by Larry Eder
Huddle lead much of the race, with Amy Hastings taking over and Angela Bizzari right there. In the end Molly Huddle broke the race open over the last three laps, winning in 15:10.01, with Amy Hastings in second and Angela Bizzari in third, running 15:14.31 and 15:16.64. Jenn Rhines was fourth in 15:19.92.
In the end, it was Huddle’s race to win or loose, and she showed her championship form.
Chris Solinsky, Matt Tegenkamp, Galen Rupp, Bernard Lagat (near Solinsky), USA Outdoor, 5,000m, photo by PhotoRun.netTegenkamp made the first significant move, taking the lead at six laps and pushing for two laps, dropping it to 63s. Then Chris Solinsky made the long run home: 62, 61, then 59 and Solinsky lead until 50 to go, when Bernard Lagat, the best kicker in the world in my mind, went by and won his fifth title. Chris held on to second, making his second World team and Rupp was third, doing the double.
A great race with some fantastic racing and a great team! Nice job to both the men and women’s 5,000m team!
Bernard Lagat takes his fifth title! USA Outdoor Champs, 5,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
OTHER FINALS: LAGAT 5TH TITLE
EUGENE (USA, Jun 24): Bernard Lagat got his
5th national title in the 5000
m (13:23.06) ahead of Chris Solinsky 13:23.65 and Galen
Rupp 13.25.52. This trio separated clearly from the rest. Lagat still runs the 1500 m and Rupp qualified
already for his second event for Daegu after winning the 10 000 m. Women´s 5000 m saw clear win for US record
holder Moly Huddle 15:10.01. Second Amy Hastings 15:14.31 and third Angela
Bizzarri 15:16.64 are having only B-standards and one of them needs the A one.
Jenn Rhines who is 10k qualifier was fourth 15:19.92. Solid number of good
runners were non-starters here (Flanagan, Goucher, Simpson, Rowbury). Also
fifth title for Mike Hazle in javelin (78.22) over Sean Furey (77.99), no one
from them has the A qualifier 82.00 so for the moment only Hazle is Daegu
bound. Even worse situation in women´s triple jump, winner Amanda Smock (14.07,
+1.2), here nobody has even the B-standard (14.10). Brigetta Barrett won the
high jump with lifetime best 195 and is the only one with A or B qualifiers.
National record holder Chaunte Lowe returned quickly after giving birth in
April and managed 9th (178). In prelims no major casualties in men and women 800 m semis (best times for
Charles Jock 1:45.80 and Alysia Montano 2:01.37). Lashinda Demus was the best
in 400 m
hurdles semifinals (55.35) with olympic finalist Tiffany Williams being a
non-qualifier (57.24). Francena McCorory (50.77) and Allyson Felix (51.52) were
the 400 m
semifinals winners, Sanya Richards-Ross as announced was a non-starter (goes
for 200 m).
In men´s 400 m
semis student Tony McQuay clocked US leading 44.79, title defender Greg Nixon
won the second race (45.24). Olympic medalist David Neville was out (45.85).
Jeshua Anderson was the fastest in 400 m hurdles first round (49.53) when all
favorites advanced. Fast times in 110
m hurdles first round. David Oliver clocked 13.08 (+1.0)
and took Jason Richardson to 13.15 PB. Ronnie Ash (13.25, +1.5), Ty Akins
(13.31, +0.6) and Aries Merritt (13.27, +2.1) were the other heat winners.
