In the final event of the U.S. Olympic Trials, Bernard Lagat secured his shot to repeat his double victories at last year’s World Championships. Off a surprisingly slow early pace (2:00.70 at 800m), Lagat easily won the 1500m in 3:40.37. That victory came six days after Lagat won the 5,000m. Lagat hasn’t said yet if he intends to focus on only one race at the Olympics.
In the unlikely scenario that Lagat opts for only the 5,000m, one of the main beneficiaries will be Alan Webb. The American record holder in the mile has had a horrible year, and last night’s race was no exception. Despite the slow opening laps, Webb was never near the front, even though he doesn’t have the sprint speed of Lagat and others in the field. He wound up fifth in 3:41.62. His only hope of going to Beijing is Lagat or one of the other top-three finishers (Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong) pull from the team, because fourth-place finisher Will Lear doesn’t have the Olympic “A” standard.
Lauren Fleshman is in a similar situation to Webb’s, but has a much better chance of running in Beijing. She placed fifth in the 5,000m final, but has the Olympic standard, unlike fourth-place finisher Sara Slattery. Winner Kara Goucher and third-place finisher Shalane Flanagan both made the 10,000m team, and it’s unlikely both will double in Beijing. Goucher, third at last year’s World Championships 10,000m, would seem to have little to gain by also running the 5,000m in Beijing.
Things are much more clear-cut in the women’s 1500m and the men’s and women’s steeplechase. In each, the top three finishers have the Olympic A standard and have no intention of running other events. Of them, 1500m winner Shannon Rowbury is the strongest bet to medal in Beijing, although women’s steeple winner Anna Willard is still improving—she won in an American record of 9:27.59—and could use her excellent hurdling technique to her advantage in Beijing in the still-evolving event.
Pamela Jelimo Shows Strong Form at Kenyan Trials
This year’s rising star in international athletics was also in a class of her own at the Kenyan Olympic Trials in Nairobi. Pamela Jelimo won the 800m, held at more than 5,000 feet of elevation in the Kenyan capital, in 1:57.71. While this was undoubtedly the top performance of the meet, the men’s steeplechase was the most exciting race.
The latter stages of the men’s steeplechase in Nairobi developed into a four-way struggle for three Olympic tickets. Of all people, it was the fastest man in the world this year, Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:01.85), who was the unlucky one. He was leading at the final water jump when he stumbled after coming into contact with a rival, completely losing his rhythm. Koech could only finish in the unenviable position of fourth in 8:13.98. The Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi won in 8:13.56 from the world champion Brimin Kipruto (8:13.60). Richard Matelong finished .09 second ahead of Koech in 8:13.89 to secure the final spot. “I shall do all I can to ensure that Kenya wins gold in the steeplechase at these Olympic Games as well,” said Kemboi.
Edwin Soi qualified for a major summer international championship in the 5,000m. The 22-year-old won the 3,000m as well as the 5,000m at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart last year with his big finishing kick. His kick was also decisive in Nairobi. With 300 meters to go Soi went to the front, and even the 2003 world champion, Eliud Kipchoge, couldn’t catch him. Soi won in 13:29.5 from Kipchoge (13:32.4) and Thomas Longosiwa (13:34.1). Moses Masai took the 10,000m in 28:02.03 from Martin Mathathi (28:03.95) and Micah Kogo (28:08.92). This trio will run in Beijing. Kogo is the sixth-fastest 10,000m runner of all time with a best of 26:35.63.
Vivian Cheruiyot, runner-up at last year’s World Championships at 5,000m, missed out on qualifying for the Olympics by finishing fourth. Her time of 15:42.39 was well down on the three athletes ahead of her, who will go to Beijing. Priscah Jepleting won in 15:32.66 from Lucy Kabuu (15:35.09) and Sylvia Kibet (15:37.07), who was fourth at the World Championships last year. Lucy Kabuu won the 10,000m in 32:18.6 from Peninah Arusei (32:19.3), whose performances this spring included setting the course record at the Berlin 25 km. Third was Grace Momanyi (32:30.4), but she was not selected for Beijing. Instead, the selectors have named Linet Masai, who was absent in Nairobi because of injury.
Ruth Bisibori won the women’s steeplechase in 9:48.78. She was fourth in the 2007 World Championships in 9:25.25, setting a world junior record. On that occasion her compatriot Eunice Jepkorir was ahead of her in third, but in Nairobi she was second in 9:51.28. Third place went to Mercy Njoroge (10.06.94).
Mockenhaupt and Möldner Dominate at German Championships
Sabrina Mockenhaupt led from start to finish to win the 5,000m at the German Championships in Nuremberg. She crossed the line in 15:38.33 to complete a convincing win. Though the time was well short of world class, Mockenhaupt finished almost a minute clear and lapped most of her rivals.
The Olympic qualifying standard of 15:00 was however never a serious concern for Mockenhaupt, who had already qualified for the 10,000m by the beginning of May. “It’s not long till Beijing so I trained all through last week. Slowly I’m getting back to my old form and today was certainly a step in the right direction,” said Mockenhaupt. For the 27-year-old, who finished 15th in the 10,000m at the Olympics four years ago, it was her eighth national title over 5,000 m.
Mockenhaupt went to the front right from the start. “I ran the first three kilometers easy then pushed more on the last two kilometers,” she said. Germany will have no athletes in the women’s 5,000m at the Olympics.
Antje Möldner produced a strong performance in the 3,000m steeplechase. The runner from Potsdam dominated the race to win in 9:50.05 in torrential rain. The junior Julia Hiller was second in 10:07.65. Möldner arrived in Nuremberg as defending champion in the 1500m, but she changed event at the start of the season. The move proved a success because in her first steeplechase ever she ran a German record in 9:34.21. That gives her a good chance of reaching the Olympic final. “I think I can improve to 9:30 this year and my objective in Beijing is the final,” said the 24-year-old Möldner.
The men’s steeplechase final lacked the presence of the one German runner with any Olympic potential: Injured Filmon Ghirmani has so far run 8:26.86. That is over four seconds outside the qualifying time. But Ghirmani should have another chance to chase that time. Steffen Uliczka became German champion in 8:46.69. Arne Gabius retained the 5,000m title in 14:08.40 in a tactical race, just holding off the fast finishing junior Zelalem Martel (14:08.59).
