Bernard Lagat may be on course for a spectacular double at the World Athletics Final after producing a blistering finish to win the men’s 3000m in Monaco this evening.
The former Kenyan now running for USA came out of the pack with 250m to go to kick past Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge and secure an impressive victgory in 7:38.00.
The Olympic 1500m silver medallist only entered this event at the last minute - and after a personal request to the organisers - for he is also running in the 1500m tomorrow.
Kipchoge who had opened up a 10 metre lead down the back straight of the final lap was clearly surprised by the American’s finishing speed. He held for second in 7:38.95 while Kiprono Choge took third. Bekele slipped back to fifth behind World 5000m champion Benjamin Limo.
The race was taken out by France’s Mounir Yemmouni who led through 1000m in 2:42.29. Kipchoge was already towards the front of the pack and he took over at 2000m (5:13.89) with Bekele and another Ethiopian, Markos Geneti, giving chase.
Bekele took up the challenge with two laps to go and it was he and Kipchoge who had a lead at the bell (6:43.29) which they stretched to five metres with 300m left.
Kipchoge forged ahead as Bekele began to fade, but it was the reserved running of Lagat that proved most effective as he unleashed a winning kick worthy of a middle distance champion - his last lap was recorded unofficially at 53.9.
“I ran this 3000m like a 1500m,” he said afterwards. “The finish was great!”
MB