August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 17: America’s dual world champion Bernard Lagat failed to keep a four-year-old promise to his mother on Sunday as he missed out on the 1500 metres Olympic final.

The 33-year-old, who won bronze in 2000 and silver in 2004 under the Kenyan flag before becoming a US citizen, promised his mother immediately after coming second in Athens that he would turn silver into gold.

However, that fell apart on Sunday as the 1500m and 5000m world champion finished as the third fastest loser to miss out by one place.

“I ran hard, that’s life,” said Lagat, who could gain consolation in the 5,000m.

“I feel bad that it didn’t go well. I gave it my all, but I want to feel that I didn’t let my family down. I gave everything I had.

“I had my tactics ready for today [Sunday], but it didn’t quite go according to plan.

“It’s a learning process again, I just wanted to get into the finals. There was a lot of pushing, a lot of shoving. I thought at some point someone went down, but thankfully there was none,” added Lagat, who had also struggled in his first round heat.

Neither of Lagat’s team-mates made it through either with Sudan-born Lopez Lomong, America’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, finishing last in his semi-final while Mexico-born Leonel Manzano was last in Lagat’s race.

Lomong, who was a victim of violence in southern Sudan as a child and spent 10 years in a refugee camp in Kenya before being adopted by a US family who were here to watch him compete, said he had enjoyed the whole experience.

“I have had a great Olympics and I am glad I came all the way here to represent my country,” said the 23-year-old.—AFP