Athletics Australia – News – Lagat and Solinsky send early warning to Australian contenders

Bernard Lagat and Chris Solinsky have sent early warnings of form to their Australian counterparts ahead of the 5000m at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic (IAAF World Challenge), with the duo both enjoying remarkable victories at American indoor meets across the weekend.

A two-time world champion (2007 – 1500m, 5000m), two-time world indoor champion (2004 – 3000m, 2010 – 3000m) and dual Olympic medallist (2000 – bronze 1500m, 2004 – silver 1500m), Lagat stopped the clock at 8:10.07 to win the two miles at an indoor meet in Armoury, New York on  Saturday (February 12).

Improving the national indoor two mile record by more than five seconds in the process, the Kenyan-born American now boasts the indoor records of his adopted country across 1500m, the mile, two miles, 3000m and 5000m.

Equally impressive in Seattle, Washington, Solinsky took out the mile event at the Husky Invitational in a time of 3:54.52. The national record holder across 10,000m and the second fastest American across 5,000m ever, the 26-year-old’s weekend result is the world’s fastest time across the mile this year.

Joining Solinsky in the race were Australians on US college scholarship Matt Gibney and Craig Huffer, who placed fourth (3:58.12) and eighth (4:00.09) respectively.

Solinsky’s Oregon Track Club team mate Tim Nelson, who will also compete in what is fast becoming the best 5000m field on record in Australia, also tasted victory in the 3000m at the same meet as the 26-year-old took line honours in a respectable 7:49.95.

“This is going to be a great race and it provides a fantastic opportunity for our distance runners to run against athletes that are both highly credentialed and in amazing form,” Tim O’Shaughnessy, Athletics Australia’s National Distance Coordinator said.

“The chase for a 13:20 world champs (sic) qualifier is tough and the pace of the field will no doubt helps the likes of Collis Birmingham and Craig Mottram as they push for Daegu selection.”

Doubling as the Australian championship event and selection trial for the world championships later this year, Australian chargers Birmingham and Mottram will be joined on the start line by compatriots Ben St Lawrence, the national champion, and Commonwealth Games representative David McNeill when the gun fires on March 3.

Discount tickets to the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic are on sale now through Ticketek.

Tickets will also be available at the gate on Thursday, March 3.

2011 Australian Athletics Tour

Round 2: Briggs Athletics Classic (Hobart) – Sunday February 20, 2011
Round 3: Melbourne Track Classic – Thursday March 3, 2011
Round 4: Sydney Track Classic – Saturday March 19, 2011
Australian Athletics Tour Final Perth: Thursday March 31 – Friday April 1, 2011

Athletics Australia – News