Flanagan Wins 3,000 at U.S. Indoors
The Associated Press
Saturday, February 24, 2007; 11:14 PM
BOSTON -- Shalane Flanagan won the 3,000 meters in the U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, finishing in 8 minutes, 56.74 seconds.
It was Flanagan's second career national title _ after the 2005 outdoor title in the 5,000 meters _ and first since returning from a 15-month layoff following surgery to remove an extra bone in her left foot.
  Shalane Flanagan competes in the finals for the women's 3,000 meters during the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, in Boston. Flanagan won with a time of 8 minutes, 56.74 seconds. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) (Michael Dwyer - AP) |
"I just have a fun time racing," Flanagan said. "I feel very lucky to be here racing because a year ago I wasn't. Each race I have to treasure."
She won her first race back in November. Then four weeks ago, Flanagan shattered the American record in the 3,000 by finishing second at the Boston Indoor Games. Though Flanagan's record time of 8:33.25 wasn't enough to beat Ethiopia's Mesteret Defar, it shattered the American record by almost 6 seconds.
Flanagan had no problem securing the championship against an all-U.S. field Saturday. The Marblehead native drew extra strength from a crowd from her nearby hometown to surge way ahead of the pack after about 1,000 meters.
Lisa Galaviz finished second in 9:10.75.
In the men's 3,000, Matt Tegenkamp edged three-time indoor national champion Jonathon Riley for his first national title.
"These are the races where you improve to try to make world championship medal podiums and Olympic podiums," Tegenkamp said.
Tegenkamp, who finished second in the 5,000 at the 2006 U.S. outdoor championships, started off slow before making his move about midway through the race.
Shayne Culpepper also stayed back before making a mid-race surge to win her first national title in the mile.
Culpepper, a two-time indoor national champion in the 3,000, won in 4:34.42, beating Sarah Schwald by more than 2 seconds.
Despite the win, Culpepper was disappointed with her finish.
