In front of a crowd of 3,150 track fans, Leo Manzano left know doubt today that he was the class of the men’s 1500 meters. Mazano was in control the entire race and led from wire to wire. David Torrence his training partner explained, “I kept throwing in little surges, but he wouldn’t budge. Every move I tried to make, Leo covered.”
After a pedestrian first couple of laps, the pace began to quickened with Mazano in the lead all the way. At two laps to go the lead pack had narrowed to Mazano, Torrence, the OTC Elite pair of Will Leer and Russell Brown and former Stanford standout, Garrett Heath. Mazano pulled away for the win and Will Leer fought through on the inside lane to pass Torrence.
It was sweet redemption for Leer, who saw his spot in Berlin and the World Championships slip away last summer. This is first world team and he is excited to join his OTC teammate, Nick Symmonds in Doha.
Manzano is unsure whether he will participate in the IAAF Indoor World Championships. He and the other athletes coached by John Cook did not participate in any altitude training in preparation for the meet in Albuquerque. When asked his main goal for 2010, Manzano responded “Run 3:30 (for 1500 meters).”
1 Leo Manzano Nike 3:49.16 2 Will Leer OTC/Nike 3:49.31 3 David Torrence Nike 3:50.08 4 Garrett Heath Saucony 3:50.11 5 Russell Brown OTC/Nike 3:50.56 6 John Jefferson Oregon TC Elite 3:52.03 7 Jordan Horn McMillan Elite 3:52.93 8 Andrew Jesien Ragged Mtn R 3:53.16 9 Alex McClary unattached 3:55.39 10 Andy McClary unattached 3:55.81
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