And there were some great distance races at the Olympic trials down the valley in Eugene. Great stuff.
Goucher wins women's 5,000
by The Oregonian
Friday July 04, 2008, 9:13 PM
Shalane Flanagan beat Portland's Kara Goucher last Friday night in the women's 10,000 meters.
It appeared Friday night's women's 5,000 might wrap up the same way.
But Goucher wouldn't have it.
Goucher started a powerful kick with about 150 meters to go, passing Flanagan and eventually winning the 5,000 final in 15:01.02.
Rupp headed to Beijing
by The Oregonian
Friday July 04, 2008, 9:54 PM
Oregon's Galen Rupp is an Olympian.
Rupp took second place in the men's 10,000 meters on Friday night and will join Abdi Abdirahman and Jorge Torres on the U.S. Olympic team in the event.
Those top three led nearly the entire race, and Abdirahman finally put Rupp away on the last lap, finishing in 27 minutes, 41.89 seconds. Rupp crossed in 27:43.11, and Torres finished in 27:46.33.
Crowd gets behind Hasay's prep record in 1,500
by Jeff Smith, The Oregonian
Saturday July 05, 2008, 1:21 AM
EUGENE -- Every time Jordan Hasay passed a runner, she heard the crowd's roar grow louder.
The 20,936 spectators crammed into Hayward Field on Friday night were, not surprisingly, the largest crowd the 16-year-old Hasay had ever run in front of. And, along with their cheers, they delivered a memorable recruiting pitch:
"Come to Ore-gon!"
Hasay heard the chant loud and clear, feeding off the encouragement to finish fifth in her semifinal heat of the women's 1,500 meters to qualify for Sunday's final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Oh, and the junior from Mission College Preparatory High School in San Luis Obispo, Calif., also set a U.S. high school record with a time of 4 minutes, 14.50 seconds.
"It's always been in the back of my mind," Hasay said of the record.
"It was incredible. Every time I passed a runner I could hear the crowd just scream. It was so exciting. When I was out there at the end they were screaming go to Oregon."
That Hasay was even running was a surprise to her, given that she was scheduled to be on a plane to Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Friday for the IAAF World Junior Championships. Hasay, who was ranked 31st in a qualifying field of 30 runners, flew to Eugene without a guarantee she would compete.
"I thought I might just be a spectator," said Hasay, who was able to enter the competition because of a late scratch. "I never dreamed of making the final. It's such an honor."
Even after advancing in Thursday's 1,500 quarterfinals, Hasay wasn't sure she would run in the semifinals. But at 10 p.m. Thursday, Hasay received word that she could delay her flight to Poland until Monday.
By 9 p.m. Friday, Hasay was quickly telling her brief life story and talking about her long, blonde ponytail that hangs over most of her 5-foot-2 frame.
"I've just always had long hair and now it's kind of my trademark," she said, giggling. "I'm kind of hesitant to cut it."
Hasay was also apprehensive about seeing her coach, Armando Siqueiros, because she didn't exactly follow his postrace advice.
"My coach is going to be mad because he told me to pass through (the media)," said Hasay, who then proceeded to politely answer questions for 10 minutes.
This high school girl was amazing. Hope she does come to Oregon.
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