Shalane Flanagan
Encyclopedia
Shalane Flanagan is an American distance runner. She currently holds the American record times in the 3000 m (indoor), 5000 m (indoor), and 10,000 m. She won the bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics in the 10,000 m, a bronze at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
and was second in the 2010 New York City Marathon
.
in Massachusetts
, her accomplishments included three-time All-State cross country performances, a first-place All-State finish in the mile, and a two-mile win whose record still stands; her 4:46 mile won the National Scholastic Indoor Championships
. She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she won national cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 — becoming the first individual champion in the sport in Tar Heel history — and numerous track accolades, with best times of 4:11.24 in 1500 m (7th in the US at any level in 2003,) 9:00.22 in the 3000 m, and 15:20.54 in the 5000 m.
Since advancing to the professional level in 2004, she has lowered her 3000 meter time to 8:33.25 and her 5000 meter time to 14:44.80, the latter an American record; her 1500 m record has slightly improved to 4:05.86. She is a two-time national champion in the women's 5000 meters. She won the short course competition at the USA Cross Country Championships
in 2004 and 2005.
Flanagan ran the 10,000 m for the first time at the 2008 Stanford Payton Jordan
invite in a time of 30:34.49 to beat Deena Kastor
's American record of 30:50.32. She also became the long course national cross country champion for the first time in February of that year.
held in Eugene
Flanagan competed in both the 5000 and 10000 m. She won the 10000 m final in a time of 31:34.81. This guaranteed her a spot on Team USA for 2008 Olympic Games. Flanagan also finished third in the 5000 m final with a time of 15:02.81.
On August 16, 2008, Flanagan finished third in the 2008 Olympic Women's 10,000 m Finals in Beijing, capturing the bronze medal. She also set a new American record
in 30:22.22, shattering her own record set earlier in the year. She is only the second American woman to receive an Olympic medal in the 10,000 m.
to begin working with new coach Jerry Schumacher
. She finished second to Amy Yoder Begley in the 10000 m at the 2009 USA Track & Field Championships. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
in Berlin
, Flanagan finished in 14th place in the 10000 m with a time of 31:32.19.
, Flanagan finished the individual race in 12th place with a time of 25:20. She was a member of the Team USA squad that earned a bronze medal.
In June 2010, it was announced that Flanagan would make her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon
in fall 2010. Her preparations boded well for the event as her mark of 1:08:36 at the Philadelphia Half Marathon was just two seconds off Deena Kastor's American record at the event. Flanagan's time in Philadelphia brought her fourth place some 45 seconds behind winner Meseret Defar
.
In her marathon debut, Flanagan finished in second place in a time of 2:28:40. It was the best finish for an American woman in twenty years at the New York City Marathon. Flanagan captured the U.S. Marathon championship in the race.
She took her fifth title at the National Cross Country Championships and asserted herself as the clear number one in the discipline, winning by a margin of 41 seconds.
, Flanagan improved on her 12th place from the year before to place 3rd, with a time of 25:10. She led the Team USA squad to a bronze medal. Flanagan was the first non-African born medalist in the event since 2004.
She competed in the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
in the 10000 m, and won with a time of 30:59.57, qualifying her for the 10,000 m at the 2011 World Championships
. On August 27th, Flanagan finished 7th at 2011 World Championships for 10000 m with a time of 31:25.57.
Flanagan said in June 2011 that she is leaning towards the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics.
. She attended Marblehead High School, where she excelled in cross country and track. She also participated in soccer and swimming, and was an artist and painter in the art major program.
Flanagan is married to Steven Ashley Edwards, a former track and field star at the University of North Carolina who holds multiple high school state records in North Carolina.
Flanagan's parents are both accomplished runners. Her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, is a former marathon
world record holder (as Cheryl Bridges - 1971) and a five-time U.S. World Cross Country
Championship participant. Her father, Steve Flanagan, was also a U.S. World Cross Country Champion participant and marathon runner (PR 2:18) and raised Shalane in Marblehead with her stepmother Monica.
In the fall of 2009, Flanagan became a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country team at her alma mater
, the University of North Carolina.
2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Punta Umbría, Spain on 20 March 2011.-Preparation:The United States had expressed an interest in hosting the competition, but Punta Umbria was chosen as the host at the IAAF Council Meeting in November 2009...
and was second in the 2010 New York City Marathon
2010 New York City Marathon
The 41st New York City Marathon took place on Sunday , 2010. Sponsored by ING, the competition was the fifth World Marathon Major of 2010 and an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. A record 45,344 people were entered into the race. Ethiopian runner Gebregziabher Gebremariam won the men's race in a time of...
.
Career
As a student at Marblehead High SchoolMarblehead High School
Marblehead High School is a four-year high school located in Marblehead, MA. The school has approximately 970 students and serves Marblehead, MA...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, her accomplishments included three-time All-State cross country performances, a first-place All-State finish in the mile, and a two-mile win whose record still stands; her 4:46 mile won the National Scholastic Indoor Championships
National Scholastic Indoor Championships
The National Scholastic Indoor Championships or "NSIC" are, along with Nike Indoor Nationals, one of two American high school national championship indoor track and field meets. High school participants from across the country compete for the honor of being named NSIC high school All-America...
. She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she won national cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 — becoming the first individual champion in the sport in Tar Heel history — and numerous track accolades, with best times of 4:11.24 in 1500 m (7th in the US at any level in 2003,) 9:00.22 in the 3000 m, and 15:20.54 in the 5000 m.
Since advancing to the professional level in 2004, she has lowered her 3000 meter time to 8:33.25 and her 5000 meter time to 14:44.80, the latter an American record; her 1500 m record has slightly improved to 4:05.86. She is a two-time national champion in the women's 5000 meters. She won the short course competition at the USA Cross Country Championships
USA Cross Country Championships
The USA Cross Country Championships is the annual national championships for cross country running in the United States. The championships is generally held in mid-February and it serves as a way of designating the country's national champion, as well as acting as the selection race for the IAAF...
in 2004 and 2005.
Flanagan ran the 10,000 m for the first time at the 2008 Stanford Payton Jordan
Payton Jordan
Payton Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 United States Olympic track and field team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California...
invite in a time of 30:34.49 to beat Deena Kastor
Deena Kastor
Deena Michelle Kastor is an American long-distance runner. She holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances. She won the bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece...
's American record of 30:50.32. She also became the long course national cross country champion for the first time in February of that year.
2008 Summer Olympics
At the 2008 Summer Olympic TrialsUnited States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
held in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
Flanagan competed in both the 5000 and 10000 m. She won the 10000 m final in a time of 31:34.81. This guaranteed her a spot on Team USA for 2008 Olympic Games. Flanagan also finished third in the 5000 m final with a time of 15:02.81.
On August 16, 2008, Flanagan finished third in the 2008 Olympic Women's 10,000 m Finals in Beijing, capturing the bronze medal. She also set a new American record
United States records in track and field
The following are the national records in track & field in the United States maintained by USA Track & Field .Key:-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by IAAF...
in 30:22.22, shattering her own record set earlier in the year. She is only the second American woman to receive an Olympic medal in the 10,000 m.
2009
In 2009, Flanagan split with coach John Cook, and moved to Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
to begin working with new coach Jerry Schumacher
Jerry Schumacher
Jerry Schumacher is an American coach for the sport of track and field, specializing in distance running. He has coached Olympic bronze medalist and the American women's 10k record holder Shalane Flanagan, the former men's American 10k record holder Chris Solinsky, the men's American two mile...
. She finished second to Amy Yoder Begley in the 10000 m at the 2009 USA Track & Field Championships. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Flanagan finished in 14th place in the 10000 m with a time of 31:32.19.
2010
Flanagan won her first half marathon in Houston, the USA Half Marathon Championships, on January 17, 2010. She set the course record in a time of 1:09:45. She added a second national championship with a victory at the USA Cross Country Championships. At the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held at Myślęcinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 March 2010. It was the first time in over twenty years that Poland hosted the annual championships, having previously held them in Warsaw in 1987. Kenyan runners dominated the competition, taking...
, Flanagan finished the individual race in 12th place with a time of 25:20. She was a member of the Team USA squad that earned a bronze medal.
In June 2010, it was announced that Flanagan would make her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
in fall 2010. Her preparations boded well for the event as her mark of 1:08:36 at the Philadelphia Half Marathon was just two seconds off Deena Kastor's American record at the event. Flanagan's time in Philadelphia brought her fourth place some 45 seconds behind winner Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar is a female long-distance runner from Ethiopia who competes chiefly in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres events. She has won medals at top-tier international competitions including Olympic and World Championship gold medals over 5000 metres...
.
In her marathon debut, Flanagan finished in second place in a time of 2:28:40. It was the best finish for an American woman in twenty years at the New York City Marathon. Flanagan captured the U.S. Marathon championship in the race.
She took her fifth title at the National Cross Country Championships and asserted herself as the clear number one in the discipline, winning by a margin of 41 seconds.
2011
At the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Punta Umbría, Spain on 20 March 2011.-Preparation:The United States had expressed an interest in hosting the competition, but Punta Umbria was chosen as the host at the IAAF Council Meeting in November 2009...
, Flanagan improved on her 12th place from the year before to place 3rd, with a time of 25:10. She led the Team USA squad to a bronze medal. Flanagan was the first non-African born medalist in the event since 2004.
She competed in the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Organised by USA Track and Field, the four-day competition took place from June 23–26 and served as the national championships in track and field for the United States...
in the 10000 m, and won with a time of 30:59.57, qualifying her for the 10,000 m at the 2011 World Championships
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
. On August 27th, Flanagan finished 7th at 2011 World Championships for 10000 m with a time of 31:25.57.
Flanagan said in June 2011 that she is leaning towards the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics.
Personal
Flanagan grew up in Marblehead, MassachusettsMarblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
. She attended Marblehead High School, where she excelled in cross country and track. She also participated in soccer and swimming, and was an artist and painter in the art major program.
Flanagan is married to Steven Ashley Edwards, a former track and field star at the University of North Carolina who holds multiple high school state records in North Carolina.
Flanagan's parents are both accomplished runners. Her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, is a former marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
world record holder (as Cheryl Bridges - 1971) and a five-time U.S. World Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
Championship participant. Her father, Steve Flanagan, was also a U.S. World Cross Country Champion participant and marathon runner (PR 2:18) and raised Shalane in Marblehead with her stepmother Monica.
In the fall of 2009, Flanagan became a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country team at her alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the University of North Carolina.
Personal bests
| Distance | Performance | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 m | 4:05.86 | Eugene, Oregon Eugene, Oregon Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S... |
10 June 2007 |
| 3000 m | 8:33.25 | Boston, Massachusetts | 27 January 2007 |
| 5000 m | 14:44.80 | Walnut, California Walnut, California Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department.... |
13 April 2007 |
| 10,000 m | 30:22.22 NR | Beijing, China | 15 August 2008 |
| Half marathon | 1:08:36 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... |
19 September 2010 |
| Marathon | 2:28:40 | New York City, New York | 7 November 2010 |