Keith Kelly told Irish Runner.com that his plan for the Stanford Invitational was "to put in good effort." "I hope to run around 29-minutes," Kelly, the 2000 NCAA Cross Country individual champion said a few hours before the event.

Kelly hoped to hit midway in around 14.30 and see how he felt. Kelly, shorn in racing flats instead of spikes to save his legs, passed the 5-kilometre mark in 14.16.4 and was trailing the second pack. Kelly continued to move through the pack running consistent laps of 68-69 seconds. He covered his last 800 metres in 2.14 (69 - 65) crossing the finish line in 28.44.33. An elated Kelly turned an honest run into a European Athletics Championship qualifier (28.50.00).

After the race Kelly spoke about his time, "I'm very pleased and a bit surprised. The race was off of very limited training. I've had a couple of months of mileage and no track intervals. I knew coming into the race that the [European] standard was 28.50 but it was in the back of my mind. I didn't think about it until I saw the 27.39 time with a lap to go. I knew I had and held back a little. I'm usually a fast finisher but my legs are ready for that, yet. I was tired after the race but not totally spent."

The most likely event up next for Kelly who is successfully juggling his coaching duties with his own training is Penn Relays on 27th April in Philadelphia.

Kelly commented, "My legs feel pretty good - not wearing spikes really helped. I may run the 5k at Penn Relays. If I do, I'll have to wear spikes. I may even jump on the track for a session the week before."

The first heat men's 10,000-metre event was won by University of Arkansas senior Josphat Boit (Eldoret, Kenya) in 28.22.09. Boit is coached by the Mayoman John McDonnell. Martin Fagan, a senior at Providence placed 21st in 29.00.37 and Thomas Fraser from Butler University placed 32nd in 30.00.70.

Iona College senior Sean Connolly ran 29.37.05 to place 13th in the second heat of the 10,000 metres. Robert Wade (University of Loyola - Chicago) placed 31st in 30.26.07.

Providence graduate Deirdre Byrne (Avoca, Co Wicklow), now attending Cal Poly for graduate school placed 6th in the women's 1,500 metres in 4.22.61.

Iona College junior Michelle Gallagher ran 17:09.01 to place 31st in the second heat of the women's 5,000-metre event.