Lagat Sets 3000m AR in Rieti

INDIANAPOLIS – Bernard Lagat set the American record in the men’s 3,000m Saturday night at the Rieti 2010 meeting in Italy.

In a race that saw
Tariku Bekele (ETH) win in a world-leading 7:28.70, Bernard Lagat
finished as the runner-up crossing the line in an American record
7:29.00. The previous record of 7:30.84 was set by Bob Kennedy in 1998.
Kennedy once held every American record between 3,000 and 5,000 meters,
but with the recent surge in American distance running his name has
been replaced by the likes of Lagat and Dathan Ritzenhein. Also in the
race tonight, 10,000m American record holder Chris Solinksy finished
fourth in a personal best 7:34.32.Solinksy’s time is the fifth-fastest
ever by an American.

After winning his
preliminary heat in a personal best 9.95, Ryan Bailey powered down the
straight in the men’s 100m final, crossing the line in another personal
best 9.88. Though Bailey would have to settle for second behind
Jamaica’s Nesta Carter, who crossed the line in 9.78, also a personal
best.

Kenyan David
Rudisha, who lowered the world 800m record last week in Berlin to a
time of 1:41.09, further reduced the all-time best for two laps to
1:41.01. Nick Symmonds finished third in a personal best 1:43.76.

Three-time World
Outdoor medalist Wallace Spearmon dominated the men’s 200m, winning in
a meet record 19.85. Angelo Taylor finished as the runner-up in 20.23.
Despite hitting three hurdles, David Oliver won the men’s 110m hurdles
in a meet record 13.01. Jason Richardson finished third in 13.37 and
Joel Brown was fourth in 13.39.

The women’s 400m
hurdles was won by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta in 54.71,
while Nicole Leach took fifth in 55.84. In the women’s open 400m,
Natasha Hastings finished in the runner-up position in 50.87.

For complete results from the Rieti 2010 meeting, visit www.iaaf.org.