Spokane native John Dressel breaks 28 minutes in 10000 at The Ten...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California--Spokane native John Dressel (Paul Merca photo) set a personal best in the 10000 meters in the uber-competitive The Ten Sunday night at JSerra Catholic HS Sunday night.

Dressel, a recent graduate of the University of Colorado, who now competes for the North Carolina based Puma Elite, broke 28 minutes for the first time in his career, running 27:57.51 to finish 18th.

US Olympian Grant Fisher of the Portland based Nike Bowerman TC broke Galen Rupp's American record by running 26:33.84, obliterating Rupp's record of 26:44.36 by almost 11 seconds.

Such was the depth of the race that the top eight finishers all broke the world championships qualifying standard of 27:28.00.

The women's 10000 was just as deep, with the top nine finishers, led by US Olympian Elise Cranny of the Nike Bowerman TC, who won in 30:14.66, all under the world championships standard of 31:25.00

One week after setting a personal best in the mile at the Boston University Last Chance meet, David Ribich of the Brooks Beasts finished fifth in the 1500.

Ribich ran 3:41.80, as George Beamish of New Zealand and the Boulder-based On Athletics Club won in 3:36.53 in an early outdoor attempt to hit the world championships standard of 3:35.00.

Complete results of The Ten is available here.

In Hastings, New Zealand, former Washington Husky Sam Tanner won the New Zealand national championship at 1500 meters Saturday.

Competing in only his second race of the domestic campaign, Tanner darted to the front from the gun and quickly opened up a clear gap on the pursuing field.

He held on to win in 3:41.97, and said afterwards, “It is a good feeling to get back on top and to be the fastest 1500m runner on New Zealand soil at the moment is exciting. I took on the pace partly because it was a timed final but also because of the World Athletics points system – I just want to run as fast as I can so I can get some good points for rankings in World Champs this year.”

The Athletics New Zealand recap is available here.

NOTE: World Athletics, Sound Running, & Athletics New Zealand contributed to this report.

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