7/5/08

EUGENE, Ore. – Lopez Lomong doesn’t care what the pace will be in the final. He just knows he’ll be in it.

“If it goes out slow, fine, he said. “If it goes out fast, fine. If it goes out medium, that’s okay too.”

Lomong, a graduate of Tully High School in upstate New York, advanced to Sunday’s final in the 1,500 at Hayward Field yesterday at the University of Oregon. He finished second in the second semifinal heat in 3 minutes, 40.26 seconds. Gabe Jennings won the heat in the fastest semifinal time, 3:40.07. Alan Webb, Bernard Lagat and Leo Manzano all advanced in the first section, producing what many expect to be a blistering final. All credentials aside, Lomong, the 2007 NCAA 1,500-meter champ at Northern Arizona, isn’t settled for just a spot on the Olympic team.