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David Krummenacker, Kip Lagat, and Laban Rotich Ready for
Battle in Beantown at adidas Boston Games The domestic professional track circuit, the Golden Spike Tour, gets underway this Saturday, at the adidas Boston Indoor Games and is highlighted by a great head to head matchup at 1500 meters featuring world #2 Bernard "Kip" Lagat, US #1 David Krummenacker, and Kenyan indoor record holder Laban Rotich. Plus, a $10,000 bonus is on the line if Krummenacker (or any other American) can break Jeff Atkinson's soft 3:38.12 (about a 3:55 mile) American record. Krummenacker burst onto the international scene last year with arguably the finest year by an American middle distance runner in 2 decades. In addition to garnering Golden League 800m wins in Paris and Rome and a #3 world ranking at 800 meters, he ran 3:31.91 for 1500m, the #5 time all-time ever by an American. Krummenacker got his fabulous 2001 season underway with an American record at 1000 meters at last year's adidas Boston Games defeating Laban Rotich. "That was definitely a big thing to start the season off with a pr, the American record. It kind of set the tone (for the year). It was an affirmation for me that I had done the right thing, to leave everything in Atlanta (to move to Tucson, Arizona), to come out to train with this (new) coach (Luis de Oliviera), to start up a new training program," said Krummenacker from his training base in sunny Tucson, Arizona, where he moved in September 2001 to train. Last year's emergence on the international scene gave Krummenacker the confidence that he can run with and defeat any runner in the world and he carries that confidence into the new year. "My goal is to get up there in the front of the pack and mix it up with whoever is leading, but the last 400 meters or so just maintain that closeness and be able to kick at the end and hopefully win the race. Timewise there is the talk of the American record and of course I'd like it if I got it, but I'm not going into the race saying I have to get the American record, the main thing is be competitive in each race and as the whole year progresses, move it up a notch, a notch, a notch, and by the time outdoor arrives really be at the top." But if Krummenacker is going to win the race in Boston, he'll have to defeat his occasional training partner (on some non workout days and longer runs) who also happens to be the world's second fastest man ever at 1500m, Bernard "Kip" Lagat. Lagat and Krummenacker have different coaches, but Lagat this winter has relocated to Tucson to live and train. Lagat's coach, James Li, is the new cross country coach at the University of Arizona. By moving to Arizona, Lagat escaped one thing that used to hamper his training in Pullman, Washington - winter. Plus, now for the first time, he has a group of runners to train with including two time US American 1500 meter champion, Seneca Lassiter, and Abdi Abdirahman (10th at the 2000 Olympics at 10k), who both work with coach Li. Lagat is enjoying his new home and training partners in Tucson, ""I'm having the best time here. It's warm. The weather is always good. No snow. I have a good group to run with which is fun. I have a good group to run with. Before Seneca joined me in Washington I was alone." Lagat hopes his new improved winter training propels him up one notch on the world scene, ahead of the nearly invincible Hicham El Guerrouj, the world #1, who Lagat has never beaten. "Maybe changing to Arizona training will help me a lot. I'm training consistently now. I have no winter and all those things to hinder me now. This could be there year. I'm still hopeful." And although Krummenacker was a bit coy on the prospect of breaking the American record in Boston, Lagat acted like fans will be treated to a great race and most likely an American record. "It's going to be an exciting race. David is a strong guy and has been training well. Laban Rotich is always in shape this time of year, every time. We have an experienced pace maker in James Karanu (formerly of the University of Arkansas), he's going to be doing the work and hopefully the winning time will be about 3:35," Lagat said. Lagat would not rule out breaking Rotich's Kenyan record at 1500 meters, but later in the indoor season, not at the first meet. Although records help generate publicity, track and field is at its core is about head to head competition and fans in Boston (and on ESPN2 from 6-7 pm eastern) will be treated for a rare great 1500m matchup on American soil. List of events on tv: Women's 60 Meter Hurdles - 6:01 PM, Men's 800 Meter Run - 6:12 PM, Women's 60 Meter Dash - 6:18 PM, Men's 200 Meter Dash - 6:25 PM,Men's 60 Meter Dash - 6:32 PM,Women's 1500 Meter Run - 6:39 PM,Men's 1500 Meter Run - 6:50 PM
More meet news: Distance Fields at adidas Boston Games
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