The 10 Best Moments for U.S. Distance Running in 2007

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The 10 Best Moments for U.S. Distance Running in 2007

By Ryan Lamppa, Running USA wire

What a difference 7 years can make. Back in the "Dark Ages" of U.S. distance running circa 2000, there wasn't a lot to cheer about or acknowledge, or put simply, U.S. distance running was in a funk. And now, in 7 short years, due mainly to training groups, dedicated athletes and coaches, increased financial support, more promotion and success (think Meb & Deena) begetting more success (see the below), the United States has dramatically more to cheer about and moreover, has inspiration and a foundation for current and future stars. From a shortage of best moments 7 years ago to a surfeit of best moments, here are the best of 2007 for U.S. distance running:

#10
Rupp Runs 27:33.48, New U.S. Collegiate Record
At the Cardinal Invitational on April 29, University of Oregon's Galen Rupp, 20, continued his 10,000 meter development with a solid, negative split win against a deep field (15 went sub-28) and moreover with a new U.S. collegiate record in 27:33.48. Dathan Ritzenhein from Colorado held the previous record (27:38.50) at the same meet in April 2004.

#9
Team USA Wins Silver Medal at Yokohama Int'l Women's Ekiden
At the 25th Yokohama International Women's Ekiden marathon road relay in late February, led by 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., Team USA earned the silver medal in 2:16:04 to hold off host Japan who finished third (2:16:07). Russia won the event in 2:14:48.
Their performance was the fastest marathon ekiden by a U.S. women's team. Previous best was 2:17:09 at Chiba, Japan 1988 (also silver medal). The 2007 team - Jen Rhines, Kastor, Carrie Tollefson, Amy Rudolph, Katie McGregor and Elva Dryer - also tied for the second best place at a women's ekiden (Yokohama 1986 and Chiba 1988). Team USA won the 1989 Kagome-Ekiden International for Women (2:19:22) in Barcelona, Spain.

#8
Tegenkamp Breaks U.S. 2 Mile Record at Pre
With his third place 8:07.07 in the 2 mile, Matt Tegenkamp, at the Prefontaine Classic in June, set his first U.S. record (unofficial because the 2 mile is not an official USATF record distance). Tegenkamp, who broke Alan Webb's 2005 record (8:11.48), ran a controlled negative split (4:05/4:02).

#7
Goucher Beats Radcliffe, Runs Fastest U.S. Half-Marathon at Great North
At the BUPA Great North Run in late September, Kara Goucher beat marathon great Paula Radcliffe, 1:06:57 to 1:07:53, and in the process, the Portland, Ore. resident ran - on the point-to-point, downhill course - the fastest half-marathon time ever by a U.S. woman.

#6
Flanagan Sets U.S. 5000m Record at Mt. SAC Relays
Friday the 13th was not bad luck for North Carolina grad Shalane Flanagan as she broke the U.S. 5000m record with her 14:44.80 last April at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. (near Los Angeles). Flanagan surpassed Regina Jacobs's mark of 14:45.35 from the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento that July.

#5
Hall Shatters Long-Standing U.S. Record at Aramco Houston Half Marathon
Ryan Hall of Big Bear Lake, Calif. started the year off with a "bang" as the Team Running USA athlete shattered the long-standing U.S. half-marathon record with his scintillating and solo 59:43 at Houston on January 14. Hall's Splits: 5K - 14:05, 10K - 28:21, 15K - 42:21, 10 miles - 45:33 and 20K - 57:06

#4
Hall Sets U.S. Marathon Debut Record at Flora London
On April 22, at the Flora London Marathon, against a top international field, Ryan Hall ran like a veteran to finish 7th in an impressive 2:08:24 to set the U.S. marathon debut record. The old record was 2:09:41 by Alberto Salazar (New York City 1980) and Alan Culpepper (Chicago 2002). Hall now is the second fastest U.S. marathoner all-time - behind only Khalid Khannouchi.

#3
Lagat Makes History with 1500m / 5000m World Title Double
In Osaka, Japan, at the World Championships, Bernard Lagat became the first runner ever to win the 1500m / 5000m double, and only the third in the history of global championships - Hicham el Guerrouj in 2004 and Paavo Nurmi in 1924 also won Olympic doubles. In addition, Lagat, 32, a two-time Olympic 1500m medalist for Kenya, won the first gold medals at both distances for the U.S. by one athlete.

#1 - TIE
Goucher Earns First U.S. 10,000m Medal at World Championships
At the World Championships in Osaka, Japan in late August, Kara Goucher, 29, ran a smart race under challenging conditions - warm and humid weather as well as pushing and shoving in a tight, large pack - to earn a surprise bronze medal in the 10,000 meters. Over the final laps, Goucher battled Briton's Jo Pavey and New Zealand's Kim Smith and the three-time NCAA champion at Colorado produced the best kick and a less-than-two-second edge over Pavey, 32:02.05 to 32:03.81, for the coveted hardware and a spot on the podium. Goucher's medal was the first for the U.S. at the distance in eleven World Championships. Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia defended her world title with a 31:55.41 clocking.

#1
Hall Sets U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Record for Beijing Berth
With seeming ease, Ryan Hall, 25, floated over the 5-loop Central Park course to become Olympic Marathon Trials champion on November 3. His awe-inspiring 2:09:02 performance set a Trials and USA Championship record and against one of the best U.S. marathon fields assembled, it was the largest men's Trials victory margin ever: 2 minutes, 5 seconds. On the challenging course, the Team Running USA athlete produced a huge negative split: 1:06:17 (first half) vs. 1:02:45 (second half), 3 minutes, 32 seconds, and the first sub-2:10 at the Trials and USA Championship.

From 5K to 35K, Hall ran each successive 5K faster than the previous one. His progression went: 5K - 16:51, 10K - 15:35, 15K - 15:26, 20K - 15:12, 25K - 15:05, 30K - 14:48 and 35K - 14:28. His final 5K - where he celebrated the last 400 meters - was 14:57.

HONORABLE MENTION
* By just .03 seconds, Matt Tegenkamp misses a 5000m bronze medal at the World Championships.

* At the 15th Pan American Games, Ed Moran and Sara Slattery not only won gold medals in their respective 5000 and 10,000 meter races, but in the process set PAG records, 13:25.60 and 32:54.41, respectively.

* Although technically not a distance event, Alan Webb's U.S. mile record deserves recognition. On Saturday, July 21 in Brasschaat, Belgium at the low-key Flanders Cup, Webb, who has a 27:34.72 debut 10,000m to his credit, broke Steve Scott's 25-year-old U.S. mile record (3:47.69) with his stunning 3:46.91 (#8 all-time individual).

* In Greece, under hot conditions, Scott Jurek defended his Spartathlon 246K title as he covered the 152.8 mile course from Athens to Sparta in 23 hours, 12 minutes, 14 seconds.

* At the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 27, Shalane Flanagan, who was returning to action after a year long plus hiatus due to a foot injury, ran 8:33.25 for 3000 meters to shatter Regina Jacobs' U.S. record of 8:39:14 from 1999.

* Abdi Abdirahman's 1:00:29 at the NYC Half-Marathon in August. Abdi finished second to the great Haile Gebrselassie and became the third fastest American at the distance from a course without excessive drop.

* The women's Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team defended its gold medal at the World Mountain Running Trophy in Switzerland in September, while Laura Haefeli won the first ever U.S. women's individual medal with her bronze medal and the U.S. Junior team won its first ever medal too (silver, women).

* The U.S. men's team - led by Howard Nippert's 8th place - earned the bronze medal at the IAU 100K World Cup in Winschoten, Netherlands last September.

* With limited training due to injury, Khalid Khannouchi's 4th place at the Olympic Marathon Trials and breakthru races at the same Trials by Jason Lehmkuhle (5th) and Nate Jenkins (7th).

* The New York Road Runners and the athletes, in totality, producing the best Olympic Marathon Trials to-date. Great setting, great competition, extensive media coverage. Bravo.

* Kudos to "Chasing Glory", a wonderful and engaging 7-week on-line video and text series for the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials that showcased the contenders, their coaches and their training environments as they prepared for the Trials race. Thank you to the NYRR and Matt Taylor, Tessa Olson and Toni Reavis for putting it all together. Worth checking out again at: www.nyrr.org/races/pro/mens_trials/glory/index1.asp

Finally, the worst moments in 2007 were the sudden deaths of Ryan Shay at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and in July, Mike Long, Professional Athlete Coordinator for Elite Racing. Words cannot adequately describe the shock and sadness of their passing, but their memory and spirit will live on. Both gave their best to the sport.

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