Day 6 Distance Recap

Heat 1-Lagat and Rupp deliver

           Between his 8^th place finish a few nights ago in the 10k and the tremendous heat rising from the track in mid morning sun, Galen Rupp didn’t appear too thrilled about the 12.5 laps that awaited him.  Standing tall on the line while the rest of the field crouched into their starting positions, Rupp took off slowly before eventually finding himself some shade behind the shoulders of Craig Mottram towards the back of the pack.  Lagat meanwhile was coming into the event fresh.  If he had any concerns, they didn’t crack through his concentrated face as he prepared to take down the world’s best yet again.  Sliding easily into the top third of the field, Lagat waited patiently as the runners came through in a painfully slow 800 of 2:17.  The lagging paced found Rupp surging up towards the front, ready to cover a move should one be made. 

Daniele Meucci was the first to say he’d had enough as he surged to the lead, the pack not interested in chasing him down under the hot Daegu sun.  The Italian brought the runners through 2k as Lagat and Rupp ran close by one another near 7^th place.  After Meucci wastes a few meters grabbing some water (imagine the message boards if Rupp had dared to do such an unspeakable thing!) the pack closes the gap, Bernard sitting in 4th and Rupp still an eye on the lead as he sits in 8^th. 

The runners pass through 3k in 8:25, a fair enough pace given the conditions and no real pressure to place on the second heat.  Lap after lap, the tension builds.  Rupp’s face, which usually has a quite vacant, relaxed expression that he’s no doubt rehearsed since his days as a prep, is nowhere to be seen.  His stride is smooth, but the sweat dripping off of him tells another story.  But Rupp isn’t about to make excuses as he sucks it up and surges to 2^nd place with just a mile to go.  The pace has picked up significantly as Alhamdah brings the group through for a 63 second quarter.  Lagat all the while is sitting pretty in 5^th place, unconcerned that as they come around for two to go there are still 9 runners in contention.

On the home stretch, Rupp loses his hard earned position as the pack laps a stray runner and finds himself in 6^th place at the bell.  With only 5 auto qualifiers, he is in position but by no means home free.  Lagat is running a much different race, picking his moment with a bit over 200 meters to go as he glides between the two Kenyan runners right ahead of him and into first.  Rupp continues to dig, smart enough to stay patient and not risk a big move on the curve that he’ll regret come the stretch.  His diligence pays off and he moves swiftly past two fading runners on his way to 5^th place.  Lagat, fresh off his seemingly easy victory pats Galen on the back as the runner bends to his knees, sweating up a storm and having to work much harder than he would have preferred.  But despite the challenge, the work is done and both are through to the final.

Heat 2-Bumbalough goes for it           

            Right away the second heat is faster as the group comes through 800 a good 5 seconds ahead of the first heat.  There are still time qualifying spots to be had and while no one wants to completely waste an effort this morning, the runners aren’t afraid of rolling up their sleeves and doing some work.  Bumbalough spends most of the race towards the back, content to wait and see as he knows the pace is honest enough that there could be an outside chance for the runner that plays his cards right.  He continues to wait as the runners pass through 2k in 5:32.6 and 3k in 8:19.3.

With 6 laps to go the field finally starts to string out a bit as Farah shows that he isn’t afraid to do the dirty work even after his exhaustive efforts in the 10,000m.  Despite the quickening pace, there are still 17 runners in it with a mile to go, Bumbalough residing at the back of them.  With 3 to go, Kiplimo makes a move that appears to do Andrew in for good as he slips off the back.  At the next lap though, Bumbalough as if to say “Well I’m here, I’ve got nothing to lose” climbs his way back to the group.  At the bell, Bumbalough has found himself in 10^th, fighting the good fight out in no man’s land.  The pace having lagged between 3k and 4k, Bumbalough must know that his chances are shot; but that’s not why the runner is here.  He chooses to compete all the way through the line instead of throwing in the towel, picking off one last runner as he comes home in 9^th place.

This race could be run 100 different times and he might only make the final once, if even then.  Regardless, the former Hoya fought well and gained some valuable experience he will surely remember as he continues to develop into an international caliber runner.

Women’s 800

Heat 1-Vessey beats out a close finish

Maggie Vessey gets out strong from her position in lane 5, passing through 200 in just under 29 seconds as she settles into 2^nd place on the outside of lane 1.  Over the next 200, the pack slows significantly before crossing the line in 61.35, Vessey with a woman closing in on either side of her.  Coming off of the penultimate turn, Vessey moves up slowly into 4^th place and spends the rest of straight getting into position on Jennifer Meadows shoulder.  The American closes strong for 2^nd as she holds of three other runners all within .05 seconds of bumping her out of an automatic qualifying spot.

 Heat 3-Montano stays clear of danger

            Alysia Johnson Montano gets off the line in a similar fashion to Vessey as she comes through 200 right off of the shoulder of eventual winner Busieni of Kenya.  She comes through 400m just under 58.5 seconds, her trademark flower surely withering under the sweltering conditions.  But Alysia can breathe easy as her and the other three qualifiers are clear of any competition after 500m.  From there, Montano cruises in with the group to run 1:59.62 which is good enough for third place and a spot in the semis.  The other three runners went on along with Alysia to clock the only sub 2 minute efforts of the day.

Heat 4-Schmidt leads, succeeds

            Alice Schmidt comes off the line patiently, staying wide as she allows the other runners to settle into their positions before choosing where she will step into line.  Coming off of an opening 200m of 28.6, Schmidt moves comfortably into the lead.  She brings the pack through in 59.99 before Caster Semenya creeps up alongside her.  Schmidt has no problem holding off the South African on the turn before relinquishing the lead to finish 4^th down the stretch, her stride smooth and her head motionless all the while.