- See Less -Famiglietti won his first national 3,000m steeplechase title since 2002 at the 2008 Olympic Trials in bold, front-running form. Famiglietti took the lead early in the final and ran alone throughout the race, running 8:16 pace for all but the final two laps. Although he slowed somewhat in the final 800, "Fam" won easily in 8:20.24. Famiglietti ran a season’s best in the opening round at the Olympic Games when he clocked a personal best 8:17.34 (bettering his previous PR of 8:17.91 from 2004), which also was the fastest time by an American in 2008. Known mostly for his prowess in the steeplechase, Famiglietti’s 2007 season was highlighted by his 5,000m runner-up finish at Mt. SAC on April 13 in the year’s second-fastest time by an American of 13:11.93, which is the fastest time by an American ever on U.S. soil. Famiglietti’s 2006 season was highlighted by personal best performances in the 1,500 meters (3:35.83) and at 10,000 meters (27:37.74). He posted a then personal steeple best with his runner-up finish of 8:17.91 at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Famiglietti made his breakthrough in 2000, improving his personal best by more than 17 seconds and placing seventh at the Olympic Trials. He headed into the 2001 GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the fastest time by an American in 2001 and came away with second place, a personal-best time, and a berth on Team USA for the World Championships. His victory at the 2001 World University Games is the first international title by an American in the steeplechase since John Gregorek captured the WUG title in 1991. While in Beijing, he cut his hair into a mohawk and bought a bicycle so he could travel around the city. He gave the bike to some children before he left for home…was a psychology major at Tennessee but has no plans to practice psychotherapy: “I’ve got to figure myself out first”…is an artist, with a particular interest in abstract expressionism. Famiglietti has a quotation from the 1980s New York graffiti artist Basquiat (aka “Samo”) tattooed on his forearm…has an interest in Eastern religions.
2008: 13th at Olympic Games (8:31.21)...Olympic Trials champion (8:20.24)… 3rd in opening round Heat 2 at Olympic Games (8:17.34 PR, U.S. Leader)…ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:17.34.
2007:4th at USA Outdoor Championships steeple (8:27.64)…USA 8 km champion (22:35)…1st at adidas Track Classic 3,000m (7:41.27)…2nd at Mt. SAC 5,000m (13:11.93PR)…ranked #6 in steeplechase, #5 at 3,000m & #10 at 5,000m in the U.S. by T&FN…bests of 8:27.64 & 7:41.27.
2006:4th at AT&T USA Outdoors 5,000m (28:27.73)…U.S. k km champion (13:50.1)...3rd at Stanford (27:37.74)…3rd at Reebok Grand Prix (3:55.71)…8th at Stockholm (8:24.41)…7th at Rieti (3:35.83PR)… 5th at Linz (8:19.77)… 9th at Roverto (13:24.47PR)…ranked #2 U.S. in steeple, #5 U.S. at 1,500m by T&FN…bests of 3:35.83, 8:19.77, 13:24.47, 27:37.74.
2005: 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:20.49)6th in opening round at World Outdoor Champs (8:21.84)...1st in at adidas Track Classic (8:25.16) 1st at meet in Columbus (8:20.04)...2nd at Rieti (8:19.46)...best of 8:19.46
2004: 2nd at Olympic Trials (8:17.91PR)...8th in opening round at Olympic Games (8:31.59); 1st in 1500m at Sea Ray Relays (3:43.38)1st at Penn Relays (8:25.02)7th in 3000m at adidas Oregon (7:50.70)14th in 5000m at Mt. Sac (13:38.29)ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN bests of 8:17.91, 7:50.70 & 13:38.29.
2003: 3rd at Pan Am Games (8:40.22)best of 8:31.03 in opening round at USA Outdoors...ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN.
2002: USA Outdoor steeple champ (8:19.07); 4th at USA Indoors 3 km (7:59.15)4th at World Cup (8:32.27)13th at USA 4 km XC (11:47)4th at Gresham (8:21.05 ); ran 8:23.30 in Monacoran 8:24.49 in Stockholm ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN best of 8:19.07.
2001: World University Games champ (8:21.97); 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:22.68)...4th at US indoor 3,000m (7:59.41)...11th in opening round at World Outdoors (8:44.54)10th in 4 km at USA XC Winter Nationals; 3rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic (8:23.20)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:21.00 in Stockholm.
2000: 7th, Olympic Trials (8:25.37) ...2nd SEC Outdoors 4th, NCAA Outdoors (8:42.49) best of 8:25.37.
1999: 8th in heat, USA Outdoors (8:42.58)... 6th at NCAA Outdoors (8:50.11)...best of 8:42.58.
1998: Southern Conference champion in steeple and 5 km...11th at SEC XC...75th at NCAA XC...best of 8:52.12.
1997: Southern Conference XC runner of the year runner-up.
1996: Southern Conference freshman of year in XC
Gate River Run 15k 
I am a proponent of the look back, however multiple takes is a no-no.
The 5-minute gap in start time is the time gap between the men's and women's American Records at the 15K distance. Williams ran the men's here, and Deena ran the women's here...so yeah, it's also the difference between the course records. However, it is kind of unfair. The two times were actually run on two different courses. See, the race historically starts on the north side of the St. John's River, goes over the main street bridge, runs most of the course, then returns over the river on the Hart Bridge, with mile 8 basically being right at the top of that monster. Then you come down off the bridge and to the stadium (the finish has moved around a little from outside to inside to outsdie, etc, but basically been in the same place). This is the course setup that Deena set her AR on. When Todd set his AR, the course was different, because of the construction on the stadium. The race started on the south side of the river, ran that part of the course, ran over the Hart Bridge, with mile 6 being even beyond the peak of the bridge, and then it returned over the main street bridge to the finish. He ran 42:22, which was only 9 sec off the WR at the time. HUGE time. However, no one, not even Todd Williams has broken 43 minutes with the race in its historical arrangement of the Hart Bridge near the end (mile 8-ish). Anyway...that's just my historical 0.02.
They would not let spectators on the bride at all for about 1.5 miles to the finish only the final shoot. Speakers covered the entire bridge blasting eye of the tiger and five pace cars driving and yelling not surprised he didn't he hear anything.
Great job on the call, world class announcing, good energy and good info, props.
"she must have backtracked" LOOOL!
I'm sure Fam knew he was being reeled in, as there were enough fans lining the course over the final 1km. Doubt he was as comfortable as TC thinks, as i'm sure he wouldn't have let Tim get so close if he'd been able to step it up a gear before the final 200m.
As for you flotrack guys.....great footage, great commentary......until the final 1km, when you started kissing Tim's behind in a pretty big way. Surely you guys have seen enough of Fam over the last year or two to understand that you can't write him off in situations like this. If i were him, i'd be making you pay for the next interview i gave you! I'm sure he won't though, so you're just lucky he's not me ;)
Great challenge by Nelson too, he deserves huge props for that effort.
Well done again guys!