|
|
|
| Photo Galleries Blog Athlete Features News Links | About/Support Contact RSS |
I admit it, Amy Yoder Begley made me cry. Midway through tonight's women's 10,000m final at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field, I wasn't particularly excited about the race. Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, and Amy Yoder Begley and broken away, but I was looking up the track to find Katie McGregor and Molly Huddle, because the way things were going, one of them (Katie was ahead) was going to make the Olympic team. The early pace was slow, and though Amy Yoder Begley was running a very gutsy race and hanging in there with two of the world's best 10,000m runners, it appeared likely that she would not dip under the Olympic "A" standard of 31:45.00. So once again, we would be choosing a U.S. Olympic distance team based on who had a qualifying time, rather than who ran best at the Olympic Trials.
In fact, I admit that since I wasn't paying attention to splits, other than to note that they had gone out way too slowly, I wasn't aware that Yoder Begley had a shot at dipping under the "A" standard. Once the announcer pointed it out, that changed everything, and the women's 10,000 suddenly became a riveting race. I was so focused on Yoder Begley, that the race between Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher became secondary. Yes, it's wonderful to see two very deserving women qualify for the Olympic team, but they had their amazing breakthroughs last year, and it really only would have been notable if they didn't make the Olympic team. Aside from Bernard Lagat, there isn't a stronger distance favorite here. But 2008 is apparently Amy Yoder Begley's amazing breakthrough year, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
I've been following Amy Yoder Begley's career for as long as I've been following distance running. In fact, I had almost erased this embarrassing fact from my memory, but I wrote her fan mail when I was in high school, and we used to be penpals (back before anyone had e-mail). She was the first athlete I ever interviewed for the web site I ran from 2000-2005, fast-women.com. I watched her win her NCAA 10,000 meter title for the University of Arkansas on the Oregon track in 2001, but I also watched her struggle quite a bit since she graduated from Arkansas. In fact, one of the few people who might rival Kara Goucher in the setback department is her training partner, Yoder Begley. She'd had some good performances here and there since college, but had never really delivered on her college potential.
In 2006, Parker Morse and I talked to Yoder Begley about the track camp she was running in conjunction with U.S. nationals. She later finished eighth in the 5,000 at that meet, which was a pretty typical post-collegiate result for her—a solid finish, but not necessarily contending for a title or a U.S. team. Yoder Begley showed a spark of her potential when she won the Manchester Road Race last Thanksgiving, but a couple months later, she underwent foot surgery.
When I soliciting recipes via e-mail for The Runner's Cookbook back in January, Yoder Begley responded to my e-mail by sending two of her favorite recipes, mentioning that she had just had plantar release surgery (my first thought was "so much for her comeback") so she'd be out for a while, and asking if I needed any help collecting recipes. Before I knew it, I was getting recipes from athletes who I hadn't been able to reach, which really made the fundraising cookbook possible.
I've digressed, but hopefully I've demonstrated some of the ways in which Amy Yoder Begley is good for the sport. I admire the honesty she displays in the journal entries she's posted on her web site, which is just one of the many ways she has "given back" to the sport that has made her semi-famous (and now possibly fully famous). So while I would have been happy for any athlete in Amy Yoder Begley's shoes in tonight's 10,000 meter final, racing against the clock with one lap to go, I was particularly happy that this was happening to such a great person. Yoder Begley finished the race in 31:43.60, with 1.4 seconds to spare, before collapsing to the track. When she got up, reality seemed to sink in, and she was overwhelmed with emotion. And despite all I've said about her, I wouldn't actually say I know Amy Yoder Begley, but knowing what I know about her, and seeing her reaction, I couldn't help but cry a little too.
It seemed to take Kara Goucher a few minutes to figure out what had happened behind her, but as soon as she did, she was jumping up and down and screaming with Yoder Begley. All three of the athletes who made the team have a Nike/Portland connection, even though Flanagan is now living in North Carolina. From what I've heard, Goucher was an inspiration to Flanagan while she was struggling with her foot problem in 2006. While this may have been the beginning (or continuation) of a Flanagan/Goucher rivalry, I get the sense that all three women who will be representing the U.S. in Beijing have a mutual respect for one another. We'll have a good team representing us in Beijing, but we'll also have a nice team, made up of incredible role models.
Other notes from the evening:
*It was also heartbreaking to watch Alysia Johnson's exit from the track tonight. She pulled out of NCAAs with a minor injury, ostensibly with the idea of focusing on the Trials. She appeared to be in extreme physical pain as she was assisted off the track, and I'm sure there was a great deal of emotional pain involved as well.
*It was really cute to see Andrew Wheating's little-kid-in-a-candy-shop smile when he was introduced to the crowd. The Hayward Field crowd loves him, and it appears that the feeling is mutual.
*The crowd here really gets it. When the announcer pointed out that "the runner in pink," Laura Roesler, is a high school sophomore, the crowd immediately got behind her. They cheered as she surged up the homestretch during her 800m prelim, and kicked her way into the semi-final. You can always tell when the leaders are coming around again (if, say, you're looking down and trying to edit your photos on the fly) because of the rhythmic clapping the crowd does as the leaders go by.
*I don't have much to say about the men's 5,000m prelims. The favorites all looked fine. Bernard Lagat just kept running right off the track at the finish. I'm sorry to see Andrew Carlson eliminated, and glad to see Brent Vaughn barely sneak in to the final. This is going to be a great final.
*Khadevis Robinson was lucky to advance to the next round, whereas NCAA stars Jacob Hernandez and Andrew Wheating looked great. If the veterans aren't careful, one or more of these young kids might snatch up a spot on the Olympic team.
*Kudos to Lisa Koll for going for it during the 10,000 final. She tried to go with Flanagan, Goucher, and Yoder Begley when they pulled away. It didn't work out, and it probably hurt her overall finish place, but she gave it a shot, and maybe next time she'll hang on a little longer.
Posted by Alison Wade at 11:05 p.m. | Tags: 2008 Olympic T&F Trials
Bridget commented, on June 28, 2008 at 10:37 a.m.:
What a beautiful post! I lucked out and caught the end of the 10K and my heart was pumping for Amy to make it . . . what an incredible finish!
Larry Kase commented, on June 28, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.:
A few of us here in Park City, UT have been inspired by the Oregon Project runners as they stirred the air in our neighborhood. They are as cheerful and positive as they are intense in their training. Bias aside, we developed a hunch after watching over the past several weeks that not only was Kara ready with her A game but Amy was ready to make some noise. It is often said that good fortune is the product of preparation meeting opportunity. Amy is the proof source. Congratulations to both Amy and Kara on a beautifuly executed race from your Park City Silver Mountain fan club. By the way, we are all thrilled to see Galen, Adam and Josh in the men's 5K final.
John commented, on June 29, 2008 at 1:50 a.m.:
Great write up! My friend Katie from Running Times sent me the link to your write-up. I am following the trials from New Zealand and this was a wonderful surprise. I ran age group meets and practices with Amy and her sister Marcia when I was in middle school and high school. Amy is as nice and gracious as she is talented and gusty. As the cliché goes, this could not have happened to a nicer person. Nice work.
chelle commented, on June 29, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.:
That made me cry too!
DON MANGER commented, on July 15, 2008 at 5:57 p.m.:
GOOD FOR AMY YODER OF KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA. A REAL CLASS ACT AND A GREAT PERSON. KUDOS
DON MANGER
Jossi commented, on June 28, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.:
Great write-up. What a way to start off the Olympic Trials! I'm looking forward to your next insights over the course of the next 9 days.