Daniel Kipchirchir Komen wins the Mile in Eugene in 3:48.28 (© Kirby Lee)
At last year's Prefontaine Classic, Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya electrified a sold-out crowd by running the fastest-ever mile on American soil, 3:48.28.
Komen returns for the Bowerman Mile on 8 June, but without the distinction of having run the fastest mile of the year in 2007. That goes to Alan Webb, whose American Record 3:46.91 in Europe fulfilled the promise he displayed back in 2001, when he broke Jim Ryun's venerable high school mark at the Pre Classic.
Komen and Webb are just two of the athletes in a field that could look very much like an Olympic final. Consider: Rachid Ramzi, the 2005 World Championships gold medallist and 2007 silver medallist; Alex Kipchirchir, ranked No. 1 in the Mile in 2006 by Track & Field News; Tarek Boukensa, ranked No. 3 in the world in 2007 by T&FN; Belal Mansour, ranked No. 4 in the world last year; Shadrack Korir, ranked No. 7; and Asbel Kiprop, ranked No. 9. Combined with Komen's No. 1 ranking, Ramzi's No. 5, and Webb's No. 6, that means the Bowerman Mile will have the No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 ranked milers from last year. And where's No. 2, Bernard Lagat? He's in the Pre Classic 2-Mile!
Lagat vs. Mottram in classic match-up
In this corner, standing 5-8 3/4 and weighing 134 pounds (1.75m/61kg) World 1500m and 5000m Champion Bernard "Kip" Lagat of the United States. In the other corner, standing 6-2 and weighing 157 pounds (1.88m/71kg), Prefontaine Classic 2-Mile recordholder Craig "Buster" Mottram of Australia. The distance is 8 laps, and there is only one winner.
At last year's Prefontaine Classic, the tall Aussie put on a devastating kick to record the fastest 2-Mile ever on American soil, 8:03.50. He returns to Hayward Field to face 2007 double World Champ Lagat, who became the first American ever to win golds at 1500 and 5000m at the same Worlds. Refereeing this match could fall to Kenya's Paul Koech, ranked No. 1 in the world in the 3000m Steeplechase last year by Track & Field News.
Tom Jordan for the IAAF