There were quite a few brow-raising performances in the first day of competition, but what do you think was the biggest surprise at Hayward Field Thursday?

Here are your candidates:

Scott Bauhs
Showed terrific closing speed the final 800 meters to capture a spot on the podium and a chance to make the Daegu team (if he hits a standard later this summer). Biggest race of the Chico State graduate's career.

Bernard Lagat
Exciting and thrilling for fans to see Lagat jog out from beneath the Hayward grandstands to participate in the 1500. I for one did not expect it. Expectedly, he stated afterward that he will undoubtedly focus on the 5k at Worlds if he qualifies in both.

Kara Goucher
Continues her comeback after maternity leave, and is now almost right back to her 2008 10k form. Much better than most had anticipated after marathon training the past several years.

Jen Rhines
Rhines ran a gutsy race, pacing Goucher in a chase after Shalane throughout the first 7-8 kilometers. She held off a surging Desi Davila to capture a spot on the World team at 36 years old.

Duane Solomon or Russell Brown
Both veterans failed to make it out of the first round of qualifying Thursday, and both were expected to be finalists and potential threats to make the team in their respective races. Brown entered the meet with the fastest time of any American this year (3:35.70 at Mt. Sac).

There were many more surprising performances than these (Acosta 3:40 after many struggles this year), as there always are at Championship meets. Let us know if you have one that you think should have been mentioned.