Bruin wins U.S. cross country title

Published: Tuesday, November 25, 1997

Tuesday, November 25, 1997

KEFLEZGHI: Keflezighi's victory over tough men's field is personal, university first

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

UCLA men's cross country runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi did not want to travel across the country to the NCAA championships in Greenville, S.C., and return empty-handed.

After Monday's race, Keflezighi won't have to worry about returning home empty-handed, as he won his first-ever national cross country title in record-setting fashion as he set the Furman University 10,000 meter course record.

Keflezighi crossed the line in 28:54, breaking the old course record (29 minutes flat) set by Hans Koeleman of Clemson in 1981. Stanford wrapped up its second-straight team title by three points over Arkansas, 53-56.

Not only did Keflezighi win his first-ever cross country national title, he became the first individual in school history to win a cross country national championship.

"It was a great and powerful performance," UCLA Coach Bob Larsen said. "His classic, smooth, relaxed style never broke down. He never tightened up. Coaches were saying this was one of the best men's fields ever."

Keflezighi won the race by seven seconds over a strong men's field. Kevin Sullivan of Michigan, a runner with World Class 1500 meter racing experience, finished second in 29:01.

Bernard Lagat of Washington State, the defending Pac-10 champion, finished in a surprising third place.

The two heavy favorites, Adam Goucher of Colorado and Ryan Wilson of Arkansas, placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Goucher, who has never lost to Keflezighi in a cross country race, finished in 29:10. Wilson, who was previously unbeaten this year, finished in 29:13.

"Wilson took the lead fast," Keflezighi said. "I was feeling good and was just trying to keep the pace. I knew I needed to keep up in front."

Earlier in the week, Keflezighi suggested that such a flat course combined with a slow pace would favor the 1500 meter specialists including Lagat, Sullivan and Wilson.

The race appeared as if it would favor the 1500 meter runners. Lagat and Wilson jumped out in front early in the race, with Keflezighi not too far behind. The leaders crossed the mile mark with a fast-paced time of 4:30. As the race progressed, Keflezighi and Lagat pulled away from Wilson.

However, it wasn't until about a mile and a quarter to go that Keflezighi pulled away from Lagat and wrapped up a national title.

"I knew at the last mile that I had won the championship. I still didn't know about Goucher, but I knew I needed to keep the pace."

Keflezighi kept his pace and garnered his fourth individual national title this year. Earlier in the year, Keflezighi won the NCAA indoor 5,000 meter title, and became the first person since Ed Eyestone of Brigham Young University in 1985 to win the 5,000 and 10,000 meter national outdoor titles in the same season.

In his previous three trips to the cross country championships, Keflezighi could manage no better than a ninth-place finish his sophomore year in 1995. Last year, Keflezighi placed tenth.

Before the race and the season started, Keflezighi said he was determined to end his season on a high note. He also said he wanted to give everything he had in the championship race to accomplish all the goals he set earlier in the year.

"We knew the goal for this one was to be on top," Keflezighi said. "I got out the way I wanted. I had a great start. I guess it hasn't hit me."

AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin

Mebrahtom Keflezighi, shown here in a race earlier this season, broke the 10,000 meter course record Monday.