Track and Field: Oregon’s Galen Rupp Breaking Records and Chasing Dreams

After setting the 3000 meter indoor record in Sweden this past week, former Oregon Duck Galen Rupp has been named the Athlete of the Week for US Track and Field. Rupp’s record time of 7:30.18 was a meet record and gave him his second World leading mark of the season. The 2012 Summer Olympian also has the record for the mile this year set in Boston last month at 3:50.92

Associated Press

Another athlete that set a record this week is Olympian Bernard Legat, who at the Olympic Trials in Eugene this past summer came in second to Rupp in the 5000 meter final on the way to the Olympics in London. At 38 years old, he is still one of the best. This past week at the Millrose Games, Legat set the record for the 2 mile at 8:09.49 – he beat the record set by Galen Rupp last year by .23

Nike Oregon Project Coach Roberto Salazar (Rupp’s Coach) said it is time for some rest as Rupp prepares for the outdoor season. Salazar also coaches Track Athlete Mo Farrah

"“They’re taking some time off. They have a couple weeks with no running whatsoever. Then Galen and Mo will start building up for outdoors.”"

Wall Street Journal

Once again Bernard Legat and Galen Rupp criss cross the record books. At 38 years old, Legat says he could make a run at Rio in 2016 for the Olympics. Between now and then it will be fun to watch these two different athletes from different generations continue to chase the dream of getting to Rio to compete to be the Best in the World in 2016 and it will also be fun to watch them chase each other on the track and in the record books.

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Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon