Kipchoge and Kurui of Washington State go 1-2 in 3000m on final day of MPSF champs...
RENO--There's an old saying that goes, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."
After missing out on an NCAA top 16 standard in Sunday's 5000 meters, Solomon Kipchoge (Paul Merca photo) and Evans Kurui of Washington State weren't too concerned about winning the 3000 meters on the final day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor track and field championships at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, but rather, were shooting for about a 7:50 or faster time in the 3000.
With the altitude conversion that the NCAA gives in distance races, a time of 7:50 or faster would give them at least a converted time of 7:40.29.
Kipchoge, who hadn't raced all season at 3000 meters, was put in the first section with slower runners, and had to go it after Muhammed Ahmed led through the first 600.
Try as he might, Kipchoge finished his heat in 8:02.22.
In the second heat, Kurui had a little more help, with Yakima native Jonas Price of Portland, who had a best this season in the 3000 of 7:45.65, along with WSU teammate Josphat Meli and Kutoven Stevens.
Price, who like Kurui, was outside the top 16 in the 3000, led through 1600, but ceded the lead to Kurui, who had no one to run with the rest of the way other than lapped runners.
Kurui finished with a time of 8:03.36, with Price second in the heat in 8:14.46.
Kipchoge was the overall winner, with Kurui second and Price third.
The Cougs finished with five runners in the top six, while Portland took positions 7 and 8.
Washington State took two wins in the women's competition, as Zenah Cheptoo won the mile in 4:47.97.
Rosemary Longisa (Paul Merca photo) earned WSU's other win on the day, as the conference's top seed lived up to her ranking, winning the 800 decisively.
Longisa, already assured of a spot at the NCAA championships in both the 800 and Mile, ran 2:07.65, to win by almost three seconds.
In the men's team scoring, the Cougars, who were the defending conference champions, finished fourth with 72 points, as Cal State Fullerton won with 191 points.
Washington State's women placed fifth with 61 points, as UC Irvine won, scoring 132.5 points.
NOTE: The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and Washington State University contributed to this report.
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