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World Championships in Athletics: Bernard Lagat Wins 5000m Silver; Alysia Montano Fourth in Women's 800m
Photo above by Takashi Ito, www.PhotoRun.net: Mo Farah (right) landed in first place while Bernard Lagat (left) fought for a silver medal.
From USA Track & Field
Daegu, South Korea
On Sunday, September 4 at the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, 28-year-old Mo Farah of Great Britain won the men's 5000m in 13:23.36 with 36-year-old American Bernard Lagat settling for silver (13:23.64). The women's 800m champion was Mariya Savinova of Russia with a time of 1:55.87; Americans placed fourth (Alysia Johnson Montano, 1:57.48) and sixth (Maggie Vessey, 1:58.50).
Men's 5000m: Bernard Lagat of Tucson, AZ and Galen Rupp of Portland, OR ran near one another for much of the race. The pack stayed largely intact through 4600m, with Lagat and Rupp shifting positions throughout the middle of the pack. Rupp even took a turn in the runner-up spot (on Mo Farah's shoulder). But when the bell rang for the last lap, the pack quickly strung out and Rupp began to fade farther back into the pack. With 200m remaining, Lagat sprinted toward the front; coming down the homestretch, he narrowed the gap to Mo Farah but did not catch him. Galen Rupp finished ninth in 13:28.64.Photo by Victor Sailer, www.PhotoRun.net: Coming off the final turn, Bernard Lagat (far left) chased after Mo Farah (far right).
Bernard Lagat became the first man to ever win three world championship medals in the 5000m. After winning gold in 2007 and silver in 2009, Lagat proved that even though he may be the oldest of the field, he still has what it takes to make it to the podium.
Quotes from Bernard Lagat in Daegu: “My finish was strong, but I felt myself boxed, and I just couldn't get out. I'm not making any excuses. I was waiting until 80 meters to go to move, but got boxed. I was keying on Mo Farah, because he was the strongest runner, and so I kept on his shoulder the entire way. I was in position until I got bumped and boxed. I need to learn for 2012 that in order to position yourself to win, you have to stay out of trouble.”
Quotes from Galen Rupp: “I just didn't have it today. I didn't have my kick. . I still have to get a little stronger so I have more energy on the last lap. I think I'm just spending too much to get to the last lap. I don't have that much to pick it up. That is something I’ve been working on and we will continue to work on going into next year.” [On the wining time]: “I thought it would be a little faster to be honest. You have to be ready for anything in these championships.”
Women's 800m: With the entire field running under two minutes, Alysia Montano of Canyon Country, CA and Maggie Vessey of Seacliff, CA both ran season bests in the 800m. Montano found herself in third at the bell lap, but as Caster Semenya of South Africa began her charge on the backstretch, Montano dropped to fourth. During the last 100m, Montano almost caught Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya, but Busienei held on to for bronze. The race marked the first time the U.S. had two athletes in the women's 800m final and was the second fastest career 800m for both Vessey and Montano.
Photo by Takashi Ito, www.PhotoRun.net: Alysia Johnson Montano (far left) in the women's 800m.Quotes from Alysia Montano: “The 800m is an unforgiving event. I felt like I had a lot left, but I was in a bad position. I had to jump out, and that took a little bit out of my forward momentum. You only have 800 meters to figure it out. You can't go sideways--it is about going forward. I'm really proud of my performance. I'm hungry for 2012.”
Quotes from Maggie Vessey: “I’m disappointed because I had a good race plan, but my body was not as responsive as I had hoped in executing it. . it’s sort of like learning about a weakness at an inopportune time. I had all the good intentions to get it done, but I’m coming around that corner and my legs are flat out heavy. I didn’t want to embarrass myself out here. But when there is a medal on the line and that’s what you want to achieve, its pretty much cut and dry whether you do or not.”
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