Day 1 Wrap Up - 2009 U.S. Nationals

Photo by Glenda Boyd.

-Eugene,Oregon.

Sporting his University of Oregon singlet for the last time, Galen Rupp gave Duck fans quite a show in the 10,000m. He sat in the front third of the pack for most of the race, but there was no doubt he would eventually deliver his powerful finish for a 27:52.53 win.

“I could not ask for anything more than to close out [my college career] with a win,” Rupp said.

Abdi Abdirahman, the 2008 10k champion, looked strong as he led the first 3000 meters in 8:36.24, followed closely by Meb Keflezighi. Dathan Ritzenhein, James Carney and Rupp stayed comfortably with the pack. At 5000 meters, Ritz made a bold move to the front and Abdi fell back to 7th.

They went through in 14:12.09. Now it was between Ritz, Rupp, Carney and Tim Nelson. With a mile to go, Carney fell off the pack. Ritz and Rupp broke away.

Rupp unleashed his relentless kick at the last 500m. Ritz stayed strong, but did not have the speed left to catch him.

“I could tell in the last laps that I didn’t have that 10k specific training,” Ritzenhein said. “I knew he’d make a move at some point.”

“I have a lot of confidence in my kick,” Rupp said. “I was ready to go. I made sure when I went, I went. There could be no doubt at all.”

The favorite in the women’s 10,000m was 2008 Olympic bronze-medalist Shalane Flanagan. However, Flanagan soon found herself in an unexpected battle with Amy Begley. Begley led at first, and when Flanagan made her move to the front, the two broke away from the pack and took turns with the lead.

“Shalane and I wanted to put on a show, so we traded laps for the first 5K. It really made the race go faster,” Begley said.

Flanagan sat on Begley’s shoulder, but Begley held her off through the bell lap. Flanagan made a final dash to the lead at the last 200 meters, but it was too little, too late as Begley quickly reacted and hammered through the finish line in 31:22.69. Flanagan was right behind in 31:23.43. Begley represented the Oregon Track Club well by running a new Hayward Field record.

There were no other finals on Wednesday, so the athletes in the prelims focused on conserving their energy.

Tyson Gay is back on track. In one of the most exciting performances of the day, he ran 9.75 (wind-aided). However, he said he was unhappy with how he felt after a false start rattled him.

“The false start threw me off. I had too much going through my mind,” Gay said. “I ran a horrible race. It felt like a blow-up.”

After this 1st round race, Gay will not compete in the finals as he is already qualified for the World Track & Field Championships. Gay’s performance did not look bad from a spectator’s perspective, but hopefully this got the kinks out before Berlin.

In the women’s 800m, NCAA champion Geena Gall qualified in her preliminary race, wearing green. Gall, formerly of the University of Michigan, is now a member of the Oregon Track Club. Christian Smith, Khadevis Robinson and Nick Symmonds led the qualifying times in the men’s 800m.

The 1500m prelims had some talented fields. Leo Manzano ran the fastest time of 3:39.91. Alan Webb had a good-looking race and the 7th fastest qualifying time.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - USA Indoor Nationals Preview

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Join hosts Jay Hicks and John W. Davis on this special edition USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Preview show.  Read more

Christian Smith to leave Oregon Track Club

Oregon Track Club has announced the departure of team member Christian Smith. In order to complete his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University; Smith will return to the Manhattan, Kansas campus. Smith spoke highly of his time in Eugene.

“Leaving Eugene after only a year and a half has been a very difficult decision to make. The town and team made the experience everything I hoped it would be. Being a part of Eugene’s 800m sweep at the trials will always mean so much to me. I am moving back to Kansas to finish my degree that I put on hold to come to Eugene before the Olympic year. I have had a great fall of training, I feel like my fitness has improved drastically from last year. I will continue to have good relationships with everyone at the Oregon Track Club” said Smith.

Christian Smith joined the Oregon Track Club in 2007.  The 800 meter runner qualified for the Beijing Games in a dramatic third place finish in front of his home crowd at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Smith vaulted himself at the finish line in front of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson in grabbing the final roster spot for the Beijing Olympics in posting a time of 1:45.47.

Three Oregonians Make U.S 800 Olympic Team!

-From Eugene, Oregon

All I can say is… that might be the best 800m that I’ve ever witnessed. Khadevis Robinson took the race out hard the first lap (50.03). At the 600 meter mark, Nick Symmonds (1:44.10) laid down the kick that eventually won the race.

At the train wreck finish, University of Oregon runner Andrew Wheating (1:45.03) placed second, followed by Oregon Track Club runner Christian Smith (1:45.47).

Khadevis Robinson reached out in the race’s final steps to keep from falling and hit Lopez Lomong.

The always friendly Robinson said, “We both fell, and I was hoping that anyone was there.  If Jesus wouldn’t been there, I would’ve grabbed him.”

Jay Hicks