Lauren Fleshman began running well in high school at Canyon HS, in California. She was a state champion many times over and took third at the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships. Fleshman… + See More +
Lauren Fleshman began running well in high school at Canyon HS, in California. She was a state champion many times over and took third at the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships. Fleshman… + See More
- See Less - Lauren Fleshman began running well in high school at Canyon HS, in California. She was a state champion many times over and took third at the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships. Fleshman went on to run at Stanford University as a 15 time all-American. She won the NCAA 5k in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and is the collegiate record holder in that event. As she went pro she did just as well, being the runner up in 2005 USA Outdoor Championships in the 5k and winner the following year.
Fleshman boasts personal bests of 4:10.87 in the 1500m, 8:43.95 in the 3k and 15:02.52 in the 5k.
I find it pretty funny that the Fleshman supporters would point out that if the officials thought that she had cut-off or impeded Slattery, they would have taken action against Lauren . . . Yeah right! Just like the officials had NO PROBLEM with Said Ahmed shoving Bernard Lagat on the penultimate homestretch, not too mention two HUGE shoves to Rob Meyers at the beginning of the race that bordered on punches!
At this level, and on this stage, the officials have absolutely no balls.
You'll never see a DQ based on pushing, shoving, or cutting someone off.
Frack all you saying it's unsportsmanlike. If your a true competitor you do every thing short of kicking your opponent in the teeth to do as best you can.
Sorry, I thought that the point of racing was to win. Now, granted, not win at all costs, but win within the parameters of the rules. If there was anything wrong with the way that she ran, then the officials would have said so. She played the game according to the rules... and ran her heart out. That, and she apparently had a great attitude after the race in spite of not making it in the top three. I say, kudos to you Lauren
I believe that as long as there was no direct move to "cut her off" and had a good enough distance that it isn't cheating..it's tactical. YES it does seem a bit.."dirty"...but it is fair according to the rules. I'm sure that the officials took a look at it and determined it to be fair. No one should give her grief for a tactical move. No different than elite runners of the past that used to elbow like crazy...If you think that was a dirty move..watch youtube movies of European races.
She says that Fleshman not only blocked her to the outside, but also came back inside and cut her off when Sarah tried to get around her a second time . . . Even Sarah admitted that it was not a very sportsmanlike move on Fleshman's part. And it's not like Slattery had the "A" standard, either.
She had no chance to finish in the top three given her injury.
She knew it, and yet she still tried to run another competitor wide with 800m to go . . . If that isn't unsportsmanlike conduct, I don't know what is. Karma can be a real $itch. Now watch Goucher and Flanagan "double" in Beijing.
First of all, this girl right here is one of the most dedicated, determined, and hard-working individuals I have ever had the pleasure of seeing run. And even in spite of how competitive and determined she is on the track, she is always ready (and I don't think it is hard for her given her friendly nature) to put a smile on her face and talk with fans and reporters. Imagine.... being so close to your dream... having it slip through your fingers at the last minute and still having the ability, prowess and positive attitude to be able to talk with someone who, lets face it, is kind of rubbing in the fact that you did not make it. Her attitude during this interview should be a GREAT example to all of the competitors out there with negative attitudes.
Second, to those who are criticizing her in the comments below mine... get a life... "elitist" "unsportsman" Its called playing a competitive sport. Ever heard of "Icing the Kicker"? Ever heard of "intentionally walking the runner"? What do you think they do in NASCAR?
People run... and they "run to win, not to take beatings" She ran to win. I applaud her for every effort she gave.
Finally, Lauren, you ROCK!!! I really hope you get the chance to go to the Beijing so you can show all of these nay sayers really what the ..... is up.
Nothin but support. Give 'em Hell
VERY unsportsman like and somewhat seflish... it's race yes, and you should be competetive but when your interfering with another runners race and deliberately trying to slow them down thats just plain pathetic. I was a fan of fleshman.
Oh my God! Not with the elitist thing again. Not only does your post(below this one) not make any sense, but you say that she worked hard and went to Stanford like a bad thing. People like you criticize certain politicians for being elitists when in fact all of them are in the "elite" salary bracket. If it were up to people like you, a bunch of idiots would be running this country. Oh wait...
This is what happens when you go to Stanford.
You become so full of yourself and elitist that you rationalize that it's "ok" to run a fellow competitor ( Kara Goucher ) wide with 800m to go.
What a disgrace. I hope flanagan and goucher decide to double as well. Is she proud of cutting someone off...? How unsportsman like...she should appologize.
I am normally a huge Lauren Fleshman fan, and maybe she was just off her game in this interview, but she kind of comes off as an ass here. It almost sounds like she didn't really care that she had a bad race (regardless of what she says, it was a bad race for her). After listening to this, I hope that Goucher and Flanagan both decide to double.
being athletic? It's called impeding progress of a runner trying to pass you. She should have been reprimanded for her actions...i like Lauren, but anyone who saw that would agree it was unsportsmanlike.
Lauren Fleshman 5th 5k
At this level, and on this stage, the officials have absolutely no balls.
You'll never see a DQ based on pushing, shoving, or cutting someone off.
She says that Fleshman not only blocked her to the outside, but also came back inside and cut her off when Sarah tried to get around her a second time . . . Even Sarah admitted that it was not a very sportsmanlike move on Fleshman's part. And it's not like Slattery had the "A" standard, either.
She knew it, and yet she still tried to run another competitor wide with 800m to go . . . If that isn't unsportsmanlike conduct, I don't know what is. Karma can be a real $itch. Now watch Goucher and Flanagan "double" in Beijing.
:)
Second, to those who are criticizing her in the comments below mine... get a life... "elitist" "unsportsman" Its called playing a competitive sport. Ever heard of "Icing the Kicker"? Ever heard of "intentionally walking the runner"? What do you think they do in NASCAR?
People run... and they "run to win, not to take beatings" She ran to win. I applaud her for every effort she gave.
Finally, Lauren, you ROCK!!! I really hope you get the chance to go to the Beijing so you can show all of these nay sayers really what the ..... is up.
Nothin but support. Give 'em Hell
You become so full of yourself and elitist that you rationalize that it's "ok" to run a fellow competitor ( Kara Goucher ) wide with 800m to go.
Incredible person, and she deserves Bejing.