Shalane's Bronze from Mark's seat at the Finish

August 15, 2008

Mark was lucky enough to be sitting near the finish line as Shalane Flanagan made history. Here's what he saw....

The day started off with the sun (yes the sun!), blue skys, cool temperatures and doom for the American 10k team. Cool temperature brings a hot pace and no American is close to the world record or the 30 min barrier. Even though the good weather is a good thing it usually means the Americans drop off after the pace starts to roll, anywhere between 3 and 5k. But this is not your usual US distance team and last year Kara proved that the Africans were beatable, when she won the bronze at the world champs. Despite a strong team things did not look promising with the early news that Shalane Flanagan, the US Olympic trials champ, had food poisioning and may not run........

As they introduced the 10k field, Shalane Flanagan was on the starting line but how long could she last, just 4 days from food poisioning? There are no Michael Jordan fever moments in track. When you're sick you're not expected to have the perfect race or set a PR. The gun went off and the pace was hot, really hot! It was faster than Shalane has ever gone out. At 3k the field was still packed, same at 5. With about 3k left the pace got faster with leaders running 71s. 8+ Africans and then back to Shalane, but the whole time her form stayed perfect while seeming relaxed. 2k out the lead pack widdled down to 5 and then Shalane 20 meters back. 6 laps to go you started to believe that Shalane had a chance with the quicker pace spreading out the lead pack to 2 and a 2 person chase pack. In the mean time Shalane is working her way up. 1k to get there with one spot up for grabs, the medal was within her reach. Shalane was focused. With 2 laps left she dropped the hammer, flew into third place and never looked back. With this move Shalane Flanagan proved that we Americans can run with the best in the world on the track.

Picture, Victah Sailer/Photorun.net

It was a great day for US distance running and with 8 days left in Beijing, lets hope for more.

To see more of Shalane Visit her Olympic Bio page,
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/athlete/234035/83-shalane-flanagan

Post a Comment

	Jeff Wood posted August 16 at 7:29pm. Flo you gotta get on this NBC thing. These guys are murdering Olympic Track and Field. We should have a petition or something from the Flotrack folks. Hell, next time you all should sign some sort of deal with them to deliver coverage!!!!!
	B posted August 16 at 7:06pm. i think shalane flanagan is and will end her career as the best long distance runner in american history. deena just dropped out of the marathon, but when shalane moves up to the marathon that won't happen. she will win an olympic medal in london when she runs the marathon and she may one day come close to breaking radcliffe's marathon WR!!!
	Cassie Tremonti posted August 16 at 7:04pm. http://www.nbcolympics.com/trackandfield/news/newsid=220461.… When I went there and clicked on the "Steeplechase water-pit crash and splash" video at the right and around the 3:50 mark the women's 10000m starts.
	Anonymous Coward posted August 16 at 11:42am. I happened to get up for water and it was on at like 1:30, I watched it, but couldn't believe it was being shown so late. They obviously don't know the populatrity of distance running and what an accomplishment that was. Are they going to show the 5k and marathon at 4AM????
	Really!?! posted August 16 at 11:22am. Did anyone really expect anything better from NBC. They know nothing about covering international sports, they just have a ton of $$$. A great example is that Bob Costas is their main host. He can never do justice for the athletes, he has no clue what it means to work as hard as they have. The only thing he can do is appease dumb Americans.
	Mary posted August 16 at 9:02am. So awesome for Shalane and U.S. distance running. Shame on NBC.
	Pudding posted August 16 at 8:04am. I'm so happy for shalane, but haven't seen the race either. I guess they showed those 7 laps at 1:30am here. I'm hoping that NBC will post the whole race on the website...but not sure if this is going to happen. I found this, where you can send NBC comments/feedback... http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/
	Cushmace3 posted August 16 at 3:18am. is anyone besides me going to that this occurred 2 1/2 days ago and we still can't see it. All this crap about nbc giving us all this extra stuff was crap. track has taken a back seat and we aloud it to happen. still waiting to see Shalane on sat. 1:00p. pretty lame.
	Pat Hitchins posted August 16 at 2:24am. so awesome.
	Th posted August 16 at 1:41am. congrats,, i couldn't agree more, make us stay up to 130 (eastcoast) and only show 7 laps! and they make us watch 1hr30min of male volleyball. only 2 heats of the 1500prelims.. but watchin shalane made up for all of that
	Scot Sedley posted August 16 at 12:54am. So excited for Shalane. I just wish to god that NBC had the decency to show more than 7 laps of that race.