Athletics: Edwin Soi faces Lagat and Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew in Prefontaine

By Game Yetu Reporter

MONACO

The fastest young talents in a decade are ready to challenge a 28-year-old defending champion and 39-year-old world champion at the Prefontaine Classic, an IAAF Diamond League meeting, over 5,000m on May 31.

The landmark 40th Pre Classic at historic Hayward Field, which later in the summer will stage the IAAF World Junior Championships, and the 5,000m will have one of the best ever fields assembled in a US race over the distance.

In the prime of their careers are Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew and Kenya’s Edwin Soi. Alamirew won the IAAF Diamond League race in Shanghai on Sunday in 13:04.83. 

Soi, 28, earned the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and won last year’s Pre Classic 5,000m. 

Perhaps the most consistent challenger will be ageless Bernard Lagat, who has won five times at the Pre Classic, but never over 5,000m. He is 39 years young and owns five major championship gold medals. 

Lagat won silver in the 3,000m at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships, taking his tally to 13 major championship medals from 1,500m to 5,000m in a top-class career that spans 15 years.

Enter a new era of talent, led by Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet. Now 20, Gebrhiwet set a world junior record with his 12:47.53 last July, then earned the silver medal at the World Championships in Moscow last August. 

Isaiah Koech, 20, also represents a country with great tradition. Kenya leads the world in sub-12:50 runners, with eight men, and Koech is their youngest of all. 

At 19, Koech earned a bronze medal last year at the World Championships. He already has incredible international experience over 5,000m, finishing fifth as an 18-year-old at the London 2012 Olympics Games after placing fourth at the 2011 World Championships, when he was the youngest-ever finalist. 

Many more in the world-class field are in their early 20s. This includes Albert Rop, 21, of Bahrain and Muktar Edris, 20, of Ethiopia.

Along with Koech, Kenya has even more superb athletes capable of winning this