Boston: American Bernard Lagat made a blistering kick to crush the US record in his first indoor 5,000 metres, finishing in 13:11.50 at the 15th Boston Indoor Games on Saturday.
Ethiopia's double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba was 20 seconds off the world record in the women's 5,000 metres but her 14:44.53 was easily the year's fastest.
Olympic 1,500-metre silver medallist Nick Willis of New Zealand launched his comeback from 2009 surgery with the fastest mile of 2010, 3:55.26, to pip Americans Will Leer and David Torrance.
Lagat, a former double world champion at 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres, sliced almost seven seconds off the record set in 2009 by Galen Rupp.
He surged to the front with 300 metres to go and held off Ethiopians Dejen Gebremeskel and Bekana Daba with matching 13:11.78 times. Rupp finished fourth in 13:14.21, a new personal best.
The popular Lagat ran a partial victory lap, high-fiving the cheering crowd. His time was the third-fastest in the world this year.
"Certainly is not the last one. It's so much fun," Lagat said of his debut. "The work starts in the fourth and last kilometres. I need to get more races with Galen, that would put me in good shape."
Double for Ethiopia
Ethiopia scored a double in the women's 3,000 metres, with 18-year-old Kalkidan Gezahegn at 8:46.19 narrowly besting Genzebe Dibaba. American Shannon Rowbury was third.
It was a good night for American male sprinters. Ivory Williams posted the year's best 60 metres dash of 6.51 seconds, backing up a win at New York's Millrose Games a week ago.
Terrence Trammell equalled his season's best in the 60 metres hurdles at 7.49. Lisa Barber won the women's 60 metres in 7.22, and Damu Cherry pipped Canada's Perdita Felicien to win the 60 metres hurdles in 8.00.
American Deedee Trotter nearly stumbled off the track with a lap to go in a physical women's 400 metres but pulled away from the field easily in 53.08.
In the men's 400 metres American Bershawn Jackson ran 46.86 to win easily from Renny Quow of Trinidad.
"I had no idea how I'd do; this was totally surprising to me," said Willis. "I felt great with 400 [two laps] to go, but when I crossed the line I was exhausted.
"I was really glad when Leer took the lead [on lap seven]. I knew I could come back on him, and it gave me a slingshot to work off."
The long layoff [caused by a labral hip tear] may be a blessing in disguise because his 2010 season won't peak until the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October.
"I wasn't shocked that Nick would get me," said Leer. "I thought I was ready for him but still couldn't hold him off."
