Lagat overtakes Rupp, American mark in 5,000
Bosworth, Todd
Lagat overtakes Rupp, American mark in 5,000
Crowd pleaser
By Joe Reardon / Boston Indoor Games | Sunday, February 7, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | General
The cheers for American record-holder Galen Rupp after his introduction by meet announcer Tony Reavis were loud.
The cheers grew to a roar from the Reggie Lewis Center crowd when Reavis announced Bernard Lagat before the start of the men’s 5,000-meter run at last night’s Reebok Boston Indoor Games.
The race lived up to the hype - and then some - as Lagat, still the only man to capture world titles in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters in the same year (2007), blazed the final 200 meters in 27.30 to shake himself loose of a four-runner pack and set an American record in the 5,000 of 13 minutes, 11.50 seconds. Dejen Gebrremeskel was second (13:11.78) followed by fellow Ethiopian Bekana Daba (13:11.778)
The race was a burner, with the top four bettering Rupp’s former mark of 13:18.12. Included among the names was Rupp, who was fourth in 13:14.21.
Rupp wasn’t going to give up the record without a fight, pushing into the lead with five laps to go and holding it until Lagat, a Kenyan native who has since become an American citizen, took the lead, looking smooth and in control. That’s the way it stayed until Lagat switched gears a second time for the win.
For Lagat, leading was out of the ordinary - but not uncomfortable.
“It (leading) was different territory,” Lagat said. “It’s not an easy thing. As long as you’re comfortable in the front you can do it.”
Rupp was far from disappointed with his race after battling a cold during the week.
“It ended up being a real kicker’s race,” Rupp said. “I’m happy where I am. I’m four seconds faster than last year. I want to get a little sharper and do some more speed work. This is a good benchmark to where I’m at.”
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba didn’t have the company the men’s field had so she pressed ahead on her own for a sterling 14:44.53 win in the 5,000. Dibaba easily defeated Kenya’s Sally Kipyego (14:52.67) and Aheza Kiros of Ethiopia (15:28.28).
Bershawn Jackson knew there was no need to lead early in the 400. Instead, he wanted a strong start and then to rely on his finishing kick. The bronze medalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2008 Olympics, Jackson’s race plan worked to perfection as he moved up on leader Renny Quow of Trinidad around the final turn and outran him down the straightaway for a swift 46.86 win. Quow was clocked at 47.15, while Jamal Torrence was third in 48.00.
“I established great position and wanted to close strong,” Jackson said. “I knew I had the strength on the last turn.”
The women’s 400 nearly proved disastrous for DeeDee Trotter early, but it was the 2007 outdoor national champion in the event who wound up crossing the finish line in first with a time of 53.08.
Trotter spent nearly a half-hour in the medical area after the race with an asthma problem but was smiling and talking about her run soon after.
Trotter was nearly knocked out of the race when she was accidentally clipped from behind on her third stride into the break and nearly fell.
“That’s never happened to me before at any level,” Trotter said. “My natural reaction was if I’m not on the ground, just keep running.”
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell easily won the 60-meter hurdles in a meet-record 7.49.
“I just wanted to focus on the gun and stay aggressive,” Trammell said.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/general/view.bg?articleid=1231228
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