adidas presents the
1999 USA Winter Cross Country National Championships
Women's 8k Race Recap
The women's 8k race is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm (noon) Saturday February 13th. Race Recap will be posted ASAP following the conclusion of the race.
RACE CONDITIONS: Mostly sunny with an occasional light breeze - temp. 48 degrees F. Race course is mostly flat with good footing despite wet conditions from morning rain. RACE IN REVIEW: Understandably, at the lead after one kilometer, it was defending champion Deena Drossin and nine-time champion Lynn Jennings a few meters in front of this fine field of 41 runners. At two kilometers (6:17), the two were ten strides in front of a foursome of Joan Nesbit, Jen Rhines, Donna Garcia and Laura Baker. Between three and four kilometers Drossin began to pull away, and at 4K (12:41) it was Drossin and Jennings (12:44), followed by Rhines and Nesbit together in 13:08 and then Garcia and Baker (13:13). At 6 kilometers, Drossin (19:11) had extended her lead over Jennings to 14 seconds. Nesbit was in third (19:53), with Garcia and Rhines dueling together at 20:00. These athletes appeared certain to qualify for the six eligible team spots. The only question was who would take the sixth spot in the last 500 meters. Carmen Ayala Troncoso surged hard to catch and pass Baker. Drossin won easily over an excellent field. NOTES 'N' QUOTES: Deena Drossin, who won seven Southeastern Conference championships as a collegian at Arkansas, captured her second U.S. cross country title in a row with a convincing victory today in Tacoma, Washington. Ranked seventh in the 500 meters in the U.S. by Track & Field News last year, Drossin finished 1997 ranked fourth nationally in the 10,000 meters. During 1994 and 1995, Drossin lost her love of running. After moving to Alamosa, Colorado, Drossin found her appetite for the sport again. Drossin trains with her dog, Aspen, a chocolate lab. Deena Drossin: "My plan was to go out strong because Lynn (Jennings) has such a great kick and I didn't want to have to wait until the last 100 meters. I went to the start with the strength and conviction I bring to all my races. The 2K loop was great because the e spectators were able to give you support all the way, and they weren't so spread out. From here I go to Japan to run in the Chiba International cross country meet. As far as Belfast, I don't know what my chances are, I'll just go to the starting line with my work load behind me and doing the best I can do." Lynn Jennings: "I thought it was a good, strong race. (After the gap opened up behind Drossin), I was pretty determined to hang onto second. Training-wise I'm really pleased with my performance, and I didn't race much last year so it's good to be back on the national stage and running well." [Looking ahead to the Boston Marathon] It's my first official time there, and I'm going there instead of the World Cross Country Championships - three gold medals is enough. (The last was in 1992.) I've been there eight times altogether and have five medals total. I've run only one marathon before in high school. I ran 2:46 that time in 1978, but I was too young for a number so I had to run it unofficially. It's been so long since, I don't really remember how I felt afterwards - one of those impulsive things you do when you're 17, but it wasn't the smartest thing."

 

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