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Event 10 - 1500 Meters - Heat 1
It all comes down to this event, and 5 athletes all with legitimate chances of earning medals face off to see who will get on the podium. Babson, who led almost the entire event finds himself in second place needing to beat current leader Palmiero to take the Gold, but unfortunately, they will be in different heats. Palmiero also has to hold off Path, who is a very good 1500 meter runner. Nielsen, also typically good in the 1500 meters, will have to fight through the pain of his injury if he hopes to catch, Path, Babson, Palmiero and Peltonen. Peltonen will also have to outperform someone above him if he hopes to climb into the top 3...
As the runners take their places...the first heat consists of:
Ketola
Babson
Nielsen
Honcho
Jordan
Mighty
Rambis
Schaplowsky
The gun sounds and Babson, knowing his predicament jumps out to the early lead with Ketola and Mighty on his heals. Nielsen got bumped a bit on the start and trails the lead 3 by about half a step. The rest of the group is pretty tight, with Rambis nursing his injury in the back.
As we head into the second 300...Nielsen has made his move up to draw stride for stride with Babson, who is continuing to push hard. Mighty hangs with them, but Ketola has dropped way off the pace. Honcho's injury has dropped him back off the main group as well.
Nielsen, continues to grit his teeth and fight...as he's opened up about a 3 second lead on the field...Babson continues to use Nielsen as a pacer. Mighty holds on to third. The rest of the field is almost 10 seconds back with Ketola, Schaplowsky, and Jordan jockeying for 4th. While watching Honcho and Rambis limp around the track is a bit painful.
At the 1200 mark Nielsen is starting to pull away from the field. Even with his injury he's a good 7 seconds up on Mighty, now in second. Babson appears to be feeling the fatigue as he's dropped off the pace a bit...his last 300 split was 62 seconds.
Coming home...it's
Nielsen at a time of 4:37. Mighty with a strong kick coming in...finishes the last 300 in 54 seconds and clocks a time of 4:42. Babson fights it to the line in 4:49, not sure that's going to get it done...
Jordan wins the battle for 4th 4:57, and Ketola and Schaplowsky cross stride for stride at 4:59. Honcho can't quite beat 5 minutes with his injury, crossing at 5:01, and Rambis finally gets to the line at 5:20...
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