By Chris Lotsbom
Two-time Olympic medallist Bernard Lagat will join an already strong field for the 5000m at next month's Reebok Boston Indoor Games at the Reggie Lewis Center, organizers announced Wednesday.
Lagat, 35, who is making his first appearance in Boston since 2005, will face last year's Boston Indoor Games 3000m champ Bekana Daba of Ethiopia, former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp, and the sixth place finisher in the 5000m at last year's World Championships, Ali Abdosh, also of Ethiopia. With three of these four men having run sub-13 minute 5-k's in the past, the race has the potential to be the fastest indoor 5000m ever run on American soil. The American all-comers record currently is Daba’s 13:17.89, set last year at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
Also announced Wednesday were the junior mile fields, which will spotlight some of the fastest prep stars in America. The boy's field is led by 2009 Nike Cross Country Nationals champion Craig Lutz (Highland Village, Texas), whose 1600m best is 4:14.59. Joining Lutz will be Pat Schellberg (Morristown, N.J.), who holds the fastest high school mile in the United States so far this year, and Nike Outdoor Nationals runner-up in the mile Alex Hatz (Manlius, N.Y.).
Returning to the Reggie Lewis Center for the first time since winning her Nike Indoor Nationals title there last year will be Emily Lipari (Roslyn, N.Y.), whose personal best in the mile is 4:47.44. She will be challenged by Cory McGee (Pass Christian, Miss.), who finished fourth in the junior mile last year. Katrina Coogan (Exeter, N.H.), daughter of former U.S. Olympians Mark and Gwynn Coogan is also in the field.
The Boston Indoor Games will be held on Friday, Feb. 6, at 5:00 p.m. For ticket information go to http://www.bostonindoorgames.com.
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