by Larry EderAnthony Famiglietti proved all of the naysayers wrong. Talented athletes, short term attention span theater. Fam is a painted (check out the website), writer, and world class middle distance runner. Last year, Fam ran a 27:37 for 10,000 meters, and then, for most of the rest of the season, he did not do well. In the US Champs last year, Fam did not make the steeple team for Osaka, an event that he had the top mark in the US for. That was last year, not this year……
Anthony Famiglietti took the lead early and did not give up. He hit the first lap in 62 seconds and did not look back, well until one hundred meters to go. Fam hurdled the barriers and took the water jumps well, building his lead for five laps of the seven and one half lap race. Running 66-67 pace, Fam lead Brian Olinger, with Steve Slattery, Josh McAdams, Bill Nelson in tow. Steve Slattery went down on the third water jump, and did not finish.
Fam continued to push, with Olinger running fairly close. Fam continued to hurdle as there was some changing of the guard in the next pack. Bill Nelson, Josh McAdams, Jacob Morse moved past Michael Spence, and began to move past Brian Olinger at six laps.
Fam hit the sixth lap in 6:08, with Nelson in 6:16. Nelson pushed hard, and made up
serious room between Fam and the chasing pack. Nelson, McAdams break from Morse, making up more room on Famiglietti.
Fam had run the race from the start. He started to look fatigued, but did not give up. Fam it the bell at 7:12, and Josh McAdams, who had tried to get past Nelson, hit the bell in 7:18, the race was not over!
McAdams and Nelson pushed and pushed, running a phenomenal 62 second last lap! They made up five seconds by the water jump. But, Fam was not to be beat, as he hurdled the last barrier then sprinted to home, taking first in 8:20.24.
Bill Nelson sprinted by Josh McAdams with fifty meters to go, taking second in 8:21.47 and Joshua McAdams in third in 8:21.79.
Hard charging Jacob Morse took fourth in 8:34.49, Daniel Hulling in fifth with 8:35.48, and Michael Spence in sixth in 8:36.09 and Brian Olinger, who pushed the early pace,
taking seventh place in 8:36.09.
For Famiglietti, this was a race of redemption: ” My plan was to stay in front. I am proud to represent the United States. I am go to Beijing and my goal is to redeem myself.
In the end, this event was a great way to end day seven, which started with some scary moments for Allen Johnson in the hurdles, then Tyson Gay in the 200 meters.
After a bit of lunch and a nap, I will finish up Day Seven and add my recap of the men’s 10,000 meters from last night!
More to come!
