Goucher's DNS, Heath's DNF Explained

We were curious about two out-of-the-results performances this weekend by some Minnesota natives who had been running very well of late. And, now we have the answers.

Kara Gocuher was a surprise DNS -- did not start -- in the 3000 meters at the USA Indoor Championships. Her agent Dan Lilot informed us yesterday that Goucher became ill just before leaving for the meet in Boston and was unable to make the trip. Shalane Flanagan, who finished one place ahead of Goucher at the USA Cross Country Championships earlier this month won the USA 3000 in 8:56.74.

At the Mountain Pacific Indoor Championships in Seattle, Stanford's Garrett Heath was a DNF -- did not finish -- in the 3000 meters. After his sub-4 mile on February 10 he told us he hoped to run a fast 3000 in Seattle. Instead, it appears, things got a little chaotic.

"I didn’t end up finishing the MPSF 3k," Heath explained via e-mail. "I felt good for most of it, but had to make a bit of a move to go to the lead in the middle of it to keep the pace honest so that our other guys had a chance of qualifying for NCAAs. Originally, I had planned on finishing and trying to run fast, but it turned into more of a rabbit effort in the end."

Oregon's Galen Rupp won the event in 7:54.19.

Stanford's DMR team, where Heath is the 1200 meter leg, is currently ranked #1 on the NCAA performance list at 9:33.16. The Winona native's 3:59.60 mile ranks him #4 in that event, while a 8:01.96 3000 mark from early in the season ranks him #29.

The NCAA Indoor Meet gets under way in less than two weeks, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.