Where Your Dreams Become Reality
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Deena Kastor to Defend 10k Title At 2005 USATF Nationals Despite sustaining a stress reaction to her left foot last month, Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor has decided to defend* her U.S. 10,000m title Friday night in Carson, Calif. "I am hanging onto Jen for dear life and as long as possible!" Kastor wrote in an e-mail to RRW referring to training partner, Jen Rhines, who is a favorite to finish on the podium Friday. Kastor, 32, had been running on an underwater treadmill and riding a spin bike to maintain her fitness after rolling her ankle "on either a pine cone or a rock in the front yard," as she told the story to the Ventura County Star last week. She only began running outside again about two weeks ago. Team USA California coach, Terrence Mahon, told RRW earlier that Kastor would not compete unless she felt fit enough to finish in the top-3 and make the U.S. team for the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki. Apparently, she feels ready enough for that task. "I can't believe I've healed so quickly," Kastor added. Under the U.S. system, athletes cannot be selected for the national team unless they compete in the national championship meet. The top-3 finishers in each event are granted a provisional spot on the world championships team (they may still need to achieve the IAAF "A" standard qualifying time, however). Kastor is already qualified (she ran 31:09.65 last summer), and could even get on the team if she finishes outside of the top-3 IF none of the finishers above her achieve the qualifying mark by the deadline set by USATF. The U.S. Outdoor Championships commence on Thursday in Carson, which is located between Los Angeles and Long Beach. _______ *Technically, Kastor is the U.S. Olympic Trials champion; the Trials are held instead of the national championships in Olympic years
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Cross Country Spikes 10% off Injured?
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