Women's 5000

Eugene local Marla Runyan used a bold front-running strategy to win her first USATF title, setting a meet record, 15:09.03, in the process.

With a steady sequence of 72-74-second laps as a cold breeze blew across Hayward Field, Runyan built a lead that stretched as long as 35m in the 8th lap over Regina Jacobs--who was attempting to become the first nationals 800/1500/5K triple winner--Elva Dryer and Amy Rudolph.

Jacobs (15:10.78) and Dryer (15:11.76) attempted to kick Runyan down on the last circuit, but the legally blind champion's 65.5 was sufficient to hold them off.