Gargiulo Goes the Distance to Win 5,000

After concentrating on road racing and cross-country for the last three years, Tim Gargiulo of the Reebok Racing Team made a successful return to the track in the Asics Twilight Distance Classic at Birmingham High on Friday night.

Gargiulo, a 1990 graduate of Southern Methodist, ran a personal best of 13 minutes 46.12 seconds to win the 5,000 meters by more than 25 seconds.

With a goal of 13:45--an average of 66 seconds per 400--Gargiulo took the lead after 600 meters and never relinquished it.

“All I was thinking about was running 66 every lap,” Gargiulo said. “Everything I’ve been doing in practice has been at that tempo, whether it’s 1,000s, 800s or 400s, so I felt like I could run that fast.”

After coming through the first 1,000 meters in 2:46.0, Gargiulo ran successive kilometers of 2:45.7, 2:46.8 and 2:46.3 before running the final 1,000 in 2:41.3.

Gargiulo’s time, which lowered his previous best by four seconds, was particularly impressive because there was no one to push him for the last nine laps.

“I was hoping that there would be some other guys with me because it’s always easier to run fast when you’re in a pack, but I was confident I could do it on my own,” said Gargiulo, the United States’ top finisher in the World cross-country championships in Budapest, Hungary, in March.

The meet continues with races in the collegiate-open division tonight at 7:30.

Meredith Rainey of Footlocker, fifth in the women’s 800 in last year’s World Championships, won that event in 2:02.91.

The Harvard graduate followed Regina Jacobs of the Mizuno Track Club through the first 400 in 60.5 before moving into the lead with 250 meters left and pulling away.

Jacobs, a 1981 graduate of what is now Campbell Hall High and a two-time Olympian in the 1,500, finished second in 2:05.79.

Christian Cushing-murray of the Santa Monica Track Club was favored in the men’s 1,500 after running 3:39.96 to win last week’s Occidental Invitational, but the former North Hollywood High standout finished 13th in 3:45.0 after leading the field through 1,200 meters in 2:58.5.

Mark Dailey of Reebok was in fourth place entering the final homestretch, but finished strongly to win in 3:40.39.

Jamey Harris of Fresno State was second in 3:40.86, followed by Jim Sorensen (3:40.91), who was competing unattached.

Fran ten Bensel of New Balance won the women’s 1,500 in 4:17.48, followed by Cathy Palacios (4:18.91) of Asics.