New York, February 28, 2013 – Lopez Lomong returns to the Armory less than a month following his triumph in the New York Road Runners Men’s Wanamaker Mile to face a talented 5,000 meters field Friday evening during the Columbia Final Qualifying Meet.
Lomong, who won the 106th Millrose Games’ signature event in record time, will face a strong challenge from Olympic steeplechaser Evan Jager, former Georgetown All-American Andrew Bumbalough, 2009 USA Outdoor 5,000 meters champion Matt Tegenkamp, recent USA Cross Country Championships winner Chris Derrick and former Stanford All-American Garrett Heath.
Not only did Lomong’s winning time of 3:51.21 surpass Bernard Lagat’s Millrose Games record of 3:52.87 in 2005 at Madison Square Garden, but it broke the Armory mile mark held by 2012 Wanamaker Mile champion Matthew Centrowitz (3:53.92).
The 5,000 meters event is scheduled to start at 8:55 p.m.
The two-day meet begins 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday’s competition starts at 5:30 p.m. The Columbia Qualifier will feature college and open athletes.
College teams entered include Boston College, Columbia, Connecticut, Georgetown, North Carolina State, Princeton, Providence, Richmond, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia. In addition to the runners from the Oregon Track Club, the meet will include elite athletes from Central Park Track Club and the NJ/NY Track Club.
