Goucher 13th in World Championships 10,000-meter race

Former Duluthian Kara Goucher of Portland, Ore., placed 13th in a field of 18 in Saturday’s 10,000-meter women’s race on the opening day of the World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, Korea.

Kenyans swept the top four spots led by Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, 27, who won in 30 minutes. 48.98 seconds. Second was Sally Kipyego, 25, a former Texas Tech runner and the sister of 2011 Grandma’s Marathon winner Christopher Kiyego, in 30:50.04.

Leading the American women were Shalane Flanagan, 30, of Portland, seventh in 31:25.57 and Jennifer Rhines, 37, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., ninth in 31:47.59.

Goucher, 33, finished in 32:29.58. She was diagnosed last month with a stress reaction of the hip, but was given the OK by doctors to compete. She plans to race in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the women’s marathon Jan. 14 in Houston, with the hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Earlier Saturday, Kenyans swept the top three spots in the women’s marathon with Edna Kiplagat in 2:28:43, Prisah Jeptoo in 2:29:00 and Sharon Cherop in 2:29:14. Tera Moody, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was the top American in the field of 54, placing 17th in 2:32:04.

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