Shalane Flanagan, North Carolina's middle-distance star, did not make it past the qualifying round of the women's 5,000-meter run in her Olympic debut Friday, but two other runners with Triangle ties -- Derrick Brew and LaTasha Colander -- advanced to today's semifinals.

Flanagan, facing the fastest 5,000 of her career, gamely pulled away from a trailing pack of runners and ran most of the race's second half alone behind the lead pack.

"It was really tough out there," she said. "I was kind of caught in no man's land out there, and it was hard to motivate myself to get back. I could hear my coach [UNC assistant Michael Whittlesey] and all my family trying to support me to get through it, but it was just really tough. Some more practice, and I think I'll be ready."

Running a second heat that ended after midnight here, Flanagan finished 11th out of 21 runners in the last event of the night. Her time of 15 minutes, 34.63 seconds was a personal best, but it also was almost 30 seconds behind the time of the last qualifier.

Flanagan ran in the fastest of two heats, with seven runners finishing in less than 15 minutes. The Olympic record is 14:40.79.

"I thought I was going to push out of the pack, but those ladies are fierce competitors, and they were on today," she said.

The race in the 75,000-seat Olympic Stadium was Flanagan's first international 5,000. She has run the event only seven times.

"Every one I'm learning more and more," she said. "I'm sure my coach is going to have a lot to talk about tonight."

The other two U.S. women in the 5,000 -- Marla Runyan and Shayne Culpepper -- also failed to advance to the final.

Flanagan will return to Chapel Hill to complete her last semester of studies and train for the professional circuit.

Despite not advancing, Flanagan said she did win one thing.

"I just can't believe I'm an Olympian. I can say that forever now," she said. "The Opening Ceremony is something I'll always remember."

Others with Triangle ties start competing today. Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin of Raleigh will run in the 100-meter qualifying heats. Former UNC star Monique Hennagan will try to qualify in the women's 400. Former Duke pole-vaulter Jillian Schwartz will attempt to advance in the first round of her event.

Colander, the U.S. outdoor champion in the women's 100, made it through two rounds with times of 11:31 and 11.20. She showed no signs of the minor leg injury that caused her to withdraw from the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials.

"I feel really good," she said.

Colander, who lives in Garner, said she "got out a little late" in the second round and had to push near the end.

"Of course, I wanted to be faster, but I think the main thing is to be faster in the finals," she said.

The two other U.S. women in the 100 -- Lauryn Williams and Gail Devers -- also advanced to the semifinals, although Devers, at 11.31, was the slowest of the sprinters who made it out of the second round.

Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas, who trains in Raleigh under coach Trevor Graham, is just back from an injury and failed to qualify.

Brew easily won his opening heat in the men's 400 with a time of 45.41, the 10th-best of 23 who advanced. The two other U.S. 400 runners -- Otis Harris and Jeremy Wariner -- also advanced easily.

Brew, who trains in Raleigh under former 400 Olympian Antonio Pettigrew, said his goal was to win his heat but not run too hard.

"I coasted in those last 40 meters, just under control," he said. "It felt good. I'm ready to go tomorrow."

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