After winning the 1500 and 5000 meter titles at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, Bernard Lagat set his sights on a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In Osaka he became the first athlete to double the 1500 and 5000 in a world championship competition.
Lagat, born in Kenya, became a naturalized US citizen in 2005 and was set to win gold for his newly adopted country. An Achilles tendon injury left him medalless in Beijing. The next target for him was the recently completed 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
Unfortunately, his fellow Kenyans and many other African runners were not happy about him becoming a US citizen and showed their displeasure in the 1,500 meter race in Berlin, deliberately blocking Lagat against the rail as the finish line drew near. Ten runners had options to win in the final stretch. Lagat had to fight his way off the rail and still he finished third in 3:36.20 to claim the bronze medal.
Bahrain’s Yusuf Saad Kamel won in 3:35.93 and Ethiopia’s Deresse Mekonnen was runner-up in 3:36.01. Two Kenyans followed Lagat. There were 8 Africans among the 12 runners (not including Lagat); such is the state of middle and long distance running in world competition.
Lagat came under fire in the 5000 preliminaries but ran to the final anyway with a bandaged leg and ankle, picking up the Silver Medal and nearly beating Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele who won in 13:17.09. Both Lagat and Bekele ran the final lap of the 5,000 in 53 and over.
For a brief, fleeting moment, Lagat was ahead in the stage, but Bekele’s foot speed was better as Lagat was beaten by 24 hundredths of a second, finishing in 13:17.33. For the record, Bekele is 27 and Lagat is 34, 7.5 years older.
America’s middle distance runners haven’t had many moments to celebrate. Former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp, an American fan favorite, is one example.
Rupp ran 27:37.99, a season-best time in the 10,000 meters, but finished eighth and was 51 seconds behind Kenenisa Bekele, who won in 26:46.31. Bekele became the first runner to double the 5,000 and 10,000 at a world championships.
While Lagat and Rupp did not win gold in Berlin, other American competitors did.
Among the men, Christian Cantwell won the shot put, Dwight Phillips the long jump, Hardee Trey the decathlon, Kerron Clement the 400m hurdles (47.91), LaShawn Merritt the 400m (44.06) and the team American 4×400 relay won in 2:57.86 with Angelo Taylor, Jeremy Wariner, Kerron Clement and LaShawn Merritt.
Among the women, Brittney Reese won the long jump, Allyson Felix the 200 meters (22.02), Sanya Richards the 400 meters (49.00) and the American 4×400 relay team won in 3:17.83 with Debbie Dunn , Allyson Felix, Lashinda Demus and Sanya Richards.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt proved that his world record at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 100 and 200 meter dash was no fluke. Bolt lowered both of his world records by taking the 100 in 9:58 (becoming the first man to run under 9.6) and the 200 in 19.19 (becoming the first man to run under 19.2).
Is Usain Bolt THE greatest sprinter of all time? Well yes, without a doubt. The only doubters of him might be the runners he beat on his way to the records.
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
