Lagat warms up for Millrose mile by demolishing M40 WR in 3000
And so it begins. Who knows how many world records Bernard Lagat will set? Saturday in Boston, Bernard couldn’t hold off a 25-year-old Ethiopian, but he massively lowered the M40 WR at 3000 meters, clocking 7:48.33. Based on posted splits, he ran the last mile in 4:07 — or 11 seconds better than Olympian John Trautmann’s masters mile victory in a meet record 4:18.72. (See John’s splits in the New Balance meet’s first event.) Mere muggles! Having turned 40 in mid-December, Bernard now begins an assault on pretty much every masters middle-distance record — and could run 10,000 this year as well. After competing in the IAAF permit meet (meaning his mark is legit), Bernard told USATF.TV that he’s aiming to break Eamonn Coghlan’s historic M40 indoor mile WR of 3:58.15 next week at Millrose. He even hinted he’ll be timed at 1500 as well, which means he’ll be shooting for 3:44.12 by Brit Anthony Whiteman in 2012.
Bernard stays on heels of 3,000-meter winner in Boston. Click for interview.
So how good is 7:48.33?
For starters, he’s the oldest sub-8 3000 runner — indoors or out. Both M40 WRs were held by Russia’s Vyacheslav Shavunin (8:01.44 indoors and 8:02.54 outdoors).
The listed American 3K records?
Brian Pope had the indoors at a snail’s pace 8:20.96 and Kevin Castille the outdoors at 8:14.40.
And Bernard’s final mile also crushed the oldest masters mile record on the books: Bill Stewart’s 4:11.00 indoor AR from January 1983!
Several good accounts of the meet quoted Bernard, including a pre-meet press conference.
Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia [was] victorious at the the 20th edition of the IAAF Indoor Permit meeting now known as the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix here yesterday.
Gebremeskel won the men’s 3000m in 7:48.19, less than 0.2 ahead of Bernard Lagat, whose move to the front with two laps remaining underscored the point that Lagat, now 40, is running for more than age group records.Masters miler Mark Williams posted this selfie with Bernard on Facebook.
Lagat’s 7:48.33 for second betters the listed men’s over-40 mark by almost 13 seconds.
“I expected Lagat to have a fast last lap,” said Gebremeskel. “Of course Bernard has a strong kick. Last year I ran road races because there was no world championship after the World Indoors, but this year I will run the 5000m in Beijing.”
Here’s a letsrun.com preview I like:
4) Breaking news: Bernard Lagat is 40 years old
As you may have heard, Lagat turned 40 in December, which means that he will carry the “master” designation for the rest of his career, even though he’ll still be racing open runners. Lagat said that it’s all anyone has talked about with him this year and that meet director Mark Wetmore greeted him with “How you doing, old man?” before the press conference.
“I am 40 and I think at this stage in my career, I’m even more hungry than before,” Lagat said. “My agent and I and my coach were looking at the records and were thinking to ourselves, you know what, based on what I did last year in 2014, if I keep going hard, training hard, I think those records will be my target as I start the new year.”
Keep an eye on Lagat’s mile split in the 3000 tomorrow night. The meet has a masters mile at 4:30 p.m. (before the TV window) and it’s very possible his mile split in the 3k would be good enough to win that race outright.
Lagat added that of course he will be aiming to make the U.S. team for Worlds this year — he is the defending U.S. champion at 5000, after all — and that even though he thought last year in Sopot would be his final World Indoor Championships, he can’t pass up running on U.S. soil in Portland next year.
“I came to Albuquerque last year with all these kids because I told them, this is my last USA [indoor] nationals. After this, I’m done. Then I realized we have Portland right here at home. It’s a few hours from Tucson on a flight. I am going to come back and run indoor again next year. That means I have something to look forward to.”
He went on to say that if that indoor season goes well, there’s no reason for him not to come back that summer and try to make his fifth Olympic team.
One final note on Lagat: he said that he’s considering making his debut at 10,000 this spring, perhaps at an early-season meet (Stanford’s Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on May 2 would seem ideal if he is to run one).
Lest anyone dare suggest that Bernard isn’t eligible for masters records because his aren’t set in masters competition, note the M35 world record in the 3000:
35-39 7:37.97 Bernard Lagat (35) Doha, 2010-Mar-14
So here are some outdoor M40 WRs BL may mow down in coming years:
800: 1:48.22 Anthony Whiteman GBR
1500: 3:42.02 Anthony Whiteman GBR
Mile: 3:58.79 Anthony Whiteman GBR
5000: 13:43.15 Mohamed Ezzher France
10,000: 28:30.88 Martti Vainio Finland
Now watch as masters authorities tie themselves in pretzels trying to justify that Bernard shouldn’t be eligible for end-of-year awards.
Here’s the masters mile at New Balance, well-introduced:
18 Responses
Simply fantastic. The greatest of all time.
The greatest indeed!
Excellent job by Bernard Lagat. Now hers’s the big question. Is Masters track and field (Jeff Brower) going to ratify this as an American and World record if Bernard Lagat does not submit all the paper work that us minions have to submit? I wait to see the outcome of this one. Another question, does the women’s New Balance team have to submit any paper work for the American and World record? For sake of transparency and accountability I am requesting that USATF show us masters that we are all on the same playing field and their are no different submission policy for open athletes. How come the MASTERS management never address this issue?
Also worth noting: John Trautmann is 46, and his time is less than 2 seconds off Brad Barton’s M45 American indoor record of 4:16.83.
http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/tr/john-trautmann-1.html
In M45 Vyacheslav Shabunin in Moscow
1500 3’54″58 27-01-2015 (WR),
3000 8’23″78 11-01-2015 (WR),
800 1’56″26 20-01-2015 (ER)
Bernard Lagat is the most accessible inclusive champion that our sport has ever had. He has included and made time for Masters runners for years, it is a pleasure to see him continue.
Interesting comment, Anselm (#3). I have been involved for quite a few years in processing masters records at a much larger meet, the Penn Relays, and I can offer some observations that might be interesting.
If you were at Penn in 2006 you remember the featured men’s distance medley relay on Saturday (4:10 PM), in which Bernard Lagat anchored the US squad to a time of 9:15.63 that still stands as the American record.
I went up into the stands later that day to talk to the FAT chief, but I don’t recall seeing Bernard or any of his teammates trying to get the chief’s signature.
I was with the FAT chief because also that afternoon our own Alisa Harvey broke two W40 records, the 1500 and 1 mile (Penn had the foresight to set up cameras at both finish lines).
I also talked to the starter(s), as I needed a starter’s signature. I don’t recall seeing Bernard Lagat or any other runner from his team seeking out the starter of his race.
Remember, Anselm, it’s very important to talk to the head starter at Penn, as there are at least four starters. The question is, which one started the record race?
I also don’t recall anyone from the distance medley team wandering about the stadium trying to find out who the surveyor of the track was (I didn’t even bother).
Originally I was told that both of Alisa Harvey’s marks would be thrown out, but after many months she was given the mile mark but not the 1500 (although the races were FAT, the chief of FAT had not given me photos, considering them unnecessary).
Somehow I doubt, Anselm, whether there was ever any consideration given to throwing out the mark of the distance medley team, photos or no photos.
In fact, I can’t even imagine anyone going around Franklin Field (Penn) with record form in hand trying to get it signed for the distance medley team. I did the equivalent for Alisa Harvey, but I was only half successful.
Anselm, you’re just going to have to slow down during your races so that you don’t set world records so that you don’t have to do the paperwork. Just keep telling yourself during the race, “paperwork sucks, slow down, paperwork sucks, slow down.” Seriously, good luck with your pursuit of making the process easier, and I hope you do set some more records. Don’t let bureaucratic snafus get in your way.
perhaps now that we have made one change to USATF Masters records – new records chief -we can move forward with a uniform system for certifying American and World records for all age groups.
However – that might include having to be drug tested immediately after setting a record. That would greatly limit the available meets for setting masters records as it is the national masters meets that have drug testing and not even regional meets (or that is my impression).
Be careful what you wish for -while having a uniform system for all age groups may be “good” -shrinking available venues for setting records for masters,in my opinion,is not a good idea.
We all assume that Bernard Lagat will set numerous records in his new master’s age group. The question is- how long will he maintain a high level and be setting master’s records, 20 more years, 30 more years, 40 more years? Make those records strong and tough to beat. Bernard is coming for them. What a great example he sets of longevity, combining talent, dedication, hard work, and class. All masters athletes set standards that kids can look up to and think, “maybe I can do that too, if I work hard and take care of myself and stick with it.” It makes for a healthier and better world having masters racing. For all ages. I thought I was done at age 18. I just discovered last year after 45 years away that I could do it again. Training is finally going well after numerous setbacks in my first year. Thank you Wayne Bennett for your valuable advice you gave me on this site. You didn’t know it but you are my mentor. The advice of Stephen Robbins helped me also. They gave me the perspective I needed. Even if I never set records I have much better health although the goal of setting records (someday years away probably) helps my motivation. for training.
Why hope someone like Lagat to suffer through the same process that “normal” masters runners have to endure – shouldn’t we be working to have everyone enjoy the same ease that the elites do? “Misery enjoys company” doesn’t seem to apply here – I hope his record gets ratified tomorrow, and that some day we can all enjoy that same luxury. Tony Plaster hit the nail on the head about Bernard Lagat’s “normal guy” approach to other runners and competitors, and am thrilled (but not surprised) that he even recognizes his place as a master now. Good luck next weekend!
Again …how often was lagat done ! For doping …?
It is great to get some good Masters Track press. I hope that Bernard continues to inspire for a long time.
Ditto the praise for Bernard Legat. I have also had the pleasure to have spoken with him on a few occasions. Always friendly and approachable. A wonderful person and off-the-charts talent.
update!
Vyacheslav Shabunin, M45 (born 27 SEP 1969) 3 WR in last months
3000m (8:23.78)
1500m ( 3:52.31)
800m (1:55.64)
An article on John Trautmann:
http://www.runnersworld.com/masters/after-shedding-60-pounds-1992-olympian-is-chasing-records-again
Aiming for mile record this weekend.
only one thing! 🙂 wait to see what Haile Gebresilasie WANT to break this year! because if he run any distance… will see only WR.
OMG! Lagat down to 7:37 for 3000:
http://bit.ly/1ERI2Cw
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