Arizona's Lawi Lalang, left, and Oregon's Edward Cheserek, right, race to the finish line during the men's 5,000 meters at the NCAA track and field championships on June 13, 2014, in Eugene, Ore. Lalang came in first place and Cheserek came in second place. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

 Rick Bowmer

Tucson distance-running starsΒ Lawi LalangΒ andΒ Bernard LagatΒ had their first real showdown as pros last week in Philadelphia.Β Lalang, 23, an eight-time NCAA champion from the UA, won the Philly Rock ’n’ Roll 5K in 13:30 over Lagat, 39, who was second in 13:31. Lagat still holds the American 5,000-meter road record in 13:18 after he broke the mark of 13:24 set in 1996 by ex-Arizona OlympianΒ Marc Davis. It was Lalang’s fourth pro race; he ran in Italy, Belgium and Switzerland over the summer.

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