05/10/2008

Associated Press

Virginia Tech runner Tasmin Fanning got a surprise congratulations after her victory in the women's 5,000 meters at the Oregon Twilight meet on Friday evening.

She met Sen. Barack Obama, in Eugene campaigning for Oregon's May 20th presidential primary.

"I was already thrilled with the race, and it culminated in this amazing thrill and excitement. They told me he was here, and I was like 'Can I meet him?'" Fanning said. "He was very polite, and very calm. I have no idea what I said."

Fanning set a school record in the 5,000 meters, finishing in 15:47.90 at the meet at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

"I'm really pleased. I wanted to go under 16, and it was just great conditions. It was a fun race," she said.

The meet included elite athletes hoping for a trip to Beijing for the Olympics.

Two-time defending U.S. outdoor champion A.G. Kruger won the men's hammer with a throw of at 258-02 (78.68 meters).

Britney Henry won the women's hammer event with a throw of 224-07 (68.46 meters). Oregon senior Marcus Dillion won the men's 400 meters in 47.18 which qualified him for the NCAA West regional at the end of this month in Northridge, Calif.

Kenyan Boaz Lalang, a 19-year-old freshman at Rend Lake College in southern Illinois, won the men's 800 meters in 1:45.15, surpassing his mark of 1:46.87 at the Sea Relays in Knoxville, Tenn.

He hinted he is interested in joining the Ducks.

"I'll be looking to go to a D-1 school when I'm done in Rend Lake and Oregon is at the top of my list," he said.

Obama's appearance in Eugene was part of a swing through Oregon Friday and Saturday. He spoke at a rally on the campus, and basketball coach Ernie Kent gave him a jersey.

"It's kind of cool that he chose to stop here. He has some interest in track, and he heard about the meet going on," said Oregon's director of track and field, Vin Lananna.

Fans at Hayward Field for Oregon's final home meet got a sneak peek at the makeover of the track for the Olympic trials, which will get underway in late June. Two new 52-foot tall bleachers line the south end of the track, although they were not yet open for the Oregon Twilight.