52nd Ostrava Golden Spikes - IAAF World Challenge 2013Jun 25, 2013 by Christopher Chavez
Lawi Lalang set to breakthrough in international debut
Lawi Lalang set to breakthrough in international debut
Event: IAAF World Challenge/Ostrava Golden Spike
Race: Men's 5000 meters
Athlete to Watch: Lawi Lalang (see all entries)
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013
Time: 2:30pm ET (meet schedule)
Watch Live on Flotrack (starting at 12:30pm ET)
Aside from Kennenisa Bekele in the 5,000-meter run, the other distance runner looking to make history is still a collegiate. After this year, he’s risen above that realm. Arizona’s Lawi Lalang will make the trip to the Czech Republic as he prepares to run one of the toughest races of his young career.
This year, Lalang completed Herculean doubles at both the NCAA Indoor Championships (mile and 3k) and the NCAA Outdoor Championships (10k and 5k). His only major defeat in long distance events came during NCAA XC, where he finished behind Texas Tech’s Kennedy Kithuka and Stephen Sambu.
Since then, Lalang hasn't “feared anyone [in the NCAA].” He rebounded from the cross-country loss by running 7:42.79 at the Razorback Invitational 3k. By dipping into 800-meter and 1,500-meter races, Lalang fine tuned his closing speed, something yet to be unleashed since he has not been challenged. His first big test will be in Ostrava.
"It's probably the first time that he's ready to run a race with the big boys,” coach James Li said in a phone interview with Flotrack. “We'll see what he can do."
This isn't Lalang's first test on the big stage, but it's a race out of his comfort zone. The Arizona Wildcat may have run the ’12 Millrose Games 5k (and set a NCAA record of 13:08.28), but that was against his teammate Sambu and training partner Bernard Lagat. Now, Lalang is on his own against some of the world’s best (and greatest of all-time).
Lagat respects Lalang as a competitor. It goes beyond the fact that they are training partners. Before the 2012 Millrose Games, Lagat expected Lalang to be with him throughout the race. That was when 13:18 was eyed as a challenge. Coach Li eyes personal bests as a part of the mission in going to Europe.
After Lalang toyed with the collegians in Eugene, OR, we wondered what he was truly capable of running for 5k.
"I'm sure a low 13 minutes is going to be on his mind and I think that's probably something he can do,” Li said. “I have no tremendous expectations, but his training is going really well and he's confident.”
Last year, Li and Lalang decided to shut things down earlier since he ran so much throughout the school year. His 5,000-meter personal best from outdoor season is still 13:18.88 from 2012. Things were much slower in 2013 as he only ran a season best of 13:35.19. Shaving at least 20 seconds from his time should be no problem, since he saved it in the tank from the collegiate outdoor season.
Why stop at 20 seconds, when the pace is hot and Bekele is looking to rebound from his early season disappointments? Anyone want to place bets on a low 13-minute performance?
Lawi says he wasn't surprised no one could hang in an interview after his NCAA double in June
Before Lalang completed the NCAA double-title victory, Cam Levins and Galen Rupp were the last two collegiate athletes to accomplish the feat. Levins' first international 5K after that was a relaxed 14:34.82 at the Canadian Olympic Trials. His first test was in the Olympic final, where he ran 13:18.29. Rupp's first international 5,000-meter test after his double in 2010 was at the Aveva British Grand Prix, where he ran 13:10.05.
Lawi could make a louder splash than Rupp and Levins in his debut and then possibly dominate on the collegiate scene again.
Each year, Lalang's return to Arizona comes into question. At the moment, Li expects Lalang to return to the Wildcats in fall. Former Arizona coach Dave Murray chimed in on the Lalang's situation in the Arizona Daily Star on June 19. Nike co-founder Phil Knight was in the stands impressed with Lalang's performance in Eugene, but that is the extent of the shoe company's relationship with Lalang at the moment.
"If Lawi were an American, he'd be gone by now because someone would've put a big paycheck in front of him," says Murray. "But because there are so many great Kenyan distance runners, and he's still so young, there's no hurry to turn pro."
Li was specifically asked if Lalang would return in the fall to use his eligibility.
"That's my understanding," Li said. "Education is very important to him. He's a very to good student."
While the focus was geared more on winning in the spring, Lalang was not pushed to chase any "A" standard during the NCAA outdoor season.
When asked if Lalang would be looking to run other European meets this summer, Coach Li says they will be eyeing a fast 1500 and possibly another 5k.
"That's the whole point of why he went there," Li said.
A breakthrough race in Ostrava may not just have Phil Knight talking, but other shoe companies may want to inquire about Lalang's availability. The temptation may be there for him to question that return to Arizona.
Co-written by Chris Chavez and Mitch Kastoff
Race: Men's 5000 meters
Athlete to Watch: Lawi Lalang (see all entries)
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013
Time: 2:30pm ET (meet schedule)
Watch Live on Flotrack (starting at 12:30pm ET)
Aside from Kennenisa Bekele in the 5,000-meter run, the other distance runner looking to make history is still a collegiate. After this year, he’s risen above that realm. Arizona’s Lawi Lalang will make the trip to the Czech Republic as he prepares to run one of the toughest races of his young career.
This year, Lalang completed Herculean doubles at both the NCAA Indoor Championships (mile and 3k) and the NCAA Outdoor Championships (10k and 5k). His only major defeat in long distance events came during NCAA XC, where he finished behind Texas Tech’s Kennedy Kithuka and Stephen Sambu.
Since then, Lalang hasn't “feared anyone [in the NCAA].” He rebounded from the cross-country loss by running 7:42.79 at the Razorback Invitational 3k. By dipping into 800-meter and 1,500-meter races, Lalang fine tuned his closing speed, something yet to be unleashed since he has not been challenged. His first big test will be in Ostrava.
"It's probably the first time that he's ready to run a race with the big boys,” coach James Li said in a phone interview with Flotrack. “We'll see what he can do."
This isn't Lalang's first test on the big stage, but it's a race out of his comfort zone. The Arizona Wildcat may have run the ’12 Millrose Games 5k (and set a NCAA record of 13:08.28), but that was against his teammate Sambu and training partner Bernard Lagat. Now, Lalang is on his own against some of the world’s best (and greatest of all-time).
Lagat respects Lalang as a competitor. It goes beyond the fact that they are training partners. Before the 2012 Millrose Games, Lagat expected Lalang to be with him throughout the race. That was when 13:18 was eyed as a challenge. Coach Li eyes personal bests as a part of the mission in going to Europe.
After Lalang toyed with the collegians in Eugene, OR, we wondered what he was truly capable of running for 5k.
"I'm sure a low 13 minutes is going to be on his mind and I think that's probably something he can do,” Li said. “I have no tremendous expectations, but his training is going really well and he's confident.”
Last year, Li and Lalang decided to shut things down earlier since he ran so much throughout the school year. His 5,000-meter personal best from outdoor season is still 13:18.88 from 2012. Things were much slower in 2013 as he only ran a season best of 13:35.19. Shaving at least 20 seconds from his time should be no problem, since he saved it in the tank from the collegiate outdoor season.
Why stop at 20 seconds, when the pace is hot and Bekele is looking to rebound from his early season disappointments? Anyone want to place bets on a low 13-minute performance?
Lawi says he wasn't surprised no one could hang in an interview after his NCAA double in June
Before Lalang completed the NCAA double-title victory, Cam Levins and Galen Rupp were the last two collegiate athletes to accomplish the feat. Levins' first international 5K after that was a relaxed 14:34.82 at the Canadian Olympic Trials. His first test was in the Olympic final, where he ran 13:18.29. Rupp's first international 5,000-meter test after his double in 2010 was at the Aveva British Grand Prix, where he ran 13:10.05.
Lawi could make a louder splash than Rupp and Levins in his debut and then possibly dominate on the collegiate scene again.
Each year, Lalang's return to Arizona comes into question. At the moment, Li expects Lalang to return to the Wildcats in fall. Former Arizona coach Dave Murray chimed in on the Lalang's situation in the Arizona Daily Star on June 19. Nike co-founder Phil Knight was in the stands impressed with Lalang's performance in Eugene, but that is the extent of the shoe company's relationship with Lalang at the moment.
"If Lawi were an American, he'd be gone by now because someone would've put a big paycheck in front of him," says Murray. "But because there are so many great Kenyan distance runners, and he's still so young, there's no hurry to turn pro."
Li was specifically asked if Lalang would return in the fall to use his eligibility.
"That's my understanding," Li said. "Education is very important to him. He's a very to good student."
While the focus was geared more on winning in the spring, Lalang was not pushed to chase any "A" standard during the NCAA outdoor season.
When asked if Lalang would be looking to run other European meets this summer, Coach Li says they will be eyeing a fast 1500 and possibly another 5k.
"That's the whole point of why he went there," Li said.
A breakthrough race in Ostrava may not just have Phil Knight talking, but other shoe companies may want to inquire about Lalang's availability. The temptation may be there for him to question that return to Arizona.
Co-written by Chris Chavez and Mitch Kastoff