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The 10 Best Moments for U.S. Distance Running in 2009
American Runners Produce Noteworthy Achievements and Milestones
By Ryan Lamppa, Running USA wireDecember 14, 2009
This past year U.S. distance running added to its resurgence and global standing with more records, world class performances, major victories and world championship medals on the roads, track and grass. The USA has become the #3 distance power behind Ethiopia and Kenya.
Since 2001, there has been a huge improvement in U.S. distance running fortunes, and a good share of it can be traced to the training groups that have organized around the country, and their shared commitment to world class performances. Another underlying factor is the change in mindset that took root when Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi, teammates from the training group Team Running USA, won Olympic Marathon medals at the 2004 Athens Games. That watershed moment proved that American distance runners with talent and the right training environment could return to the Olympic podium. Meb and Deena have inspired a group of younger athletes to strive for the best.
This distance running momentum has reached shorter events such as the 1500 meters, particularly for U.S. women. Shannon Rowbury won a 1500m bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships, and three women broke the coveted 4 minute barrier for the metric mile (Anna Willard, Jenny Barringer and Christin Wurth-Thomas) in 2009.
This is the 5th year of "10 Best Moments for U.S. Distance Running", and since 2005, the number of top, noteworthy performances has grown each year. Below are this year's "10 Best Moments" with an extensive honorable mention listing that in past years would have earned top 10 status for some--such is the current state of distance running in the USA.
#10
Kami Semick, U.S. Women Strike Gold at World Cup 100K
At the IAU 100K World Cup in Belgium on June 20, Kami Semick (43) of Bend, OR became the second American to win a world ultramarathon title, taking control early and running away from the rest of the world's top women in 7 hours, 37 minutes, 24 seconds. Semick, who was the surprise silver medalist at last year's version of the 62-mile world championship, led the U.S. women to their third team gold medal in U.S. history. Countrywomen Devon Crosby-Helms and Meghan Arbogast placed 4th and 5th to seal the team victory for Team USA.
#9
Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp Sixth and Eighth at Worlds
At the World Championships 10,000m in Berlin, Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein and Galen Rupp worked their way up through the pack even as the medalists pulled away, and Ritzenhein moved all the way up to 6th, running a PR 27:22.28 (#4 U.S. male all-time), less than ten seconds off the U.S. record, and the best U.S. men's WC place at the distance; Rupp finished 8th in 27:37.99.
#8
Shalane Flanagan Shatters U.S. 5000m Indoor Record
At the Reebok Boston Indoor Games last February, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan ran 14:47.62 to erase Marla Runyan's U.S. 5000m record of 15:07.33 from 2001. In a wild final sprint, Flanagan, was judged--in a photo finish--to have finished second behind Ethiopia's Sentayehu Ejigu. Flanagan now holds four U.S. distance records on the track at the same time: 3000m and 5000m indoors, and 5000m and 10,000m outdoors.
#7
Jenny Barringer Fifth at Worlds, Sets U.S. Steeple Record
At the World Championships, University of Colorado senior Jenny Barringer finished fifth in a U.S. record 9:12.50 (she improved her own U.S. record of 9:22.26); her performance was also the best U.S. women's finish at the WC event.
#6
Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher Third at Boston
At the 113th Boston Marathon in April, 2008 Olympians Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher raced the historic road race for the first time, and finished third, the best combined U.S. gender finish at the race since 1985 (the last year an American won). Hall produced a solid 2:09:40 to finish a minute plus behind winner Deriba Merga of Ethiopia. Defending champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia and Kenyan Salina Kosgei pulled away from Kara Goucher in the final 400 meters of the women's race. Kosgei edged Tune at the finish, 2:32:16 to 2:32:17, the closest Boston finish ever; Goucher clocked 2:32:25.
#5
Galen Rupp's Triple Leads Oregon to NCAA Indoor Team Title
Galen Rupp continued his impressive indoor season with three wins at the NCAAs: 3000m (7:48.94), 5000m (13:41.45) and anchor leg distance medley relay (3:57.07). He is the first man to complete such a triple at the NCAA Indoors, and led Oregon to its first indoor team title.
#4
Dathan Ritzenhein's Turning Point in Zurich: U.S. 5000m Record
At the Weltklasse Zürich on August 28, thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the U.S. record of 12:58.21 in the 5000m at the same meet, Dathan Ritzenhein lowered that record by nearly 2 seconds with a third place finish in 12 minutes, 56.27 seconds. Ritzenhein improved his 5000m personal best by almost 20 seconds. The two-time Olympian is now the second fastest non-African in history, and only the fourth American ever to run under 13 minutes to-date [also Matt Tegenkamp (12:58.56) in 2009, and Bernard Lagat (12:59.22) in 2006]. Double Berlin world champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia won the race in 12:52.32.
#3
Bernard Lagat's 5000m Silver Medal at World Championships
In Berlin on August 23, defending 5000m world champion Bernard Lagat was edged by the great Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in a thrilling final sprint, 13:17.09 to 13:17.33. Lagat, earlier at the World Championships, also earned the 1500m bronze medal.
#2
Dathan Ritzenhein Earns Bronze Medal at World Half-Marathon Championships
With his stirring third place performance, Dathan Ritzenhein (26) won the first medal at the World Half-Marathon Championships for the USA and also became the second fastest American all-time on a record standard course behind only Ryan Hall (59:43). In Birmingham, England, "Ritz" pushed the pace with the best in the world, and also scored a PR with his 1:00:00 time, a massive 1 minute, 25 second improvement.
#1
Meb Keflezighi Wins 40th ING New York City Marathon
The winless drought ended in New York as Meb Keflezighi (34), 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 10,000m U.S. record holder, became the first U.S. champion of the storied New York City Marathon since 1982 (Alberto Salazar) when the UCLA grad broke away from four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot. Keflezighi also won his first-ever marathon and first USA Marathon title (20th USA title overall) as well as $200,000; his performance was historic and poignant. He enjoyed an All-American post-race celebration by reading the Top 10 List on CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," and shared a float ride with Miss America, Katie Stam, at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
For the Honorable Mention list, see www.runningusa.org