Ageless Lagat Crushes Rupp at USATF Indoor 3000m
Lagat closes in 25 seconds, wins by 10 seconds over Rupp; Lomong second
Benjamin Fletcher and Emory Mort
LetsRun.com
February 25, 2012
Albuquerque, NM - With the top two finishers making the U.S. team, Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp were supposed to put on a two-man show from the gun. Billed as the top event of the championships, neither runner disappointed the energized crowd in Albuquerque. What wasn’t expected was that Lopez Lomong would upset one of the two champs in the process.
This was the first meeting between Lagat and Rupp this year and the race proved extra exciting since both took an American record from the other two weeks ago. Rupp broke Lagat’s U.S. indoor two-mile record at the USA Track and Field Classic in Fayetteville, Ark. while Lagat stopped the clock in route to besting Rupp’s U.S. indoor 5,000m record at the Millrose Games in New York City.
Rupp took the race from the gun, leading the first quarter in 62.6. Rupp continued his metronomic pace through 800m in 2:06 high, 3:08.92 for 1200m, before reaching 1600m in around 4:10. After the first thousand meters, it was the threesome of Rupp, Lagat, and Lomong breaking away from the chase pack that would eventually reach some 100m back. Rupp continued to press the pace through 2000m in 5:14.77. With three and a half laps to go it was the veteran Lagat who took control of the race. Within an instant, Rupp dropped to third with Lagat stringing the other two apart. By 400m, Rupp was visibly struggling to hold onto the pace as Lagat continued to pull away. Reaching 2800m in 7:21, Lagat kicked in a 25 point last 200m to finish in 7:47.54, with Lomong second in 7:51.75 and Rupp jogging through in 7:57.36. After, a visibly distraught Rupp passed up any initial interviews (at time of publication) as he hurried away with his coach, Alberto Salazar.
An always-positive Lagat talked about the race and his confidence going into the worlds.
Men's 3000m Results
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Lopez Lomong after surprise 2nd-place in 3000m |
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Lagat Interview Part I |
Lagat Interview Part II |
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*Results, Day 1 USATF Indoor Meet LRC Boards: (Note the USATF indoor meet will be shown |
Men's 3000m Splits |
Women's 3000m Championship: Simpson Defends Title With Ease - Won't Run Indoor Worlds in Tough Olympic Year
The women’s 3000m was a battle between the defending U.S. indoor champion and 1500m gold medalist Jennifer Simpson and recently crowned US Cross Champion Sara Hall. It was Shayla Houlihan grabbed the early lead, passing 800m in 2:34.12. Simpson casually moved up into second by 1600m. At 2000m, Simpson took the lead, stringing the group of 8 out. With 1200m left, the lead pack was down to four, with Simpson followed closely by Hall. At 400m to go, Simpson picked up the pace noticeably, with Hall and Jackie Areson
taking chase. Simpson threw down for the win in 9:19.15 to defend her title. Areson nipped Hall for second and the two were timed at 9:20.61 and 9:21.87 respectively.
When asked about running the World Indoor championships in Istanbul, Simpson said, "I'm not going and the reason is that - I think it's important as an American to run at the US Championships - but considering how difficult it's going to be make the US Olympic team at 1500m... this year I have a big, big, task ahead of me outdoors so I'm gonna go home and focus on that."
Reigning IAAF World Outdoor 1500m champion Simpson explains why she won't be running at IAAF World Indoors in Istanbul |
Women's 3000m Results from Flash Results
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Women’s 800m heats: (results)
The heats of the Women’s 800 had no surprises as all the favorites got through. Erica Moore of Nike produced the night’s fastest qualifier with a 2:03.24. Moore will be joined by top runners Phoebe Wright and Latavia Thomas, who will battle for the top two spots for a trip to Istanbul.
Men’s 800m heats: (results)
Like the women’s, the Men’s 800 produced no real upsets as the fastest seeds got through in relative comfort. Tevon Everett won the second heat in 1:49.74. Heat three was the deepest heat with Duane Solomon leading from the gun and winning comfortably in 1:48.81. The last heat also produced four of the top qualifying marks, setting up Saturday’s final as a showdown between Solomon and Everett.
Meet Records For Amber Campbell Highlights Field
In other event highlights, Amber Campbell threw a meet record 81'3.75" in the weight for title #6 and a tenuous lead in the VISA Championship Series heading into Sunday's competition. Jenn Suhr won the pole vault at 4.67 and missed three times at 4.90m. Earlier this week her rival Yelena Isinbayeva set the WR up to 5.01m. In the men's high jump, reigning World Champion Jesse Williams narrowly took home his third win in three tries in Albequerque.
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