SOMERVILLE — It was all about fast times.
As runners finished at the Adidas Boost Boston Games distance festival Friday night at Dilboy Stadium, many looked for the nearest computer screen with official results. They wanted to know if they ran fast enough to qualify for the US Olympic trials or Rio Games.
The happiest finisher was Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel, who crossed the line in the men’s 5,000 in 12:59.89 and posted the second-fastest time in the event this year. He was followed by countryman Hagos Gebrhiwet in 13:00.20. The fast men’s 5,000 leaves Gebremeskel and Gebrhiwet in very good standing to make the Ethopian Olympic team.
“I’m very confident [I’ll make the team],’’ said Gebremeskel. “The race is really fantastic, a really nice race. We run to qualify for Rio. I’m so glad to run in this world elite race.’’
On the women’s side, fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar was not pleased with her time of 15:06.96 in the women’s 5,000. That leaves her far from qualifying for the Rio Olympics because, at least, a half-dozen other Ethopians have run faster. So, it looks like the 2004 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000 will not be returning to the Games in August.
“The race was good, but I’m not happy with my time,’’ said Defar. “I did not prepare well because I’m injured. It’s my calf muscles. Even in the race, I could feel pain. It is a difficult time for me now, a difficult moment in my athletic career.’’
Ben True will tell anyone who asks that “the 5k is where my heart lies.’’ And he will race the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the Olympic trials with an excellent chance of qualifying for the US team. But Friday night, he raced in the men’s 1,500 and finished third in 3:36.05. His time is currently the US leader for outdoor track.
“I was a little surprised,’’ said True of the fast time that followed workouts where his legs didn’t feel good. “I think I actually had a chance at winning it . . . [The time] means my training is where it should be. I train by myself so it’s good to know where you are in training. “
In the women’s 400 meters, American Francena McCorory won in 50.46. But the most impressive performance came from runner-up Carly Muscaro, who finished in 51.66. Muscaro, a Merrimack College athlete from Ashland, claimed the NCAA Division 2 Championship in the 400 for the 2016 indoor and outdoor seasons.
“With placing second, I was happy,’’ said Muscaro. “If I had an amazing, breakthrough day, I think I could have won. But second isn’t bad for that field.’’
Before the 21-year-old Muscaro starts her senior year, she will compete at the Olympic trials. Harvard’s Autumne Frankin, another local college Olympic qualifier, finished fourth in 52.39.
“I want to get through the first round and make it to the semifinals,’’ said Muscaro of her goals for the trials.
Even before the college and elite runners took the track, the distance festival produced some fast finishes. Kate Murphy won the Adidas girls’ Dream 1,500 in 4:07.21. That time was fast enough to qualify the 16-year-old from Burke, Va., for the US Olympic Trials. It also was the third-fastest high school 1,500 of all time.
“It feels amazing,’’ said Burke, who recently finished her junior year of high school. “I’ve been really patient over this season and I feel like it really came together. Coming in, I knew I needed to get it done. It was one of my last shots at getting [an Olympic qualifier]. I just tried to be brave.’’
In the boys’ Dream Mile, Jack Salisbury of LaSalle Academy in Providence took the title in 4:04:02. Salisbury set a personal best. Thomas Ratcliffe of Concord-Carlisle finished second in 4:04:41.
“Right now, I feel really tired, feel like I’m going to throw up or pass out,’’ Salisbury said. “My primary goal was to get a PR. I didn’t think I could win until the last 80 or 90 meters.’’
Salisbury, 18, said it helped to sleep in his own bed, then drive about an hour for the meet. He will attend Georgetown this fall.
