Reebok Men's 5000 results

Wasn't Bobby Curtis gonna run?

Did anyone watch this race? How was it? was it tactical/fast? Wasn't lagat chasing the AR record? what happened?

It looked like it was set up as an AR attempt. Josphat Boit rabbited first--out a bit slow in 2:09 at 800m, then picked it up. Haron Lagat took over at about 1600m and got it down to 13:01 pace before pulling out at I think 1600 to go. Lagat was sitting on the rabbits all the way, looking relaxed. I thought he needed about a 4:02/4:03 last 1600 to get the AR. Kogo took the lead with ~700 to go and Lagat went with him; it looked promising. Gebremariam had been dropped, but Gebremeskel and Merga (who runs with an odd, hunch-shouldered style) were right there in contact. Lagat got on Kogo's shoulder coming off the last turn, and it looked like am impending 2007 WC-style Lagat kick--but the pace had been too much faster than that; Lagat came alongside Kogo and looked to have a one-foot lead briefly, very much like vs. El G in the Athens 1500. Gebremeskel was trying to pass them both--he looked like he couldn't get through and couldn't go wide enough in time. Kogo edged back ahead maybe 20m from the line. They were all virtually touching one an other as they crossed.

More surprising was Linet Masai taking dowm Tiru Dibaba. Masai made a move at about 4K and got too big a gap; everyone was waiting for Dibaba to throw down and catch her, but then it started to look impossible--until with 400 to go, Didaba got revitalized and began to close. Masai didn't tie up at all, and IO think Dibaba knew it was over with 150 and just maintained in the last 100m. I can't immediately think of another race that she's lost, other than maybe a 5000 to Defar a couple of summers ago--does anyone know how long a winning streak she had, combining XC and track?

The only time Dibaba lost a race is such a manner was in Mombasa at the X-country WCh in 2007 to Lornah Kiplagat.

That was a very good recap of the race. I didn't see the race but I have a very good picture of it in my head.

It was windy as hell

So, about Chelanga at 13:08????

kogo showed his mettle. Lagat is in pretty good shape. he will be a contender at the WC. he can definitely break the AR later this summer in Europe.

Gebremeskel. was impressive.. ran 13:16 in carson.. but this was a huge improvement. the eth 5k team will be hard to make.

Kogo is the man. Such a gentlemen. So respectful and kind hearted. Bravo to him.

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d7idd wrote:

So, about Chelanga at 13:08????

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It was a good learning expirience for Chelanga.I do not think he went into that race expecting to win.Perhaps his aim was to get a PB which he didn't, but again that is more to do with the windy conditions and the fact that it was a new expirience for him than anything else.I think Chelanga did well and the lessons from the race will help it alot for the future.

I was there. It wasn't real windy. That kept flashing the wind readings on the scoreboard for the sprints and jumps and it was always right around the 2.0 reading so I don't think that effected anything.

I think Bernard said something about the wind being somewhat of a problem though in the Televised Interview.

After the race, Kogo was discussing the race and told me he felt the race was a bit windy. Although I was up in the stands watching the race and didn't feel much wind at all, I guess it was a different story when you're down on that 400m oval racing...

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d7idd wrote:

So, about Chelanga at 13:08????

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Chelanga is just running 10k at ncaa, so no need to run regionals.

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mighty crew select wrote:

Did anyone watch this race? How was it? was it tactical/fast? Wasn't lagat chasing the AR record? what happened?

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mighty crew select wrote:

Did anyone watch this race? How was it? was it tactical/fast? Wasn't lagat chasing the AR record? what happened?

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the stands block all of the wind