“After further review of an unsportsmanlike conduct protest filed after the AJC Peachtree Road Race regarding men’s fourth place finisher, Tadese Tola, the Atlanta Track Club has made the decision to disqualify Tola,” said spokesperson Tracy Lott in a statement. “Fifth place finisher Boaz Cheboiywo filed the protest after being elbowed by Tola in the final 30 meters of the race.”

As a result of the disqualification, all finishers below Tola were elevated by one position. Although this did not have a direct affect on the USA Men’s 10-K Championship which was conducted as a race within the race, it did mean that the USA championship finishers were able to win larger cash prizes from the open purse.

Yesterday’s AJC Peachtree Road Race was the 40th running of the event.

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At the recent USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., Abdirahman finished 8th in the 10,000m, the distance at which he has won the USA title four times. He was also the USA 10 mile champion in 2005.

In addition to the race’s open prize money, there was a separate purse for American men. Abdirahman won $10,000 from the USA purse, while Famiglietti collected $6,000 and Carney $4,000.

Results of the championship can be see here.

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According to a story posted to the website of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kitwara clocked 27:21, the fastest winning time at Peachtree since Kenyan Joseph Kimani set the course record of 27:04 in 1996. It was Kitwara’s first appearance at Peachtree, and his fifth consecutive road racing victory. Chepkurui’s finish time was not reported.

The PRRO bonus was available to any athlete who won one of the previous PRRO circuit races in the 2008/2009 season, and then won the Peachtree, the series final. Kitwara won the World’s Best 10-K last February and Chepkurui won both the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Miler and the Lilac Bloomsday 12-K in April and May, respectively.

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Bekele is the only distance runner still in contention for the jackpot. The other athletes in contention are javelin thrower Tero Pitkämäki of Finland, sprinters Kerron Stewart of Jamaica and Sanya Richards of the United States, sprint hurdler Damu Cherry of the United States, and pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia.

Bekele clocked 13:04.87 last night, holding off challenges for Qatar’s James Kwalia and Kenyan Vincent Kiprop.

The ÅF Golden League series continues in Rome on Friday, July 10.

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Kitwara’s road racing season began back in February with a course record victory at the World’s Best 10-K in San Juan, P.R. (27:26). Then in Holland last March at the Fortis City-Pier-City Half-Marathon, Kitwara scored the biggest victory of his career, beating Haile Gebrselassie in a sprint finish by three seconds in 59:47. Kitwara then won the Bay to Breakers 12-K in San Francisco, Calif., last May in a course record 33:31, picking up $40,000 in prize and bonus money. His most recent victory was back in Puerto Rico at the Abraham Rosa Int’l 10-K in Toa Baja on May 31, where he ran 28:32.

Tadese Tola, the Ethiopian who won the Healthy Kidney 10-K in New York’s Central Park last May in a course record 27:28, looks to be Kitwara’s chief rival at Peachtree. Tola’s compatriot and 2008 world junior cross country champion, Ibrahim Jeilan, and Moroccan road specialist Ridouane Harroufi should also contest for the overall title.

The top Americans, who will be competing for both an open and USA prize money purse, include Olympians Anthony Famiglietti (27:37.47 PB)and Abdi Abdirahman (27:16.99 PB).

The women’s race appears to be a close match between Kenyans Lineth Chepkuri and Alice Timbilili and Ethiopians Amane Gobena and Abebu Gelan. Bahrain’s Nadia Ejjafini whould also be in the mix.

The Peachtree serves as the series final for the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) 2008/2009 season. Any athlete who has earned at least one PRRO race victory will be eligible to share in a $35,000 bonus if he or she wins the Peachtree. The eligible athletes are Kitwara (who won the World’s Best 10-K), Harroufi (who won the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile) and Chepkurui (who won both the Cherry Blossom and the Lilac Bloomsday Run).

Excluding the PRRO bonus, the event’s prize money purse totals $111,300, larger than many marathons.

Invited Athletes:

Bib # Open Men
1 Sammy KITWARA (KEN) Age 22
2 Tilahun REGASSA (ETH) Age 19- SCRATCH
3 Tadese TOLA (ETH) Age 21
4 Gashu Ibrahim JEILAN (ETH) Age 19
5 Ridouane HARROUFI (MAR) Age 27
6 Tesfaye BEKELE (ETH) Age 25
7 Robert LETTING (KEN) Age 24
8 Anthony FAMIGLIETTI (USA) Age 30
9 John KORIR (KEN) Age 33
10 Abdi ABDIRAHMAN (USA) Age 32
11 James CARNEY (USA) Age 30
12 Boaz CHEBOIYWO (KEN) Age 31
13 Daniel KIPKOECH (KEN) Age 23
14 Ed MORAN (USA) Age 27
15 Stephen CHEMLANY (KEN) Age 27
16 Brian SELL (USA) Age 31
17 Jason HARTMAN (USA) Age 28
18 Josh MOEN (USA) Age 26
19 Andrew CARLSON (USA) Age 27
20 Luke HUMPHREY (USA) Age 28
21 Edwardo TORRES (USA) Age 28
22 Celedonio RODRIGUEZ (USA) Age 28
23 Patrick SMYTH (USA) Age 22
24 Wilson KOMEN (KEN) Age 31
25 Ian BURRELL (USA) Age 24
26 Justin YOUNG (USA) Age 29
27 Antonio VEGA (USA) Age 25
28 Joshua GLAAB (USA) Age 26
29 Mohamed TRAFEH (USA) Age 24
30 Stephen FURST (USA) Age 23
31 Nick ARCINIAGA (USA) Age 26
32 Stephen HAAS (USA) Age 24
33 Forest BRADEN (USA) Age 26
34 Christian WAGNER (USA) Age 23
35 Nate PECK (USA) Age 23
36 Michael KILBURG (USA) Age 24
37 Tommy NEAL (USA) Age 26

Bib # Masters Men
100 Sean WADE (USA) Age 43
101 Paul AUFDEMBERGE (USA) Age 44
102 Yevgeny SIROTIN (UKR) Age 40
103 Tracy LOKKEN (USA) Age 43
104 Gideon MUTISYA (KEN) Age 42
105 Paul MWANGI (KEN) Age 41
106 Valentin ALVAREZ (MEX) Age 40

Bib # Open Women
W1 Lineth CHEPKURUI (KEN) Age 21
W2 Amane GOBENA (ETH) Age 26
W3 Abebu GELAN (ETH) Age 19
W4 Nadia EJJAFINI (BRN) Age 28
W5 Alice TIMBILILI (KEN) Age 26
W6 Belianesh GEBRE (ETH) Age 21
W7 Ogla KIMAIYO (KEN) Age 23
W8 Volha KRAUTSOVA (BLR) Age 28
W9 Meseret MENGSITU (ETH) Age 19
W10 Hyvon NGETICH (KEN) Age 24
W11 Edna KIPLAGAT (KEN) Age 29
W12 Teyba NASER (ETH) Age 22
W13 Irene LIMIKA (KEN) Age 29
W14 Sally MEYERHOFF (USA) Age 25
W15 Aziza AYILU (ETH) Age 23
W16 Hirut MANDEFRO (ETH) Age 23
W17 Elva DRYER (USA) Age 37
W18 Kathy BUTLER (GBR) Age 35
W19 Neriah ASIBA (KEN) Age 26
W20 Allison GRACE (USA) Age 26
W21 Kelly JASKE (USA) Age 32
W22 Jane Wanjiku GAKUNYI (KEN) Age 30
W23 Melissa WHITE (USA) Age 28
W24 Adriana PIRTEA (ROM) Age 29
W25 Samia AKBAR (USA) Age 27
W26 Jessica MINTY (USA) Age 25
W27 Ilsa PAULSON (USA) Age 20

Bib # Masters Women
W111 Colleen DE REUCK (USA) Age 45
W112 Albina GALLYAMOVA (RUS) Age 45
W113 Tatiana TITOVA (RUS) Age 43
W114 Michelle SIMONAITIS (USA) Age 43
W115 Trina PAINTER (USA) Age 42
W116 Rachel HOPKINS (USA) Age 41

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Two years ago here, Defar sliced nearly eight seconds from her own world record with a dazzling 14:16.63 run, which Dibaba took even lower last year, clocking 14:11.15. While she’s not predicting another world record run, Defar said she’s ready to dazzle again.

“I’m going to do my very best,” said Defar, whose only outing outdoors this year was a 31:07.34 victory in a specially arranged 10,000m race in Stockholm in May. “I’m going to run a very fast race.”

With compatriot Meselech Melkamu in the field, she’ll most likely have to. The 24-year-old arrives in the shape of her life, and at the moment, as the fastest woman in the world at both the 5000 and 10,000m this year. On June 14, Melkamu became the second fastest women ever in the 10,000m, after scorching a 29:53.80 national record in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Three days later, she toppled a strong 5000m field in Ostrava, where she ran 14:34.17, a world lead. Her antics impressed many, including Defar.

“I ran 31:07 in May, and she ran 29:53,” Defar said. “Yes, I was very surprised.”

Defar has requested a world record pace, and organizers have obliged. Pacesetter Yelena Zadorozhnaya of Russia has been asked to churn out 68-second laps in an effort to bring the leaders through 3000 meters in under 8:34.

The field also includes Vivian Cheruiyot, the 25-year-old Kenyan who first pushed, and then chased, Defar to her world record two years ago. Staying in contact for all but the final two laps, Cheruiyot was rewarded with a 14:22.51 national record. More recently, she won the Kenyan 1500m title in Nairobi last weekend, and the week before finished third in the Ostrava 5000m, clocking 14:38.26.

As for Dibaba, her injury is not suspected to be serious, and she’ll most likely race at least once prior to her 10,000m title defense in Berlin next month, said her manager Mark Wetmore, who also represents Defar.

“On Tuesday morning, Tirunesh said she was fit and ready to go,” Wetmore said. “And then we found out yesterday morning that she sustained a small injury on Tuesday evening. I think she wanted to be 100 percent to race against Meseret.”

There is also a high powered men’s 5000m on tap, headed by Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele. The Ethiopian is looking to stay alive in the $1 million Golden League Jackpot chase, after his solid victory in Berlin three weeks ago. His compatriot Sileshi Sihine, and Kenyans Abraham Chebii and Vincent Chepkok, second and fourth in Berlin and less than a second behind, will try to stop him.

Synonymous with the Bislett Games is the evening-capping Dream Mile. This year, the hands down favorite is Kenyan Augustine Choge, who’s taken fast 3:30.20 and 3:29.47 1500m victories this season in Doha and Berlin. The latter was a career best for the 22-year-old, as his 1:44.86 clocking in the Ostrava 800m 15 days ago. World indoor champion Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia could be a factor but defending champion Andy Baddeley won’t be. The Briton, who won here last year in 3:49.38, is sidelined by an ankle injury he sustained on Tuesday.

Like the women’s 5000m, the men’s 800m features the return of a runner with fond memories of Oslo. A year ago, Abubaker Kaki produced a sensational 1:42.69 world junior record, the fastest performance of 2008. He’s already nearly in sub-1:43 form with a 1:43.09 best from May, and arrives unbeaten in five races outdoors this year. Challenges will likely come from Mohammed Al-Salhi who sped to a 1:43.66 Saudi national record in Doha, and from the ever unpredictable Yuriy Borzakovskiy.

Elsewhere, Kenyan Ruth Bisibori leads the field in the women’s steeplechase and Irishman Alistair Cragg tops the field in the men’s 1500m.

PHOTO: Meseret Defar at the 2009 ExxonMobil Bislett Games pre-race press conferance (photo by Bob Ramsak)

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The runaway went to the University of Colorado’s Jenny Barringer in the 3000m steeplechase. Leading from gun to tape, Barringer went out at a moderate pace, and led a pack of six athletes, including Olympians Anna Willard and Lindsey Anderson, and NCAA East Regional steeplechase champion Bridget Franek of Penn State. Coming out of the water jump with three laps to go, Barringer pushed off the barrier hard and opened a gap on the field, passing the finish post with a two second advantage. Her lead would grow each lap, and sprinting the final 100m, Barringer finished in 9:29.38. It was her second USA steeplechase title.

“I feel really lucky to come in with the win,” said Barringer who also thought about competing in the 1500m instead after running 3:59.90 for that event at the Prefontaine Classic here three weeks ago. “The steeplechase is what I have been training for.”

Barringer also confirmed that she will not emerge from the NCAA ranks ahead of schedule, and plans to run the fall cross country season with her Colorado team. “It’s not tempting (to turn professional) because I made my decision. I’m a woman of my word. To be able to call them my teammates for another couple of months is worth it.”

As expected, Anna Willard made the podium, too, finishing second in 9:35.01. She said she ran cautiously to secure a top-3 finish. “I wasn’t swinging for the fences today,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to win the race today.”

On the question of whether she doubles in the 1500m and steeplechase in Berlin Willard said: “I don’t know. I’ve got to see what Terrence (Mahon, her coach) says.”

Franek came up big with a third place finish in a personal best 9:36.74. Her mark was under the IAAF “A” standard of 9:40-flat putting her on the team with Barringer and Willard.

“Oh my, I don’t even know what to say,” said Franek. “It’s a dream come true.”

CLARK AND SYMMONDS TAKE 800M TITLES

Hazel Clark and Nick Symmonds took their respective 800m titles with strong sprint finishes. Clark led her race out of the final turn and held off a fast-closing Geena Gall, 2:00.79 to 2:01.01. For Clark it was her fifth USA outdoor 800m title.

“It feels great,” said Clark who already has the IAAF “A” standard from last year. “I trained through some meets this year. I want to get a medal. I can’t sleep until I get a medal.”

Gall also got on the team because she has the “B” standard and finished second, but third place Phoebe Wright of the University of Tennessee, who ran a blistering final 50 meters to finish in a personal best 2:01.12, will need to get the “A” standard to get guarantee her spot on the team. She said she’s not worried about it.

“That’s not a problem,” said Wright who, like Hazel Clark, is coached by J.J. Clark. She said that Hazel would pace her to an “A” standard at a yet to be determined meet.

“I’m going to try to rabbit her to get the standard,” Clark said.

Maggie Vessey, who ran a sensational 28.37 for the final 200m to finish fourth in 2:01.19, can also get on the team if she achieves the “A” standard and Wright does not. She was in last place at the half-way mark.

As for Symmonds, he summoned the same kick which brought him victory here in the Olympic Trials last year, just holding off a gutsy stretch run by Khadevis Robinson. Symmonds ran 1:45.86 to Robinson’s 1:45.97, equaling his season’s best time.

“I always go for the win,” said Symmonds. “If you’re going to go to the line you have to be ready to win.”

Third place Ryan Brown ran 1:46.67, and since he ran 1:46.17 earlier this season (under the IAAF “B” standard of 1:46.60) he makes the team for Berlin because both Symmonds and Robinson have the “A” standard.

LOMONG WINS FIRST USA TITLE

The men’s 1500m was predictably slow (2:03.88 at halfway), but 900 meters into the race there was an unexpected development. Stephen Pifer shot ahead to break up the pack. Beijing Olympians Lopez Lomong and Leonel Manzano responded, as did Will Leer and Dorian Ulrey.

“Five hundred meters to go was a perfect spot for me,” said Pifer who wore a black ribbon on his uniform in honor of former coach Frank Gagliano’s daughter-in-law who recently died of cancer. “I gave it everything I had.”

Pifer’s move launched Lomong and Manzano to battle for the title, and Lomong got it by 14/100ths in 3:41.68. Behind them, Pifer, Ulrey and Leer battled for the final team spot and Ulrey, who faded badly in the final meters of the NCAA championships earlier this month because of illness, got third.

“I had a stomach virus,” said Ulrey who clocked 3:42.84.

Lomong only has the “B” standard, but is guaranteed a team spot by virtue of being the winner. Manzano also makes the team as an “A” standard-holder in second place. Ulrey has neither standard, and needs to improve to at least a “B” (3:39.20) to have a chance of making the team. He gets to Berlin with a “B” time if Lomong improves to an “A” by July 31 under USATF rules. Or, if Ulrey improves to an “A” (3:36.20) he also makes the team. He’d have to improve his personal best by about three seconds to do that.

* * * * * *

In the exhibition masters women’s 1500m, 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist Joan Samuelson, 52, finished fourth in 5:02.34 and was warmly applauded by the Hayward Field crowd as she completed her final lap in 81.9 seconds. She had hoped to run under 4:50.

“That wasn’t even close,” said a disappointed Samuelson who lives in Freeport, Me. Never at completely at home racing on the track she added: “I’m a duck out of water.”

PHOTO: Jenny Barringer after winning her second USA steeplechase title (photo by Jane Monti)

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Rupp’s decision is surprising, considering that Johnson, who represents Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, does not have any other distance running clients.

“I’m stunned,” said one event promoter who was reached by telephone.

An agent’s typical role when an athlete is graduating from college is to shop the athlete to different shoe companies looking for the best available deal. But with Rupp, it was a certainty that he would go with Nike given that his coach, Alberto Salazar, is Nike’s top coach-in-residence at the Nike World Campus in Beaverton, just outside of Portland. Speculation swirled here in the last several days as Rupp interviewed potential agents, including Ray Flynn, Peter Stubbs, Mark Wetmore and Tom Ratcliffe.

Rupp just wrapped up the best distance running season of any NCAA athlete in history, sweeping all five available distance titles in cross country, indoors (3000m and 5000m) and outdoors (5000m and 10,000m). Rupp then rallied last Thursday to win the overall USA title here, becoming the first athlete to ever win the NCAA and USA 10,000m titles in the same year. He ran his final race in the University of Oregon uniform here, much to the delight of the crowd.

“I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” Rupp said after the race. “It was just magical.”

PHOTO: Galen Rupp on his way to winning the 2009 NCAA 10,000m title (photo by Mike Scott)

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The big winner was Shannon Rowbury. The 24 year-old from San Francisco, who was seventh at last summer’s Beijing Olympics, defended her national title by running a sizzling 60.3 seconds for her final 400m to catch a breakaway bid for victory by Christin Wurth-Thomas. Rowbury clocked 4:05.07 to Wurth-Thomas’s 4:06.00, impressive times considering they ran the first lap in about 68 seconds.

“We’ve really worked on sharpening the last few weeks,” a visibly excited Rowbury explained. “It’s one thing to practice it, but another to actually have it happen (in a race).”

Wurth-Thomas, who ran to a 4:03.96 win in a similar front-running move at the Reebok Grand Prix last month, became impatient with the slow pace, and surged less than half-way through the race. She quickly built up a five second lead, a lead that stuck nearly to the finish line.

“You know, I went for it,” said a smiling Wurth-Thomas who clearly felt great about being able to assert herself in such a big meet. “That was the way I wanted to run the race.”

Rowbury didn’t react quickly to Wurth-Thomas’s move, but waited until the last circuit to shift to full power. Her back as straight as an I-beam and showing perfect form, Rowbury glided up to top speed and caught Wurth-Thomas just before the finish.

“I was not sure I could close it,” she said of the wide gap to Wurth-Thomas. “By the time I hit 400 (to go) I said I better be the one to close it.”

Both with IAAF “A” standard times in their pockets, Rowbury and Wurth-Thomas are qualified for Berlin, which brings us to our third winner, Anna Willard.

Willard, the Olympic steeplechaser with a 9:22.76 personal best, completed the first leg of her double at this meet by finishing third in 4:07.70. Barring disaster, she should also get a podium finish at today’s steeplechase final and will have earned team berths in both events (she has “A” qualifying standards in both events). Does she plan to run both events in Berlin?

“MY coach and I have to decide… in the next few weeks,” said Willard referring to Mammoth Track club coach Terrence Mahon.

Under Mahon, Willard has quickly evolved into America’s most versatile middle distance runner. This year alone she’s clocked 1:59.29 for 800m, 4:01.44 for 1500m (both career bests) and 9:26.85 for the steeple. Assuming she can maintain her excellent form through July and August, she would be competitive at both events in Berlin.

Should Willard decide to do only the steeple, fourth place Erin Donohue, also an Olympian last year, would move up to take Willard’s spot in the 1500m. Donohue, who is now coached by Frank Gagliano, has a “B” qualifier of 4:06.70 (the “B” standard is 4:09-flat), which is good enough to make the team because both Rowbury and Wurth-Thomas have “A” standard times. (The IAAF allows two “A” athletes and one “B” to form a team.)

When a reporter asked if Willard to should step aside to allow Donohue to have the third team spot, the former high school javelin thrower said Willard should not. “It’s up to her,” said Donohue. “Whoever was the fastest should get to represent the U.S. If she’s feeling up to it, she should do it.”

* * * * * *

In the other distance final yesterday, Josh McAdams ran a very controlled race to win the men’s steeplechase in a modest 8:29.91. McAdams ran comfortably in the pack as fellow Olympian Billy Nelson led for the first four laps (he would fade to 13th at the finish), then broke away with Daniel Huling, who would finish second (8:32.86). Kyle Alcorn, the 2008 NCAA champion, got third in 8:34.65. All three athletes have “A” qualifiers (8:23-flat), and are all set to make the trip to Berlin in August.

McAdams credited his coach Ed Eyestone for advising him to be cautious yesterday and not take the race out fast. “He said, ‘It’s great to throw caution to the wind, but let’s make the team,’” McAdams recounted.

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“Alan hurt his left hamstring during Thursday’s 1500m warm up,” said Ray Flynn of Flynn Sports Management through a written statement. “He further strained it during the race. The decision was made after extensive therapy with Dr. Justin Whittaker that he could not compete in today’s race.”

This is yet another setback for the 26 year-old Webb who had hoped to make it to the IAAF World Championships this year after failing to qualify for last year’s Olympic Games (he finished fifth in the USA Olympic Trials). Webb looked solid in the opening round here, closing hard in the third of four heats to finish second by a whisker over USA indoor 3000m champion David Torrence in 3:42.35.

In a relative sense, Webb’s job of qualifying for Berlin was made easier here because defending world 1500m champion Bernard Lagat did not contest the 1500m. Instead, Lagat ran the 800m first round to fulfill a USATF requirement that he at least participate in this meet to use his bye into the world championships.

Webb, who lives in Reston, Va., last competed in a global championship in Osaka in 2007 where he finished 8th in the 1500m final. In 2007 he surpassed Steve Scott’s USA mile record by running 3:46.91 in Brasschaat, Belgium.

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Goucher, who is in the midst of training for her first appearance at a World Championships marathon in Berlin in August, broke away with fellow Olympian Jen Rhines with three laps to go. Approaching the bell together, Goucher simply ran the faster final circuit, clocking 64.9 seconds to Rhines’s 70.6. It was Goucher’s second consecutive USA title at the distance.

“I almost fell twice,” said Goucher of the slow early laps which led to her modest 15:20.94 finish time. “You just have to not let it bother you.”

Rhines clocked 15:26.92, and because she already has the IAAF “A” standard of 15:10.00 (she ran 14:54.29 in Oslo last year), is locked-in for the USA team for Berlin. Behind Rhines, University of Illinois junior Angela Bizzarri, the NCAA 5000m champion, came from fifth place on the last lap to pass both Julie Culley and Rebecca Donaghue to take a surprising third place. She has neither the IAAF “A” or “B” standard (15:25.00) so her status is uncertain for the World Championships team. Bizzari was overwhelmed by the thought that she could possibly be in a global championships.

“I don’t know,” she said when asked if she planned to try to get her “B” standard before the July 31 deadline which would put her on the team. “I’ve never run outside of the country.”

Tegenkamp won a completely different kind of race. Off of a fast early pace set by two-time Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti who ran the first kilometer in 2:37.60, Tegenkamp was running third behind Bolota Asmerom and his Oregon Track Club training partner Chris Solinsky with two laps to go. The penultimate lap went down in under 63 seconds, but the fast pace hadn’t sapped any of Tegenkamp’s energy.

“We were completely comfortable,” Tegenkamp said.

At the bell, Tegenkamp and Solinsky put it in high gear. Asmerom couldn’t respond, and only the 20 year-old Evan Jager, another Oregon TC athlete, was still in contention. Tegenkamp showed world class speed, closing in 53.47 seconds to Solinsky’s 53.90. The teammates stopped the clock at 13:20.57 and 13:20.82, respectively. Jager got third in a personal best 13:22.18.

“I have a kick that can compete with anybody,” said Tegenkamp, who thanked his coach, Jerry Schumacher, for preparing him so well for the race. “He knows what he’s doing,” Tegenkamp said of Schumacher. “He’s not in it to please the media. He lets his athletes performance do that.”

Since both Tegenkamp and Solinsky already had the IAAF “A” standard of 13:20.00 coming into the race, they earned automatic berths on the USA team for Berlin. Jager’s time was well under the “B” standard of 13:29.00, so he makes the team, too, because IAAF rules allow for two A’s and one B to compete.

BARRINGER AND WILLARD ADVANCE DESPITE WRONG WATER JUMP HEIGHT

Jenny Barringer’s and Anna Willard’s victories in the preliminaries of the women’s steeplechase were not a surprise, but the fact that they had to clear a 36-inch barrier on the water jumps was. As soon as she finished her heat, Barringer could be seen gesturing to an official at the side of the track about something. When asked about it in the mixed zone she said, “The water jump was set too high. I’m certain the water jump was at 36 inches. I’m very confident it was high.”

Officials were not seen lowering the barrier for the second heat, and Penn Relays director Dave Johnson said that he would have done the same thing had such a mistake been detected in his meet. The logic, he said, was that it would be unfair for one group of women to jump over a higher barrier than the second.

Michigan State’s Nicole Bush was see limping after the first heat after she fell hard into the water jump, possibly because of the raised barrier. When asked if it was an ankle injury, Bush said, “I don’t know. Probably.”

SYMMONDS BREEZES TO FINAL IN 800M

Defending USA 800m champion Nick Symmonds loped into Sunday’s final with an easy win in the second heat.

“I felt great,” said Symmonds. “It felt better than yesterday.”

For Sunday’s final, where he’ll face longtime rival Khadevis Robinson, Symmonds said he was ready to run fast. “I won’t hold back in the final,” he said. “That’s for sure.”

NCAA champion Geena Gall led the women’s two-lap qualifying, and will be joined in the final by her former teammate, Katie Waits. She would like nothing more than to have Waits be her teammate in Berlin.

“It would be amazing,” she said.

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“I’m going to be joining Alberto and Galen up there,” said Ritzenhein referring to Portland about 125 miles north of here. “There’s only so far you can get on your own.”

Ritzenhein, who was coached a the University of Colorado by Mark Wetmore, split with his professional coach, Brad Hudson, after last April’s Flora London Marathon where he finished 11th in a personal best 2:10-flat. Ritzenhein was disappointed with his performance and said today that aspiring to be a 2:08 marathoner wasn’t good enough when the world’s best were running much faster. Salazar not only has the know how, but incredible assets as his disposal at the Nike World Campus, including state of the art training facilities and sports scientists.

“I think it would be a mistake to do it half-way,” said Ritzenhein, a two-time Olympian. “Now you have to be ready to run 2:06, 2:05, to be competitive. Now I see you have to be ready to run fast.”

Ritzenhein’s performance last night signaled at least a short term return to the track. He’s likely to go through the same kind of training which Salazar has used effectively with Kara Goucher, building up her track speed they laying on the endurance training to be competitive in the marathon.

Because he ran his marathon in April, Ritzenhein said he was several weeks behind in his training for the track, but was very satisfied with his progress. His job now, he said, was to train for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin. But he said that the marathon would never be far from his thoughts.

“I’m going to come back to the marathon,” he said.

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Sell, 31, of Rochester Hills, Mich., finished third at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials Marathon held in New York’s Central Park, but this will be the first time he will run the ING New York City Marathon. In addition to the usual prize money on offer, the Road Runners have put up a special $150,000 prize money purse for the championship. Sell, like the dozens of other Americans who will eventually enter, will be competing hard for the $40,000 first prize.

“I felt lightning in a bottle in the Olympic Trials in New York and I’d like to do it again,” said Sell through a news release. “I have had good races in New York. From the 8-K to the Olympic Trials, it’s always been a good spot for me, so I hopefully I can have another strong race in 2009.”

Sell has a marathon personal best of 2:10:47 set in Chicago in 2006 where he finished sixth. He ran a similar time at Boston earlier that year where he was fourth in 2:10:55. Coached by Kevin and Keith Hanson, Sell is renowned for his work ethic, which paid its biggest dividend at the 2008 Trials when he ran 2:11:40 on the hilly Central Park course. At the Beijing Olympics, he finished a solid 22nd in 2:16:07.

This will be the second time that the ING New York City Marathon has hosted the USA Men’s Marathon Championship. The last time was in 2001 (when the race also hosted the women’s national championship), and it was a particularly emotional event since it came in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Indeed, smoke could be seen rising from Ground Zero when the race started. Scott Larson of Boulder, Colo., won the men’s title that year and finished 13th overall in the marathon.

“It is extra special for us to have the men’s championship back here in New York as we celebrate the 40th running of the New York City Marathon,” said New York Road Runners president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg. “Brian is a great first headliner to the strong field we expect to have on November 1.”

The ING New York City Marathon is the world’s largest marathon. Over 100,000 people apply for entry, with some 39,000 reaching the finish line next to Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

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“We’ll be here in 2012,” said Logan who also announced an extension of USATF’s marketing partnership with shoe and apparel company, Nike.

Logan explained that the format of the meet would likely be changed to shorten the number of competition days. He said a “three plus three” format was likely: six competition days to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of consecutive weekends. The 2008 Trials were held over a span of ten days and featured eight competition days, a format which generated more broadcast television hours, but made for thin programs on certain days.

While Logan spoke of the 2012 Trials coming here as a certainty, he admitted that the deal had not been inked yet with the local organizing committee.

“We don’t have a contract, yet,” he said.

Logan described the new deal with Nike as “uncommon and creative” and a “very unique deal.” While not disclosing any of the financial details, Logan said that the four-year deal –which would be extended by another four years if Chicago gets the 2016 Olympic Games– would give USATF “full value” for its sports properties. Part of the Nike money will pay for a program to help collegiate athletes make the transition to the professional ranks.

The former soccer executive also said that he had not abandoned his hope of staging a the IAAF World Championships in the United States, a nation which has arguably the world’s greatest track team but no national stadium for track and field with enough seating capacity for a major championship. USATF continues to talk with four cities about the idea.

“It is still a significant goal of mine,” Logan commented.

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“It was unbelievable to do it in a Duck uniform,” said a teary-eyed Rupp who ran his last race wearing the colors of the University of Oregon. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. It was just magical.”

Rupp had the easier time of the two champions. In an uneven race where Abdi Abdirahman did most of the early leading, Rupp and two-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein followed a mid-race move by James Carney and broke clear of the field.

“I told James, ‘let’s keep it going,’” Ritzenhein said after the race.

Carney eventually faded (he would finish fourth), and while Tim Nelson watched from a small distance back, Rupp stayed glued to Ritzenhein until 500 meters to go when he made a strong move for victory.

“I was just trying to stay relaxed,” said Rupp. “When it was time to go, I went. No doubt about it.”

Rupp quickly put 20 meters on Ritzenhein who, after running the Flora London Marathon last April, hadn’t done much speed work.

“I could tell on the last lap I hadn’t done the 10-K workouts,” said Ritzenhein. “I just tried to work as hard as I could.”

Rupp crossed himself as he came out of the final turn, then started pumping his right fist and acknowledged the cheers of the University of Oregon crowd. He hit the finish in 27:52.53, comfortably ahead of Ritzenhein (27:58.59) and Nelson (28:01.34). Under the USATF qualifying scheme, all three athletes selected themselves for the USA team for The IAAF World Championships. Both Rupp and Nelson had the “A” standard of 27:47.00 coming into the race, and since the IAAF rules allow for two “A” standard athletes and one “B” athlete, Ritzenhein is also in.

For Begley, the reigning USA indoor 3000m champion who refers to herself as a “grinder,” she had the unusual experience of winning with her sprint. In a plan hatched before the race, she and Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan had agreed to trade the lead at least through 5 km, making sure the pace stayed honest. They shared their plan with Katie McGregor who tethered herself to the two women and stayed with them through 5 km (15:51.29) and 6 km (19:01.20).

“I just decided to ride the wave as long as I can,” said McGregor.

McGregor fell back in the seventh kilometer, which went down in three minutes and four seconds, leaving Begley and Flanagan to fight it out for the win. It would come down to the bell lap, and Begley surprisingly turned in the faster circuit: 67.19 seconds to Flanagan’s 67.72. Begley credited coach Alberto Salazar for helping her improve her speed.

“I learned to sprint this year,” said the former Arkansas Razorback who almost quit the sport out of frustration two years ago. “It’s definitely been a good year for my speed.”

Begley’s 31:22.69 broke Flanagan’s Hayward Field record of 31:34.81 set at last year’s Olympic Trials. Flanagan, who lost half a step trying to get around a lapped runner in the final 100 meters, said she just didn’t have the zip in her legs to outsprint Begley. She did most of her preparations for this meet at altitude in Flagstaff, Ariz., which sometimes reduces leg speed.

“I felt her surge back on me and I tied up,” said Flanagan who ran 31:23.43 for second place.

McGregor hung on for third and also qualified for the USA team for Berlin. Her time of 32:08.04 was well under the IAAF “B” standard of 32:20.00.

WEBB ADVANCES IN CHAOTIC 1500M QUALIFYING

A staggering 48 men lined up for four heats of the men’s 1500m, and when the dust had settled only a dozen had made it to Sunday’s final. Only the first two finishers of each heat advanced automatically, and with a huge push to the line in the third heat, Alan Webb managed to be one of them, just passing David Torrence in the final few meters.

“I just didn’t want to leave it for time to make it to the final,” said Webb, who clocked 3:42.35. He said that “instinct” had taken over allowing him to dig deep and pass Torrence.

Beijing Olympians Leonel Manzano and Lopez Lomong advanced by wining their heats, as did Will Leer and Dorian Ulrey.

All of the favorites advanced in the women’s 1500m, led by Christin Wurth-Thomas’s 4:11.84. Wurth-Thomas’s Beijing Olympic teammates Shannon Rowbury and Erin Donohue also advanced, as did steeplechaser Anna Willard who is doubling in this meet. Willard finished third in her heat behind Wurth-Thomas and Tennessee’s Sarah Bowman with a well-controlled 66.2 second final lap.

“It’s not supposed to be hard,” said Willard as she strode through the mixed zone.

ONE AND DONE IN 800M FOR LAGAT

While Beijing Olympians Christian Smith, Khadevis Robinson and Nick Symmonds posted the fastest three times in 800m qualifying, Bernard Lagat also advanced to the semi-finals by finishing third in the first heat. But the reigning world champion in the 1500m and 5000m was only using his 800m appearance to sharpen his racing form and to fulfill a USATF requirement that he run in this national championship in order to use his bye into the world meet as a reigning champion. He was hoping for a fast time, but ran a middling 1:48.59.

“You know, it’s hard to run 800m,” said Lagat. He added: “This is it for me. I’m done. I’m going to pack now.”

There were no surprises in the women’s two-lap prelims. Favorites Hazel Clark, Latavia Thomas, Katie Waits, Geena Gall, and Alysia Johnson all advanced to the semi-finals.

HULING LEADS STEEPLECHASE QUALIFIERS

Daniel Huling led all men’s steeplechase qualifiers with his 8:34.13 victory in the second heat, just ahead of Reebok teammate Brian Olinger (8:34.85). Beijing Olympians Billy Nelson and Josh McAdams also advanced, as did a resurgent Aaron Aguayo. Veteran Steve Slattery had a tough day, finishing last in his heat in 9:34.00.

MEET CONTINUES TOMORROW

The highlight of the middle and long distance events on tomorrow’s program will be the men’s and women’s 5000m finals. Reigning champion Kara Goucher will be in action on the women’s side, and Matt Tegenkamp and Anthony Famiglietti will be clashing in the men’s race.

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“It’s really important that the U.S. Championships are here,” said Symmonds with his characteristic rapid-fire delivery. “I can feel the confidence that comes with that and the lift the crowd gives you.”

Symmonds is a huge crowd favorite here, a status he has earned both on and off the track. At the 2007 Prefontaine Classic, Symmonds got by Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Khadevis Robinson and Gary Reed in just the last ten meters of the 800m to get the win in 1:44.54, a meet record. The crowd at Hayward Field went wild.

“It’s the most incredible feeling in the world,” Symmonds told NBC Sports immediately after that race. “I’ve never found that gear before. I’ve never found it.”

But at last year’s Trials, Symmonds found that gear again, with a heart-stopping stretch run to win what many felt was the best final of the Trials, stopping the clock in a personal best 1:44.10 and nailing down his first Olympic team berth. The excitement surrounding the race was heightened by the fact that University of Oregon sophomore Andrew Wheating finished second (he was in last place with 200m to go) and Symmonds’s Oregon Track Club teammate Christian Smith got third by diving to the finish line ahead of Khadevis Robinson. It was the “team Eugene” sweep to the fans.

Symmonds calls on those memories every time he races, but especially here. “I sleep in my own bed, I eat my own meals, I do the same warm-up loop I do every day,” he explained. “When you’re just doing the same warm-up routine as you do everyday your body responds.”

That Symmonds will make the team by finishing in the top-3 here is hardly in doubt. He is one of only four Americans who possess the IAAF “A” qualifying standard of 1:45.40 for the World Championships, but only three are entered in the meet (Khadevis Robinson and Andrew Wheating are the other two). The fourth, former University of Texas Star Jacob Hernandez, is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

But winning the title here is another matter because of the presence of 2007 world 1500m and 5000m champion, Bernard Lagat, who will also be contesting the 800m. Under USA Track & Field rules, Lagat must compete in this meet in order to exercise his right to run in the IAAF World Championships where he has automatic entry as the reigning world champion. However, he is free to contest any discipline here for which he is qualified. Symmonds knows that Lagat, who has an 800m personal best of 1:46.00 from 2003, is a formidable racer at any distance. It is unknown, however, if Lagat will compete in the final even if he advances through the rounds.

“Any distance he wants he can do well at,” Symmonds observed. “I know he’s going to run the first round; I’m not sure if he’ll do the finals.”

This will be Symmonds’s first national meet under the tutelage of new Oregon Track Club Elite coach Mark Rowland who took over for the legendary Frank “Gags” Gagliano who retired. Symmonds said that the transition to Rowland has been a natural one and that he still stays in touch with Gagliano.

“I loved working with Coach Gags,” Symmonds said. “what I didn’t expect is that I would have such a smooth transition to my new coach, Mark Rowland. He added: “That was another great thing about Gags. Ultimately, he said he trusts Rowland so I need to trust him as well.”

* * * * * *

Tonight’s meet will close with the men’s and women’s 10,000m finals. Twenty-eight men and 22 women will take to the track, and the men’s race is particularly competitive. Galen Rupp, who won all five NCAA distance titles during the 2008/2009 season, will run his last race wearing the colors of the University of Oregon (he’ll turn pro immediately following the meet and will likely represent Nike). He, along with Tim Nelson, have the second-fastest seed times of 27:36.99 behind only defending champion Abdi Abdirahman (27:16.99). Abdirahman, Nelson, Rupp, and Jorge Torres are the only athletes possessing the IAAF “A” standard of 27:47.00 who are competing (steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti also has it). Only two women, Shalane Flanagan (30:22.22) and Amy Begley (31:43.60) have the “A” standard of 31:45.00 in the women’s race.

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Speaking on her mobile phone last night from Los Angeles where she was between flights, Flanagan said of the 5000m: “I love the event. I feel I have untapped potential in it. I think it is a great race.”

But her focus now is clearly on the 25-lap race instead, a race new coach Jerry Schumacher has prepared her for by doing steady mileage for the last five weeks at high altitude in Flagstaff, Ariz. For the championships she’s entered in both the 10,000m and the 5000m, but she’s doubtful Schumacher would green-light her for the second race.

“Jerry’s really prepared me well for the 10-K,” Flanagan explained. “I would love to run the 5-K, but I don’t think Jerry is too keen on me doubling back the next night. If I had my way I’d run the 5-K.”

Flanagan doubled last year, extending her battle with marathoner Kara Goucher to two events. Flanagan won the 10,000m in a Hayward Field record of 31:34.81, just three seconds ahead of Goucher. A week later, Goucher ran the final mile of the 5000m in 4:36, to beat Flanagan into third place. The two are unlikely to face each other in Eugene this year, with Goucher using the 5000m as part of her World Championships Marathon preparations. Both athletes are based in Portland, 125 miles north of Eugene, but are part of separate training groups (Goucher is coached by Alberto Salazar).

Since winning her medal in Beijing, Flanagan has made some significant career changes. Last December she fired her management firm to allow husband Steve Edwards to take over arranging her sponsorships and competitions. She then split with coach Cook last January and embarked on a search for a new coach.

“It was a tough decision,” Flanagan told Race Results Weekly last February, adding that she “didn’t see eye-to-eye with Coach Cook on several levels.” She then began looking for a new coach, finally selecting Schumacher who was making the transition from coaching at the University of Wisconsin to becoming Nike’s coach-in-residence in Portland. Schumacher has been widely praised for coaching Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky to world class form.

“I’m really impressed, really happy,” Flanagan said of switching to Schumacher. “Steve and I were both saying that this is the best balance we’ve felt in terms of running and lifestyle. The group of guys he coaches are great guys and great people. We feel really fortunate to be part of this system.”

Flanagan said that under Schumacher’s program she does more running and fewer drills than under coach Cook. She’s running 80 to 90 miles and doing three track sessions per week. She’s the only woman Schumacher coaches, so he spreads his athletes out on the track so they can all train under his supervision at the same time.

“Most of it, we’re all there together,” Flanagan said. “Jerry may spread us out a few minutes apart so he can see everyone.”

Last February before joining Schumacher, Flanagan broke Marla Runyan’s USA indoor 5000m record, clocking 14:47.62 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. But the former University of North Carolina star has had an uneven season since then. She made a middling 10-K debut on the road last March, running 32:25 at the World’s Best 10-K in San Juan, and was beaten by Anna Willard at a tactical road mile in Boston last April. She’s only made two appearances on the track outdoors: a 15:10.86 for 5000m at the adidas Track Classic (4th place) and 4:06.91 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic (11th).

“I’ve had so many great races in a row, so I was bound to have a mediocre race,” said Flanagan. “I’ve been training really hard; I just kind of trained through it. It’s hard to swallow your pride and train through some things.”

But Flanagan has clearly placed her faith in Schumacher, and is giving the new relationship adequate time to bear fruit. Berlin in August will be the true test, she said.

“I think Jerry’s instilled in me a lot of confidence,” she concluded. “I may not see overnight results but I’m willing to make some sacrifices now to get results. He says we’ve got a lot of work to do to before I become a true distance runner.”

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Christopher Raabe, 30, of Washington, D.C., and Mary Akor, 32, of Lomita, Calif., won their respective categories in 2:15:13 and 2:36:52, respectively. For Raabe, his time was a personal best, surpassing the 2:17:01 he ran in November, 2007, in New York City at the USA Olympic Trials. He finished sixth at Gramdma’s last year in 2:17:35. Although Akor did not set a personal best, it was her third consecutive victory at Gramdma’s, a race which gets its name from a Duluth-based group of restaurants bearing the same name. Both Raabe and Akor won $10,000 in prize money plus modest time bonuses.

The last time two Americans won Grandma’s in the same year was in 1995 when Don Johns (2:18:19) and Linda Somers (2:33:42) were the champions. Mark Curp was the last American man to win the race in 1995 (2:15:23).

Raabe was part of a lead pack of nine at the half-way point (1:07:48), but by the 20-mile mark (32 km), he had amassed a lead of one minute and 18 seconds over Kenyan Charles Kanyao who ended up a distant second in 2:18:36. Akor had to fight off a strong challenge from Russian Alina Ivanova, who was with Akor at half-way (1:16:51). By 20 miles, Akor was just seven seconds ahead, but then built up a 17 second cushion by 25 miles (40 km). Ivanova fought back, but could not catch the Nigerian-born Akor, who won by six seconds.

Raabe’s victory was especially-well received in Duluth because he is a native of another Minnesota town, Sauk Rapids.

The event records of 2:09:37, by American Dick Beardsley (1981) and 2:27:05 by Russian Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova (2003) were never threatened. Conditions were warm and sunny, according to Weather.com and news photos from the race.

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“There was no pressure,” he said, bursting into laughter. “People like Choge, Asbel, they were not in the race, so I was sure that I was going to win it.”

He was referring to Kenyan compatriots Augustine Choge and Asbel Kiprop, who got the better of him in three close contests this year, Choge in the 1500m in Doha and Berlin, and Kiprop, the Olympic silver medalist, in the Prefontaine Classic mile in Eugene.

“I was a bit nervous” in the races against the pair, he said. “In my training program, there are a few things that I have not yet accomplished in training, like speed work. So I was a bit nervous in Berlin a few days ago.”

The 25-year-old has nonetheless competed impressively in this, just his second international season. He’s already improved his 1500m PB to 3:30.20 and his mile to 3:48.78. He wasn’t far from that in Ostrava where he clocked 3:49.57. “But the pacemakers here were not very good. I was hoping, with the right pace, that I could run 3:48 low or 3:47 high.”

After taking the African title in Addis Ababa last year, he was an unlucky fourth at the Kenyan Trials, missing out on the Olympic Games. He nonetheless attracted attention with his post-Beijing campaign, first by beating Olympic champion Rachid Ramzi in Zurich, and then taking a narrow upset victory over Kiprop at the World Athletics Final by just 0.01 seconds. Track & Field News ranked him #1 in the world last year at 1500m.

“Those wins gave me motivation,” he said. “They gave me morale and confidence. I knew that even with the big boys in the field, that I could tackle them.”

All in all, not bad for someone who didn’t take up the sport until 2005.

Hailing from a small village some 40 kilometers from Eldoret, Keitany played field hockey in high school and wasn’t attracted to track until he watched some familiar faces in races on TV.

“Some of my friends, I would see them on television running, and I knew that I could do this too,” he said, again smiling. “And that made me choose athletics.”

A year later he had cracked 3:42, and by 2007 was a sub-3:38 runner, paving the way for his breakthrough last year. And he insists he can go considerably faster.

“I’m hoping in Rome to run under 3:30, or even under 3:29,” he said, referring to the Golden Gala ÅF Golden League fixture in the Italian capital. “Because I’m feeling strong and I’ll be with guys like Asbel.”

But more important on his radar are the Kenyan trials in Nairobi next month for the world championships. “At the Kenyan trials anything can happen. Everybody is strong. So you have to really focus on it, really prepare.” He said he’ll be anticipating and preparing for a fast race, in the 3:32 to 3:33 range. “With that I can survive. Otherwise, it will be hard.”

Despite his close losses this year, he remains upbeat. “I was happy in Berlin and Eugene, where I ran my personal best times. So I’m optimistic for Berlin in two months time. My goal is to win the gold.”

PHOTO: Haron Keitany after winning the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final (Photo by Bob Ramsak)

(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Written by Bob Ramsak for TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More!, 2009. | Permalink | Make a comment!

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***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***

Just three days after running 29:53.80 in Utrecht to become the second fastest 10,000m runner of all-time, it wasn’t clear how much of a factor Melkamu would be in what promised to be a fast race against top-notch Kenyans Linet Masai and Vivian Cheruiyot. The 24-year-old raced anyway, raced hard, and won impressively.

“It was a very hard race,” said Melkamu, who despite just three days rest ran aggressively from the gun. Continually pushing the pace, she and Masai exchanged the lead several times, keeping the pace honest, with Cheruiyot trailing just a few meters back. When Cheruiyot dropped out of contention with three laps to go, the two forged on, continuing to exchange the lead. Masai seemed to make her final move at the bell, but Melkamu responded and carried the lead through the bend and through the finish, stopping the clock in 14:34.17, a 2009 world leader.

“I had a very fast run in the 10,000m three days ago, and I’m very tired,” said Melkamu. “But I’ve had really good training and I’m very well prepared.” In recent memory, no remotely similar performances have been produced just days apart.

Masai, who finished fourth in the 10,000m in Beijing last summer, was just a few ticks back in 14:34.36, a personal best for the 19-year-old.

*Rudisha Prevails in 800m Clash*

In the packed men’s 800m, the most star-studded field of the night, it was reigning world champion Alfred Yego who was the first to take command, making his move as the field reached the bell. His lead was short-lived, soon overtaken by Ahmed Ismael, the Olympic silver medalist. The Sudanese then padded his lead to carry a strong advantage off the final bend. Yego faded at this point, leaving David Rudisha to take up the challenge. Slowly closing the gap, Rudisha ate up the difference before pulling away for the victory less than three strides from the finish, clocking 1:44.09.

“It’s not a bad time,” said Rudisha, who clocked a 1:43.53 career best in Hengelo two weeks ago. “I didn’t start very fast and wanted to run from behind.

Closing strongly as well, Olympic 1500m silver medalist Asbel Kiprop was third (1:44.54) and Berlin 1500m winner Augustine Choge fourth with a 1:44.86 personal best.

The B race was swift as well, with South African Samson Ngoepe kicking past Kenyan Jackson Kivuna, 1:45.17 to 1:45.29, both personal bests.

In the women’s 800m Briton Marilyn Okoro nabbed a strong victory running from the front. The only woman to follow a quick pacesetter, Okoro was challenged in the home straight but hung on to take her first win of the season in 2:00.21. Frenchwoman Elodie Guegan was a surprise second (2:00.44) and another Briton, Jenny Meadows, third (2:00.48). Olympic steeplechase champion Gulnara Galkina-Samitova was never a factor, finishing well back in 10th (2:01.98.)

*Keitany Cruises in the Mile*

With his key rivals thus far this season contesting the 800m here, Haron Keitany was given some breathing room and ably took the mile with a solid 3:49.57 run. Briton Andy Baddeley, winner at Oslo’s Dream Mile last year, gradually worked his way from fourth to second over the last lap to finish second in 3:51.83 in his first middle distance race of the season.

As the winds picked up into the early evening, they ruined any world record ambitions Ezekiel Kemboi may have had in the men’s steeplechase, so he was content with a solid victory over key rivals Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele Koech. Kemboi prevailed in 8:09.55, with Olympic champion Kipruto second (8:09.95) and Koech (8:10.22) third. Benjamin Kiplagat set a Ugandan national record of 8:12.98 in sixth.

As last year, the pre-program kicked off with a long distance world record assault, but this time Dire Tune came up a bit short. First, in a bid to add to her One Hour world record set here last year (18,517m), The Ethiopian missed by 215 metres, knocking off 18,302. She forged ahed to tackle the 20,000m distance as well, eventually reaching the line in 1:05:35.3, a scant nine seconds shy of Tegla Loroupe’s 1:05.26.6 standard from 2000. Tune’s was nonetheless the second fastest performance ever at 20,000m.

Kenyan Leah Malot was well back in second in both races (17,343m/1:10:35.0).

The star of the evening was triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt, who was the main attraction for the 20,000-plus who packed every nook and cranny of Mestsky Stadium. Despite a poor start, Bolt fought back to clock a wind-assisted 9.77.

Written by Bob Ramsak for TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More!, 2009. | Permalink | Make a comment!

Filed under News & Results, Track & Field.

***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***