Posted: May 15, 2006

Athletics: Fastest-Ever On American Soil Needed To Win 2-Mile?

Eugene, Oregon--At last year's Prefontaine Classic, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya blistered a 4:01 first-mile enroute to a new American All-Comers Record (best on US soil) of 8:07.68, the eighth-fastest of all-time. Second-place was Alan Webb in a new American Record of 8:11.48. This year, Webb will be running in the Bowerman Mile, but Kipchoge, the Olympic bronze medalist from Athens, will have his hands full with the runners ranked Nos. 2, 3, and 4 in the world at 5000 meters last year by Track & Field News magazine. In fact, the 2006 Prefontaine Classic on May 28th features an entire medal set from the 2005 World Championships:

Heading the list is gold medalist Ben Limo of Kenya, whose fierce kick in Helsinki brought him the upset win. Right behind in that race was Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine, the 23-year-old losing to Limo by less than .3 of a second. Completing the medalists was Australia's Craig Mottram, whose 12:56.13 is the second-fastest 5k recorded by a runner not born in Africa.

Joining this stellar field are former Pre Classic 5k champion Joseph Kosgei of Kenya, rejuvenated American Adam Goucher, and 2005 World Cross Country silver medalist Abraham Chebii, the Prefontaine Classic 5k champion in 2003.

In all, five of the entrants at Pre have run faster than 12:56 for 5000 meters--a time worth 8:05 for 2-Miles.

Tickets for the 2006 Prefontaine Classic are on sale in-person at the UO Athletic Department Ticket Office, by phone from 1-800-WEBFOOT, and online at GoDucks.com.

2-MILE (MEN)

Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
Ben Limo (Kenya)
Craig Mottram (Australia)
Sileshi Sihine (Ethiopia)
Boaz Cheboiywo (Kenya)
Adam Goucher
Daniel Lincoln
Abraham Chebii (Kenya)
Mo Farah (Great Britain)
Joseph Kosgei (Kenya)
Matt Tegenkamp
Linzhong Shi (China)

ALL-TIME BESTS ON AMERICAN SOIL:

8:07.68 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 05.11.84 1 Eugene 04.06.2005
8:11.48 Alan Webb USA 13.01.83 2 Eugene 04.06.2005
8:11.62 Boaz Cheboiywo KEN 02.08.78 3 Eugene 04.06.2005

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