by Larry EderNorwich Union is one of the major sponsors of UK Athletics. The Norwich Union Five Nations match pits the best of the team based events with a plethora of track stars as well. The one that we are watching is Bernard Lagat, who is quite popular in the UK.
Lagat is on everyone’s list as the double winner in Osaka. Lagat’s 1,500 meter win was perfectly timed, well run, and brilliant. With ten of the world’s best milers within four seconds, Lagat’s just at the tape dash did just what he needed to! In the 5,000 meters, the top middle distance runners in the world all had a bad day at the same time and decided to let a miler wait until 800 meters to go! Lagat took his deep breath and waited until that last 100 meters and guess what? He won!
Lagat showed his stuff with a nice win over 1,500 meters in Glasgow, Scotland for a strong opener on his road to Beijing. We have included the press release from USATF on the Norwich Union Five Nations meet:
Reigning World Outdoor 1,500m and 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat opened his 2008 season with a dominating performance Saturday at the 2008 Norwich Union Five Nations match in Glasgow, Scotland.
Lagat sat in third position in the men’s 1,500 meters until there were 300 meters remaining in the race. His trademark devastating kick vaulted him into the lead and he held on for a convincing win with his time of 3 minutes 45.89 seconds.
Following the race Lagat claimed that he is “absolutely where I am supposed to be right now,” and that he intends to compete at both the 1,500m and 5,000m at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
“My thought is always to go out and win an Olympic gold. That is my only aim, my absolute goal for this year,” he said. “I am going to take it one step at a time, but I want to qualify in both events from the Trials.”
In other events in Glasgow, two-time NCAA All-American and 2007 World Outdoor Championships team member David Oliver won the men’s 60m hurdles in a season’s best time of 7.60 seconds. Reigning World Outdoor men’s pole vault champion Brad Walker made one failed attempt at 5.60 meters/18 feet 4.50 inches, before dropping out of the competition with a heel injury.
Germany captured the team competition with 51 points, with Team USA finishing as the runner-up with 50 points. Great Britain & Northern Ireland finished third with 49 points and Sweden placed fourth with 42 points.
For more on the Norwich Union Five Nations Match, please click on http://www.iaaf.org
