Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Lagat wins 5,000 meters

Tue 1st, July 2008

Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Bernard Lagat officially became a U.S. Olympian on Monday by winning the 5,000 meters at the U.S. Track and Field trials.

The 33-year-old Lagat, who was born in Kenya and became a U.S. citizen in 2004, finished in a time of 13 minutes, 27.47 seconds, ahead of Matt Tegenkamp and Ian Dobson. The three will all head to Beijing for the Olympics.

Lagat won a pair of Olympic medals while with Kenya, capturing the silver at the 1,500 meters in 2004 and a bronze in the same race in 2000. He wasn't even eligible to compete for the United States until August 25, 2007, one day after the beginning of the 2007 World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan.

"The Olympics are the biggest meet," Lagat said. "Everyone dreams about going to the Olympics, and to be here on Team USA is unbelievable. I'm going to take the same hunger I had in 2004 and try and bring home the gold."

Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating and Christian Smith qualified for the Olympics by finishing 1-2-3 in the men's 800 meters. Symmonds' time was 1 minute, 44.10 seconds.

"The hard part about the U.S. Trials is that we're still seven weeks out of our event," said Symmonds, a member of the Oregon Track Club. "We're going to shut it off for a little while and then get a couple of meets in Europe to stay fresh, and then go at it in Beijing."

Hazel Clark, Alice Schmidt and Nicole Teter earned trips to Beijing following the women's 800 meters. Clark finished in a time of 1 minute, 59.82 seconds, while Schmidt was second and Kameisha Bennett third. However, Teter was inserted onto the Olympic team because Bennett did not meet the Olympic "A" standard of two minutes.

"I didn't make the "A" standard tonight, because I had a baby this year," Bennett said. "I'm not really disappointed and I'm going to take it day by day. It was a quick race today. If the pace was smoother I think I could have run faster."

Bryan Clay, Trey Hardee and Tom Pappas earned spots at the Olympics in the decathlon. Clay, who won a silver medal in 2004, finished with a top mark of 8.832 points.

"I'm happy with my training. I'm happy with my mindset and I want to bring that to Beijing," Clay said. "I just have to get after it every event, stay focused, and do my job. It's about getting the events to line up and staying consistent."

Big Ten champion Kara Patterson of Purdue made her first Olympic team by winning the women's javelin trials-record fashion. She posted a best mark of 58.44 meters to beat defending national champion Dana Pounds. Rachel Yurkovich of the University of Oregon was third. American record holder Kim Kreiner was fourth with 55.90m. Patterson and Kreiner both have the Olympic "A" standard of 60.50m and will compete in Beijing; Pounds and Yurkovich lack the standard and will not be on the final Olympic team roster.

The trials will have a two-day break before resuming Thursday with finals in the women's long jump, 400 meters, and 3000 meter steeplechase, while the men's final in the 400 meters will be decided.

Jeremy Wariner had the fastest time in the men's semifinals of the 400 meters Monday, while Mary Wineberg was quickest among women at the distance in the semifinals.

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Poker Promotion

Find NC State basketball tickets at TickCo and watch the college basketball season wrap up with Final Four tickets!

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory