Jungmark and Lagat move on to finals at IAAF World Indoors...

ISTANBUL, Turkey--Former Washington State University standouts Ebba Jungmark (left/photo by Paul Merca) and Bernard Lagat advanced in their respective events as day 1 of the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships concluded at the Ataköy Athletics Arena.

Jungmark, the 2008 NCAA indoor high jump champion from Sweden, cleared a season best of 6-4 3/4 (1.95m) to advance to Saturday's finals.

Jungmark's clearance is significant, not only for the fact that she moves on to the finals, but that she now has the Olympic "A" standard out of the way.

Afterwards, she said, "I am not really surprised about my SB of 195. The 195 was probably the best jump I ever did in my life. It was hard for me at the beginning because they would allow us only one test jump which is not enough for me. I am used to have three or four. But it got better for me during the competition."

Looking forward to the finals, she said, "I feel fast and light and the surface here is very good. Let's see what will happen."

Cougar hall of famer Lagat, the defending world champion had a little bit of a rough go as a group of five runners entered the final straightaway together.

After a relatively slow first 1600, covered in 4:27, the pace began ramping up as the pack approached 2000 meters, with Great Britain's Mo Farah, who trains in Portland with Alberto Salazar's Nike Oregon Project, and Kenya's Augustine Choge near the front.

Pinned to the inside of the track with nowhere to go in the final 100 meters, he appeared to get bumped entering the final straight, and ran a step inside the curb before getting back on the track.

Lagat finished third in 7:57.68, just behind Choge (7:57,49) and Farah (7:57.59) to advance to Sunday's final.

Arizona State alum Ryan Whiting, who is coached by University of Washington throws coach TJ Crater, won the shot put with a world leading mark of 72-2 1/4 (22.00m) in round five to overtake early leader David Storl of Germany.

Saturday, former Huskies Brad Walker and Scott Roth will compete in the men's pole vault finals, while Jungmark goes in the women's high jump finals.

Complete day 1 results from the IAAF world indoor track & field championships are available here.

Comments

Emily Tedrowe said…
I'm wondering what the rule is on stepping inside the curb - doesn't that DQ a runner?