Dunn Chases Olympic Standard to Russia

If everything works out right, Minnesota will be able to lay claim to its first 2008 track and field Olympian on Sunday morning.

Then, in the Men's 50K event at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, Carleton College alum Philip Dunn will seek to better the Olympic B Standard of 4:07:00 and claim a spot on his third Olympic team.

Dunn won the U.S. Olympic Trials in sticky Miami conditions with a time of 4:12:55, but still needs to make the Olympic standard.

You can read DtB's story of the Trials race HERE.

USA Track and Field recently released THIS Preview for the World Cup.

Dunn was in a similar position prior to the 2004 Games. Then, he had finished third at the Olympic Trials 50K, but punched his Athens Olympics ticket when he bettered the Olympic A standard with a 3:59:12 clocking at a later race.

The San Diego-based Dunn was a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic team as well. He finished 28th in the 5oK in Sydney and was 35th in Athens.

Dunn was the 1999 Pan American Games bronze medalist. At last year's Pan Am Games he finished 8th in the 50K. We interviewed him prior to that event, HERE.