7/5/08

EUGENE, Ore. — Gabe Jennings, whose skill as a middle-distance runner has been matched, some say undermined, by his eccentricity, appears to have returned to the form that produced a first-place finish in the 1,500 meters at the 2000 Olympic trials.

On Friday night, the free-spirited Jennings produced the fastest time in the semifinals at 3 minutes 40.07 seconds. He also convinced the world champion Bernard Lagat that he is a serious threat to make the team for the Beijing Games in Sunday’s 1,500 final.