Super Fast in Houston

Things were fast in Houston, Texas, today as the U.S. track & field teams have their first 2012 Olympians. Shalane Flanagan led five women under 2:30 at the Olympic Marathon Trials while Meb Keflezighi was one of four men to break 2:10.

Flanagan broke the women's Trials' record by nearly three minutes in just the second marathon of her brilliant career. While she ran in the lead pack throughout, she did not truly assert herself until the 21st mile.

She and Desiree Davila exchanged the lead several times after that, but Flanagan pulled away for good in the final mile to finish in 2:25:38, 17 seconds ahead of Davila. Kara Goucher, Flanagan's training partner at Oregon TC, took the third U.S. Olympic Team spot in 2:26:06.

Amy Hastings — who ran well under the Trials' record in 2:27:17 — was fourth and Janet Cherobon-Bawcom fifth.

For the men, Keflezighi — a 2004 Olympic silver medalist — broke his own personal best for the second time in little more than two months. Runner-up Ryan Hall took the pace out quickly, separating himself, Keflezighi, Abdi Abdirahman and Dathan Ritzenhein from the field with 10 miles to go.

In the final mile, Keflezighi pulled clear of Hall to finish in 2:09:08, 22 seconds ahead of Hall. Abdirahman was third while Ritz wound up eight seconds shy of making the U.S. squad.