by Larry Eder
Rupp’s run was a fine end to a fine season for Galen, where he won the 10,000m at the US champs, and took third in the US 5,000m, qualifying for the 2011 World Champs in Daegu. In Daegu, Rupp finished seventh in the 10,000m and ninth in the 5,000m, in both races until very close to the end.
Hitting the 5,000m mark in the Van Damme Memorial in 13:25, Rupp ran a negative split of 13:23 to finish in a superb 26:48.00.
A brilliant race for a young man who has spent most of the last decade “chipping away”, to use his words, at the elite World distance runners. Now, Galen is in the middle of the fray. Earlier this summer, RBR watched Galen Rupp outkick Imane Merga in a 5,000 meter race in Birmingham, UK. When asked later about that one, Galen Rupp gave a huge grin and said, that he liked that moment too!
It was also another feather in the cap of one Alberto Salazar. Salazar has proved the great Emil Zatopek’s gentle caution about elite runners becoming coaches wrong. Zatopek noted that elite athletes tend not to have neither the patience nor the stomachs for coaching athletes. Alberto has had both.
Evolving over the past two decades as a coach and mentor, he has put Galen Rupp and Mo Farah together as training partners, giving Rupp someone to relax with and Farah someone to train with, a ying to the other’s yang. That Farah won the more difficult 5,000m in Daegu after a very tough battle to the end in the 10,000m, taking a silver, showed that Salazar’s training and racing savvy have evolved and coalesced with Farah and Rupp. Salazar, who does not take credit, always notes to RBR that it is the team around Galen and Mo.
In the end, both Farah and Rupp, at different places in their careers, are improving and excelling working together shows that Salazar’s constant observations and willingness to evolve and fuse training methods is a strong approach for both the American and the British runner.
In a press conference on Tuesday of this week, Galen noted that he needs to work on his finish and that, in his mind is about strength. He reminded us that he has been training at above 100 miles a week for only a year!
Congrats to Galen Rupp on his AR for 10,000m! Rest up, Galen, 2012 should be a lot of fun!
Rupp named USATF Athlete of the Week
INDIANAPOLIS – Galen Rupp has been named USA Track &
Field’s Athlete of the week after establishing a new 10,000-meter
American record at the Brussels Diamond League meet Friday.
Rupp (Portland, Ore.) shattered his own personal best time and
Chris Solinky’s existing record of 26:59.60, which he ran in 2010, to
place third in Brussels in 26:48.00. Coming through the 5,000m mark at
13:25, Rupp ran a consistent race and admitted if he stayed with the
leaders he would have a good chance to break the record.
“I was definitely aware of what it was (the American record),”
he said. “I knew I had a good shot to break it. I knew the leaders were
going to be close to that. I put that time out of my head and focused on
what I needed to do. With about 600 meters to go I was able to figure
out where I was at.”
Rupp is a three-time USA Outdoor champion in the 10,000m and
the 2008 Olympic Trials runner-up. He recently finished seventh at the
IAAF World Outdoor Championships. He said the race Friday was a perfect
way to end his outdoor track season.
“I was really happy the Brussels meet presented itself,” he
said. “I was real happy I was able to do it and not just telling
yourself you can and getting the chance to end on a high note.”
Now in its tenth year, USATF‘s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
Winners: January 5, Bill Tribou; January 12, Tyler Sorensen;
January 20, Josh Cox; January 26,Ben Shorey; February 2, Ashton Eaton;
February 9, Ashton Eaton; February 16, Bernard Lagat; February 23, Ryan
Crouser; March 2, Jillian Camarena-Williams; March 10, Bill Collins;
March 16, Miles Batty; March 23, Shalane Flanagan; March 30, John Nunn;
April 6, Aries Merritt; April 13, Gunnar Nixon; April 20, Desiree
Davila; April 27, Nolan Shaheed; May 4, Emma Coburn; May 11, Willie
Gault; May 18, English Gardner; May 25, Kibwé Johnson;
June 1, Khadevis Robinson; June 8, Carmelita Jeter; June 15, Lukas
Verzbicas; June 22, Aisling Cuffe; June 29, Trevor Barron; July 6,
Aldrich Bailey; July 13, Jillian Camarena-Williams; July 20, Johnnye
Valien; July 27, Bernard Lagat; August 3, Marcus Krah; August 9, Leo
Manzano; August 17, Magdalena Lewy Boulet; August 24, Brigetta Barrett;
September 7, LaShinda Demus; September 14, Kasie Enman; September 21,
Galen Rupp.
