Asbel Kiprop 3:49.4 easy victory at Prefontaine Classic

lagat finished in the back of the pack

After this race, I have learned nothing but that Kiprop is still the top of the class of 1500m runners. I mean, Kiplagat was 3:53 and 4th to last? I don't think that's indicative of anything. I thought this race would have shown who is going to be competitive in the Olympics, but all it showed me is that Kiprop is a heavy favorite.

Wow Kiplagat got buried. Kiprop was in total control. Willis moving well, as is Torrence. Lomong better focus on the 5.

TORRENCE David USA 3:52.01 PB

Nice run....looked like he got tripped up pretty bad leading into the last lap as well

Top American (Torrance) was #9... hopefully Lomong knows that this is a sign: run the 5k, young man.

Expected the race to be much faster, winners around 3:46-7 and the americans at 49-53

the average male runner wrote:

Expected the race to be much faster, winners around 3:46-7 and the americans at 49-53

Even though the Olympics aren't for another two months??

Now is not the time to be blowing your load.

L

come on now... wrote:

After this race, I have learned nothing but that Kiprop is still the top of the class of 1500m runners. I mean, Kiplagat was 3:53 and 4th to last? I don't think that's indicative of anything. I thought this et us not forget would have shown who is going to be competitive in the Olympics, but all it showed me is that Kiprop is a heavy favorite.

Let us not forget Gebrehmehdin. He was second.

the average male runner wrote:

Expected the race to be much faster, winners around 3:46-7 and the americans at 49-53

watchout wrote:

Even though the Olympics aren't for another two months??

Now is not the time to be blowing your load.

Only Americans have this belief that if you run somewhat fast in June you will turn to a pumpkin or explode in July.

Koech just dropped a 7:55 and a 7:54 steeple within 10 days, in May/June. I don't think he's concerned about blowing his load. No Americans other than Lagat and Rupp even have loads to blow.

umm, now is not the time to be dropping a couple of 60's from 400-1200m....absolutely awful pacing, pretty impressed that everyone stayed on their feet as the field bunched....side note, props to Jmac for getting that 5K out smoothly~dude~

watchout wrote:

Even though the Olympics aren't for another two months??

Now is not the time to be blowing your load.

Early June is deep enough into the season to start putting up some good marks.

watchout wrote:

Even though the Olympics aren't for another two months??

Now is not the time to be blowing your load.

Hope Kiprop was blowing his load. Hate to see what he can do if he's saving himself.

Where was Webb?

TrackCoach wrote:

Early June is deep enough into the season to start putting up some good marks.

Good marks, yes.

But 3:46ish isn't just a "good mark", even for a guy like Kiprop. And sub-3:50 for those Americans wouldn't just be "good marks" either.

3:49ish sounds just about right for the top guys. Kiprop's stated goal was "only" 3:48.5 anyways.

Kiprop looked great the last 100 but that could have been 3:47 with good pacemaking, maybe even 3:46. As some others have said, that was horrible pacemaking, some of the worst I've seen at Pre. Whoever the second pacemaker was should get a paycut for not stepping off to the inside when he started getting passed and nearly creating a giant crash with about 450 to go as the whole field went around him on both sides. It's too bad they did such a terrible job because there could have been half a dozen or more under 3:50.

Could Kiprop have gone faster? Of course. And that's how it should be.

With his PR's, I think he should be in the high 3:46 shape around the time of the Olympics this year. But for early June, it would seem Kiprop and I both had the same idea for what he should run: He wanted to run 3:48.5, and if I was his coach I'd probably be wanting him in the mid/high 3:48's right now. That's enough to win, and would be a good effort. What else matters at this point?

And for the Americans, Torrence's goal should have been 3:51-3:52. Same (or very slightly faster) with Manzano and Wheating. The other guys, probably low/mid 3:50's. Lagat and Lomong should both be looking at the 5k right now, and this mile shouldn't be a sub-3:50 attempt.

So I'd say it was a fine day for most of the runners. Kiprop right on, Torrence right on, Manzano barely off, and Wheating ... well, he didn't look good.

Being disappointed that Kiprop didn't run 3:46-3:47, or that the Americans didn't run sub-3:50, is just stupid. They should have bigger goals than to run PRs two full months before their goal race.

Think there were enough guys in that mile?

Some of these guys (Americans anyway) have to GET to the Goal race (Olympics) first, and that's in a few weeks.

captain and me wrote:

Some of these guys (Americans anyway) have to GET to the Goal race (Olympics) first, and that's in a few weeks.

True... but I guess the question is, can they qualify when they are in 3:31-3:33 shape? If so, 3:51-3:52 seems like the reasonable goal for this weekend (3:33 ~ 3:50, and you should be able to drop a second or so between now and the trials if that's your goal race)

Keep in mind, these are the top American times so far this year:

3:34.11 Russel Brown

3:34.78 Robby Andrews

3:34.82c David Torrence (3:52.01y)

3:35.59 Kyle Merber

3:35.81c Leo Manzano (3:53.07y)

3:36.04 Nick Symmonds

3:36.11 Jeff See

3:36.24 Garrett Heath

3:36.41 AJ Acosta

3:36.48 Jordan McNamara