Americans blazed the track in the first distance final in Track and Field at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

But it was Shalane Flanagan, not Kara Goucher, who brought home the medal.

Frank Mungeam, KGW.com

Shalane Flanagan leads Kara Goucher at 2008 US Olympic Trials

In the women's 10,000 meters, Flanagan held on for third and the bronze medal, while Goucher placed 10th and Eugene training partner Amy Begley finished 26th.

Flanagan finished in an American record time of 30:22.22. Goucher finished in 30:55:16.

Flanagan also edged Goucher in the 10,000 in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. Goucher then outkicked Flanagan later in the Trials to win the 5,000 meters. Goucher will get a second chance against Flanagan and for a medal later in the Summer Games in the 5,000 meters.

In 2007, Goucher won the bronze medal at 10,000 meters in the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Time for Track Town

Oregon's track and field athletes have waited patiently during the first days of the Summer Olympic games, while the focus has been on swimming and gymnastics. Starting Friday, it's Track Time.

Which is just fine with a powerful contigent from Eugene, known as "Track Town USA".

Goucher, who adopted Portland as her home to train, native son Galen Rupp, and Willamette University standout Nick Symmonds are among the local runners with golden dreams.

Frank Mungeam

Kara Goucher leads the field in the finals of the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Photo Gallery: Oregonians Going for Gold

Eugene, known for its track-centric nickname and rich history in the sport, hosted the U.S. track trials that determined the sport's Olympic team this past month.

Photo Gallery: Trials Highlights

One of the most memorable moments of the event at Hayward Field came when three runners -- all with Oregon ties -- made the team in the 800 meters.

The crowd was ecstatic as Nick Symmonds, who went to Willamette University and competes with the Oregon Track Club, came in first, followed by University of Oregon runner Andrew Wheating and the OTC's Christian Smith.

Photo Gallery: Oregon Men 1-23 in 800

"I'm not going to be content winning the trials. When we go to Beijing, I want to make the finals and I want to make the U.S. proud," Symmonds said at the time.

In the men's 10,000 meters, Galen Rupp earned a place on the Olympic team with a second-place finish to Abdi Abdirahman.

Rupp left the University of Oregon in December to train full time for the Olympics. He was a much-heralded prep runner at Central Catholic High School in Portland.

Other athletes who made the U.S team with ties to Oregon include Tom Pappas in the decathlon. Born in Azalea, Pappas has won five U.S. championships and a world title but an Olympic medal has eluded him.

Nicole Teter of Eugene will compete in the 800 meters and Erica Bartolina made the team in the pole vault. Bartolina grew up on a small farm near Philomath.

Ian Dobson, who went to Klamath Union High School before heading to Stanford, will compete in the 5,000 meters.

The U.S. track contingent also includes Dathan Ritzenhein (marathon), Jesse Williams (high jump) and Loree Smith (hammer), all of whom call Eugene home.

Oregon's list of medal hopefuls also includes Bend's Adam Craig, who will compete in the mountain cycling competition.

Craig grew up in Maine but now lives and trains in Bend. Mountain bike racing became an Olympic sport in 1996.

Elsie Windes, who hails from Portland, is a defender on the U.S. water polo team, while Hillsboro's Josh Inman, who went to Oregon State, is on the nation's rowing team.

Brian Barden, a former infielder for Oregon State who now plays with the Memphis Redbirds in the Pacific Coast League, is on the U.S. baseball team.

Additionally, there are numerous athletes with Oregon connections that will be competing for other nations. University of Oregon shortstop Jenn Salling will compete for the Canadian Olympic team, while fellow Duck Micaela Cocks plays on New Zealand's national basketball team.

Oregon State swimmer Saori Haruguchi will compete for Japan, while gymnastics recruit Olivia Vivian will compete for Australia. Beaver senior Heinrich Barnes will wrestle for his native South Africa.