Posted: June 28, 2006

Athletics: Lagat Completes Unprecedented Double with USA 1500 Title

Resurgent Gabe Jennings 1500 national runner-up

By Charlie Mahler, Running USA wire

INDIANAPOLIS - (June 25, 2006) - Olympic silver and bronze medalist Bernard Lagat completed the USA Championships first-ever 5000 / 1500 meter double with his 1500 meter win Sunday. He had to share the post-race buzz, however, with a resurgent Gabe Jennings of Team Running USA whom he out-kicked for the national title.

Lagat, who led from the outset, battled shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Olympian Jennings over the final 200 meters before prevailing in 3:39.29. Jennings ran 3:39.42, while the fast-closing Leonel Manzano of the University of Texas finished third in 3:39.49.

Lagat himself noted the return of Jennings to the front of the field after a long absence in his own post race comments.

"I ran with Gabe in 2000 and he was a great athlete, but I haven't seen him in a while" the former Washington State star said. "He gave me a scare, that's for sure. I thought he might pass me, but I ended up just not giving up my spot. I kept on all the way to the end."

Lagat went to the front of the race immediately after the gun to lead with a 60 second first 400 meters. Bunched closely behind him was Arkansas' Adam Perkins, USA indoor champion Chris Lukezic and former Stanford star Jason Lunn. The field passed the 800 mark in 1:59.5, Lagat still leading.

"Sometimes when you're slow you can get into trouble, you can get tripped," Lagat explained afterward. "I just wanted to run a very clear race, not having to be tripped, getting pushed. I wanted to be in front and try to control the pace."

By the 1200 meter mark, passed in 2:58, Jennings was poised to move on to Lagat's should and engage the favorite. With 200 meters to go, the two were shoulder-to-shoulder - the rest of the competition falling away - with Jennings' choppy, pumping gait contrasting Lagat's fluid stride. Lagat prevailed over the 56 second final lap to secure his double victory.

Lagat, who won his Olympic medals while running for his native Kenya, won the USA 5000 meter title Friday night in 13:14.32.

"Doubling means a lot to me," Lagat said. "I didn't know [that it was unprecedented], I hadn't done the research to see the statistics. I was really happy with my first nationals. I'm proud to be here. It feels good to do something like this."

Jennings, who ran in the 2000 Sydney Olympic semi-finals, spent the better part of the last six years away from and then working himself back into national class running. His route back to competitive racing included a bicycle trip to from the U.S. to Brazil, an odyssey to Kenya, joining Team Running USA and the recent completion of this Stanford degree - not to mention a bout with hepatitis.

"I always said, going to the line is the hardest part," Jennings said. "Being that I couldn't make the line, I thought maybe a bike trip to Brazil might get back those instincts. It did; it taught me survival. You know, out here in the American suburban wilderness sometimes we forget that - just survival, just going pedal-by-pedal, mile-by-mile, a definite goal."

Running parallel to Jennings' philosophical personality is one of a canny competitor. While Lagat was keeping clear of any middle distance racing accidents by controlling the race from the front, Jennings was picking his way through field - running at the back initially, scooting forward after a main pack of contenders had formed behind Lagat. On the final backstretch, he put himself in position to make a run at Lagat.

"It came down just like I fantasized," the 2000 Olympic Trials champ said. "I wanted to be sitting on Lagat's shoulder - doesn't everybody! I knew he was beatable, I've seen him get beat in the sprint, in the last 50. I envisioned myself staying on his shoulder with a 100 to go, and there I was. I couldn't believe it!"

"You know what," Jennings added. "I was stuck to the fantasy, if I would have gone with my instincts, I would have gunned it, opened up 10 meters, and with a 100 to go he wouldn't have been near me."

Both Olympians put their performances in the context of the 2008 Beijing Games. Lagat noted that his double here may presage a 1500 / 5000 double at the next Olympic Trials. Jennings said his return to the national podium is the first step in his own Olympic quest.

Jennings, unsponsored entering the meet, noted more immediate objectives as well.

"It's a priority to get money. I don't need a lot, but I need to live," he said. "I paid for my way to this meet; I've got $2000 in my checking account, so that's got to be a priority right now."

USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships World Cup Qualifier - Indianapolis, IN, Sunday, June 25, 2006

MEN's 1500 Meters
1) Bernard Lagat, AZ, 3:39.29, $4000
2) Gabe Jennings, CA, 3:39.42, $3000
3) Leonel Manzano, TX, 3:39.49, NCAA
4) Chris Lukezic, VA, 3:40.37, $2000
5) Christian Smith, KS, 3:40.65, $100
6) Rob Myers, OH, 3:40.90, $500
7) Aucencio Martinez, CO, 3:40.91
8) Jason Lunn, CO, 3:41.27
9) Adam Perkins, AR, 3:43.06
10) Blake Boldon, IA, 3:44.83
11) Sean O'Brien, CA, 3:46.24
Jon Rankin, CA, DNS

Find complete national championship results at: USATF.org.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.

Tag and Save Tag and save this article to your Del.icio.us favourites. What is Del.icio.us?

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest