Flanagan's phenomenal effort impresses at Olympic Trials

Jun 28, 2008 - 6:36 AM By Simon Lewis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) - Shalane Flanagan got the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials off to a flying start at Hayward Field with a scintillating victory in the women's 10,000 meters on Friday night.

Flanagan, who smashed the American record by 17 seconds last month in a 30:34.49-minute debut at the distance, showed her class in the 10,000 meters was no flash in the pan as she booked her ticket to Beijing in the first final of the 10-day trials.

She will be joined at the Games by runner-up Kara Goucher and Amy Begley, who set the necessary qualifying standard to place third.

Flanagan blew the race apart with 15 laps to go, putting in a 71.2 second lap that split the bunched field and left her in a three-woman lead group with Goucher and Begley.

With 12 to go, the trio had opened a six-second lead over its nearest challengers, Katie McGregor, Sara Slattery and Lisa Koll - and their Olympic places were never under threat from there.

With three laps to go, however, racing instincts kicked in as Goucher decided to make a race of it, making a leap on her rivals and being quickly chased by Flanagan as Begley looked only to secure her qualifying standard.

Goucher put in a 70.7 second lap that was the quickest of the race and they went even faster through the bell having clocked 69.9.

Flanagan was not to be outdone, however, as she kicked on again down the back straight to secure victory in a track record 31:34.81, that eclipsed a then world record run by Mary Slaney in 1982 of 31:35.30.

"This is just a tremendous relief," Flanagan said on making the team. "I've thought about this for four years."

Goucher, who became the first American female to win a medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships, clocked 31:37.72, with Begley third in 31:43.60, just 1.4 seconds inside the Olympic A Standard.

That left Katie McGregor in fourth for the second Olympic Trials in succession, clocking 32:29.82.

"This is the best day ever," Begley said. "I'm so excited; I can't believe I made it. I knew I needed a 70-second final lap or I wouldn't get the A standard.

"It still hasn't hit me that I got that standard. I'm so excited to be going to Beijing. I gave it all I had on the final 400 meters hoping it would be enough. If I didn't go then I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life."

Flanagan confirmed that she would still compete in Monday night's 5,000 meters semifinals, her favorite event.

"I still really love the 5K and am still really excited to run the 5K on Monday night and hopefully (the final) on July 4. There is probably nothing more American then trying out for the Olympic team on July 4."

Whatever happens in the 5,000 meters, Flanagan said she now had high hopes for her prospects in Beijing over the longer, less familiar distance.

"I didn't think I was the clear favorite because Kara has a medal and I don't. It's going to be very exciting in Beijing because I might be fighting off teammates to win a medal. It is very exciting and a good position to be in."

Like Flanagan, Goucher will double up in the 5,000 meters but she too was relieved to have already booked her place at the Games.

"I have wanted to be an Olympian for so long," she said. "This is a childhood dream.

"Since 2004, there was always a little hope in me. I knew there was that fast girl in there somewhere. That's what kept me going."

Goucher, whose husband Adam Goucher qualified for the men's 5000m final immediately before her race, said she was just as delighted for Begley, her long-time training partner and friend, as she was for her own success in making it to Beijing.

"I was so proud of Amy," Goucher said. "She is really the story of the night. She ran amazing. We have been together every step for the past year and she is the perfect example of hard work paying off."

Begley said she had raced strictly to the instructions issued by their coach, former U.S. marathon great Alberto Salazar.

"My coach told me to sit in second or third for the first 5K. I was getting a little nervous. He held the reins in a long time and finally let us out. It still hasn't quite hit me. I still thought I might miss it by one or two seconds and that would have been a really lonely night for me. They dropped me with three or four laps and there was that moment where I doubted myself.

"With 600 to go I just told myself I can do this. I just dug it out and gave it all I had."