Jul 5, 2008 11:33 am US/Central
Minn. Native Earns Place In Olympic Team
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) ―
Minnesota native Kara Goucher has qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the women's 5,000 meters.
Goucher finished first ahead of Jennifer Rhines and Shalane Flanagan during the finals in Eugene, Oregon.
Goucher, who finished second in the 10,000 earlier at Olympic trials, finished the 5,000 in 15 minutes, 1.02 seconds to earn the chance to go for the rare double.
Flanagan, who owns the American record in the 5,000 and 10,000, finished third and also will have the chance to go for the double. She beat Goucher in the 10,000.
Rhines finished second and qualified three days after her 34th birthday.
Goucher, a native of Duluth, turns 30 on Wednesday.
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