I was making way up to the stands after our team's 4 x mile performance at Penn when this race went off so I missed most of the first leg. The guys seemingly jogged for 2 laps and then let it rip.
The splits for the race are up on the Penn site and they are unreal.
Here are the split. My thoughts on the race follow afterwards:
1 Kenya 9:22.04 Frederick Musyoki Ndunge (2:57.53), Thomas Musembi (46.10), Jackson Kivuna (1:45.62), Josephat Kithii (3:52.79) KEN
2 Canada 9:22.05 Matthew Lincoln (2:56.64), Tyler Christopher (45.34), Gary Reed (1:45.73), Nate Brannen (3:54.34) CAN
3 USA White 9:23.65 Christian Smith (2:57.51), Kelly Willie (45.84), Matt Scherer (1:45.79), Lopez Lomong (3:54.51) USA-w
4 USA Blue 9:24.43 Leo Manzano (2:57.40), Xavier Carter (44.94), Khadevis Robinson (1:44.04), Evan Jager (3:58.05) USA-b
5 Australia 9:36.64 Craig Huffer (2:58.39), John Steffensen (45.20), Nick Bromley (1:49.12), Ryan Gregson (4:03.93) AUS
6 France 9:50.66 Jamel Aarass (2:58.73), Bruno Naprix (46.89), Driss Yousif (1:55.43), Nouredine Smail (4:09.61)
My observations.
1) Matt Lincoln of Canada was very good. I think they were like 203 at 800 so a 53-4 last lap. That seemed unbelieably impressive to me at the time until I saw the anchor legs.
2) Lost in the shuffle of Evan Jager being a bit outclassed on the anchor for the USA Blue may have been KD's 1:44.04 split. All I can say is "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
3) The anchor leg was unreal. The PA guy said it was Lincoln when in reality it was Brannen. But Nate Brannen looked great. He nearly held off the Kenyan, Josephat Kithii. They went through the 1200 in 3:01. Kithii ran 51.9 for the last lap and Brannen was basically the same. Nate Brannen put up a HELL of a fight.
4) But hats of to Josephat Kithii. 3:52 with a 51.9 last lap!!! Who the hell is Kithii you ask? The guy looked to me like he was some B teamer who was falling off the back and then he unleashes a sick 51.9 to complete at 3:52 split. GIVE ME A BREAK. He is just 18 years old and coming into Saturday had a pb of 3:41 in the 1,500. Of course he did run a 2:20 in the 1k. Remember his name as he could be a STAR.
5) Talking to Lopez Lomong's coach, John Hayes, he's done no speed work. He didn't look sharp compared to Brannen but to open up in 3:54 is very impressive. Contrast this to the struggles of Webb...
6) Not sure what to make of Manzano. I've been hearing how he's unreal shape. His leg to day didn't prove anything to me either way.
7) A shame that Ryan Gregson didn't run the 1200. In Amman, he told he he'd be leading off. He anchored and when he got it they were out of it. 5 seconds back or so.
8) A great race and my hats off to Canada for handing it to the US. I'm sure no one was expecting that.