Deena Kastor wins the 8km USA Championships (© Victah Sailer)
New York, USADeena Kastor got her year off well by running away from the field to win the USA Women's 8k Championships in 25:05 on Saturday (26 March) in New York, narrowly missing out on a national record by three seconds and a $25,000 record making bonus.
Kastor, 32, the Olympic Marathon bronze medal winner from Athens, immediately took dead aim at Lynn Jenning's national mark of 25:02 which has stood since 1991. Opening a large lead in the very first steps of the race, which started and finished in the brand new Icahn Stadium, she was never was seriously threatened by the strong field gathered by New York Road Runners.
Fellow Olympian Jen Rhines was a distant second in 25:54 and another Olympian Amy Rudolph was third in 26:02.
“I knew I had it in mind to run a fast race,” said Kastor, whose last race was the 2004 ING New York City Marathon from which she dropped out injured at around the 15-mile mark. “My inspiration was to go for the 8K record. I went for it and just fell a little bit short but it was still a great way to open the year.”
Kastor already owns the USA national road racing marks at the 5K, 15km, Half Marathon and Marathon distances.
Rhines, 30, tried to stay up with Kastor but just didn't have the firepower to stay in contact. “I was hoping to give her a little bit more company for a little bit longer but knew once she got away that she wasn't coming back,” said Rhines, who pocketed $4000. Kastor won $6500 including time bonuses.
The men's race was won by Jorge Torres in his professional road racing debut in 22:47. The victory by Torres capped a big week for 24-year-old, who was the top American finisher at 13th in last week's IAAF World Cross Country Championships Short Race (4km).
“I didn't feel any pressure and believed in myself,” said Torres. “Just before the 5K mark I opened up a 30-40 metre lead and held on from there.” Torres won $5,500 including time bonus. Abdi Abdirahman was runner-up in 22:56 and was followed home by Anthony Famiglietti in 23:02.
Richard Finn for the IAAF
