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Starring Roles for Young Distance Stars at the 2010 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships
From USA Track & Field
March 2, 2010
Albuquerque, NM
On Saturday and Sunday, February 27 and 28, an enthusiastic sell-out crowd of 2,979 fans enjoyed the action at the 2010 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Albuquerque, NM at the Albuquerque Convention Center. In addition to competing for a total prize purse of $117,000, U.S. athletes also qualified for Team USA roster spots for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, March 12-14, in Doha, Qatar. The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, the New Mexico Sports Authority, the University of New Mexico, and USATF New Mexico are the official hosts for the championships, which will also be held in Albuquerque in 2011 and 2012. Below are highlights of the distance races (800m, 1500m, and 3000m).
Morgan Uceny Upsets Shannon Rowbury in Nike Women's 1500m
Former Cornell standout Morgan Uceny, who finished fourth in the 800m at the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships, was victorious in the Nike Women's 1500m and won her first ever USA Indoor title. Uceny crossed the finish line first in 4:19.46, barely edging ahead of 2009 World Outdoor Championships 1500m bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury, who finished as the runner-up in 4:19.48. 2008 Olympian Erin Donohue placed third in 4:21.86, with 2005 USA Junior champion Sarah Bowman placing fourth in 4:22.28.
Women's 1500m: Top Five
1 Morgan Uceny Reebok 4:19.46
2 Shannon Rowbury Nike 4:19.48
3 Erin Donohue Nike 4:21.86
4 Sarah Bowman New Balance 4:22.28
5 Treniere Moser Nike 4:22.81
Leo Manzano Wins Hard-Fought Men's 1500m
2008 Olympian and 2009 World Outdoor Championships 1500m finalist Leo Manzano won his first career USA Indoor title when he crossed the finish line ahead of the field in the men's 1500m final in 3:49.16. It was a three-man battle coming off the final turn between Manzano, 2008 Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Will Leer, and 2009 USA Indoor 3000m champion David Torrence, but Manzano won the final sprint. Leer finished as the runner-up in 3:49.31, with Torrence placing third in 3:50.08.
Men's 1500m: Top Five
1 Leo Manzano Nike 3:49.16
2 Will Leer OTC/Nike 3:49.31
3 David Torrence Nike 3:50.08
4 Garrett Heath Saucony 3:50.11
5 Russell Brown OTC/Nike 3:50.56
Anna Pierce Wins Women's 800m in U.S. Leading Time
Former U.S. women's 3000m steeplechase record holder Anna (Willard) Pierce entered the 2010 season ranked #2 in the world at 800m. She chased the women's 800m national title, and secured victory in 2:00.84. At the 2009 Indoor meet, she had won the 1500m title.The runner-up was Alysia Johnson, who crossed the finish line in 2:01.45, with Heather Dorniden placing third in 2:02.33.
Women's 800m: Top Five
1 Anna Pierce Nike 2:00.84
2 Alysia Johnson Nike 2:01.45
3 Heather Dorniden Team USA Minnesota 2:02.33
4 Erin Donohue Nike 2:03.78
5 Angee Henry Team Neb Brooks 2:04.62
Nick Symmonds Captures Nike Men's 800m
2008 Olympian and 2009 World Outdoor Championships finalist Nick Symmonds won the second USA Indoor title of his career, with a winning time of 1:48:10 in the Nike Men's 800m. Symmonds, who first won the USA Indoor men's 800m in 2007, had been living and training in Albuquerque for the last month. He faced off against a strong challenge from former University of Southern California standout Duane Solomon, the runner-up in 1:48.41. Tyler Mulder finished third in 1:48.53.
Men's 800m: Top Five
1 Nick Symmonds Nike/OTC Elite 1:48.10
2 Duane Solomon Saucony 1:48.41
3 Tyler Mulder Nike/OTC Elite 1:48.53
4 Brian Gagnon unattached 1:49.66
5 Mark Wieczorek Oregon TC Elite 1:49.73
Bernard Lagat Outkicks Galen Rupp in Men's 3000m
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Bernard Lagat used his outstanding closing speed in the final 150 meters to win a highly competitive men's 3000m race. Lagat (2007 World Outdoor Championships 1500m and 5000m gold medalist), Rupp (2008 Olympic Games and 2009 World Outdoor Championships 10,000m finalist), and Chris Solinsky (2009 USA Outdoor Championships 5000m runner-up) sparred during the entire race. Lagat, who owns U.S. Indoor records from the 1500m to 5000m, won the first U.S. Indoor title of his career in 8:12.60. Rupp placed second (8:13.49), and Solinsky was third (8:13.85).
Men's 3000m: Top Five
1 Bernard Lagat Nike 8:12.60
2 Galen Rupp Nike/OTC Elite 8:13.49
3 Chris Solinsky OTC/Nike 8:13.85
4 Scott Bauhs adidas 8:15.76
5 Aaron Braun Adams State College 8:17.40
A Tiny Winning Margin for Renee Metivier Baillie in the Women's 3000m
Renee Metivier Baillie opened a half lap lead early in the race, and she held it with a series of 38 second (200m) laps. With a lap to go, Sara Hall and 2009 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury started to challenge for the lead. With 100m to go, Hall, Rowbury and Metivier Baillie created one of the most exciting finishes ever in a 3000m at a USA Indoor Championships.The three were even heading into the final straight; Metivier Baille regained the lead as Hall chased. Hall dove for the finish line and finished two hundredths short of victory. Metivier Baillie earned her first USA Indoor title in 9:14.90; Rowbury was third (19:15.41).
Women's 3000m: Top Five
1 Renee Metivier Baillie unattached 9:14.90
2 Sara Hall Asics 9:14.92
3 Shannon Rowbury Nike 9:15.41
4 Desiree Davila Hansons-Brooks 9:21.05
5 Delilah DiCrescenzo Puma 9:29.54
For more information, results, and athlete quotes in all the track and field events at the 2010 USA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, NM and the 2010 Visa Championship Series, see www.visachampionshipseries.com or www.usatf.org.