Lagat makes U.S. track history
INDIANAPOLIS – Two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat became the first runner in the history of the U.S. track and field championships to sweep the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, winning the shorter race Sunday night.
Lagat, the Kenyan-born runner and Washington State University product who lives in Tucson, Ariz., and became an American citizen in 2004, outsprinted Gabe Jennings over the final 50 meters to win in 3 minutes, 39.29 seconds.
Former Cougars standout Dominique Arnold had the world-leading performance twice in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, going 13.15 in the semifinals, followed by a 13.10 in the finals.
“I feel good,” said Arnold. “I kind of screwed up the race a little bit. I haven’t run this fast all year. It screwed up my rhythm a bit, it’s a fast track. We all work hard. Xiang Liu (2004 Olympic gold medalist) has proven he’s a fast guy. Unlike sprinters, who dodge each other, we see each other all the time.”
Former WSU standout Ian Waltz of Post Falls won the men’s discus competition with a throw of 211 feet, 8 inches.
Ellannee Richardson, a former WSU All-America heptathlete, ran a time of 57.08 seconds in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final for eighth place.
Tamara Diles, a just-graduated senior from WSU, cleared 13-feet, 7 1/4 inches in the women’s pole vault to place ninth.
Lagat’s victory followed his 5,000 triumph Friday night. No runner had managed the fete. The closest comparison would be Alex Grant’s victory in the mile and two-mile in 1903.
“It means a lot,” Lagat said. “I didn’t know that nobody had done it until someone was telling me that today. This is my first nationals, and I’m proud to be here. Doubling means a lot to me.”
Lagat already holds the American record in the event and will be eligible to compete for the United States at next year’s world championships.
“I got a really warm reception here,” Lagat said. “I feel like there’s a connection with the people, that they’re saying. ‘You’re a part of us’ and that feeling of everyone supporting me is great.”
Lashinda Demus (400 hurdles), Walter Davis (triple jump), Wallace Spearmon (200), Khadevis Robinson (800) and Tora Harris (high jump) all had world-leading times.
Demus ran the fastest 400 hurdles by an American in eight years, defending her title with a 53.07-second clocking.
“I wanted to run 52.7,” Demus said. “I had a little dream that that’s what I ran. I think I couldn’t have done that if I didn’t hit the last hurdle.”
Demus and 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin each won $100,000 as Visa champions, awarded through points earned at three U.S. meets and these championships.
Davis, the reigning world champ, won the triple jump at 58 feet, 1 1/4 inches.
Spearmon became the first sprinter this year to break 20 seconds in the 200, going 19.90, 0.01 seconds off his personal best. Jordan Vaden ran a personal-best 19.98 to finish second.
It was the first U.S. title for Spearmon, the silver medalist behind Gatlin at the world championships last year.
“This is a great race for me,” Spearmon said, “because usually when I come here I find a way to lose.”
Robinson ran a personal-best 1:44.13 to win his third 800 title.
Harris, in his first outdoor competition of the year, won the high jump at 7-7 3/4.
Breaux Greer took one throw and won his seventh consecutive national javelin title at 280-2.
The oft-injured thrower is coming off reconstructive shoulder surgery 10 months ago, and elbow surgery earlier this year.
It was his only throw in competition so far this season.
“That’s the first time I’ve tried to do a full approach,” he said. “I was going 60 percent speed, and I didn’t expect it to go that far.”
Allyson Felix barely qualified for the 200 finals with a fourth-place finish in the semis, then decided to call it quits. She said that her strained left hamstring was nearly completely healed, but the lack of training time took its toll. Rachelle Boone-Smith won in 22.31.