The men's 5,000-metre was the final event on the programme for Friday at the East Region Championships held in Greensboro, North Carolina. Due to lightening-filled thunderstorms, lashing rain and timing equipment malfunctions, the race began 11.20 pm, late for most people but college students just get going near witching hour. The 23-man field had three of the top six in the NCAA vying for a spot on the line at the upcoming NCXAA Championships.

The race began as most qualifying affairs do with a dawdling pace. No one wanted to be the sacrificial pacesetter. The pedestrian pace lasted for almost a mile when Liberty University's Josh McDougal took over the lead fracturing the pack. The idea, a good one, had little support from others and after just two laps it failed with the lead and chase pack fused.

Jostling and bumping were the order until the sizeable group completed their tenth lap. Almost instantly, the top four fissured from the heard of harriers. Once again it was McDougal closely followed by Iona College's Richard Kiplagat, the pre-race favourite. The pair towed Providence College's Martin Fagan and Georgetown's Rod Koborsi. The scintillating lap was covered in just under a minute.

With 500 metres remaining, Koborsi bolted to the lead with only Kiplagat able to react.

Kiplagat, coached by Dubliner Mick Byrne, sat on the Georgetown senior's shoulder until he tied up in the beginning of the finishing straightaway - the same place where a lap ago he took the lead.

Kiplagat, who came to Iona via Irish Brother Colm O'Connell, a coach at St. Patrick's High School in Iten, Kenya, savoured the final 50 metres and crossed the line with his infectious smile lighting up the dark night sky in 14.03.73.

McDougal and Fagan passed the labouring Hoya who held on for fourth. Ironically, Koborsi, timed in 14.06.19, will probably not compete in the 5,000m at Nationals instead deciding to compete in the 10,000 where he is ranked third on the NCAA list. McDougal, who finished in 14.05.11, will also have to settle on the 5k or 10k as well.

Fagan, from Mullingar, covered the last kilometre in 2.30, that's four-minute mile pace! After being unable to respond to Koborsi's bold move, Fagan gathered himself for an impressive stretch run coming back to finish third in 14.06.19.

Fagan, 22, hopes to add a 10,000m European qualifier (28.50.00) to the 5,000m standard which he has already achieved.

With four spots decided, the final guaranteed place was up for grabs. Emerging from the shadows to cross the line next was Kiplagat's Iona teammate and Kenyan comrade Stephan Chemlany. Chemlany, a senior, passed five people on his final lap to punch his ticket to Sacramento with a time of 14.10.53.

Iona Coach Byrne was 3-for-3 at the East Region meet. In addition to Kiplagat and Chemlany qualifying, Tim Bayley (Brighton, England) won the 800 metres along with a massive improvement to his personal best, lowering it 1.47.52.