BOSTON (06-Feb) -- He may have been wearing number 13 on his hip, but tonight's Reebok Boston Indoor Games at the Reggie Lewis Center here was anything but unlucky for two-time Olympic medallist Bernard Lagat. The 35 year-old three-time world champion uncharistically ran from the front to win his first-ever indoor 5000m in 13:11.50, breaking Galen Rupp's one year old American record by 7 seconds.
"Which I normally don't do," Lagat commented about the nine laps he was in the lead during the middle of the race. "You know, it's like different territory."
Lagat found himself in the lead when the second of two pacemakers, Kyle Miller, took the field through 2000m in 5:19.31 then dropped out. Lagat looked a little tense leading the race, but said afterwards that he was relaxed and in control.
"As long as you're comfortable in front, you can do it," he said.
Rupp, who had been running steadily in the pack behind Lagat, jolted the field when he surged with five laps to go and took the lead. Lagat followed, along with the Ethiopian trio of Bekana Daba, Dejan Gebremeskel, and Markos Geneti. Rupp continued on the front until about 300 meters to go when Lagat shot past him on the backstretch in his bid for victory. Pouring it on, Lagat scorched a 27-second final lap to get his second victory of this indoor season after his historic 8th Wanamaker Mile title last Friday in New York.
"I was determined to push it hard," said Lagat who was spurred by chants of, "USA, USA" from the crowd.
