Hall and Team USA Minnesota's Carrie Tollefson, stayed with the 2006 USA 15K champion thru two miles in 9:47.

Goucher took the lead at 3600 meters and her injection of pace winnowed the pack down to herself and Fleshman. Fleshman, 24, waited until the final turn to launch her title-winning drive. The 2000 USA Junior champion at 1500 meters was runner-up in this event to Shalane Flanagan last year.

"It felt incredible and I didn't know I had it in me," Fleshman said. "The starting line was the hardest, but I did what I knew I had to do. I realized I've been here before and went for it. I wasn't as fully prepared as I could have been, but I built up as quickly as I could. I couldn't ask for a better team and coach."

Team Running USA's Jen Rhines finished 5th in 15:29.51; teammates Hall and Missy Buttry were 7th and 17th, respectively in 15:38.98 and 16:34.03.

After Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin dispensed with the non-endurance competition for the late-evening, Bernard Lagat and the men's 5000 meter runners turned the focus back to the long stuff. Lagat, 31, making his USA Championship debut, took his time, however.

Team Running USA's Ryan Hall, who finished a breakthrough third in this event last year, set the pace in the early-going. The Stanford grad passed the mile mark in 4:13 with a 40 meter lead over the field. By early in the second mile a pack of four - Lagat, Adam Goucher, Dathan Ritzenhein and Matt Tegenkamp - were lined up behind Hall who looked like he wanted to shed the lead, but couldn't. The pack passed two miles in a slowing 8:35.

After Lagat took the lead for a lap but didn't do much with the pace, Tegenkamp made his victory bid by zooming two consecutive sub-60 laps. At the bell, Ritzenhein followed closely, while Lagat was slow to get back in contact. A half a lap out, Lagat, who had run a 3:44.46 1500m prelim earlier in the day was poised on former Badger's shoulder, while Ritzenhein was losing contact.

On the turn, the Washington State alum engaged his highest gear to kick away from Tegenkamp. Lagat clocked 13:14.32, while Tegenkamp ran 13:15.00 with Ritzenhein third (13:16.61), both personal records.

"Today was a crazy day for sure," Lagat recounted. "I've been planning for this for a long time, and I felt good after the 1500 meters. This win came and it wasn't easy, but I'm really pleased with it. I had to do this one today."

Team Running USA's Ian Dobson, last year's runner-up, finished 10th in 13:43.08.

USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships - World Cup Qualifier, Indianapolis, IN, Friday, June 23, 2006

WOMEN's 5000 Meters
1) Lauren Fleshman, CA, 15:12.37, $4000
2) Kara Goucher, OR, 15:14.13, $3000
3) Blake Russell, CA, 15:19.07, $2000
4) Carrie Tollefson, MN, 15:23.49, $1000
5) Jen Rhines, CA, 15:29.51, $500
6) Marla Runyan, OR, 15:31.78
7) Sara Hall, CA, 15:38.98
8) Amy Begley, NM, 15:43.77
9) Molly Huddle, IN, 15:44.66
10) Renee Metivier, CO, 15:46.98

MEN's 5000 Meters
1) Bernard Lagat, AZ, 13:14.32, $4000
2) Matt Tegenkamp, WI, 13:15.00, $3000
3) Dathan Ritzenhein, CO, 13:16.61, $2000
4) Adam Goucher, OR, 13:18.93, $1000
5) Sean Graham, CA, 13:35.62, $500
6) Ed Moran, VA, 13:38.02
7) Andrew Carlson, MN, 13:40.06
8) Ryan Hall, CA, 13:40.55
9) Kyle King, OR, 13:41.83
10) Ian Dobson, CA, 13:43.08

Find full results at: USATF.org.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.

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