Jan. 28, 2007

Former Tar Heel standout Shalane Flanagan announced her return to competitive racing with a huge bang Saturday, obliterating the American record in the women's 3,000 meters at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Flanagan clocked a staggering 8:33.25 to break Regina Jacobs' previous mark in the event by almost six seconds. The sensational time improved the Marblehead, Mass., native's personal best by more than 20 seconds as she returned to the track after nearly a year and a half spent battling a foot injury.

The 2005 USA outdoor 5,000 meter champion challenged Meseret Defar on the backstretch as Defar attempted to set a new world record, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet. In the end, Defar barely outlasted Flanagan - and had to use the fifth-fastest performance of all-time (8:30.31) to do so. Flanagan was a 14-time All-America at UNC and won back-to-back NCAA Cross Country Championships.