Nieves Closes Fast to Win 5,000 Meters

Juan Luis Nieves of Mexico found an extra gear on the homestretch of the elite men’s 5,000-meter run at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Thursday night in Walnut, emerging from the pack in the last 50 meters and outkicking the field to win in 13 minutes 27.89 seconds.

Josphat Boit of Arkansas, the reigning NCAA 5,000-meter indoor champion, led most of the last lap before Nieves took over. Boit still finished second in 13:28.26, the fastest time by a collegian this year.

Yuan Jin of China overtook Dulce Rodriguez of Mexico down the stretch of the women’s elite 5,000 and finished in 15:38.62. Rodriguez was second in 15:39.92 and Molly Huddle of Notre Dame was third in 15:40.41, an NCAA leading time for this year.

Solomon Kandie of Kenya became the first runner to win three consecutive titles in the elite division of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. His time of 8:39.94 edged that of David Cheromei, a senior at Virginia Intermont College who finished in 8:40.70. Linzhong Shi of China was third in 8:41.69.

Korine Hinds of Jamaica defended her title in the elite division of the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 9:57.02. Brooke Bennett of Arizona State was a distant second in 10:20.5 and Mary Davies of Oklahoma State was third in 10:28.91.

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Bershawn Jackson, the 2005 world outdoor champion in the 400-meter hurdles, was scheduled to compete in that event today but has withdrawn, according to meet director Scott Davis.... Davis also said that 2004 Olympic 100-meter gold medalist Justin Gatlin, the reigning world and U.S. champion in the 100 and 200, will run in a relay Saturday.

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this report.

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Schedule

* What: Mt. San Antonio College Relays.

* Where: Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut.

* Today, 2 p.m. start: University open events, elite invitational men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles, elite invitational men’s and women’s javelin, and men’s and women’s 10,000.