During his illustrious career at the University of Oregon, Galen Rupp often found himself in Steve Prefontaine’s proverbial shadow. Thursday night, Rupp one-upped the legend, breaking his Olympic-Trials record in the 5,000 meters in front of the largest crowd in Hayward Field history.
“To hear that I got the record, that’s unreal,” Rupp said after the race. “Anytime you’re mentioned in the same breath as Steve Prefontaine, it’s a huge compliment. I was thrilled to be able to do that, but more thrilled just to get on the team and have a good run at the Trials.”
Rupp crossed the line in 13:22.67, followed by Bernard Lagat in second (13:22.82), and Lopez Lomong in third (13:24.47). Those three will represent Team USA in the 5,000 meters in London.
Coming into the race, that trio of elite competitors was fully expected to vie for men’s 5K title. While the three did predictably battle down the homestretch, the manner in which the last few hundred meters unfolded was anything but typical.
Early on in the race, long-shot Mohamed Trafeh — who needed an aggressive effort in order to achieve the Olympic “A” standard and join Team USA — seized a commanding lead. With around 3,000 meters remaining, Trafeh had amassed a sizable advantage, positioning himself a solid 15 meters ahead of the pack.
Yet with two laps remaining, it was Lagat, Lomong and Rupp that stole the show. The three surged to the lead at a breakneck pace, shifting into a new gear as 22,602 fans stood and cheered on Rupp, their hometown hero.
“This is one of the only places in the country, possibly the world, where you’re gonna get that reception for the 5,000,” Rupp said. “That’s what makes this place special. They love their distance races here.”
With 400 meters to go, Rupp moved into the lead, electrifying the crowd. Their collective joy would be short lived, as Lagat — a Kenyan-American and five-time Olympic medalist — responded accordingly by making an aggressive move as the pair rounded Bowerman’s Curve.
With Rupp fading and Lagat bursting into the lead, Hayward Field let out a collective sigh. Rupp’s traditional weak point is his speed down the homestretch, while Lagat is known as a deadly closer.
“Normally, (finishing) is my strength,” Lagat said. “But I feel like today was a little different … Normally, I’m the guy who sits back, but I guess I used a little more than I usually reserve for the last kick. It was a learning process.”
With less than 50 meters remaining and the crowd in a frenzy, Rupp kicked to regain the lead from Lagat. He clung to that advantage across the finish line, showing uncharacteristic emotion as he broke Prefontaine’s Trials record of 13:22.8 while winning his second event of the 2012 Olympic Trials.
“A win is a win, whether you go from the front or kicking down the homestretch,” Rupp said. “It’s finding a way. I was definitely happy with the way that it went. I know a weak point of my running has been my finishing speed, and we’ve been working on that a really long time. It’s gratifying for me to see it come to fruition.”
Though Rupp’s newly found burst proved to be a valuable asset at the Trials, he said it was mostly meant to give him an edge later this summer.
“I know that in London, I’m going to have to beat people the last 100 (meters),” Rupp said. “Alberto (Salazar) told me beforehand, ‘You could probably go earlier, play it safe. But you know what, you’re going to have to beat people on the last lap, the last 100 specifically, in London.’”
Rupp’s victory is historical in more than one way; in addition to breaking Prefontaine’s 40-year-old Trials record, Rupp became first man to complete the 5,000-10,000 double at U.S. Olympic Trials since Curtis Stone in 1952.
After the race, Lagat expressed profound appreciation for Rupp’s feats over the past two weeks.
“From here, everything is going to be good for Galen,” said Lagat, who won a silver medal in the 5K at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka. “He has a good group of people before him, he has a great coach in Albertzo Salazar. What we are going to see for Galen is that he belongs at the top. We are going there as a team, and whoever brings home the gold medal, or whatever medal, that is going to be our mission.”
In 2008, Lagat won both 1,500 and 5,000 meters at the Trials, but came up short on expectations in Beijing. He failed to reach the finals in the 1,500 and placed ninth in the 5K. He later admitted that an injury to his Achilles’ tendon significantly limited his performance.
Both Lagat and Lomong represent serious threats to reach the podium in London, but Thursday night belonged to Rupp. His groundbreaking performance on hallowed ground adds yet another chapter to Hayward Field lore and etches another entry onto Oregon’s expansive distance-running pedigree.
“I’m really glad to be a part of the program, to be able to finish it off running here at the Trials at my own track,” Rupp said. “I couldn’t be any luckier.”