Rupp did it. Beat Lagat!

1. Is that the first time an American has ever beaten Lagat in a 5k? I feel like it is.

2. What is the complete re-passing Lagat in the final 50 m list. I've got El G in 04 Olympics, Webb in 07 US champs and Bekele in 09 WC

3. I loved the celebration by Rupp in the end, I think he was taking a huge monkey off his back by finally beating Lagat and that is why you saw the big fist pump after the arms raised across the tape

In '07, how long was the break between the US Champs and the WC where Lagat won his two golds? Could be he was pretty smart to time his peak right for 2007, bringing home the two-fer for his adopted country!

Clearly Webb peaked too early in '07 for the WC, but he still was brilliant up to then.

Here's hoping both Lagat and Rupp hit a perfect peak for London.

In the 5, don't forget Soi and Koech, they could grab gold and silver!

AxC wrote:

1. Is that the first time an American has ever beaten Lagat in a 5k? I feel like it is.

I can't cite a specific example, but I'm sure that Lagat got beat by Americans in the 5K with he was in college. I'd guess that Goucher probably beat him in the 5K back in those days, but I wasn't really following running yet then, so I can't say for sure.

AxC wrote:

3. I loved the celebration by Rupp in the end, I think he was taking a huge monkey off his back by finally beating Lagat and that is why you saw the big fist pump after the arms raised across the tape

The record now stands at 1-13.

You know who did the celebrating at the WC in Osaka after Webb 07.

Lagat never ran a serious 5000 in college.

Two points on Rupp:

-Don't underestimate the importance of Rupp having a "wingman" in Mo Farah. At the very least a guy in the front pack who won't be elbowing him aggressively. As an aside the pressure on Mo will be titanic in proportions. The door is open for Rupp to capitalize on that, Machiavellian as it seems.

-Where are all the gadflies/critics who were making fun of Alberto's comments about Rupps form on the final lap at Pre? Looks like the "tinkering" didn't hurt one bit.

I expect Lagat to beat Rupp at the Olympics but that does nothing to diminish what Rupp did in beating Lagat. Rupp and the rest of us now know that he can beat lagat, be won't do it every time, he probably won't do it most of the time, but he can do it and that is a big difference from the circumstances 48 hours ago.

mitjones wrote:

fgfg wrote:

devil's advocate

this race is for third place

You are probably right. Honestly - at this point with how pathetic american born distance runners have fared in international competition lately, I will gladly take a bronze medal in either the 10K or the 5K. The 10K is his premier event anyway - so I am sure he would be pleased with a bronze in the 5,000.

I meant you don't have to win third is all you need

Lagat didn't need to win

rupp got beat in the heat as well not a light lose if you advance

AxC wrote:

I expect Lagat to beat Rupp at the Olympics but that does nothing to diminish what Rupp did in beating Lagat. Rupp and the rest of us now know that he can beat lagat, be won't do it every time, he probably won't do it most of the time, but he can do it and that is a big difference from the circumstances 48 hours ago.

Look at the video on Universalsports.com and the smile and thumbs-up that Lagat flashed at Rupp a few seconds after the finish. Does that really look like someone frustrated at losing?

I don't think Lagat would ever "let" Rupp win. But I think he was racing only to make the team. 200 meters from the finish, Bumby was still within range of making the team, and #4 is the only guy Lagat (or Rupp) had to worry about. It looks to me like Lagat took off at about 150, not 50, which made sure that he separated from Bumby and the final sprint didn't matter.

I think starting with Paris, when Lagat takes on all of the top Africans, including Bekele, you will start to see a different Lagat.

Lagat always plans for good peaking, that is true. But, Galen Rupp - whats going on? I would not have believed this could already happen now. Great race, great scalp, unbelievable kick and speed.

Rupp has been on the cusp for a while. He was right in the mix in a 5000 last summer where Mo ran 12:53. Rupp looked great and seemed primed for a 12:54-55, but Merga pushed him off the track. If anything, I'd think people would be surprised at how gradual his improvement has been, since he so convincingly won that 10,000 in an American collegiate record so many years ago.

coach d wrote:

I don't think Lagat would ever "let" Rupp win. But I think he was racing only to make the team. 200 meters from the finish, Bumby was still within range of making the team, and #4 is the only guy Lagat (or Rupp) had to worry about. It looks to me like Lagat took off at about 150, not 50, which made sure that he separated from Bumby and the final sprint didn't matter.

Is this the same Lagat who ran the 1500 last year with no plans to run that event at the WC just because he wanted to be national champion?