By Elliot Denman // Photo by John Nepolitan

EUGENE, OREGON -- It was 28 minutes, 11.61 seconds of perfect distraction, just what Galen Rupp needed, just what Galen Rupp’s sport needed, just what the 8,762 fans -- many of an Oregon Ducks persuasion -- gathered at Hayward Field on opening day of the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships needed.

With all the allegations of doping swirling around Rupp’s coach, Alberto Salazar, for the past two weeks, followed by Salazar’s vehement 12,000-word document of denial, and too many followers of the sport wondering just what untidy news might next hit the fan, Galen Rupp delivered the best kind of response.

He let his flying feet do his best talking and raced to the 28:11.61 win in the men’s 10,000-meter final that was the day’s big competitive feature.

But not long after he crossed the finish line for the seventh straight time in a USA 10,000-meter final -- Dartmouth grad Ben True held on for second in 28:14.26; Minnesota alum Hassan Mead nabbed third in 28:16.54 -- Rupp spoke of current events.

“I believe in clean sport; I don’t ever want that (doping) happening in my sport, I believe in everything that was said (by Salazar),” said Rupp. 

The 29-year-old 2012 Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist was content to run with the lead pack for the first 23 ½ laps, then broke away to win in typical fashion.  By world standards, 28:11.61 is rather pedestrian time.  But on this steamy night in “Tracktown USA” it more than sufficed to win.

The still-boyish looking University of Oregon grad has now won his specialty event seven consecutive times since his first in 2009.

And that sent his sport’s stats-nuts scrambling in yet another direction.

Their big question: Just where does seven straight wins rank on the all-time pantheon of National Championships winners?

Their findings: right up there.

Tops all-time in National Championships history with 10 straight wins (from 1948-57) is 92nd Street YMHA/Maccabi AC racewalker Henry Laskau, the late, great Long Islander and three-time Olympian.

Other notable streakers: James Mitchel (don’t you remember?), eight straight triumphs in the hammer throw (1889 to 1896); Breaux Greer, eight straight firsts (2000 to 2007) in the javelin; Joie Ray, seven straight wins in the 1500 meters (1917-1923), and Henry Marsh, seven straight in the steeplechase (1981-1987.)

But Rupp is only the co-winningest man in his favorite event.

Millrose AA’s Lou Gregory also won seven titles at either 10,000 meters or its six-mile counterpart.  But these were not consecutive – they came in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1939, 1941 and 1942.

After two days of rest, Rupp returns to Hayward Field for the 5000-meter final Sunday morning.

Millrose Games favorite Bernard Lagat will be a principal rival -- at age 40. So will Ben True and so will a flock of others. 

Rupp’s game plan will remain constant -- let his flying feet do his talking.

Other Day One champions: Dartmouth grad Sean Furey in the men’s javelin (272-7), NYAC’s Kibwe Johnson in The hammer throw (252-6), Jared Schuurmans in the discus (212-1), Florida’s Marquis Dendy in the long jump (wind-aided 28-5 ¾); Notre Dame alumna Molly Huddle in the women’s 10,000 meters (31:29.20), and NYAC’s Michelle Carter in the shot put (65-8 ¼.)