In pouring rain at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Galen Rupp won the Men’s 10,000m at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Track and Field and punched his ticket to London. The Oregon Duck, racing on his home track, finished in a time of 27:25.33.
2012 U.S. Track & Field Trials: Galen Rupp Wins Men’s 10,000m, Dathan Ritzenhein Is London Bound
Matt Tegenkamp (27:33.94) finished second, followed by Dathan “Ritz” Ritzenhein in third. In addition to finishing in the top three, Ritz needed to run an “A” standard time (27:45) to qualify, and he did just that, crossing the finish line in 27:36.09. All three beat Meb Keflezighi’s Olympic trials record and will represent Team USA in the 10,000m in London.
Chris Derrick just missed out, finishing fourth in 27:40.23.
For Ritz, it’s truly special moment -- he finished fourth in the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials, missing a spot in London by just eight seconds.
Rupp and Ritz, training partners and good friends, took turns leading the race from the beginning -- the plan was to have Rupp pace Ritz to an Olympic-qualifying time, and it worked perfectly.
Rupp gives Team USA a real chance at winning its first medal in the 10,000m since 1964. He finished 13th in the event at Beijing.
The men’s 10,000m finals at the 2012 Summer Olympics is scheduled for Aug. 4.
2012 U.S. 10,000m Team:
Men:
Galen Rupp
Matt Tegenkamp
Dathan Ritzenhein
Stay with our StoryStream for the latest from the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field in Eugene as Team USA is decided.
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