09.02.07
Men’s 5,000-Meter Final - Quotes
Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.): It was really good. I think that it was one of the best races I’ve ever ran in the 5000. I was ready for a fast race, and I was ready for a slow race. All I had to do was to run a smart race, and follow the pace. If people were willing to take it out the last 2 kilometers, I was ready for that also. I just didn’t want to let a gap develop. The double means a lot to me. I’m the first one to accomplish the double, and I feel I’m going to set an example for the young ones. There will be other kids in America who will do what Bernard Lagat did in 2007, no matter how long it will take.
Adam Goucher (Portland, Ore.): It was so slow that we were all just there. I know I have a very strong closing last kilometer, and I just couldn’t get my legs to go the way I wanted them to. If I had moved up earlier and have been positioned towards the front, maybe it’s a different story. Poor, somewhat cowardly race tactics. I’m happy for Bernard and Matt. Matt ran a great last 800. I figured it would go out a little faster, and that one of the Africans would go out and try to run Bernard’s legs off, but they didn’t.
Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.): I was so close. We had it in the back of our minds that it would go out quick, and that one of the countries would sacrifice one of their runners and take out the kickers, and it turned out to be slow. I loved it. It gave me the best chance to do well. I tried to stay out of trouble and stay relaxed, and get myself focused for the last 1000. The last 600 was a steady grind. From 600 to 400 it was a gradual buildup, and it let me work into it. Over the last 400 I was trying to stay relaxed knowing that I would need another gear over the last 75 meters. There was nothing else I could do-maybe I could’ve dove across the line.
