Cam Levins just misses Canadian record at Pre Classic

A slow middle part of the race likely cost Cam Levins a Canadian record, Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. Levins of Black Creek, B.C., finished 13th in 13:15.19, just short of the national record of 13:13.96 set by Jeff Schiebler in 1998.

The Nike-sponsored Levins was part of a star-studded field in the men’s 5,000m, a distance that the legendary Steve Prefontaine used to dominate.

After running the first 600m at sub-13-minute pace, the pace slowed for most of the middle part of the race. It wasn’t until the final mile that the leaders started to move, and with a large group bunched up, there was plenty of pushing and shoving. Levins maintained contact with the lead group, but was unable to kick with the top runners, who ran well under 60 seconds for the final lap.

Edwin Cheruiyot Soi of Kenya won in 13:04.75, defeating double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, who was second in 13:05.88. American Galen Rupp — and Levins’s new training partner — was sixth in 13:08.69.

Levins recorded a new personal best by about five seconds and has also met the “B” standard for the world championships in Moscow. He was less than a second off the “A” standard of 13:15.00. Levins can secure a spot on the team with a win at the Canadian championships in Moncton, which takes place June 20-23.

John Lofranco spoke with Cam Levins after the race and the full interview is posted below.