Lagat's finishing kick just short at adidas Grand Prix in New York...

NEW YORK--Washington State University hall of famer Bernard Lagat (left/photo by Paul Merca) finished second in the men's 5000 meter run at the adidas Grand Prix meet at Icahn Stadium, part of the Samsung Diamond League series of meets.

On a damp, cloudy day in the Big Apple, Lagat positioned himself near the front of the pack, but with one lap to go, eventual winner Dejen Gebremeskel and Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia opened up a gap, extending it to about 15 meters with 250 to go before the reigning world indoor champion at 3000 meters began unwinding his patented big finish.

However, the lead was just enough for Gebremeskel, as he hung on for the victory in 13:05.22, with Lagat closing for second in a season best 13:05.46.

Courtesy of media partner universalsports.com, here are highlights of the race, along with an interview with Lagat:



Washington alum and 2007 world champion Brad Walker from Mountlake Terrace finished second in the men's pole vault with a modest clearance of 18-1 1/4 (5.52m), the same height cleared by France's Romain Mesnil for the win.

Mesnil, a two-time world championship silver medalist, won the event with a first-attempt clearance at the winning height, while Walker needed two attempts.

Another Washington alum, Aretha Thurmond, finished third in the women's discus with a mark of 194-10 (59.38m), as Olympic champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton took the victory at 206-6 (62.94m).

Rainier Beach HS grad Ginnie Crawford, who was a late addition to the field, finished fifth in the 100 meter hurdles, clocking 13.23.

Vancouver's Kara Patterson was a disappointing sixth in the women's javelin, throwing 179-2 (54.62m), marred by four fouls.

Tacoma's Brie Felnagle finished eighth in the women's 1500, running 4:11.85.

In the men's 1500 meter run, Auburn-Riverside HS grad Jordan McNamara finished eighth in a season best of 3:41.92.

Incoming University of Washington freshman Eleanor Fulton from Colorado finished second in the adidas girls' Dream Mile for invited high schoolers, running a personal best of 4:42.90.

Glacier Peak HS sophomore Amy-Eloise Neal finished fifth in a PR 4:43.67, while defending champion Maddie Meyers of Northwest School was seventh in 4:45.46.

In the adidas boys' Dream Mile, incoming University of Oregon freshman Lukas Verzbicas joined Alan Webb, Jim Ryun, Marty Liquori, and Tim Danielson as the only high schoolers to break four minutes in the mile, running 3:59.71 for the victory.


Complete results of the adidas Grand Prix are available here.