Klecker and Monson qualify for World Championships

Colorado Results Scoreboard

Fourteen athletes competed in tonight's (27-May) in the USATF 10,000m Championships held in Eugene, Oregon.  The event was held in conjunction with the Prefontaine Classic three weeks ahead of the USATF Outdoor Championships and served as the qualifying event for the World Athletics Championships (July 15-24; Eugene, OR).

On Athletics Club teammates Joe Klecker (Boulder) and Alicia Monson (Longmont) each qualified for the World Championships as Klecker won a dramatic men's race and Monson ran a 19 second personal best to finish second in the women's race.

Klecker won a slow tactical race (2:30 at 800m; 14:31 at 5000m) that resulted in a winning time of 28:28.71. He edged American record holder Grant Fisher at the line by just .10 seconds to win his first U.S. title.  Emmanual Bor of Colorado Springs was in third place with just 20 meters to go, and appeared to have the third world championship spot in his grip but he tripped and ended up in eighth place (28:32.90). Also in the mad dash to the line were Shadrack Kipchirchir (American Distance Project) of Colorado Springs who finished fifth running 28:30.79 and Frank Lara (Alta) of Westminster in ninth running 28:33.92.

In the women's race Monson and eventual winner Karissa Schweizer (Portland, OR) broke away from the field just past 6000m.  Monson would lead Schweizer through a series of 72 second laps and then with 800m to go she dropped the pace with a 68.23 penultimate lap.  Despite a 64 second last lap, Monson could not hold off Schweizer as the Bowerman TC athlete was able to edge ahead of Monson over the last 200m as both runners navigated through lapped runners.  Schweizer crossed the line in 30:49.56 to winner her first U.S. title with Monson running a 19 second personal best of 30:51.09.

Carrie Verdon (T.E.A.M. Boulder) of Boulder finished ninth running 31:46.75 with Molly Grabill (RISE Athletics) of Superior finishing 10th in a personal best time of  31:49.01 (previous PB was 31:57.72).  Also running a personal best was Caroline Sang who finished 13th running 31:55.61 (previous PB was 32:27.40).