Bernard Lagat’s Wannamaker string ends

TRACK: Bernard Lagat was interested in only one thing when Ethiopian Deresse Mekonnen (front in photo) was asked if he’d be back to defend his title in the Wanamaker Mile. In fact, he had the follow-up question: “How old is he?”

“Oh, you still have a long ways, man,” the 36-year-old Lagat said upon hearing his competitor was just 23.

“At 35 I already had eight. So you can come every year,” said Lagat, the former Washington State star who won his first Wanamaker in 2001.

Mekonnen held off three late challenges from the record holder in the Millrose Game’s signature event to win in 3 minutes, 58.58 seconds Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Mekonnen took the lead with four laps to go and Lagat tried to make his first move with less than two laps to go, but the two-time defending world indoor 1,500-meter champion brushed him off.

Associated Press

Pearson’s perfect hands save day

Super Bowl: Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson showed off his sure hands and kept the Lombardi Trophy from showing up at the Super Bowl incomplete.

The 1978 Super Bowl winner was carrying the trophy during its Dallas-Fort Worth unveiling Thursday when an escalator he was on suddenly stopped.

Pearson turned one hand loose to grab a railing on the escalator and keep his balance. He quickly put two hands back on the trophy, though.

Associated Press

MLS realigns for new teams

Soccer: Houston is switching to Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference as the league realigns to make room for expansion Portland and Vancouver.

The league said Friday that with the Timbers and Whitecaps joining the Western Conference this season, each conference will have nine teams.

Associated Press