Carlson, Kastor Take USA 15K Titles at Gate River
Carlson also earns Equalizer Bonus on windy day; race record of over 12,000 finishers

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By Jim Estes, USATF
Posted Saturday, 8 March, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - (March 8, 2008) - Rising star Andrew Carlson (Bloomington, Minn.) captured his first national title and 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist and defending champion Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) dominated the women's field at the 2008 USA 15K Championships hosted by the 31st Gate River Run on Saturday in Jacksonville.

Despite strong, gusty winds, Carlson, 25, took charge of the men's lead pack early, leading a group of nearly 20 men past the first mile in 4:47. Occasionally, Fasil Bizuneh (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Reid Coolsaet (Canada) would take a brief turn at the front only to have Carlson take control again as Dan Browne (Portland, Ore.) and 2008 Olympian Brian Sell (Rochester Hills, Mich.) remained tucked in the pack.

Passing through 10K just under 29 minutes, Team USA Minnesota's Carlson maintained control of the pace as Browne of Team Running USA moved to his side. As the leaders started the long climb up the Hart Bridge towards the eight mile mark, Browne, a 2004 Olympian, made an effort to break away from the pack. The move was enough to drop everyone except Carlson, who would answer with a move of his own, quickly putting ten meters on Browne.

At the finish inside Alltel Stadium, Carlson hit the line in 44 minutes, 12 seconds, nine seconds ahead of 2000 USA 15K champion Browne. Coolsaet finished third overall in 44:25, while Bizuneh took third in the national championship race in 44:29. Sell and Jason Hartmann (Springfield, Ore.) rounded out the top five in 44:47 and 44:57, respectively.

In the women's race, Kastor, 35, led from the gun as the Team Running USA athlete fought the strong winds on her own. Running 49:36, Kastor earned her sixth national 15K title (tying teammate Meb Keflezighi for the most U.S. titles at the distance) and her 24th USA title overall. Katie McGregor (Minneapolis, Minn.) ran the majority of her race alone as well, taking the national runner-up spot in 50:53, while Tara Storage (Beavercreek, Ohio) took third in 52:33 just edging Mandi Zemba (Minneapolis, Minn.) fourth, also in 52:33, and Samia Akbar (Herndon, Va.) rounding out the top five in 52:35.

Athletes competed for a total prize purse of $61,500, with the USA champions earning $12,000 each.

This year's running again featured the Equalizer Bonus, awarding $5000 to the first male or female to cross the finish line, with the top-seeded women beginning 5 minutes before the men. The 5 minute "head start" is based on the time differential of the U.S. 15K records: 42:22 for the men (Todd Williams, 1995) and 47:15 for the women (Deena Drossin, 2003), both set on the Gate River Run course. Carlson secured this year's Equalizer Bonus after catching Kastor - who won the bonus last year - as they descended the Hart Bridge.

A race record of over 12,000 braved the wind and completed the 9.3 mile distance. In 2007, Gate River was the largest U.S. 15K with 11,336 finishers.

31st Gate River Run: USA 15K Championship
Jacksonville, FL, Saturday, March 8, 2008

MEN
1) Andrew Carlson (MN), 44:12, $17,000*
2) Dan Browne (OR), 44:21, $5000
3) Reid Coolsaet (CAN), 44:25
4) Fasil Bizuneh (AZ), 44:29, $3000
5) Brian Sell (MI), 44:47, $2000
6) Jason Hartmann (OR), 44:57, $1000
7) Bret Schoolmeester (OR), 45:21, $900
8) Fernando Cabada (CO), 45:33, $800
9) Luke Humphrey (MI), 45:35, $700
10) Brett Gotcher (AZ), 45:35, $600
11) Matt Gabrielson (MN), 45:46, $500
*includes $5000 Equalizer Bonus

WOMEN
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 49:36, $12,000
2) Katie McGregor (MN), 50:53, $5000
3) Tara Storage (OH), 52:33, $3000
4) Mandi Zemba (MN), 52:33, $2000
5) Samia Akbar (VA), 52:35, $1000
6) Tera Moody (CO), 52:35, $900
7) Turena Johnson Lane (LA), 52:38, $800
8) Annie Bersagel (CO), 52:43, $700
9) Kara Storage (OH), 53:05, $600
10) Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, 42, GA, 53:12, $1500

Full results at: www.Gate-RiverRun.com

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