by Larry Eder
Gwen Jorgensen, after her 10,000m debut at Stanford, photo from YouTube video, All in with Gwen, Episode 5
The 2016 Olympic gold medalist at the Triathlon announced less than a year ago that she wanted to make the 2020 Tokyo U.S. Olympic marathon team. Back in January, Gwen ran 15:15.64, finishing second to Emily Infeld on the oversized indoor track at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Now, after a month of high altitude training, Gwen ventured to Palo Alto, CA to run in the Stanford Invitational. Running the first section of the 10,000 meters, Gwen Jorgensen went out with the leaders, Karissa Schwiezer, Carrie Dimoff, and Alice Wright. Hitting the 5000 meter mark in 16:04, Gwen Jorgensen, Carrie Dimoff and Karrie Schwiezer were on a fine pace for a 32 minute 10,000 meters.
In the cool conditions that make Palo Alto, CA the perfect place to run a 10,000 meters, Carrie Dimoff and Gwen Jorgensen battled, as Karissa Schweizer dropped back four seconds. Dimoff had the lead with 400 meters to go, as Gwen Jorgensen used her speed over the last 100 meters to take the lead from Carrie Dimoff and hold on for a win, 31:55.67 to 31:57.84. Karissa Schweizer took third in 32:00.55, a new school record for the University of Missouri.
Video, part 5, All in with Gwen, Video on 10K PB
In her post race interview, Gwen told the media that she was hoping for a bit faster, but she was in Palo Alto for the win and the experience. Gwen Jorgensen also raced, for the first time in the colors of the Bowerman Track Club. She thanked her training partners, the women of Bowerman TC and Coach Jerry Schumacher.
Just how good is Gwen Jorgensen? Pretty amazing. I recall interviewing her after her 2016 NYC Marathon where she was not happy with her performance. Her running was relaxed in Palo Alto, and this tremendously fit triathlete is on her way to her goal for Tokyo 2020.
In her debut 10,000 meters, Gwen Jorgensen went out in 16:04 for the first 5000 meters, and ran the final 5000 meters in 15:51, running the last 400 meters in 71 seconds, most of that in the last 100 meters. Jorgensen is quite capable of 31:20 now, and in the right race, a sub 31:00 10,000m is in the cards. But, Coach Schumacher knows that, or he would now have had Gwen race for the win. There are racing lessons he wants now, and fast times will come.
I have always been impressed with Coach Schumacher and his team. Jerry Schumacher has built a fantastic club and is developing this next generation of fine American distance runners.
