Fast Break

Track and field

Lagat takes first win as American

Bernard Lagat led from start to finish and won the 1,500 meters at the Norwich Union indoor meet Saturday for his first win as a U.S. athlete, then took a victory lap carrying an American flag.

Lagat, who won in 3 minutes, 45.55 seconds to beat former Kenyan teammate Laban Rotich by slightly more than a second, switched to U.S. citizenship after winning silver in the 1,500 at the 2004 Olympics. Under international rules, he couldn’t compete at any major championships until now.

“It’s my first time holding the American flag, so it’s very special,” said the 32-year-old Lagat, who attended Washington State in the late 1990s.

“I didn’t have Kenyans over there, but I had Americans cheering for Washington State,” he said. “But this is different because I am carrying the flag.”

Horse racing

Barbaro faces more problems

A custom-made cast was removed and Barbaro underwent a procedure on his right hind leg, the same one the Kentucky Derby winner shattered eight months ago in the Preakness.

It is the first time in weeks the right hind leg has been the focus of concern. For months, it was the left hind leg that put Barbaro’s recovery in serious jeopardy because of laminitis, the often-fatal hoof disease.

Gretchen Jackson, a co-owner, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Barbaro was facing tough odds.

“He’s got a lot of issues, and not any of them is bad enough to say goodbye. But put together it’s not a good day for Barbaro.”

Super Bowl

Attention on coaches, but …

The real Super Bowl hype begins this week as the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears arrive in Miami and the media circus begins.

Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, the first two black head coaches in the Super Bowl, will get most of the attention. But as Associated Press writer Doug Goldberg points out, there is more to the game.

Check out that story and more on the Super Bowl on Page C4.