byLarry Eder
Farah, Kamworor and Tanui battle, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Friday night at Hayward Field was an addition to the Pre Classic that has taken root and prospered. In 2015, I estimated the crowd at eight thousand fans, loving field and track, or track and field.
While the fans were there to see Galen and Mo do their thing over 12.5 and 25 laps, they were attentive and responsive to fantastic long jumping from the women, shot putting and discus throwing from the men.
The race of the night, in my mind, was the 10,000 meters. It may not have been as fast as Mo Farah wanted, but, it was probably the race that he needed before Beijing. Paul Tanui and Geoffrey Kamworor, he of two World XC and World Half marathon titles, tried everything that they could to break him. Mo then controlled the last 1000 meters and when that happens, the party is well, over.
The 5,000 meters was a fine opening race for Galen Rupp. Yomif Kejelcha, the World Junior champion in Eugene last summer, used a tactic he had tried in Doha nearly two weeks ago. In Doha, he ended fourth, in Eugene, he nailed Galen Rupp, who looks fit, just short of racing (give him a month).
This night, May 29, 2015, was the actual night, forty years ago, of Steve Prefontaine’s last race, a 5000m, where he dueled with Frank Shorter, and went on to win in one of his fastest 5000m times.
He died in the early minutes of May 30, 1975, in a crash that was first described as a single car accident, but more than likely was due to the young track star trying to avoid a head-on with another automobile.
In the aftermath, America lost a driving spirit in athletics, before he ever saw his potential.
That is the tragedy, some forty years later.
Farah goes sub 27
Mo Farah wins 10,000m at Pre, photo by PhotoRun.net
EUGENE (USA, May 29): Three World leading marks highlighted the start of 41st Prefontaine Classic, IAAF Diamond League meet. Mo Farah on a crystal clear night perfect for racing as RRW informs electrified the Hayward Field faithful, fighting tooth and nail to win the 10 000 m in a time of 26:50.97, the fourth fastest ever run at Hayward Field and the fastest time so far in the world this year. “My aim was to definitely run faster,” Farah told members of the media, slightly frustrated with the final time. “It’s one of those things where you just might as well go for it while it’s still early on [in the season]. That was the aim, but you know, it was pretty difficult.”
Yomif Kejelcha wins 5000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
Kenyans followed with Paul Tanui 26:51.86 and road/CC champion Geoffrey Kamworor 26:52.65 PB. Cameron Levins as fourth improved Canadian national record substantially to 27:07.51. With it being the 40th anniversary of Steve Prefontaine’s final race, many in attendance had hopes that an American –especially homegrown talent Galen Rupp– would cap off the anniversary in style with a victory. However, it simply wasn’t to be. The men’s 5000m looked more like an 800m, as nearly the entire field stayed bunched together until there was a mere two laps to go. Ethiopian World junior champion here one year ago Yomif Kejelcha won in 13:10.54 (still a WL) over Edwin Cheruiyot Soi 13:11.97 with Rupp third 13:12.36 and Bernard Lagat fourth 13:14.97 (masters WR for 40+ category).
Maggie Vessey takes USATF Hi Perf 800 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
In the USATF High Performance Women’s 800m, Maggie Vessey claimed the win in a season best 2:00.07.
Joe Kovacs takes the shot on final BIG THROW! by PhotoRun.net
In technical IAAF Diamond League events Joe Kovacs confirmed his World leading status with 22.12 and beat German World champion and Doha winner David Storl 21.92, European lead and 2nd best of his career. Third Ryan Whiting 21.37. Piotr Malachowski repeated his discus win from Doha with 65.59 over team-mate Robert Urbanek 65.42. Excellent quality in women long jump as Tianna Bartoletta leaped to 711, World lead and PB (waiting on wind speed confirmation). Second Canadian Christabel Nettey 699 (also would be NR, but waiting for wind info) and third Briton Lorraine Ugen 689.
Tianna Bartoletta, photo by PhotoRun.net
