Bernard Lagat won his second 3,000m world indoor gold medal in Doha. © www.photorun.net
Bernard Lagat put forth one of the best performances at last weekend’s World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. The 35-year-old American won the 3,000m final for the second time in his career. The race was expected to be a close contest between Lagat and defending champion Tariku Bekele (Kenenisa Bekele’s younger brother). Bekele led for most of the race and increased the pace with four laps to go. This move broke up the field and left only Lagat able to keep up. With one lap to go, Lagat kicked ahead of his rival, crossing the finish line in 7:37.97. Bekele slowed considerably and finished fourth in 7:40.10 minutes. The new European record holder from Spain, Sergio Sanchez, continued his impressive racing streak this season, taking the silver medal in 7:39.55. Bronze went to Sammy Mutahi (7:39.90) of Kenya. Former University of Oregon standout Galen Rupp of the United States placed fifth in 7:42.40.
“My kids got up specially at seven this morning in the States to watch their Dad run—so I had to put on a good performance. I ran exactly as my coach told me,” said Lagat, who at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, won both the 1500m and 5,000m titles. “Since 2007, I’ve missed out on some chances but now I’m back. My ultimate goal is to win Olympic gold in London in 2012 where I’ll probably run the 5,000m,” Lagat added. Before the meet in Doha, he had yet to run a top-25 time for the 3,000m event this year.
His past performance in the 3,000m aside, Lagat has certainly demonstrated his outstanding form in other distances this season. At the Millrose Games in January, he won the Wanamaker Mile for a record eighth time. Eight days later in Boston, he improved the American 5,000m indoor record, running 13:11.50.
Meseret Defar Wins World Indoor 3,000m Title for Fourth Time
Yet another world indoor victory for Meseret Defar. © www.photorun.net
Meseret Defar had originally planned to run a fast race in the women’s 3,000m final. But she decided to change her tactics once the starting gun went off. “I thought it would be better to wait and see and then put in my finishing kick—and that came off perfectly,” she told the IAAF Web site. For much of the final, Defar ran side-by-side with fellow Ethiopian Sentayehu Ejigu. Two laps from the finish, Defar stepped up the pace, moving to the front. In the final 200m lap, she pulled away and crossed the line in 8:51.17, winning her fourth gold medal at these championships, which are held every two years.
Ejigu looked as if she was going to take second, but the world 5,000m champion, Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, outkicked her in the final straight, crossing the line second in 8:51.85. Ejigu settled for third in 8:52.08—winning her first major championship medal. Sylvia Kibet (Kenya/8:52.16) was fourth and fifth place went to Turkey’s Alemitu Bekele (8:53.78).
Deresse Mekonnen lived up to his pre-race favorite status by winning the men’s 1500m final. The Ethiopian, who was just 20 years old when he won the event two years ago, relied on his finishing speed to outkick the field. Coming off the final bend, Mekonnen went wide and edged out Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco by just one-tenth-of-a-second, winning in 3:41.86. Haron Keitany of Kenya took third in 3:42.32. A few weeks ago, Mekonnen ran an impressive 3:33.10 in Birmingham, England, which made him the fifth-fastest ever at that distance indoors. The women’s gold for the same distance also went to Ethiopia. Kalkidan Gezahegne won in 4:08.14. Natalia Rodriguez (Spain/4:08.30) and Gelete Burka (Ethiopia/4:08.39) finished second and third respectively.
In the men’s 800m final, Abubaker Kaki (Sudan) made an excellent comeback after falling at the World Championships in Berlin last summer. He won the race in 1:46.23. Boaz Lalang (Kenya/1:46.39) took the silver ahead of Adam Kszcot (Poland/1:46.69). The women’s 800m final was a fast race. Mariya Savinova (Russia) won with the fastest time in the world this year, 1:58.26. Jenny Meadows set a British record and placed second in1:58.43. Alysia Johnson of the USA took the bronze in 1:59.60.
