Posted: July 24, 2007

Athletics (RRW): Gold Medals For Slattery & Moran Pan Am Games

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com On the second day of competition at the 15th Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Americans Sara Slattery and Ed Moran won gold medals at the Estádio Joăo Havelange. Slattery, the former University of Colorado star whose husband Steve is an Olympic steeplechaser, won a tight contest in the women's 10,000m, prevailing over Mexico's Dulce Maria Rodriguez 32:54.41 to 32:56.75. Brazil's Lucelia Peres nabbed the bronze medal in 33:19.48. Slattery's time was a Pan Am Games record. "I felt good through 5-K, the race got very tough after that," Slattery told USATF. She added: "After Nationals, my training went very well and I knew that if I was in the lead with one lap to go that I would have the kick to win. Any time you can represent your country and win a medal for Team USA it's an honor and it's amazing." Moran, who grew up in New Jersey and ran for William & Mary during his collegiate career, also set a Games record with a strong victory in the men's 5000m in 13:25.60, besting Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios (13:29.87) and hometown favorite and reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil (13:30.68) who also plans to contest the 10,000m on Friday. "I decided to go with 1000m left because I felt that could take the legs out of the big kickers," Moran said. "I knew as soon as I committed that I had to commit to the finish. There are too many good runners in Central and South America to wait. There's nothing like an energetic crowd screaming for the last four minutes, even if they're not screaming for you." Also yesterday, Diane Cummins of Canada and Josiane Tito of Brazil led in 800m qualifying. American Alysia Johnson also advanced. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest