Tough going for Wheeling's Torres in 10,000

Former Wheeling High School star Jorge Torres' first Olympic experience produced another personal first Sunday morning.

"It was the first time I ever got lapped," Torres said to a USA Track and Field representative. "Those runners are pretty good out there."

In the 10,000 meters in Beijing, Torres ran 28:13.93 to finish 25th out of 38 runners who started the race. Kenenisa Bekale of Ethiopia won the gold medal with an Olympic record 27:01.17.

"I wish I could have done better," said Torres, "but I'll move on."

Torres, a three-time Class AA state cross country champion from 1996-98 at Wheeling, hopes this could be valuable for a run at the 2012 Olympic Games in the 10,000 or possibly the marathon.

"The experience was great," Torres said. "I'm an Olympian and no one can take that away from me.

"I'll go raise my hand high and continue to dream again. I could come back in four years and it could be my day, just like Deena (U.S. women's marathon bronze medalist Kastor) did four years ago."