The surprise performance of the day came from Shayne Culpepper in the women's 3,000 meters. The final qualifier on time from Friday's preliminary round, she had been sorely disappointed with her performance and didn't expect even to make the final. Sunday's race played to the strengths of the 2000 Olympian at 1,500 meters, however, and she made the most of it, tactically capitalizing on a slow pace that saw the pack come through a 5:15 first mile. She moved from near the back of the pack to mid-pack with 500 meters to go, then made her big move, into third, with 300 to go.
Culpepper then surged ahead of Marta Dominguez of Spain and Yelena Zadorozhnaya of Russia with one lap to go. On the backstretch, Zadorozhnaya clipped Culpepper from behind. After stumbling, Culpepper regained her composure and sprinted the finish in 9:12.15, in third behind Ehiopians Meseret Defar (9:11.22) – the world junior 3,000 and 5,000 champion - and Berhane Adere (9:11.43) – the reigning world outdoor 10,000m champion. The world outdoor 5,000m silver medalist, Dominguez came fourth in 9:12.85.
Quotes Shayne Culpepper, women's 3,000m (9:12.15, 3rd): "I'm freaking out! I tactically did really well. I just covered everyone's moves and tried to stay on the inside. I felt horrible in the prelim. It was a goal of mine to do well here in Europe. I didn't want to leave my family [Husband Alan, the 2004 Olympic men's marathon Trials champion, and 21-month-old son Cruz], come all the way here, and not do well. The support of the people on the team – especially my roommate Carrie Tollefson, Mary Jayne Harrelson and Jenelle Deatherage – they truly carried me through the last 24 hours. I started to get really down. I talked to Alan and Cruz yesterday. But my teammates and staff really supported me."