2004 Olympic Trials: Men's Steeplechase Qualifying
July 12, 2004
LetsRun.com

The men's steeplechase qualifying was on the surface was uneventful on Monday night, although there was one near hidden calamity. Heading into the steeplechase prelims, the event was seen by most observers as being a 4 way battle (last year's champ Steve Slattery, 1996 Olympian Robert Gary, 2002 US champ Anthony Famiglietti, and former NCAA champ Daniel Lincoln) for 3 Olympic spots.

The prelims did nothing to change that assessment.

Prelim #1 was the Anthony Famiglietti show. After lap one he was running all alone with Steve Slattery the only one even managing to stay close. It appeared to be an easy run for Fam to make the finals, but what could not be seen was that Fam's shoe had come untied with a mile to go. He said he tried to put a little extra distance on the field in case the shoe came completely off. To the observers in the stands, it looked like Fam was sailing into the finals as he remained in front the whole way.  Fam didn't kick hard the final lap and finished in 8:26.51 and he still needs the Olympic qualifier of 8:24.6. Slattery was an easy 2nd and Isaiah Festa and Jordan Desilets got the final automatic qualifying spots.

In Heat 2, Robert Gary and Dan Lincoln waltzed to the finals. They led virtually the entire way after the first couple of laps. Jared Cordes was the only run to stay with them but the first two were all alone looking around the final few laps. Lincoln would get the win in 8:26.57 with Gary right behind. Cordes finished in 3rd and a fast closing Sandu Rebenciuc got the final automatic qualifier.

Steve Slatttery Commenting After Advancing To The Steeplechase Finals
"I felt good you know. I did what I had to do. Fam was pushing it out (hard) a lap longer than we needed to. I was looking over my shoulder and thinking, '(In the 2nd heat), Lincoln and Gary could go out there and run 9 minutes and save it all up (for the final).' When you are in the first heat, you have to kind of do what you think is enough but you don't want to push it too far. 8:28 = I think that's enough so it was all right.

LRC: What are you going to do the next few days?
"Think nasty thoughts. It's my shot. There is no way to go into the biggest race of your life better than just pissed of and ready to kill people and that's how I'm going in. I'm going in there ready to run mentally."

Robert Gary Commenting After Also Advancing To The Steeplechase- "I tried not to lead the whole way. I wanted to get in a good position because I know the wheels are a bit down....I wanted to get in a good rhythm. The way to get in trouble in the steeple is to try to dog it - maybe just the last lap."

On the final...."There's lots of guys. I just want to keep it close and put on a show."

Men 3000 Meter Steeplechase
================================================================
       World: W 7:53.17  8/16/2002   Brahim Boulami, MAR
    American: A 8:09.17  8/28/1985   Henry Marsh, Athletics West
     Stadium:   8:15.77  7/20/2000   Pascal Dobert, Nike
    Name                    Year Team                   Prelims
================================================================
Heat  1
  1 Anthoney Famiglietti         adidas                 8:26.51Q
  2 Steve Slattery               Nike                   8:28.85Q
  3 Isaiah Festa                 Wisconsin Ru           8:30.89Q
  4 Jordan Desilets              Eastern Michigan       8:31.25Q
  5 Darin Shearer                Unattached             8:32.20q
  6 Raymond Hughes               Nike                   8:33.33q
  7 Jacques Sallberg             Unattached             8:35.27q
  8 Michael DiGennaro            Unattached             8:36.48
  9 Andy Smith                   N. Carolina St.        8:38.35
 10 Carl Blackhurst              Unattached             8:39.29
 11 Tom Chorny                   Nike                   8:47.30
 12 Thomas Brooks                Unattached             8:49.40
Heat  2
  1 Daniel Lincoln               Nike                   8:26.57Q
  2 Robert Gary                  adidas                 8:27.00Q
  3 Jared Cordes                 Wisconsin Ru           8:30.01Q
  4 Sandu Rebenciuc              U.S. Army              8:30.45Q
  5 John Mortimer                Boston AA              8:32.50q
  6 David Cullum                 Nike Farm Team         8:33.43q
  7 Kevin Barra                  Unattached             8:35.19q
  8 Michael Spence               Unattached             8:36.68
  9 Ian Dobson                   Stanford               8:40.08
 10 Christopher Dugan            Unattached             8:47.11
 11 Lyle Weese                   Team Usa Min           8:52.71
 12 Benjamin Bruce               Unattached             8:57.64
================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                   Prelims
================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Anthoney Famiglietti         adidas                 8:26.51Q
  2 Daniel Lincoln               Nike                   8:26.57Q
  3 Robert Gary                  adidas                 8:27.00Q
  4 Steve Slattery               Nike                   8:28.85Q
  5 Jared Cordes                 Wisconsin Ru           8:30.01Q
  6 Isaiah Festa                 Wisconsin Ru           8:30.89Q
  7 Sandu Rebenciuc              U.S. Army              8:30.45Q
  8 Jordan Desilets              Eastern Michigan       8:31.25Q
  9 Darin Shearer                Unattached             8:32.20q
 10 John Mortimer                Boston AA              8:32.50q
 11 Raymond Hughes               Nike                   8:33.33q
 12 David Cullum                 Nike Farm Team         8:33.43q
 13 Kevin Barra                  Unattached             8:35.19q
 14 Jacques Sallberg             Unattached             8:35.27q
 15 Michael DiGennaro            Unattached             8:36.48
 16 Michael Spence               Unattached             8:36.68
 17 Andy Smith                   N. Carolina St.        8:38.35
 18 Carl Blackhurst              Unattached             8:39.29
 19 Ian Dobson                   Stanford               8:40.08
 20 Christopher Dugan            Unattached             8:47.11
 21 Tom Chorny                   Nike                   8:47.30
 22 Thomas Brooks                Unattached             8:49.40
 23 Lyle Weese                   Team Usa Min           8:52.71
 24 Benjamin Bruce               Unattached             8:57.64

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