Lagat breaks 5,000 mark

Track and field: Bernard Lagat shattered the American record in the indoor 5,000 meters at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday night, holding off a charge by Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel with his trademark kick.

Lagat’s time of 13 minutes, 11.50 seconds beat the previous mark by almost 7 seconds. Lagat beat Gebremeskel by .28 seconds.

Lagat, a former Washington State University star, led for much of the race, but Galen Rupp made a bold move on him with 1,000 meters to go before fading near the end. Lagat ripped off a 27-second last lap on the 200-meter track to hold off Gebremeskel.

Lagat usually doesn’t like going to the lead, but he felt like it was the right tactic.

“I realize it is not an easy thing, but as long as you are comfortable you can do it.”

Rupp, the former top American, was fourth in 13:14.21, still ahead of his record of 13:18.12. He said he moved early because he didn’t want the race to come down to Lagat’s superior speed.

“He’s just a little bit faster than me,” Rupp said. “Bernard, he’s still got it.”

Lagat and Rupp said they hoped to run as the American team in the 3,000 meters in the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, in March if they qualify at the U.S. championships in Albuquerque, N.M., later this month.

Associated Press

Roy to miss All-Star game

Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will miss the next three games and the NBA All-Star game with a right hamstring injury.

Roy has already missed 11 of the last 12 games. He was originally hurt in a Jan. 13 game against Milwaukee, then aggravated the injury on Jan. 20 at Philadelphia.

Associated Press