Marsh Wins Steeplechase at Prefontaine

Henry Marsh, running his final race at Hayward Field, pulled ahead with 80 meters to go to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase Saturday at the Prefontaine track and field meet, a final tuneup for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Marsh, the 34-year-old American record-holder and eight-time national champion, was back in the pack most of the race.

But he pulled into contention on the backstretch, took the lead from Kregg Einspahr on the final hurdle and won in 8 minutes 34.74 seconds--more than 22 seconds off Marsh’s mark. Einspahr was second in 8:35.42.

Marsh, longtime crowd favorite at the University of Oregon track, is retiring at the end of this season.

Gwen Torrance blazed to a victory in the women’s 100 meters in a wind-aided 10.87 seconds. Sheila Echols was second in 11.14.

In the triple jump, Kenny Harrison beat world record-holder Willie Banks for the second week in a row. Harrison, from Brookfield, Wis., won at 56 feet 2 inches. Banks was second with a wind-aided 55-9.

Dwayne Evans won the men’s 200 meters in 21.01 seconds. South Korean Chang Jae Kuen was second in 21.68.