7/5/08

EUGENE -- Kara Goucher used a big kick at the end to run away with the 5,000 meter title Friday in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field.

Goucher accelerated off the final turn and passed Jennifer Rhines and Shalane Flanagan to win in 15 minutes, 1.02 seconds before an excited crowd of 20,936.

Flanagan, the U.S record-holder and the victor in last week's 10,000, led the threesome in a breakway with three laps to go. Rhines followed, and Goucher stayed a step behind, in third place. Relentless, Flanagan kept pushing the pace.