After Winning 1,500, Jacobs Is in Olympics for Long Run

Back-to-back they ran 5,000 meters Friday night, striding in different directions--Regina Jacobs all the way to a new American record, Bob Kennedy all the way off the U.S. Olympic team.

Jacobs, having won the women’s 1,500-meter championship at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Sunday, completed a record-breaking double by winning the women’s 5,000-meter final in 14 minutes 45.35 seconds, breaking her record of 14:52.49 by nearly seven seconds.

Minutes earlier, Kennedy, America’s premier male middle-distance runner, had finished sixth in the 5,000 final after a strategic gamble to push the race’s pace backfired on him.

“I wanted people to make a decision early, to see if they were going to hurt all the way,” said Kennedy, a two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. champion in the event. “Three years ago, I would’ve bet no one would’ve gone out with me at all. But this is a new breed. These young runners are more aggressive.

“I was surprised--a lot of them went out with me. And because they did, I’m off the team.”

Still feeling the effects of a May car accident that left him with a bruised spine and sidelined him for six weeks, Kennedy went out alone at 1,600 meters, built a 20-meter lead by the 2,000-meter mark, but faded badly--finishing at 13:42.15, more than 15 seconds behind winner Adam Goucher, who finished in 13:27.06.

Qualifying for the second and third spots on the men’s 5,000-meter team were Brad Hauser (13:27.31) and Nick Rogers (13.29.48).

Jacobs, a four-time Olympian at 1,500 meters, qualified for her first Olympic 5,000-meter team in spectacular fashion, recording the fastest time in the world this year and the 17th-fastest mark of all-time.

“She ran a great race,” said Deena Drossin, who placed second to Jacobs at 15:11.55 a week after winning the women’s 10,000-meter title on July 14. “I tried to make it a strong pace from the start, but I didn’t have it out there today. I felt the 10,000 in my legs once the race got underway.”

Jacobs credited Drossin for assisting her record run by setting a fast pace.

“I pretended that when they said, ‘Deena!’ that they were saying, ‘Geena!’ ” Jacobs said.

“I knew I was going to have to run tonight,” Jacobs said. “I don’t know how many went under 15:10, but they were really running. I knew was going to have to race.”

Having qualified to compete in two events in Sydney, Jacobs said her initial thought is to concentrate solely on the 1,500.

” I’m still going to run the 1,500,” she said. “A lot of people say [the 5,000] is my event and ask me why I’m not doing it [at the Olympics]. But I have a lot of unfinished business in the 1,500. That’s my dream, to get an Olympic medal in the 1,500 and to get under [Mary Slaney’s] record.”

A reporter then mentioned that Jacobs’ coach and husband, Tom Craig, said there was still a chance his wife would run both events in Australia.

“There goes our marital bliss,” Jacobs joked. “Call the Hyatt and have the room key changed. That makes me nervous.”

*

Tom Pappas overcame two-time defending U.S. champion Chris Huffins in the final two events to win his first national decathlon title with a personal-best 8,467 points--182 points ahead of Huffins (8,285).

Huffins, world bronze medalist in 1999, entered the ninth event, the javelin throw, with an 18-point lead over Pappas, a former NCAA champion from Tennessee. Pappas moved ahead for good after the javelin, taking a 119-point lead into the 1,500-meter run, where he secured the victory.

Kip Janvrin took the third spot on the U.S. team with 8,057 points.

*

Lance Deal qualified for his fourth Olympics with a decisive victory in the men’s hammer throw, recording the five best throws of the day before fouling on his sixth attempt. Deal’s best effort was 258 feet 9 inches on his third throw.

Kevin McMahon took second with a best of 240-6. Jud Logan placed third at 233, below the Olympic qualifying standard. Logan will have until Sept. 11 to reach the standard.

*

Connie Price-Smith won her 11th U.S. women’s shotput title and qualified for her fourth Olympics with a throw of 61 feet 1 1/2 inches. Jesseca Cross placed second at 58-2 1/2 and Dawn Dumble was third at 57-1. Dumble lacks the Olympic qualifying standard, so she must attain that mark by Sept. 11 to earn a spot on the Olympic team.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

* Where: Sacramento. * TV: 10 a.m., Channel 4.

TODAY’S EVENTS

8 a.m.--Men’s 20K walk final

9:45 a.m.--Men’s discus qualifying

9:45 a.m.--Women’s 100 hurdles

10:15 a.m.--Women’s triple jump final

10:18 a.m.--Men’s 110 hurdles

10:51 a.m.--Women’s 200

11:19 a.m.--Men’s 200

11:50 a.m.--Men’s 400 hurdles final

*

FRIDAY’S FINALS

MEN’S HAMMER THROW

1. Lance Deal: 258-9

2. Kevin McMahon: 240-6

3. Jud Logan: *233-0

MEN’S 5,000

1. Adam Goucher: 13:27.06

2. Brad Hauser: 13:27.31

3. Nick Rogers: *13:29.48

MEN’S DECATHLON

1. Tom Pappas: 8,467

2. Chris Huffins: 8,285

3. Kip Janvrin: 8,057

WOMEN’S 5,000

1. Regina Jacobs: 14:45.35

2. Deena Drossin: 15:11.55

3. Elva Dryer: 15:12.07

WOMEN’S SHOTPUT

1. Connie Price-Smith: 61-1 1/2

2. Jesseca Cross: 58-2 1/2

3. Dawn Dumble: *57-1

* Doesn’t meet Olympic qualifying standard.