Kara Goucher entered in the 5000 at UW Invitational...
Goucher, a 2008 Olympian, is returning to the racing wars after a maternity leave last season and prepping for this April's Boston Marathon. She raced two weeks ago at the Rock 'n Roll Arizona Half Marathon in Phoenix on January 16th, running 1:14:02, losing to Madai Perez of Mexico, who ran 1:11:49.
In the days before the race, Goucher spent two nights in a Portland hospital, as 16-week old son Colt had fluid drained from an abscess on his jaw, which affected her final race prep. Nonetheless, she didn't use it as an excuse two weeks ago.
“I don’t like to lose and I don’t like to not run fast, I’m definitely ready to get home and work out. It’s motivating for sure,” said Goucher, after the race in Phoenix. “I had a great experience, but it stings a little. I’m not used to…not only losing, but being so far out of it. I accomplished what I needed to today, but I’m leaving here hungrier than when I arrived.”
In Friday's 5000, she'll face a field that included NCAA Division II cross country runner-up Sarah Porter of Western Washington and Natty Plunkett of Seattle Pacific, along with Oregon's Brownyn Crossman and Seattle University's Lauren Hammerle and Hannah Mittelstaedt.
The two-day meet begins at 3 p.m. with the start of the pentathlon and heptathlon. Renton native Jeremy Taiwo, the Pac-10 decathlon runner-up last year, will compete in his first multi of the year against a strong field that includes Cal's Michael Morrison, the NCAA decathlon runner-up last year, former Seattle Pacific standout Chris Randolph, NCAA All American Nick Trubachik from Portland State, and high school All American Dakotah Keys, who now attends Oregon.
The women's pentathlon is highlighted by defending NCAA pentathlon and heptathlon champion Brianne Theisen of Oregon, who will match up against fellow Canadian Olympian Ruky Abdulai.
Relays are the order on the track with the women's 4 x 800 meters and a very competitive distance medley (1200-400-800-1600) relays taking place Friday.
Washington will run a young but talented women's team made up of sophomore Justine Johnson, and freshmen Michelle Fero, Mackenzie Carter, and Katie Flood, the 2010 Pac-10 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year.
Oregon and BYU also enter excellent women's teams, with the Ducks running Alex Kosinski, prep All American Laura Roesler and Jordan Hasay on their squad.
The Husky men's quartet of Ryan Soberanis, Colton Dunn, Ryan Styrk, and James Cameron will contend with a strong Oregon and UCLA foursomes, and four talented professionals from the Oregon Track Club.
Oregon's DMR squad will feature Rainier Beach grad and world junior champs 4 x 400 gold medalist Michael Berry.
Start lists for the meet are now available here.
Meanwhile, Bernard Lagat spoke briefly with Runner's World writer Peter Gambaccini in advance of Friday's Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York, where he aims for his ninth win at Madison Square Garden.
"I'm excited to be back here. One of the reasons to come to New York is to bring my son to play in the snow. This is a good time for him; he loved it last night."
"I've been training well. I know in order for me to win again, to win it for the ninth time, I have to be stronger than last year. The workouts that I've been doing (are) specifically for this race, training with Coach James Li and my training partner, Boaz Lelang, who ran 1:42 (for 800) last year."
The Millrose Games will be televised Friday night on ESPN2 from 5-7 pm, pacific time.
You can read the full piece here.
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