By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2023 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
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EUGENE (09-Jul) — It may sound like the name of a law firm, but Cranny, Monson and Rogers are actually America’s three best distance women on the track. And just like they did on Thursday night here in the 10,000m at the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, the trio swept the podium in the 5000m on here on Sunday night (10).
Elise Cranny (Nike Bowerman TC), Alicia Monson (On Athletics Club) and Natosha Rogers (Puma Elite Running), finished one-two-three in the 5000m on the fourth and final day of these championships. Running 14:52.66, 14:55.10 and 14:55.39, respectively, the three stars enjoyed a comfortable gap over the field and earned additional team spots for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month.
Elise Cranny Revealed How She’s Now Feeling
“I’m very tired,” said a smiling Cranny, the first American woman to win both the 5000m and 10,000m national title in the same year since Molly Huddle in 2016.
For Cranny, 27, who lives and trains here in Eugene, tonight’s win represented her third straight national title at the distance. She timed her effort perfectly tonight, allowing Monson to lead most of the race and notch-up the pace lap-by-lap to shake off the rest of the field.
Read more: Elise Cranny, Woody Kincaid win 10,000m at USATF Championships 2023
Cranny did not take the lead until 14:04 was showing on the clock, and from there she ran uncontested to the finish. As a bonus, her finish time was well within the World Athletics Championships entry standard of 14:57.00, meaning that she locked-up her spot on Team USATF for that event should she decide to take it.
“Thank you to Alicia for making it a fast, honest race,” Cranny said. She continued: “I was hoping that the race would be at standard pace so I didn’t have to chase it. So, I’m very grateful for her for making the race honest.”
Cranny can now choose to do either the 10,000m, the 5000m, or both events at the world championships in Budapest. She said tonight that she was not sure and would discuss it with her coach, Jerry Schumacher. However, she did say that she was leaning towards the shorter event.
“I’m not sure, yet,” she told reporters. “I will talk to Jerry. The five is definitely where my heart is, and the ten being first (in the schedule) I’m leaning towards going into the five fresh. But, I’ll talk to him. I’ll talk to the boss man.”
Alicia Monson Used Efficient Strategy
Monson approached tonight’s race with workman-like efficiency. She was leading by the 600-meter mark, and squeezed the pace down from 76 seconds per lap, to 73, then 71, and held that 71-second tempo right through 4000 meters. The former University of Wisconsin star said that was her best approach.
Read Also: Yared Nuguse wins 1500m title with late kick at 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships
“I’m going to make it honest, see what happens,” Monson told Race Results Weekly. “Obviously, Elise did well and out-kicked me at the end. But, you know, that’s what I do best. I think my strength is my strength.”
For Rogers –who came into these championships with the World Athletics Championships entry standard for the 5000m, but not the 10,000m– tonight’s result assures her a spot on a starting line in Budapest.
It is not clear yet whether she will get a start in the longer race because she doesn’t have the standard of 30:40.00 and she is ranked 23rd in the World Athletics points system for the event.
However, 13 women above her in the points ranking are there because of cross country performances and at least some may not be headed for Budapest. The situation will not fully sort out until July 30 when the qualification process has ended.
Who is the world leader in the women’s 5000m in 2023?
The world leader in the women’s 5000m in 2023 is two-time world and Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya. Kipyegon, who also tops the women’s 1500m world rankings, has clocked a blistering 14:05.20 so this season to lead the 5000m world list and she will be hunting the gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Check out the top list and world rankings for the women’s 5000m.
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