High Schooler Among Qualifiers for 1,500-Meter Final

EUGENE, Ore., July 4 -- Her waist-length blond ponytail swung back and forth as she chased a spot in the 1,500-meter finals at the U.S. Olympic trials with women nearly twice her age. History beckoned, too, and Jordan Hasay would be denied neither. Standing barely over 5 feet tall, running in a semifinal on a night she expected to be on a plane to the world junior championships in Poland, Hasay revved up the Hayward Field crowd of 20,936 with every stride she took.

Rarely has a fifth-place finish felt so monumental. Hasay not only claimed one of the six qualifying spots, ensuring that she would take her place among the 12 women -- er, 11 women and one high school senior-to-be -- in Sunday's final, but she also shattered the national high school record in the event, finishing in 4 minutes 14.50 seconds.

"I never dreamed of making the final," Hasay said. "It was just incredible. Every time I passed a runner, I could hear the crowd screaming. It was just so exciting."

When she finished, the fans that sat in the home stadium of the University of Oregon serenaded Hasay with some collegiate advice: "Go to Oregon! Go to Oregon!" Christine Babcock of Irvine, Calif., set the previous record of 4:16.42 last month, erasing the mark of 4:16.60, set in 1982 by Kim Gallagher of Fort Washington, Pa.

The night featured other exciting moments. Kara Goucher, outraced to the finish of last weekend's 10,000 by Shalane Flanagan, returned the favor Friday, winning gold in the 5,000 with a burst around the last turn. Goucher crossed the line in 15:01.02 while Flanagan faded to third in 15:02.81 behind Jennifer Rhines (15:02.02).

Abdi Abdirahman held off local favorite Galen Rupp in the 10,000, winning in 27:41.89. Rupp, an Oregon sophomore, finished second in 27:43.11 and Jorge Torres was third in 27:46.33.

The men's 1,500 semifinals, meantime, provided some nervous moments for South Lakes High grad Alan Webb, who watched his lead disappear in the last 150 meters. Webb, almost lost in a rush in the homestretch, held on to finish fifth in 3:44.23, the 10th-best time of the night. That was enough to push Webb into Sunday's final.

Bernard Lagat, the reigning world champion in the event, passed Webb to finish first in their heat in 3:43.83. Gabe Jennings topped the other semifinal in 3:40.07, beating Lopez Lomong (3:40.26) and Leonel Manzano (3:40.32). Georgetown graduate Chris Lukezic, who barely missed qualifying for last year's world championship team, advanced in the second semifinal. He finished fourth in 3:40.50.

After the race, Webb declared himself satisfied with the result, even if it did include a moment of panic with about 50 meters remaining.

"I thought it was a good effort," Webb said. "I was just trying to keep myself calm, to stay out of being tripped up. That's the sort of price you pay [for taking the lead for most of the race]. The last 60 meters, I got a little boxed in. I should have been a little more aggressive at 200 meters to go."

That was not Hasay's problem. Hasay, who attends Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo, Calif., grabbed these championships by the throat from the moment she learned she could compete here. As the 31st qualifier in the 1,500, she needed help to squeeze into the field. But when two women dropped out this week, Hasay and her family decided to travel to the meet.

There was time, they figured, to get a taste of elite competition before boarding her flight to Poland.

When she finished seventh in her heat in 4:18.39 in the opening round Thursday, she suddenly had a decision to make. Stick around or leave for Poland.

"Last night, we had all our bags packed," she said.

But she stayed. Stephanie Hightower, the chair of the Women's Track and Field Committee for USA Track and Field, told her she had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Her mother, Teresa, a competitive swimmer in England, and father Joe, a baseball prep star from Pennsylvania, were supportive.

She had, after all, rattled up enough state titles. She had been breaking national high school records since her freshman year. Why, she had run a 6:16 mile as a fifth grader. A former swimmer, she turned to running when she realized she could beat everybody, including all of the boys in her school.

"It's just such an honor to come out here and make the final and set a national record," she said. "It's just so exciting."

The excitement only went so far, however. She had another race to run Sunday. She spent nearly 15 minutes talking to a crowd of perhaps two dozen members of the media.

"I need to go cool down," she said. "My coach is going to be mad."