Chris Derrick (Stanford) 13:29.98; Deena Kastor wins

News & Notes, Volume 9, Number 23


Derrick sets U.S. Junior Record at Payton Jordan Invitational

Stanford's Chris Derrick posted a record performance in the men's 5,000 meters Saturday at the 2009 Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University's Cobb Track & Angell Field in Palo Alto, Calif.

Derrick set the new U.S. Junior men's 5,000m record with his time of 13 minutes 29.98 seconds, which bettered 2008 Olympian Galen Rupp's standard of 13:37.91 from 2004. Two-time U.S. Junior Cross Country champion German Fernandez, who is a freshman at Oklahoma State, also bettered Rupp's record in finishing just behind Derrick in 13:31.78.

Also at Stanford on Saturday, reigning NCAA women's 3,000m steeplechase champion and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team member Jenny Barringer easily won the women's 5,000 meters in 15:07.64. Her time threatened the collegiate record of 15:07.56 set by Cathy Branta Easker in 1985 (as recognized by FAST), and is the fastest time in the world this year. Barringer set the American and collegiate steeple record of 9:22.26 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Elsewhere, Matthew Centrowitz posted the sixth-fastest 1,500 meters in collegiate history with his win in 3:36.92, which currently sits atop the U.S. list. A redshirt freshman at the University of Oregon, Centrowitz's performance is third all-time at Oregon, trailing marks posted by Olympic gold medalist Joaquim Cruz (3:36.48 in 1984) and his father, Matt's time of 3:36.7 from 1976.

Kastor wins in Scotland

Demonstrating that the broken foot she suffered at last summer's Olympic Games is fully healed, 2004 Olympic women's marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor was victorious Sunday at the 2009 Bupa Great Edinburgh 10 km Run in Scotland.


Kastor took charge of the race after two kilometers and was unchallenged throughout, winning in 32 minutes, 38 seconds. Kastor thrived on the hilly course, which is similar to her training runs in California. Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka was the runner-up, finishing 36 seconds behind Kastor.


After a long rehabilitation, Kastor told PA Sport that her broken foot was healed and ready to go. "My foot felt great in practices because I was so conservative before making my comeback, so I wasn't expecting any problems," she said. "The only thing I was questioning before coming here was being mentally tough because I'd been away so many months."


About USA Track & Field

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For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org