American Record: Meb Keflezighi, 27:13.98
2007 U.S. Champion: Abdi Abdirahman, 28:13.51
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Meb Keflezighi, 27:36.49
Top 5 Seed Times
1.) Abdi Abdirahman, 27:16.99
2.) Galen Rupp, 27:33.48
3.) Meb Keflezighi, 27:41.91
4.) Jorge Torres, 27:42.91
5.) Edward Moran, 27:43.13
Abdi Abdirahman’s time at the Prefontaine Classic was the second-fastest in U.S. history. It came half a year after suffering a hip flexor injury at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City, but he seems to be back in top shape and looking for his fourth U.S. outdoor title. Just in April, he won the U.S. 10,000 kilometer road title in Virginia. With his time at the Prefontaine Classic, the 31-year-old is the heavy favorite to win and possibly break Meb Keflezighi’s record. He’ll certainly have the perfect conditions as the race will be the final event on July 4, right before the fireworks go off. Of course, most in the Hayward Field stands will be cheering for Galen Rupp to become the second Duck to make the Olympic team.
Rupp’s collegiate record set last year at Stanford is the second-best mark. He’s run under the lights at Hayward before, and will have the perfect opportunity to make the Olympic team that so many have prophesized him to make in the past.
Keflezighi will try to make his record stand a little bit longer after coming in ranked third. Best-known for taking the silver medal in the Olympic marathon in 2004, he has three U.S. titles in the 10,000m from 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Jorge Torres was an NCAA cross country champion at Colorado and the 2006 U.S. outdoor title-winner at 10,000m. Like all three runners ahead of him, Torres’ seed time comes from the 2007 season.