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In an event known for its surprises, Colleen De Reuck of Boulder, Colo. won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in an upset over American record-holder and prohibitive favorite Deena Kastor in a Trials record time of 2:28:25.

Kastor, who led from miles 18 to 23, finished second in 2:29:38. The defeat was her first to an American since her June 2002 defeat over 5000 meters to Marla Runyan at the USA Track & Field Championships and her first on the roads since a May 2001 defeat to Milena Glusac at the USA 25K Championship.

Jen Rhines, finally extending the talents shown in shorter events, rounded out a full U.S. Olympic marathon squad with a come-from-behind third place finish in 2:29:57.

The day's biggest heartbreak was reserved for Blake Russell who's bold solo bid for the win and a spot on the Athens starting line ended in the final mile when Rhines motored by into third place. Russell, the 2003 Twin Cities Marathon winner, led from the start and had built a lead of over a minute by the four mile mark. At roughly 17.5 miles, though, Kastor went by, followed a few miles later by De Reuck, and then, finally, Rhines. Russell clicked 2:30:32.

De Reuck, 39, a three-time Olympian for her native South Africa who was naturalized as an American citizen in December 2000, made her first U.S. squad in a redemptive return to the Forest Park criterium course where she was beaten for the U. S. title in the final miles last year. Indeed, the Clayton Avenue segment of the course where De Reuck went to the front today was a few strides short of the spot where De Reuck lost the lead in 2003 to eventual winner Sara Wells.

Clayton Avenue was, coincidentally, the spot where Kastor from Mammoth Lakes, Calif. had passed Russell just a lap prior.

"I just wanted to finish in the top three," De Reuck, who will turn 40 in ten days, offered. "Early on the pace was much faster than I wanted to go. I was just trying to keep my pace because I did not want to blow out. I was trying to stick with a 5:30 - 5:40 pace."

The race, which started at the same Francis Field site as the Olympic Marathon 100 years ago, was run under cloudless skies at a start- time temperature of 44 degrees. Breezes built during the race and temperatures rose to near 60 when the first finishers arrived at the site of the 1904 World's Fair Pavilion.

When runners exited the Francis Field after 4 laps around the track, Russell's 5:39 opening mile had already separated herself from the rest of the competition. After clocking a 5:05 second mile, her lead was over a half a minute. A chase group of seven formed behind her - De Reuck, Kastor, Rhines, Sylvia Mosqueda, Magdalena Lewy, Deeja Youngquist and surprise 1996 Trials victor Jenny Spangler.

Russell, who clocked splits of 16:32 for 5K, 33:33 for 10K, 54:29 for 10 miles, and the half marathon in 1:11:58, planned a fast pace all along, but not one quite this fast.

"I knew that I had to go out hard," Phillips said. "My plan was to run a 5:35 pace as long as I could. I was hoping that someone would go with me early but nobody did. I found out that I ran the second mile in 5:05, and I knew that wasn't a good idea. I felt fine until the 20th mile and then I started to gradually feel worse"

Kastor and Mosqueda broke from the chase group around four miles for a more concerted pursuit of Russell. After the eight mile mark, Kastor had separated herself from Mosqueda but she was still more than 40 seconds adrift of the leader. Kastor saw the gap expand back to a minute at 12 miles after she made two stops to remove a stone from her shoe, but quickly resumed progress in her chase - the spread was 40 seconds at 12 miles and 20 seconds at 15 miles.

Exactly 98 minutes into race Kastor went by Russell, and Russell had no response. Kastor looked strong as she pulled away from the long- time leader, but by the 22 mile mark it was clear the De Reuck was chewing up ground. De Reuck caught Kastor as the U.S. 10,000 meter record- holder visibly struggled the sharp hill that begins the Clayton Avenue stretch.

"Colleen passed me with three miles to go," Kastor said. "She passed me like a sprinter."

Kastor, a Team Running USA athlete, was able to hold things together well enough to keep second place and a spot on the team.

Russell, of course, was not so lucky. Rhines steady pace reeled in the struggling early leader.

"I wanted to stay disciplined and run my race and not go out with the leaders too soon," Rhines said. "I knew that if I was going to have a chance to make the team that was the way to do it."

De Reuck's performance broke Margaret Groos record of 2:29:50 set at the 1988 Olympic Trials in Pittsburgh. This year marked the first time three runners broke 2:30 at an Olympic Trials. The top seven times today were the fastest times ever recorded for their place at the event.

The fast times and full complement of Olympians here is a striking contrast to the 2000 Trails in Columbia, South Carolina where warm temperatures and a rugged course left Chris Clark as the Olympic qualifier for Sydney Games. De Reuck, Kastor and Rhines all expressed the intent to compete in the Athens marathon, as opposed to events on the track should they qualify.

All photos by Vicotr Sailor/Photo Run

Local Finishers

1. 1. Colleen DeReuck, Boulder, CO 2:28:25


2. 8. Deeja Youngquist, Albuquerque, NM 2:31:21


3. 17. Nicole Kulikov, Ft. Collins, CO 2:40:28


4. 27. Katie Blackett, Boulder, CO 2:42:24


5. 29. Nikole Johns, Ft. Collins, CO 2:43:57


6. 35. Erica Larson, Los Alamos, NM 2:45:08


7. 49. Genevieve Kiley, Park City, UT 2:47:33


8. 57. Heather Hunt, Englewood, CO 2:48:53


9. 62. Brenda Graham Gray, Rock Springs, WY 2:49:30


10. 73. Tanya Poel, Boulder, CO 2:53:22


11. 80. Patty Murray, Boulder, CO 2:55:42


12. 91. Valerie Gearheart, Santaquin, UT 3:00:10


13. 93. Mary Dolan Cote, Basalt, CO 3:00:52


14. 102. Aimee Larkin, Salt Lake City, UT 3:05:57

For complete results go to USATF.org.