SEAMAN ANNIHILATES 5KM AMERICAN RECORD
SEPTEMBER 15, 2003

Today was the 5km competition in Hildeshiem, Germany. Tim placed 3rd in a time of 19:09. Winning the race was Ivan Trotsky from Belarus in a time of 18:57,with Erik Tysse the Norweigan whom Tim had been training with the last week in Norway, placing 2nd in a time of 19:01. Tim's time was a new AMERICAN RECORD, and Erik's time was a new Norweigan record as well.

With over 3000 people watching the event, Tim started the first 500m loop in last place with a time of 1:54. Slowly moving up on the field, Tim eventually found himself in 4th place with Missula and Chelmelnizhy from Belarus fighting to stay with the Norweigan and the American. Tysse surprisingly took the lead just after 2km and pushed the pace to break the pack, with only Trotsky, Jiri Malysa (CZE) and Seaman able to keep up. Just after 3km, Erik and Tim passed Malysa. By 3.5km Erik went after Trotsky, pulling Tim along the way. But, by 4km Erik was 5 seconds in front and Tim had his slowest lap of the race in a time of 1:58. Tim came back strongly with a last lap of 1:52.6 to secure 3rd place. The announcer got the crowd going crazy with an American being so close to the lead so unexpectedly, that he almost lost his voice screaming so much in German.

Official Results:

1. Ivan Trotsky - Belarus - 18:57 - 6th in 2003 WC in Paris
2. Erik Tysse - Noorway - 19:01 - NR
3. Tim Seaman - USA    - 19:09 - NEW AMERICAN RECORD
4. Jiri Malysa - CZE       - 19:18
5. Milos Holusa - SVK   - 19:20
6.. Zdeno Babik - SVK   - 19:24
7. Andrei Markarov - BLR - 19:30
8. Yvgeni Misula - BLR -    19:46 - 12th place at WC in Paris
9. Victor Ginko - BLR    - 19:52
10. Jiri Chaloupka - CZE - 20:08

Andre Hohne - GER - DNF - 13th palce at WC in Paris
Mikhail Khmelnizky - DNF