LaFayette’s Shayne Culpepper joined her husband Alan on the 2004 Olympic Team by winning the 5000 Monday night in Sacramento. Alan won the Olympic Trials Marathon.
Culpepper, who was an Olympian in 2000 at 1500 meters, spent most of the 12 and a half laps in 5th place, tucked in behind race favorite, Marla Runyon. Runyon, who is leagally blind, had not been beaten by an American at 5000 meters in three years.
After a pedestrian first lap, covered in 79 seconds, newly turned pro Shalane Flanagan took the lead and began to run 73-75 second laps. Tucked in behind Flanagan were Amy Rudolph, Carrie Tollefson, Runyan, Culpepper, and Olympic Marathon team member Jen Rhines.
The race stayed this way for the next two miles as they passed 1600 in 4:58, 3K in 9:14, 3200 in 9:51, and 4K in 12.14.
Over the next 400 meters, Runyan and Culpepper moved into third and fourth, dropping Tollefson and Rhines off the back of the pack. With 400 to go (hit in 14:05), Flannagan started to push. Runyan passed her on the backstretch with Culpepper in tow.
As they rounded the final turn with 100 meters to go, Runyan had a 5 meter lead and looked to be holding form. But Culpepper found another gear with 20 meters to go and leaned for the win, beating Runyan by .07 seconds, 15:07.41 to 15:07.48. CUlpepper and Runyan had run the last lap in a balzinf 62 seconds. Flannagan hung for the third spot in 15:10.32.
“It was a tough race, but I finished strong. My main focus was holding onto the top three to make the team,” Culpepper said after the race.
“I knew she was there, but I didn’t know she was right there,” Runyan said. “I couldn’t do much about it.”
Culpepper added, “I am thrilled with bringing home the win!”
Other Colorado runners who competed in Monday night included former CU Buff Jorge Torres who finished seventh in his heat of the 5000 to qualify for Thursday’s final. Former Stanford Cardinal and Grand Junction resident Seth Hejny also qualified for the 5000 final. Boulder’s Adam Goucher finished tenth in his heat of the 5000 and did not make the final. Steve Slattery and Sandu Rebenciuc, both of Boulder, qualified for the 3000 Steplechase final by finishing second and fouth in their respective heats.
For special coverage of the Olympic Trials, please click here.
For full results of the Olympic Trials, please vitis USATF.org.