Arizona sophomore runner Lawi Lalang set the collegiate and school record in the 5,000 meters at the Millrose Games in New York on Saturday, coming in second overall in the event while clocking a time of 13:08.28, beating Galen Rupp’s NCAA record of 13:18.12 set at the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 13, 2009.
Coincidentally, the 5,000-meter winner was UA volunteer assistant coach Bernard Lagat, who set the U.S. record in the event with a winning time of 13:07.15, replacing the previous U.S. record (13:11.44) that was set by Rupp in Birmingham, England, on Feb. 19, 2011.
Senior Stephen Sambu came in third and now holds the No. 2 collegiate time ever, clocking a 13:13.74. Lalang and Sambu both automatically qualified for the NCAA championships in the event, as they currently rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the NCAA.
"It was a great day for Arizona, that’s for sure,” track and field associate coach James Li said. “We planned a pace and it was a pace that they could all run together. We were very happy to stick with the plan we mapped out, and they executed to a tee. It was amazing."
