http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=trackandfield&id=1990980
Associated Press VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Shalane Flanagan defended her U.S. women's short course title with a victory in the 4-kilometer event Sunday in the U.S. Cross Country Championships. Dathan Ritzenhein won the men's 12-kilometer race, and prep star Galen Rupp won the junior 4K title during the final day of the competition at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The top six finishers in the open and junior races over the weekend qualified for the U.S. team that will compete in the world championships March 19-20 in France. Flanagan, an Olympian who won the NCAA Division I cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 at North Carolina, jumped out early and won easily in 13 minutes, 24 seconds. Shayne Culpepper was second (13:27) and Melissa Buttry (13:29) followed in soggy conditions from rain the day before. "I tried to get out decently fast because the mud that's out there can slow you down. Because my foot has been bothering me I haven't gotten in the training lately that I wanted to, and that gave me a lack of confidence compared to most years," Flanagan said. Ritzenhein, the 2003 NCAA cross country champion at Colorado, won in 36:59, followed by Jorge Torres (37:14) and Tim Broe (37:27). Alan Webb dropped out after the 5K mark when he was passed by Torres. Rupp, is from Portland, Ore., just across the state border from Washington. He holds U.S. high school records in the 5,000 and 3,000 meters. He dominated the field Sunday, winning in 25:13, ahead of Stuart Egan (25:22) and Hakon DeVries (25:27). "I just wanted to take it as easy as possible for the first two laps," Rupp said. "The last lap I wanted to take it out, but prior to that I threw in a couple surges in the second and third laps to see how everyone would react to it. With one lap to go, that's when I decided to make my move," he said. "I'm definitely peaking for worlds." ENDS
