Aztec Alumnae Finish Day One Of The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials

Miller-Russell, Runyan earn trips to the finals.

An All-American in the heptathlon, Leslie Miller-Russell advanced to the finals of the javelin at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
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July 9, 2004

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Former San Diego State standout Marla Runyan ran the fastest preliminary time in the 5,000 meters of 15:36.75 Friday evening at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials in Sacramento, Calif. Runyan now advances to the finals next Mon., July 12, in an attempt to qualify for her second consecutive Olympics.

Runyan, who entered the meet with the top qualifying effort of 14:59.20, edged out Nike teammate Shalane Flanagan (15:37.42) for the day's fastest time by less than a second. The pair will be joined by 12 others in Monday's finals.

Other former Aztecs competing in day one action at the trials were Leslie Miller-Russell and Melinda Smedley.

Miller-Russell, a former All-American heptathlete, earned the last spot in Sunday's javelin final by recording the 12th-best throw of the day of 159-10 on her first attempt. She beat out Karyn McCready (153-00) by more than six feet for the final spot. Nike's Kim Kreiner had the best performance of the day with a mark of 177-03, followed by Serene Ross at 177-00.

A six-time Mountain West Conference champion, Smedley was unable to advance out of the 100-meter quarterfinals, logging the 23rd-fastest time of 11.91.

The next Aztec to compete at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials will be Miller-Russell on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. (PDT) in the finals of the javelin at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. A day later, four-time All-American Tonette Dyer makes her debut in the 400-meter quarterfinals and Runyan competes in the 5,000 meters.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials
Sacramento, Calif. - Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex

Friday, July 9

Women's 5,000 Meters - Prelims (Top 5)
  1 Marla Runyan          	Nike        	15:36.75
  2 Jennifer Rhines             	adidas           	15:50.08
  3 Shalane Flanagan         	Nike               	15:37.42
  4 Amy Rudolph                 	adidas              	15:50.63
  5 Carrie Tollefson            	adidas              	15:38.64

Women's 100 Meters - Quarterfinals (Top 5)
  1 Lauryn Williams	Miami        	11.13
  2 Inger Miller     		Nike                	11.28
  3 LaTasha Colander   	Nike                	11.35
  4 Torri Edwards        	adidas                	11.36
  5 Gail Devers                	Nike                  	11.36
 23 Melinda Smedley    	Unattached    	11.91

Women's Javelin - Qualifying Round (Top 12 qualify for finals)
  1 Kim Kreiner    		Nike                   	54.02mq    177-03
  2 Serene Ross           	Nike                    	53.95mq    177-00
  3 Dana Pounds       	Air Force 	52.68mq    172-10
  4 Erica Wheeler     	Unattached          	52.64mq    172-08
  5 Emily Carlsten        	Unattached          	52.00mq    170-07
  6 Sarah Malone           	Oregon                  51.86mq    170-02
  7 Inge Jorgensen        	Unattached          	51.80mq    169-11
  8 Denise O'Connell     	Unattached          	51.78mq    169-10
  9 Katy Doyle           	Unattached          	51.38mq    168-07
 10 Megan Spriesterbach  	Unattached           	50.85mq    166-10
 11 Nicole Carroll        	Unattached           	50.19mq    164-08
 12 Leslie Miller-Russell  	Sheffield Elite 	48.72mq    159-10

Remaining Aztec meet schedule
Sunday, July 11
2:45 p.m. - Javelin throw final (Leslie Miller-Russell)
Monday, July 12
7:20 p.m. - 400-meter quarterfinal (Tonette Dyer)
9:25 p.m. - 5,000-meter final (*Marla Runyan)
Thursday, July 15
7:35 p.m. - 400-meter semifinal (*Tonette Dyer)
Friday, July 16
6:40 p.m. - 200-meter quarterfinal (Tonette Dyer)
8:00 p.m. - 1,500-meter semifinal (Marla Runyan)
9:20 p.m. - 10,000-meter final (Marla Runyan)
Saturday, July 17
1:10 p.m. - 100-meter hurdles quarterfinal (Miesha McKelvy-Jones)
2:02 p.m. - 200-meter semifinal (*Tonette Dyer)
2:52 p.m. - 400-meter final (*Tonette Dyer)
Sunday, July 18
3:15 p.m. - 100-meter hurdles semifinal (*Miesha McKelvy-Jones)
5:00 p.m. - 1,500-meter final (*Marla Runyan)
5:25 p.m. - 100-meter hurdles final (*Miesha McKelvy-Jones)
5:50 p.m. - 200-meter final (*Tonette Dyer)

*If athlete qualifies from the heat before