Washington - Abdi Abdirahman won the men's 10,000 metre final at the US Olympic track and field trials Friday in Eugene, Oregon securing himself a spot on the 2008 US Olympic team. Abdirahman who finished with a time of 27:41.89 will be joined in Beijing for the event with second place trial finisher Galen Rupp and third place Jorge Torres.
"This means a lot to me after the marathon, because I was injured," Abdirahman said following the race. "I committed myself to this race and trained hard to make this team. We are going to Beijing baby. Here we come."
Enthusiasm was high in Eugene Friday as the US celebrated its Independence Day and a number runners made their bids for a chance at Olympic gold.
The women's 5,000 metre final came to a blazing finish with Kara Goucher racing from third position in the last 200 metres to win with a time of 15:01.02. Goucher came in just ahead of Jen Rhines and Shalane Flanagan all of whom earned Olympic slots in the 5,000 metre race.
Goucher and Flanagan had already earned spots to represent the US in China in the 10,000 metre final a week ago in Eugene.
Earlier Friday California high schooler Jordan Hasay, 16, set a new national high school record in the women's 1,500 metre distance run earning a chance to qualify for the US Olympic team in the final Sunday.
Hasay, who still has one more year of high school, finished in fifth place with a time of 4:14:50 taking the teenager one step closer to a trip to the Beijing Olymics in August.
Definitely headed to China is high jumper Chaunte Howard, the women's first place trial finisher Friday at 1.97 metres in the final followed closely by now Olympic team mates Amy Acuff and Sharon Day.
The other trial victor in the field for the day was AG Kruger who qualified for the US Olympic team in the men's hammer throw. Kruger made his second Olympic team with a winning throw of 75.81 metres.
