Olympic Trials Day 4: Long Distance Survival Tests

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

SPLASH LANDING! In the first round of the 3000-meter steeplechase, Sara Hall (far right) leads a pack of women up and over the water hazard.
Hall, wife of London-bound marathoner Ryan Hall, finished with a time of 9:44.55 and qualifying for Friday's final.
Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

HIGH FLYERS Before a crowd of more than 20,000 at Hayward Field Monday night, Steve Slattery (right) and Evan Jager bound over the water hazard in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase. Jager qualified fifth for Thursday's final with a time of 8:30.6; Slattery failed to move on.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

FAN FAVORITE Before the 5000-meter prelims, Eugene resident Lauren Fleshman acknowledges the hometown crowd. Even with a leg injury that has hobbled her since the fall, Fleshman squeaked into the final with a 15:51.53. "Thursday is an unexpected treat," Fleshman said later.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Abbey D'Agostino, left, narrowly beats Julie Culley in the prelims of the women's 5000 meters. The two women recorded the best times of the night; D'Agostino posted a 15:41.14, Culley had a 15:41.29.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

NOT HER NIGHT Maggie Vessey, in lane 7, breaks from the start of the women's 800 meters. By the time the race was over, Vessey would drift to eighth place. (Alysia Montano, in lane 5, won the race in 1:59.08, securing her spot at the London Olympics.)

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

BACK FOR MORE On Opening Night of the Trials, Galen Rupp won the 10,000 meters in front of his hometown crowd. On Day 4 he returns for the prelims of the 5000. His finishing time of 13:46.82 put him in tenth place among the qualifiers for Thursday's final.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

MAN OF OREGON Elijah Greer, a senior at Oregon, prepares to race in the 800 meters. Greer finished in sixth place, with a time of 1:45.40. Nick Symmonds, the eventual winner, stands in lane 3.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

IN THE NICK OF TIME With the rest of the field giving chase, Nick Symmonds wins the 800 meters and earns a spot on the Olympic team. His finishing time of 1:43.92 is a Hayward mark.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler

IS THAT WHO WE THINK IT IS? Yes, it's Meb Keflezighi, in Euguene to spectate, not compete. Back in January, the silver-medalist in the 2004 Olympic Marathon won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston. He'll be competing in London.

Photo by Robert Reese
Text by Charles Butler