IAAF World Relays: Kenya Breaks WR at 4x1500M, US sets AR in silver, holds off Ethiopia, by Larry Eder

In a superb display of Kenyan depth over the middle distances, two young milers joined Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop, who joined together to smash the WR with their 14:22.22. The US team, in second, with Pat Casey (his first global US uniform), David Torrence, Will Leer and Leo Manzano broke the thirty-five year old AR by nearly six seconds, and held off Ethiopia!

The men’s 4×1500 meter relay world record surprised us, just a bit. Part of it is how relaxed Asbel Kiprop looked on his leg (3:32.2 to our best knowledge)!

The first leg went out with Collins Cheboi of Kenya, followed by Patrick Casey of the USA and Mekonnen Gebremedhin. Patrick Casey took the lead at the end of the first leg, handing off to David Torrence in 3:38. David Torrence was running against Silas Kiplagat, who quickly put the peddle to the proverbial medal running his leg (3000m hit in 7:11) in 3:33. Silas Kiplagat handed off to James Kiplagat Magut, who ran against Will Leer of the US, who was about forty meter back. Magut ran 3:38.9, and gave the baton to Asbel Kiprop. Will Leer handed off to Leo Manzano.

How appropriate, Leo Manzano, the Olympic silver medalist, running against Asbel Kiprop, the World Champion gold medalist. Kiprop is ready and hungry to run. Leo Manzano is in shape, and has Kenya in front of his, and Ethiopia on his back. Oh, and lurking in fifth place is Adam Kzszcot of Poland, who anchored Polands 4 x 800m to silver last night, taking silver out of US hands.

Asbel Kiprop looked like he was floating, and one could not event think of how fast he was running. Asbel Kiprop was flying. It looks like his leg was 3:32.23, and he was within himself.

Leo Manzano ran a race in nowhere land, until the last stretch, when Ethiopia’s Amon Wote tried to steal the silver from him. But, Leo held on. Wote was so close, yet, so far.

Destroying the World record by fourteen seconds, Kenya showed its depth. The US, in taking the silver, broke a record set in 1979, yep, thirty-five years ago, and held off Ethiopia. US should be commended for its depth, and in the bronze was Ethiopia.

Men’s 4x1500m relay, 1. Kenya, 14:22.22 WR, 2. USA, 14:40.8, NR, 3. Ethiopia, 14:41.22, NR, 4. Australia, 14:46.04, NR, 5. Spain, 15:00.9, 6. Poland, 15:05.70, 7. Qatar, 15:10.77, NR, #worldrelays

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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