American Record: Shalane Flanagan, 30:34.49
2007 U.S. Champion: Deena Kastor, 31:57.00
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Deena Kastor, 31:09.65
Top 5 Seed Marks
1.) Shalane Flanagan, 30:34.49
2.) Kara Goucher, 31:26.48
3.) Molly Huddle, 31:27.12
4.) Katie McGregor, 31:37.82
5.) Amy Rudolph, 31:57.26
While defending champion Deena Kastor will not race and instead focus on the marathon, there is plenty of firepower in the women’s 10,000 meters, the first final of the Olympic Trials.
Shalane Flanagan, who set the American record of 30:34.49 in her 10K debut in May, is the favorite to win. She is also the defending U.S. champion and American record holder in the 5,000m.
Kara Goucher, who trains under former Duck Alberto Salazar with the Nike Oregon Project in Portland, was a surprise bronze medalist at the 2007 World Championships in Japan. She finished second to Kastor at the U.S. Championships in the 10,000m last year.
Huddle, a former All-American at Notre Dame, set her personal best in the same race in which Flanagan set the American record.
McGregor was the 2005 U.S. champion and just missed a spot on the 2004 Olympic team, finishing fourth at the Trials.
Rudolph, a two-time Olympian at 5,000m and 2005 U.S. 10,000m champion, will try to make her first Olympic team at the longer distance.
Two other athletes from Oregon are entered in the race – Amy Yoder-Begley from Beaverton and Stephanie Rothstein from Eugene.