2011 Nike Prefontaine Classic: Two Mile Field is HOT, HOT, did I say HOT? release, geek notes by Larry Eder

Bernard Lagat, Chris Solinsky, 2009 World Champs, photo by PhotoRun.net

Alamirew Yenew over Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Soi, 2011 Doha DL,
photo by PhotoRun.net

Galen Rupp, 2010 NYRR Dist., photo by PhotoRun.net

At the 2011 USA Indoor Champs, Bernard Lagat told the assembled media how much he had enjoyed setting the AR for two miles indoors. Lagat ran 8:10.07 running a 4:08 first mile and a 4:02.07 second one!

“If John Capriotti of Nike and Tom Jordan put on a two mile at the Nike Pre, I will run it!” enthused John Capriotti. ” I like the distance and I know I can run much faster!”

Well, after Capriotti & Jordan announced the Friday Distance night, the Nike two mile was the next on the list. The perfect running distance, eight laps on the 400 meter or 440 yard track, and one can see how strong that they really are!

In my mind, with the field assembled, we could see a rewriting of the two mile record to about 7:54!

We shall see how far I am into dreamland I have stretched on June 4, 2011!

 Mo Farah, 2011 Euro Indoors, photo by PhotoRun.net

Lukas Verzibacas at 2011 NB Indoor-can he break 8:34?

photo by PhotoRun.net

PRE
CLASSIC 2-MILE FORMCHART–YOU PICK ‘EM

            It is
shaping up to be perhaps the most competitive race on the card in the 2011
Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field, the 4^th stop on the
prestigious Samsung Diamond League circuit. 
Meeting in the 2-Mile on Saturday, June 4^th will be a roster
of the world’s best runners racing at a distance that favors many in the field.
Pick the winner among these outstanding contenders in a race which is likely to
see runners laying down back-to-back 4:02 miles or better:

Bernard Lagat, USA.  Double World Champion in ’07 at 1500 and
5000 (think the 2-Mile is the perfect distance for him?), Olympic silver and
bronze, also World Championships silver and bronze for a complete set of
medals, American recordholder at 5000, 4-time Pre Classic victor, one of the
savviest racers of all-time.

Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya. Cagey veteran was the fastest in the world at 5k last year, has already
run a personal best 7:27.66 (= an 8:03.4 2-Mile) in 2011, Olympic silver and
bronze medalist, World Champion in ’03 and silver medalist in  ’07..

Tariku Bekele, Ethiopia. Fastest in the world at 3k last year,
2008 World Indoor Champion at 3k, ran 8:04.83 for 2-Miles at Eugene in ’07, won last year’s Pre Classic
5000 in a Meet and Field Record of 12:58.93.

Alamirew Yenew, Ethiopia.  Ran 7:27.26 for 3k (= 8:03.2 2-Mile) to win
the 2011 Doha Samsung Diamond League 3k, has also run a world-leading 7:27.80
indoors this year, took the measure of Kipchoge and runnerup Edwin Soi.

Edwin Soi, Kenya. Set
a personal best of 7:27:55 behind Yenew, Olympic 5K bronze medalist from Beijing.

Matt Tegenkamp, USA. The
American recordholder at 2-Miles with a best of 8:07.07 set at the Pre Classic
four years ago.

David Bett, Kenya. Perhaps
the darkhorse pick of the field, the World Junior Champion at 5000 last year,
still only 19 years old.

Chris Solinsky, USA. American
recordholder at 10k at 26:59.60 set last year, has run 12:55.53 for 5k and owns
3 of the 5 fastest American times ever.

Galen Rupp, USA. Oregon alum was 5th in the World Indoor Champs 3k last year, 8th in
the 2009 World Championships 10k, set an American Indoor Record at 5000 in
February.

Mo Farah, Great Britain.
UK’s
best may have a shot at Steve Ovett’s venerable 8:13.51 national record from
1978, which was a World Record at the time.

Mark Kiptoo, Kenya.
Third-fastest 5k runner last year, with 12:53.46.

Collis Birmingham, Australia. National recordholder at 10,000
meters.

Isaiah Kiplangat Koech, Kenya. Wunderkind ran
12:53.29…indoors! and he was (and still is) only 17, setting a World Junior
Record.

Chris Thompson, Great Britain. Ran
the fastest 10k by a European at Stanford earlier this month, finished 2^nd
in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday.

Lukas Verzbicas, USA. Ready
to take a shot at breaking the national high school record of 8:34.40.

            To win this
race, it may take something faster than Craig Mottram’s 8:03.50 Meet Record at
the 2007 Prefontaine Classic!

            Tickets for
the Prefontaine Classic stop on the Samsung Diamond League circuit are on sale
now at www.goducks.com, from
1-800-WEBFOOT, or in person at the University of Oregon Athletic Department
ticket office.

TWO MILE (MEN)

 
Bernard Lagat (USA)
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia)
Alamirew Yenew (Ethiopia)
Edwin Soi (Kenya)
Matt Tegenkamp (USA)
David Bett (Kenya)
Chris Solinsky (USA)
Galen Rupp (USA)
Mo Farah (Great Britain)
Mark Kiptoo (Kenya)
Collis Birmingham (Australia)
Isaiah Kiplangat Koech (Kenya)
Andrew Bumbalough (USA)
John Kipkoech (Kenya)
Thomas Longosiwa (Kenya)
Chris Thompson (Great Britain)

Lukas Verzbicas (USA)
Jon Rankin (Cayman Islands)–pace