PALO ALTO, CA - Ethiopian star Werknesh Kidane bettered her
own U.S. women's all-comers 10,000m record Sunday night at the 2005
Payton Jordan U.S. Open at Stanford University's Cobb Track & Angell
Field in Palo Alto, Calif.The meet is named in honor of former Stanford track and field coach
Payton Jordan, who brought the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials and the famed
1962 U.S.-U.S.S.R. track meet to Stanford.
Running virtually by herself throughout the race, Kidane, who placed
fourth in the 10,000m at the 2004 Olympic Games, finished in 30
minutes, 19.38 seconds to better her previous U.S. all-comers standard
of 30:41.40, set June 7, 2003, also at Stanford. Her performance is the
fastest time in the world this year. Fellow Ethiopian Merima Hashim was
the runner-up in 32:14.18.
Another 2005 world outdoor best was posted by Ethiopian standout
Markos Geneti, who won the men's 5,000 meters in 13 minutes, 8.59
seconds. Kenyan Meshack Sang was the runner-up in 13:20.26, with
2003 U.S. Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Jorge Torres
bettering the 'A' qualifying standard for the 2005 World Outdoor
Championships with his third-place finish in 13:20.57.
In the men's 10,000m, Ethiopian standout Gebre-agzibher Gebremar
ran the fifth-fastest time ever on U.S. soil in winning the race in 27
minutes, 11.57 seconds. Kenya's Dejene Berhanu was the runner-up in
27:12.22, with Ethiopia's Solomon Molla third in 28:25.27.
Fleshman posts U.S. seasonal best
A three-time NCAA women's outdoor 5,000m champion while at
Stanford, Lauren Fleshman looked right at home on her collegiate track
Sunday night in posting the fastest time by an American this year.
Fleshman ran alone for most of the race in winning the 5,000 meters in
15 minutes, 15.63 seconds. Last year's U.S. Open winner Blake Russell
was the runner-up in the second-fastest time by an American this
season of 15:26.60, with 2004 Olympic Trials third-place finisher Carrie
Messner, placing third in 15:47.37.
Two-time Olympian and four-time national champion Seilala Sua posted
a seasonal best Sunday night in winning the women's discus against a
solid field. Sua's winning throw of 60.83 meters/199 feet, 7 inches,
bettered two-time Olympian Suzy Powell's runner-up toss of 59.86m/
196-5. 2002 national champion Kris Kuehl was third with a best of
57.78m/189-7, with 2004 Olympian Stephanie Brown placing fourth with
a throw of 55.35m/181-7.
2004 Olympic Trials champion Erin Gilreath posted the second-best
mark by an American this season in winning the women's hammer with
her winning throw of 70.14 meters/230 feet, 1 inch. Gilreath owns the
best throw by an American this season with her toss of 71.14m/233-5
May 13 in Atlanta. LSU standout Brittany Henry was the runner-up with a
best of 68.17m/223-8.
Godina owns 2005 world list
After winning the 2005 USA Indoor title, and with it the inaugural USATF
Indoor Visa Championship Series crown, Godina entered Monday's
action owning the longest throw in the world this outdoor season with
his personal best toss of 22.20m/72 feet, 10 inches in winning the
adidas Track Classic last weekend.
Godina won Monday's competition with his third round throw of 21.93
meters/71 feet, 11.50 inches, the second-best performance in the world
this year. Godina's second-round throw of 21.84m/71-8 is the third-best
throw globally this season. Godina now owns the top four throws in the
world in 2005, and is the only winner of the men's shot put (5 titles) in
the history of the Payton Jordan U.S. Open. 2004 Olympic Trials finalist
Jamie Beyer was the runner-up with a best of 21.13m/69-4, with two-
time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson third with a throw of 20.72m/
67-11.75.
O'Hara posts personal best
2002 NCAA Outdoor champion Tracey O'Hara set a new personal best
in winning the women's pole vault with a clearance of 4.60m/15 feet, 1
inch, a performance that ranks as the second-best in the world this year.
Only Stacy Dragila, Mary Sauer and Kellie Suttle have jumped higher
than O'Hara in U.S. history. Dana Ellis of Canada was the runner-up
(4.60m/15-1), with Suttle placing third with a best of 4.25m/13-11.25.
2004 Olympic Games finalist Kenta Bell won the men's triple jump in his
final attempt on Monday, as he did in winning the adidas Track Classic
last week in Carson, Calif. Bell's winning leap of 16.93 meters, 55 feet,
6.50 inches is the fourth-best by an American this outdoor season.
Former University of Mississippi standout Marcus Jones was the runner-
up with a best of 16.57m/54-4.50.
In other men's field events, 2004 Olympic Trials finalist Jacob Pauli was
the surprise winner in the men's pole vault with his clearance of 5.75m/
18-10.25. Brad Walker was the runner-up with a best of 5.65m/18-6.50.
In long jump competition, former Southern University standout Brian
Johnson won the event with a best of 8.17m/26-9.75, with Miguel Pate
finishing as the runner-up in jumping the identical distance. Johnson
was the declared the victor due to his second-best jump outdistancing
Pate's. Their performances equal the second-best jumps by an
American this season.
Rome, Heaston, Upshaw win field events
Current U.S. leader and 2004 Olympian Jarred Rome won the men's
discus on his final attempt with a throw of 63.04 meters/206 feet, 10
inches. Rome's 2004 Olympic teammate Ian Waltz was the runner-up
with a best of 63.02m/206-9.
In women's field events, 2004 Olympian Kristin Heaston won the shot
put competition with a best of 18.55 meters/60 feet, 10 inches, the
second-best throw by an American this season. Current U.S. 2005
leader Liz Wanless (18.58m/60-11.50) was the runner-up with a best of
18.00m/59-0.75.
2004 Olympic finalist Grace Upshaw equaled the second-best
performance by an American this season with her winning leap of 6.73
meters/22 feet, 1 inch in the women's long jump. Brianna Glenn was the
runner-up with a best of 6.60m/21 feet, 8 inches.
Perry sets hurdles personal best
In women's action on the track, 2004 Olympic Trials finalist and Athens
Olympic Games heptathon competitor Michelle Perry set a lifetime best
in winning the 100m hurdles in 12.65 seconds. Her performance is the
second-fastest time by an American this year. 2004 Jamaican Olympian
Delloreen Ennis-London was the runner-up in 12:77, with 2005 USA
Indoor champion Danielle Carruthers placing third in 12.83.
In other women's running events, 2004 Olympic Games 200m finalist
Muna Lee won the 100 meters in 11.16 seconds, with Rachelle Boone-
Smith the runner-up in 11.23 and 2005 USATF Indoor Visa
Championships Series winner Angela Daigle third in 11.30.
2004 Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Frances Santin broke away from
the field coming down the final stretch to win the women's 800 meters in
2 minutes, 01.44 seconds, the second-fastest time by an American this
outdoor season. Amy Teteris of Canada was the runner-up in 2:01.90,
with Alice Schmidt finishing third in 2:02.71.
Capel, Arnold & Krummenacker win on the track
2003 World Outdoor 200m champion John Capel won the men's 100
meters in 10.08 seconds, the third-fastest time by an American this
season. Jamaica's Dwight Thomas was the runner-up in 10.12, with
Brian Lewis third in 10.16. In the men's 110m hurdles, Dominique
Arnold posted the second-fastest time by an American this season with
his win in 13.21 seconds. Arend Watkins was the runner-up in 13.35.
In other men's running events, 2003 World Indoor champion David
Krummenacker won the 800 meters in the second-fastest time by an
American this season of 1 minute, 45.19 seconds, and 2003 USA
champion Steve Slattery won the men's steeplechase in 8:38.89.
In Olympic Development events on Monday, 2004 Olympic Trials
1,500m finalist Scott McGowan won the men's 800 meters in 1 minute,
49.49 seconds, with former Stanford great and 2000 Olympic gold
medalist Gabe Jennings the runner-up in 1:49.67. Two Olympic
Development men's 1,500 meter races were contested Monday with Jim
Sorenson winning Section 1 in 3 minutes, 45.09 seconds, and Julius
Achon picking up the win in Section 2 in 3:41:58.