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USATF News & Notes
Volume 3, Number 34 April 8, 2002
Drossin sets world record at Carlsbad
Deena Drossin proved once again on Sunday that she is one of the world�s top
distance runners by running the fastest 5,000m ever on the roads at the 2002
Carlsbad 5000.
Drossin took control early with a 4 minute, 45 second first mile and
increased her lead with a 4:47 uphill second mile. She won the race going
away in 14:54, bettering the previous world-best time of 14:57 set by Great
Britain�s Paula Radcliffe on September 2, 2001 in London. Drossin is the
first American woman to set the 5K world road mark since PattiSue Plumer ran
15:31 at Carlsbad in 1986. Drossin, who pocketed $20,000 for her efforts on
Sunday, bettered her own U.S. record of 15:08 set on March 26, 2000 at
Carlsbad.
Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia was second in 15:19, followed by fellow
Ethiopians Werknesh Kidane (3rd-15:20), Kuma Eyerusalem (4th-15:24) and
American Colleen De Reuck (5th-15:30). Drossin and De Reuck led the U.S. to
the women�s 8K team silver medal at last month�s 2002 IAAF World Cross
Country Championships in Dublin, where Drossin won the individual silver
medal and De Reuck, who won Carlsbad in 1993, won the bronze.
Drossin�s performance is the 11th world record and eighth U.S. record in the
history of the Carlsbad 5000, which featured 12,700 participants in this
year�s race.
Kenyan Sammy Kipketer won his third Carlsbad in a row in 13:17, the seventh
fastest 5K road time ever. He was followed by countrymen Luke Kipkoskei
(2nd-13:30) and Leonard Mucheru (3rd-13:31). U.S. 10,000m record holder Meb
Keflezighi was 4th in 13:34.
Broe wins U.S. 8K road title
In running the fifth fastest time in U.S. history, steeplechase and short
course cross country specialist Tim Broe showed his increased range in
beating many of America�s best at the USA Men�s 8K Championships Saturday at
New York�s Central Park.
Broe used a slow pace to his advantage, lying in wait until the final 400
meters to sprint by Dan Browne to win in 22:26. Browne was the runner-up in
22:29, followed by Anthony Famiglietti (3rd-22:30), Abdi Abdirahman
(4th-22:42), Matt Downin (5th-22:53) and Clint Wells (6th-22:54).
�I leached off these guys the whole way, so I felt pretty good with a mile
to go,� said Broe. �I�m really working this year on just sitting back and
letting other people do the work and racing the last 200 meters. I�m tired
of getting passed at the finish.�
Broe�s performance over the weekend adds to his impressive 2002 list of
accomplishments, which include winning his second consecutive U.S. men�s 4K
cross country title, winning his second straight U.S. indoor 3000m title and
setting the U.S. indoor 3000m record of 7:39.23 on January 27 in Boston.
After two races, the 2002 USA Running Circuit point standings are as
follows:
1. Abdi Abdirahman, Tucson, Arizona - 19 points; 2. Meb Keflezighi, San
Diego, Calif., and Tim Broe, Ann Arbor, Mich. -15; 4. Dan Browne, Portland,
Ore. � 12. 5. Clint Wells, Boulder, Colo. � 11; 6. Alan Culpepper,
Louisville, Colo., and Anthony Famiglietti, Knoxville, Tenn. � 10; 8. Chris
Graff, Palo Alto, Calif., and Nolan Swanson, Eugene, Ore. � 7; 10. Matt
Downin, Hampstead, N.H. � 6.
Toth posts world leader in shot put
Kevin Toth, who has been ranked in the top ten in the U.S. every year since
1992, posted the best shot put mark in the world this outdoor season
Saturday at the Ice Breaker Open in Kent, Ohio.
Toth won the event with a best of 21.42 meters, 70 feet, 3.50 inches, his
best outdoor performance since throwing 21.46m/70-5 in 2000. Toth�s 2001
best was 20.43m/67-0.5 in Indianapolis on July 22.
Setnes elected AUA President
Kevin Setnes of Eagle, Wisconsin, has been elected president of the American
Ultrarunning Association, taking over for Lin Gentling.
Setnes, one of the dominant American ultrarunners of the 1990s, currently
serves as co-chair, with Lorraine Gersitz, of the USATF MUT
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council. He is also the AUA representative to
Running USA, the director of the USA-MUT National Ultra Team Program and he
is a personal coach to many top American ultrarunners.
Also elected to AUA Executive Board positions were Scott Eppelman, of
Coppell, Texas, as secretary and Lin Gentling as Treasurer. Dan Brannen, of
Morristown, New Jersey, was re-appointed by Setnes to another term as the
organization's executive director.
Couch, Seagrave wed
Two-time U.S. Olympian Sharon Couch married Loren Seagrave on April 6 in
Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Currently the secretary of USATF's Athletes' Advisory Council, Couch was a
member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1992 as a long jumper, placing sixth.
While being coached by Paul Doyle, she completed in the 100-meter hurdles at
the 2000 Olympic Games.
Seagrave won five NCAA team titles as head women's track coach at Louisiana
State University from 1983-1989. Athletes he has coached include Donovan
Bailey, Andre Cason, Pauline Davis, Sheila Echols, Sandra Farmer-Patrick,
Esther Jones, Dawn Sowell, Tanajalyn Stanley, and Schowanda Williams. He
currently is director of the International Performance Institute at the IMG
Academies on the Bollettieri Campus in Bradenton, Florida.
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