Highlights:
- Kenyan-born now US citizen, Bernard Lagat, easily won the two-mile race in 8:12.45. Although all the conditions were just right for a perfect race, he missed the US record by 5 seconds. “This race was important so I know now how it is going to feel in two weeks. I can only imagine how exciting it’s going to be. It’s going to be wonderful,” he said.
- Shedrack Korir won the 1 mile in 3:50.49. Alfred Kirwa Yego won the 800 metres in 1:44.01. Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele, Gashu Jeilan, and Meregu Zewdie blocked Mark Kiptoo from the top 3 positions in the 10,000 metre run. Kiptoo finished fourth with a time of 27:14.67.
- In the womens’ races, Nancy Lagat, finished second in the 1,500 metres with a time of 4:03.80. Vivian Cheruiyot finished second in the 5,000 metres with a time of 14:57.43 while her compatriot, Peninah Biwatt finished fourth in the same race clocking in at 15:17.
- Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele ran an impressive 26:25.97 in the 10,000 metres. Although he failed to beat the world record, he ran the fourth fastest time ever.
- The Grand Dame of the womens’ 800m , Maria Mutola of Mozambique, a staple at Prefontaine, ran her 16th and final race today. Mutola, 35, retires after she represents her country at the Beijing Summer Olympicsl in August. As she crossed the finish line, Mutola covered her face overcome with emotion. “All the emotion, all the stress is behind me, now that I was able to finish good,” she said.
Filed under: Sports | Tagged: Kenyans, prefontaine, bernard lagat, 16th
