EUGENE, Ore. — Andrew Wheating was despondent when he failed to make the U.S. team for the world championships.
Wheating finished fourth in the 1,500 meters Saturday and wasn’t in the mood for a chat when he got word that second-place finisher Bernard Lagat of Tucson wanted to speak with him.
Wheating reluctantly obliged Lagat, who surprised Wheating by telling him he wasn’t going to run in the 1,500 in Daegu, South Korea, in August.
That meant Wheating, a 2008 Olympian in the 800, could still make the team.
“He said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’m doing the 5K,’ ” Wheating said. “Nicest man ever.”
Lagat, 36, earned a place on the team with his victory in the 5,000 meters Friday night.
“I knew I made the team yesterday,” Lagat said. “I was gonna give this to fourth place. It ended up being Andrew Wheating. I’m confident for Team USA in the 1,500 the same way I’m confident in the 5,000.”
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Wheating had withdrawn from the 800 meters at the U.S. championships earlier this week to focus on the 1,500.
Matthew Centrowitz closed strong to win the 1,500 in 3 minutes 47.63 seconds. Centrowitz will be a senior at Oregon.
“I don’t think it’s set in yet,” said Centrowitz, who is the son of two-time Olympic distance runner Matt Centrowitz.
Lagat was second in 3:47.96, and Leonel Manzano took third in 3:48.16. The top three finishers in each event at nationals earn a spot on the U.S. team at worlds.
Other winners Saturday were Allyson Felix (400), Tony McQuay (400), David Oliver (110 hurdles), Lashinda Demus (400 hurdles), Derek Miles (pole vault), Kara Patterson (javelin), Jessica Cosby (hammer throw), Marquise Goodwin (long jump) and William Nelson (steeplechase).
