June 30, 2008
Complete ResultsEugene, Ore.- The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials continued on Monday evening with several Stanford competitors. The Cardinal were highlighted by Ian Dobson ('05) who used a strong final kick to hold on for third place in the 5,000 meters to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Dobson overcame a loaded field in the event to make his first Olympic Team. Dobson ran a time of 13:29.76 and will join World Champion Bernard Lagat and Matt Tegenkemp on the U.S. 5,000 meter team.
Dobson, a former All-American and NCAA Champion at Stanford will join Erica McLain as the two Stanford athletes to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team thus far.
Also competing in the 5,000 meters was Stanford great and 2004 U.S. Olympian Jonathon Riley. Riley finished 13th with a time of 13:57.58, but will not advance.
Elsewhere, Stanford was well-represented in the in the prelims of the women's 5,000 meters. In the first heat Lauren Fleshman ('03) finished third with a time of 15:36.79 to qualify for Thursday's final. The second heat included Arianna Lambie ('08) who cruised with the lead pack before finishing third with a time of 15:32.56 and Teresa McWalters who hung on to finish seventh with a time of 15:49.54. Both will join Fleshman in the final on Thursday.
In the qualifying round of the women's long jump, Erica McLain advanced to Thursday's final. A day after making the Olympic Team in the triple jump, McLain finished 10th with a leap of 21-0 ¾.
In the prelims of the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Lindsay Allen narrowly missed qualifying for the final. Allen, who earned an All-America honor in the same event two weeks ago at the NCAA Championships finished 15th with a time of 10:04.47. The top-14 advanced to Thursday's final.
The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials will now have two consecutive rest days before restarting on Thursday, July 3. Several current and former Stanford athletes will continue to compete towards a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.