USATF Championships Preview - Women's 5000m

EDITOR'S NOTE: AnnGaff and LesleyHiggins are writing these previews for the USA Track & Field Championships, taking place this weekend in Eugene, OR, based on their firsthand Track & Field experience. Gaffigan and Higgins competed against each other in college, with Gaffigan representing the Nebraska Huskers and Higgins representing the Colorado Buffs. Both women competed last year in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. This year, the two are spectators-from-afar of the USATF Championships/World Team Trials; Higgins is out with a broken foot and Gaffigan gave birth to a baby girl in May.

Final on Friday, June 26 at 7:50pm

top-10 entry times (that will actually likely run):

Shalane Flanagan 14:59.69
Kara Goucher 15:00.98
Jennifer Barringer 15:01.70
Jennifer Rhines 15:02.02
Shannon Rowbury 15:12.95
Sara Slattery 15:18.88
Lauren Fleshman 15:23.18
Maureen McCandless 15:34.31
Julie Culley 15:34.43
Sara Hall 15:34.68
Carrie Tollefson 15:35.33
Rebecca Donaghue 15:35.48
Emily Brown 15:37.32
Angela Bizzarri 15:37.39

My Picks:

1. Kara Goucher
2. Jennifer Rhines
3. Julie Culley
4. Sara Hall
5. Carrie Tollefson
6. Rebecca Donaghue

If everyone was definitely running, I would have probably picked Barringer for the win. She hasn't run quite as fast as Goucher's PR yet, but with a significantly faster 1500m time, I think she could have a good day and pop a time right around 14:45. However, I don't think Barringer will come back after the steeplechase prelim, which is the race right before. Unless she is going to no-show in the steeplechase and make a surprise appearance in the 5000m? My predicting skills are not ready to handle mind-reading.

Shalane was quoted as saying that she will not double at this meet, and so I have left her off the list. Fleshman has stated that she does not feel ready enough yet to race, and also will not be on the starting line. I would be shocked if Rowbury gambled with a win in the 1500m by racing the 5000m, I think she entered as a back-up plan in case something went wrong in the 1500m prelims. Sara Slattery's season has been plagued with health issues, including appendicitis, but has said she is starting to feel much better.

So, now on to who I did pick: Goucher seems like a given considering her dominance with Flanagan last year, but as we saw last night, no one can count on their 2008 season to get them through 2009. I think Jen Rhines is going to put up a fight as she always does, but in the end I see Goucher pulling away.

Culley is my pick for the 3rd World team member, and not just because she is my NYAC teammate. She had a strong indoor season and was the first US runner at World XC, but then started her outdoor season late due to an achilles flair-up. This is exactly why I have picked her for third, I find that some times minor injuries are a blessing in disguise, and she will have an advantage over some of the other runners who have had a very long, hard season.

Sara Hall is a fighter and is rarely ever not close to the front, so I expect her to be up there, but not quite enough to contend for the win.

USATF Championships Schedule, Results & Quotes

USATF Championships Day 1 Recap

USATF Championships Day 2 Recap

USATF Championships Day 3 Recap

USATF Championships Day 4 Recap

More USATF Championships Previews:

• Discus
• Hammer
• High Jump
• Javelin
• Long Jump
• Pole Vault
• Triple Jump
• Shot Put
• Heptathlon
• 100m
• 100m Hurdles
• 200m
• 400m
• 400m Hurdles
• 800m
• 1500m
• 3000m Steeplechase
• 5000m
• 10,000m

Watch the USATF Championships:

On TV:

ESPN, June 26, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET
ESPN, June 27, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET
NBC, June 28, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET

Online:

LIVE All Weekend at Flotrack.org

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