Photo above: Deena speaks with the media after her 10,000m track race on Thursday, June 21, 2007

A Return to the Track is Refreshing for a Marathon Veteran
Deena Kastor won her fifth national title in the women's 10,000m (31:57.00) at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Fields Championships on Thursday evening, June 21, 2007. Weather conditions were tough- it was a warm and humid Midwestern night -and her training base is located in the cooler mountains of California. But she had some of America's best female distance athletes on the oval with her and dedicated fans in the stands. She graciously thanked the spectators in post-race remarks on the track for watching the late show. And she absorbed the cheers from enthusiasts, using their voices to inspire her.

Deena is a strong believer in doing homework before a big test. Her June victory in Indianapolis secured her place on the Team USA roster heading to Osaka, Japan for the IAAF World Championships in Track & Field. She has traveled to Europe this summer, where she will spend several weeks training and racing on the track circuit against some of the world's best women. She is seeking personal best times in the 3000m and 5000m; her current PRs in the 3000m and 5000m were performed seven years ago in August 2000: 8:42.59 for 3000m (Zurich, Switzerland) and 14:51.62 for 5000m (Stockholm, Sweden).

Deena is best known for her Olympic bronze medal won at the Athens Games Women's Marathon (2:27:20) in 2004. She continued her success with two major wins in the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago (2:21:25) and 2006 Flora London (2:19:36 American Record) Marathons. But recovering from a record-setting marathon is difficult; the high mileage training and race intensity take a toll on the body. Her next two marathon race efforts fell short of her expectations: she was the favorite to win in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon but finished sixth (2:27:54, 1st American); her first time racing the Boston Marathon in April 2007 was marred by intestinal discomfort (fifth place 2:35:09, first American). Deena has decided to return to the track for shorter frolics until the 2008 Women's Marathon Olympic Trials next April.

The 2007 Women's 10,000m Outdoor Championship
First photo: Deena Kastor started with the pack, then broke away after 1200m. Only one woman, Molly Huddle, briefly chased after her at sub-32:00 pace.

Second photo: The women who contended for second and third places included Kate McGregor (far right), Kara Goucher, and Sara Slattery (ponytail).

Third photo: Deena took full control six minutes into the race. She pushed on, with coach Terrance McMahon shouting splits to her.

Fourth and fifth photos: Deena said she ran aggressively and made an honest effort. An athlete has companions on the track. In this race, women were spread around the oval so there was always someone ahead to focus on. She lapped at least a dozen of the twenty finishers.

2007 USA Women's 10,000 Meter Run

  1 Deena Kastor                 Asics                 31:57.00
  2 Kara Goucher                 Nike                  32:33.80
  3 Katie McGregor               Reebok                32:44.69
  4 Alicia Craig                 unattached            32:50.63
  5 Kate O'Neill                 Nike                  33:08.18
  6 Molly Huddle                 Saucony               33:09.27
  7 Emily McCabe                 unattached            33:34.05
  8 Sara Slattery                adidas                33:49.59
  9 Tara Storage                 unattached            33:52.73
 10 Jennifer Crain               Wisconsin Ru          34:01.93
 11 Heather Gibson               Asics Aggies          34:06.73
 12 Melissa Grelli               unattached            34:07.16
 13 Rebecca Donaghue             New Balance Boston    34:21.95
 14 Stephanie Rothstein          unattached            34:33.29
 15 Jill Steffens                unattached            34:39.90
 16 Megan Lewis                  U C S B               34:44.46
 17 Katherine Newberry           unattached            34:48.57
 18 Sally Meyerhoff              Duke                  35:03.52
 19 Jessica Gall                 Indiana               35:26.91
 20 Samia Akbar                  Reebok                35:35.43

It's Fun to See Friends
First photo: As Deena enters the bell lap, track & field commentator Larry Rawson has the best seat in the house.

Second photo: Dave Monti of NYRR and Race Results Weekly chats with Jen Rhines after her second place (15:08.53) in the 5000m race on Friday evening.

Third photo: The shepherd of the flock, USATF Hall of Fame coach Sam Bell of Indiana University, was spotted on the track directing hurdle traffic. (He was later identified by the blue 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games ribbon on his straw hat.)

Fourth photo: Athletes spectate from the stands and cheer for friends or trainging group members. Here is David Krummenacker, the 2003 World Indoor Men's 800m champion (tall, slender build with distinctive facial hair used to ID him), watching the action one afternoon.

Deena communicates frequently with the running community via her Web site www.deenakastor.com

Learn more about Deena Kastor at www.usatf.org

To purchase a photograph of Deena Kastor, see www.photorun.net