Lagat, Arnold, Olsen win events

Three former Inland Northwest collegians won events Sunday at the Berlin Golden League track and field meet, while Russian triple jumper Tatyana Lebedeva won the $1 million jackpot for sweeping her specialty at the series of six Golden League meets.

Two former Washington State Cougars won races on the track. Bernard Lagat, stepping up from the 1,500 meters in which he set an American record last week, won the 5,000 in 12 minutes, 59.29 seconds – a personal best by more than 15 seconds. Lagat, who gained U.S. citizenship last year, flew away from the pack with 200 meters to go to beat Kenya’s Bernard Limo, who ran 13:01.45.

Dominique Arnold, another WSU alum, won the 110 hurdles in 13.20 seconds, his third Golden League victory.

Former University of Idaho shot putter Joachim Olsen of Denmark won his specialty with a last-round throw of 69 feet, 23/4 inches, snatching victory away from American Reese Hoffa by less than two inches.

Lebedeva was the only athlete still eligible to win the prize Golden League prize and became only the second athlete to win the full jackpot, following 800-meter runner Maria Mutola in 2003, by jumping 45-91/4.