Aug. 30, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. –
University of Notre Dame alumna Molly Huddle ran an unforgettable United States record-breaking 14:44.76 in the 5,000-meter race to better the previous U.S. record by the narrowest of margins, .04 seconds in Brussels, Belgium. Huddle passed previous record-holder Shalane Flanagan’s U.S. mark of 14:44.80.
Breaking the U.S. 5,000-meter record will be added to Huddle’s countless accomplishments during her running career. Her honors started as a one-runner cross country team in high school when she broke 12 course records as a senior, won individual titles at the conference, regional and state meets, named the 2003 U.S. Junior National 3,000-meter champion and tying the most All-American honors received at Notre Dame with nine.
Huddle has shown great improvements in her 5,000-meter run this season, running three sub-15:00 races this summer. In Paris, she ran a personal best of 14:51.84 in July to better her previous time of 15:17.12. One month later she ran 14:57.93 in London before peaking with her record-breaking time in Brussels. Breaking Flanagan’s record was an indicator of greater success for Huddle as Flanagan captured the bronze medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
— ND —