George Hanson wins 3K at open nationals; Lagat trails open 5K
George Hanson, 40, won his second major masters exhibition race this month when he outdueled some big names at the masters 3,000 exhibition at USATF open nationals. Two weeks ago, George won the Portland Track Festival masters mile in 4:34. Sunday, he clocked 8:50.96. Minutes earlier, another 40-year-old, Bernard Lagat, took a disappointing 10th in the open 5,000 in 13:59.48 (where his 3K split would have been about 8:24). A month ago, also at Eugene, Kip ran a WR 13:14.97, destroying the listed M40 American record of 14:00.09 by Kevin Castille in 2012. (The WR had been 13:43.15 by France’s Mohammed Ezzher in 2000.) But that tactical 5K saw Galen Rupp (13:51.44) trail Ryan Hill (13:50.69) and Benjamin True. So it was a bad day for the favorites. Amy Acuff, who turns 40 in two weeks, took third (at 1.88/6-2) in the open high jump but needs a 1.94 (6-4 1/4) to jump in Beijing. She has until about Aug. 10 to get the mark.
Mark Williams (getting iced) posted shot of Eugene men’s field on Facebook.
Results from the masters 3K at Hayward Field:
1 George Hanson Unattached 8:50.96
2 Peter Brady Central Park TC 8:52.50
3 Theodore Towse Nashille Harrie 8:54.67
4 John Gardiner Cal Coast TC 8:54.76
5 Lance Elliot Run MN 8:55.69
6 Joshua Gordon Bowerman T C 8:56.46
7 Oscarr Bauman Bowerman T C 8:57.56
8 Ahrlin Bauman Bowerman T C 8:57.77
9 Kristian Blaich Atlanta TC 9:10.14
10 Mike Blackmore Unattached 9:11.37
11 Mark Williams Garmin Runnerrs 9:11.84
12 Francis Burdett Greater Springf 9:18.97
13 Sean Nyhan Town TC 9:20.32
14 Michael Lynes Club Northwest 9:28.52
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5 Responses
http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&do=videos&video_id=150538
Oh my! Gardiner had a great kick and would have won had he not fallen near the finish. Great race call in video.
Great race guys.
Extra details in a Bob Weiner news release:
(Eugene, OR) –On June 28th at Hayward Field Eugene Oregon, at the USATF Outdoor Track and field Championships, the Masters Invitational Program held a Men’s 3,000 Meter Race, in which eight men over 40 years of age ran under nine minutes. “The race was the fastest masters 3000 on American soil in history and the first time here that eight Masters men have been under nine minutes – – in the same race”, said USATF Masters Invitational Program Director Mark Cleary.
The race was “dramatic,” according to Cleary. “There were lots of lead changes… This race had everything; a quality field, a tightly bunched lead pack with 400 M to go, two unfortunate falls, with one fall just 20 meters from the finish. The top seed, John Gardiner (having a significant lead), lost his legs going down and quickly got up to finish 4th place.
Local Eugene resident George Hanson won the race with a time of 8:50.96. Second place finisher, Peter Brady, Central Park T.C., ran 8:52.50. Third was Theodore Towse Nashville Harriers 8:54.67. Fourth, John Gardiner Cal Coast T.C. 8:54.76. Followed by Lance Elliott Run MN 8:55.69, Joshua Gordon Bowerman T.C. 8:56.46, Oscar Bowerman T. C. 8:57.77, Ahrlin Bauman T.C. 8:57.99, Kristian Blaich Atlanta T.C. 9:10.14, Mike Blackmore (former University of Oregon track star) 9:11.37, Mark Williams Garmin Runners 9:11.84, Francis Burdett Greater Springfield Harriers 9:18.97, Sean Nyhan Towne T.C. 9:28.52., Michael Lynes Club Northwest 9:28.52
The Masters Invitational Program brings elite Master races to the Indoor and Outdoor Open Track and Field Championships, and the Drake Relays every year. For a list of the 2016 events and qualifying standards, check the “Masters Invitational Program” Webpage at http://www.usatf.org.
Interview shows Lagat breaking down emotionally when he thinks about not being able to run in front of his kids in Beijing: http://youtu.be/ZihzXEKeJIA
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