Daniel Lincoln has defended his 3,000 m steeplechase title at the US
Championships in Carson (California). He won the event with a strong
finish in 8:17.27 minutes. Anthony Famiglietti was second (8:20.49)
while Steve Slattery (8:25.52) took third place.
The 1,500 m women’s final ended with a surprise win for Treniere
Clement. Pressure was on the women since hardly any in the field had
run the qualifying standard for Helsinki. And they did not in the final
as well. Jennifer Toomey stormed from last to first place in the third
lap but could not hold on. Clement came passed and won with 4:06.73
minutes. “I have worked on my speed for the whole year and knew I would
be very quick”, Clement said. She has already run the qualifying
standard for the 800 m but opted for the 1,500 m in the championships.
While Toomey was second with 4:07.39 Amy Mortimer took third
place (4:07.58). „I hope that I am able to run the qualifying time in
Europe in time“, Toomey said.
The men have the same problems at this distance. While 22 year-old
Alan Webb won the title with 3:41.97 minutes he also has not beaten the
qualifying standard at 1,500 m. “The pace of the final was slower than
expected. So I was happy to have won in the end”, Alan Webb said. With
a fine finish Christopher Lukezic (3:42.06) took second place while Rob
Myers was third (3:42.27).
For the first time the women will run the 3,000 m steeplechase at
the World Championships. Elizabeth Jackson won the trials with 9:39.78
minutes. Lisa Galaviz was second (9:40.58) while Carrie Messner took
third with 9:41.37. All three beat the qualifying time of 9:50.00. “It
was my plan to stick with the leader, because I knew I would be strong
in the second part of the race”, Elizabeth Jackson said.
Favourite Hazel Clark took the 800 metres with 1:59.74 minutes. „I have
trained with Treniere Clement (1500 m winner) and we helped each
other“, Hazel Clark said. In the final part of the race Hazel Clark and
Kameisha Bennett moved ahead. Bennet came in second with 2:00.59
minutes and just missed the qualifying time of 2:00.00. Alice Schmidt
was third with 2:02.09. „I am in fine form and quite excited looking
ahead to the World Championships”, Hazel Clark said.
Khadevis Robinson was the winner of the men’s 800 m with 1:45.27
minutes. He had been second for three years in a row before. “It is a
great feeling to have won”, he said. In an exciting race world indoor
champion David Krummenacker came in second with 1:46.80 while Kevin
Hicks was third (1:46.99).