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It was a sit and kick type of day at the first ever Drake Relays
Distance Carnival in Des Moines, Iowa, with six of the evening's
eight winners not taking the lead until the bell lap.
The
first event on the track was the women's 3000 meter steeplechase.
With temperatures hovering in the upper 80s and a blazing sun beating
down, the water pit seemed like the place to be. Colorado State
Freshman Marget Larsen led 10 others under the NCAA provisional
mark with her time of 10:35.48.
In
the men's 3000 meter steeplechase, the lead was quickly taken over
by University of Nothern Iowa All-American Levente Timar.
Timar would drop back, finishing 10th, but a tremendous battle was
waged between Tom Brooks of Indiana and three-time NCAA Div.
II steeplechase champion (and last year's winner) Vladimir Golias
of Central Missouri State. The two matched each other literally
stride for stride for much of the final 1000 meters. On the final
water barrier, Brooks faltered slightly, allowing Golias enough
room to unleash a furious final 100 meters. Final score: Golias
8:51.46 (provisional), Brooks 8:57.65.
In
the women's 5000 meters, Washington University's Gillian Palmer,
fourth in Great Britian's Olympic Trials, led from gun to tape in
16:25.13, a provisional qualifying mark. Palmer ran an amazingly
controlled race, hitting exactly 79 seconds per lap until she began
to pick up speed over the final 1K.
In
the men's 5000, nobody could (or would) touch 10,000 meter Olympian
Abdi Abdirahman. Abdirahman dismantled the field, winning
in what seemed to be a jog-like 14:05.30. He will be taking a stab
at the 10,000 meter American Record next week at Stanford (be sure
to check out our victory
lap interview with Abdi). Second place (and first collegian)
went to Jean-Paul Niyongabo of Kansas State, 26 seconds back
in 14:31.36.
The
Iowa high school girls 3000 and boys 3200 meter races were also
held this evening. In the girls race, Iowa City High freshman
Jennie Funk controlled much of the second half, but Iowa City
West's Jeni Frudden maintained close contact. Funk began
her kick a little too soon, completely running out of gas with about
150 meters to go, struggling the rest of the way in. Frudden didn't
win easily, however, as she began to tie up in the final 20 meters,
barely crossing the finish line before collapsing. Her winning time,
10:02.88, has been bettered by only two girls at the Drake Relays,
both multiple-time Iowa state champions.
The
boys race was won by Chris Jones of Iowa City West (9:18.55).
Jones, who won this race a year ago, needed to pull out a 60 second
final lap to overtake Bobby Anderson of Mason City (IA).
The
nightcap were the 10,000 meter invitational races, and as was par
for the evening, the winner remained a secret until the final steps
in both cases. On the women's side, Ball State's Kathy Kadziolka
won in 34:43.93, leading four other women under the NCAA provisional
qualifying standard.
On
the men's side, Indiana State's Jason Gunn, Randy Arias
of Southwest Texas, and Nathan Flores of Steven F. Austin
University shared the lead througout most of the final 15 laps,
nobody really able to make a clear break. With two to go, Gunn and
Arias were able to get a step on Flores and it was game on. Gunn
uncorked a 59 second final lap to edge out Arias, 30:13.75 to 30:16.10.
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NCAA Div. III XC Champion Johanna Olson of Luther College competes
in the 5000 meters on Thursday night.
Thursday:
Men's
Photos | Women's
Photos | Wrap-Up
| Results
| Chat
with Abdi Abdirahman
Friday: Wrap-Up
| Men's
Results | Women's
Results
Saturday: Men's
Photos | Women's
Photos | Wrap-Up
| Men's
Results | Women's
Results | Chat
with David Kimani
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