USA Championships
2008 Olympic Trials 5,000m champion (15:01.02)
Three-time USA Outdoor 10,000m runner-up – 2007 (32:33.80); 2008 (31:37.72); 2011 (31:16.65)
2006 USA Outdoor 5,000m runner-up (15:14.13)
3rd at 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon (2:26:06)
International Championships
2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze medalist (32:02.05)
Collegiate Championships
2000 NCAA Outdoor 3,000m (9:02.15) and 5000m (15:54.30) champion
2000 NCAA Cross Country champion
About Kara
After taking time off in 2010 to give birth to her son, Goucher came back to form in 2011 in running a personal best time at the Boston Marathon. She also ran her second-fastest 10,000m time ever to qualify for the world team in 2011. For the first time in 24 years, Americans appeared on both podiums at the 2009 Boston Marathon as Kara Goucher was third in the women's race (2:32:25) and Ryan Hall third among the men. Goucher turned in a history-making American performance by finishing third in the 2008 NYC Marathon. Crossing the line in 2:25:53, it was the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman, the fastest time ever by an American at the ING New York City Marathon and marked the first time in 14 years that an American woman placed in the top three in New York. Goucher made history at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships by winning the first American medal ever in the women's 10,000 meters. After years of injury and frustration, the Gouchers moved from Boulder to Portland, Oregon, in the fall of 2004, where both Kara and her husband, Adam, have flourished. Formerly Kara Grgas-Wheeler, she started running in the seventh grade because she wanted to win an award at her junior high school. To get the award, she needed academics, arts and athletics. She chose cross country because they didn’t make cuts. She was a psychology major at Colorado. In 2001, she married fellow Colorado alum, distance runner Adam Goucher. Gave birth to son Colt in September 2010. She will be on the 2012 Olympic team in the marathon with teammate Shalane Flanagan.
Results
2012: 3rd at Olympic Team Trials Marathon (2:26:06)
2011: 13th at World Outdoors (32:29.58); 2nd at USA Outdoors in 10,000m (31:16.65); 5th at Boston Marathon (2:24:26); 1st at Seattle Invitational indoor 5,000m (16:11.50); 9th at Prefontaine Classic 5,000m (15:11.47); 3rd at New York City Half Marathon (1:09:03)
2010: did not compete due to maternity
2009: 10th at World Outdoors (2:27:48); 3rd at Boston Marathon (2:32:25); 1st at Millrose Games mile (4:33.19); 1st in 3,000m at Reebok Boston Indoor Games (8:46.65).
2008: 9th in 5,000m (15:49.39) and 10th in 10,000m (30:55.16) at Olympic Games; Olympic Trials champion in 5,000m (15:01.02) and 2nd in 10,000m (31:37.72); 3rd in 5,000m at Nike Prefontaine Classic (14:58.10); 4th at adidas Track Classic (9:00.53); 3rd at NYC marathon (2:25:53)
2007: USA Outdoor 10,000m runner-up (32:33.80); 3rd in 10,000m at World Outdoors (32:02.05); 8th in 1,500m at Pre Classic (4:10.29); 3rd in 3,000m at Rieti (8:34.99); 3rd in 5,000m at Berlin (14:55.02).
2006: USA Outdoor 5,000m runner-up (15:14.13); 11th in 1,500m at Rieti (4:05.14); 1st in 1,500m at Eugene (4:14.23); 3rd in 3,000m at World Cup (8:41.42); 2nd in 3,000m at adidas Track Classic (8:55.05); 5th in 5,000m at Naimette-Xhovemont (15:08.13); 3rd in 10,000m at Helsinki (31:17.12).
2005: 4th at St. Paul Distance Invitational 1,500m (4:19.94); 4th at Lignano 5,000m (4:12.31); 5th at Eugene Invitational 5,000m (16:23.96); 9th in Berlin 5,000m (15:24.59)
2004: 1st at Modesto Relays 1,500m (4:22.44); 13th at Prefontaine Classic 1,500m (4:16.48); 5th at Oregon Track Classic 3,000m (9:14.77)
2003: 1st at Tucson Elite 1,500m (4:25.34); 2nd at Victoria International Track Classic (16:00.25); 4th at Mt. SAC 10,000m (33:44.86)
2002: did not compete.
2001: 7th in 5,000m at USA Outdoors; 7th in 5,000m at NCAA Outdoors.
2000: Won Big 12 XC Champs (19:38); Won 3000m (9:02.15) and 5000m (15:54.30) at NCAA Outdoor Champs; 8th at Olympic Trials 5000m (15:34.47); won NCAA XC.
1999: Won Big 12 XC Champs (16:48); 9th at NCAA XC Champs (16:58.40); runner-up at NCAA Outdoor 3000m (9:29.89); 4th at Big 12 Outdoor 5000 (16:57.31); 3rd at Big 12 Outdoor 3000 (9:41.38); 7th at Mt. SAC Relays (4:28.37).
1998: Won Big 12 3000m (9:32.55); 7th at NCAA 3000m (9:23.45).
1997: 3rd at Big 12 XC Champs (17:40); 9th at Big 12 3000m.
1996: 12th at Big 12 XC Champs (18:25)
USA/World Rankings and Personal Bests
2011: Indoor bests – 5,000m, 16:11.50; Outdoor bests – 5,000m, 15:11.47 (No. 6 in the USA, No. 35 in the world); 10,000m, 31:16.65 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 11 in the world); Half Marathon, 1:09:03 (No. 1 in the USA, No. 30 in the world); Marathon, 2:24:52
2010: did not compete on maternity
2009: Outdoor bests – 5,000m, 15:20.94 (No. 6 in the USA, No. 49 in the world); Half Marathon, 1:08:05 (No. 1 in the USA, No. 8 in the world); Marathon, 2:27:48 (No. 1 in the USA)
2008: Indoor bests – 3,000m, 8:57.53 (No. 3 in the USA, No. 25 in the world); Outdoor bests – 5,000m, 14:58.10 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 20 in the world); 10,000m, 30:55.16 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 10 in the world); Marathon, 2:25:53 (No. 1 in the USA, No. 27 in the world)
2007: Outdoor bests – 1,500m, 4:10.29 (No. 15 in the USA); 5,000m, 14:55.02 (No. 3 in the USA, No. 15 in the world); Half Marathon, 1:06:57
2006: Outdoor bests – 3,000m, 8:41.42 (No. 1 in the USA, No. 16 in the world); 5,000m, 15:08.13 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 36 in the world); 10,000m, 31:17.12 (No. 1 in the USA, No. 12 in the world)
2005: Outdoor bests – 1,500m, 4:12.31 (No. 14 in the USA); 5,000m, 15:17.55 (No. 6 in the USA)
2004: Outdoor bests – 1,500m, 4:16.48; 3,000m, 9:14.77; 5,000m, 16:30.35.
2003: Outdoor bests – 1,500m, 4:11.17; 5,000m, 15:42.97