Ethiopia's Sentayehu Ejigu win in the 5,000 meters at the Reebok Games
Ethiopia's Sentayehu Ejigu (left) edges Marblehead's
Shalane Flanagan by inches for the win in the 5,000 meters
at the Reebok Games, but Flanagan got the American
record. (Mary Schwalm/Associated Press)
09 February, 2009
The Boston Globe - Upon finishing a decent workout last month at altitude in Mexico, Shalane Flanagan placed a call to Reebok Boston Indoor Games director Mark Wetmore. She thought she could break the American indoor record in the 5,000 on the Reggie Lewis Center track and asked Wetmore if he could help make it happen.
Wetmore went about assembling a strong field. Flanagan focused on her training and targeted the meet for a record run.
Last night before 4,265 fans eager to cheer the decorated distance runner from Marblehead, Flanagan set the American record in 14 minutes 47.62 seconds, smashing the old mark by 20 seconds.
It was the second American record to fall last night after pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski cleared 15 feet 9 3/4 inches. Both women were awarded $25,000 performance bonuses for breaking American records. Flanagan also earned $2,500 as the Visa Athlete of the Meet, but the record was what she really cared about.
"I took a look at the record for the indoor 5K and thought, 'Well, this is something that may be attainable, let's see if Mark is even into having a 5K and see where it goes and see how my fitness progresses,' " said Flanagan. "He started to work on it and it started to materialize.
"We had great ladies in the race, a great pace-setter. I felt good most of the way."
Flanagan and winner Sentayehu Ejigu were awarded the same time, but it was judged that Ejigu edged Flanagan by inches at the finish line. The shared time made Ejigu and Flanagan the fourth- and fifth-best performers of all time in the indoor 5,000.
The race was so close that Flanagan thought she had won after watching a replay on a big-screen TV overhanging the track. Still, Flanagan hugged and thanked Ejigu.
"If I had been out there alone after the rabbit stepped off, I may have gotten the record just based on my strength. But to have someone right on me and just breathing down my neck, it's a great motivator to keep pushing myself.
"I was appreciative of the fact that she hung in there and made me work for it. It takes more than one person to set records."
Especially by as wide a margin as Flanagan did. The previous record was set by Marla Runyan in 2001.
Flanagan wasn't sure she could run a sub-15-minute race after only two track workouts in Mexico.
"I was surprised," said Flanagan. "But my husband [her coach and manager, Steve Edwards] knows the workouts I've been doing. He's had a quiet confidence about my fitness. I've been a nervous wreck.
"I wasn't quite sure of where my fitness was because we were at altitude. And the times on the track aren't necessarily always indicative of sea-level times. It was kind of throwing a dart in the dark."
Circling the Reggie Lewis track, Flanagan looked far from a nervous wreck. Her calm, controlled exterior was reminiscent of the way she looked during her bronze medal run in the 10,000 at last summer's Beijing Olympics. The Boston Indoor Games marked Flanagan's first competition since then.
Unlike the Olympics, Flanagan had an entourage of about 30 family and friends in the crowd. Growing up in the area, Flanagan long imagined a scenario like the one she enjoyed last night.
"I dreamed of these kinds of moments," she said. "I remember in high school coming and watching this meet. And watching unbelievable runners and thinking, 'Man, I would just die to even be in this race, let alone set records.' So I've come a long way from sitting in the stands and watching the athletes perform."
And Flanagan sees herself with a long way to go in the sport. She will focus on the 5,000 during the outdoor season and running at a world-record pace with the best runners.
"I'm trying to keep things fun and motivating," said Flanagan. "I hope to be in this sport for another 8-10 years and dream up some fun ways to motivate myself. [Going for the indoor record] was one of them."