Galen Rupp captured his sixth straight American title as he used a dominating late kick to win the men’s 10,000 metres at the US Track and Field Championships on Thursday night.
Rupp, who is the American record holder in the distance, made his move with 500 metres to go, finishing with a time of 28 minutes, 12.07 seconds at the Hornet Stadium track.
He easily beat Chris Derrick, who clocked a 28:18.18 while Ryan Vail was a distant third in 28:26.02.
Rupp, who won silver at the 2012 London Olympics, broke his own USA record last month at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 26:44.36. He hasn’t lost a race in America since 2008.
Rupp almost didn’t compete in Sacramento as his wife, Keara, is due to give birth to twins soon.
Middle distance runner Alysia Montano ran pregnant on Thursday.
The five-time national champion — who is 34 weeks pregnant — finished the 800 metre heats in last place with a time of two minutes, 32.13 seconds.
Her time was almost 35 seconds off her personal best of 1:57.34, which she ran four years ago. But Montano said it wasn’t about running fast.
Montano says she ran because she wanted to show that women “can be fit while pregnant, continue their career and pursue having a family.”
Kim Conley claimed the women’s 10,000 metres title, outduelling Jordan Hasay to win a close contest with a time of 32:02.07. Hasay clocked a 32:03.28.
Organizers had the novel idea this year of beginning the national outdoor athletics championships on the lawn of the State Capitol building before the event shifted to Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State University for four days of competition.
Four-time Olympic gold medal winner Allyson Felix advanced to the semi-finals of the 100 metres.
Felix finished in fourth place in her heat with a time of 11.53 seconds but it was still good enough to finish in the top 16 and go on.
Felix, who has a record eight World Championship golds, is returning to form after a hamstring injury sidelined her from the World Championships in Moscow last year.
English Gardner posted the best time in the heats Thursday with 11.30 seconds. She finished just ahead of Tori Bowie who clocked 11.33.
Mike Rodgers dominated the men’s 100 metre action, winning his heat in 10.11. Charles Silmon also won his heat in 10.17. Former US 100 metre and 200 metre champ Walter Dix ran a modest 10.38 seconds to finish third in his heat.