Bernard Lagat speaks to the media in advance of Thursday's 5000m finals, plus preview of Washingtonians in action...

EUGENE--With Wednesday the second rest day at the US Olympic Track & Field Trials, paulmerca.blogspot.com had a chance to catch up with Washington State University alum Bernard Lagat as he talked to a gathering of media members in advance of Thursday's final in the 5000 meters, in which he is one of the favorites, along with Galen Rupp.



In addition to Lagat, nine other athletes with Washington ties will compete in day 5 of the Trials.

A pair of former Huskies in American record holder Brad Walker, along with former NCAA champ Scott Roth are in the finals of the pole vault at 5:05 pm. Roth has the added pressure of attaining the Olympic A standard of 18-9 1/4 (5.72m), a height he cleared at the Mt SAC Relays in mid April of last year, but will not count, as it happened two weeks before the Olympic qualifying period started.

Discus throwers Jarred Rome from Marysville, WSU alum Ian Waltz, and Husky alum Will Conwell will vie for the three spots on the Olympic team in the finals at 6:05 pm. Training partners Waltz and Rome are aiming to make a second Olympic team.

In first round action, current Husky and reigning NCAA champ Katie Flood along with former Husky Katie Mackey square off in heat 2 of the women's 1500 at 3:50 pm.  Tacoma's Brie Felnagle, who finished 13th in her heat of the 5000, scratched from the event.

Auburn Riverside HS alum Jordan McNamara, who narrowly missed the Olympic A standard almost two weeks ago in a low-key meet at nearby Lane Community College, begins his quest for an Olympic berth in the 1500 meters at 4:20 pm.

One athlete who has laid low so far in 2012 is Washington State alum and the defending USA champion Jeshua Anderson, as he has not run a 400 hurdles race of significance this season. He goes at 6:00 pm.

Courtesy of Washington State University, here's an interview with Anderson:



NBC Sports Network (channel 626 on Seattle Comcast) will provide coverage of the meet. Please check local listings for show times in your area.

Thursday's time schedule is available via usatf.org.