A News Filler Extra

Lots to cover, so I'll get right on it!

Trentavis Friday, who was Trayvon Bromell's main competition in the 2014 WJC in Eugene, has followed Bromell to the Professional ranks!
This does a couple of things.
It prevents him from joining Bromell on any of my Collegiate DDD lists, either INdoors or OUTdoors!
It leaves the Collegiate sprint ranks with only one legitimate potential Record-breaker---he being Andre De Grasse (who was on the verge of turning Pro himself!).

That OUTdoor Track 10K I mentioned for Sacramento on December 6th?
Add NCAA XC victor Molly Seidel to those challenging Jordan Hasay and Kim Conley in the Women's race.
Since this is a new Collegiate year, this will count for possible placement on the Collegiate OUTdoor list for Seidel!
Assuming she tries to run 32:15 or faster, as do Hasay & Conley, a 32:15 for Seidel would place her 12th A-T Collegiate!
Just 5 Collegians have broken 32:00 on the Track!

The Men's race features 10K rookie Ben Blankenship!!
Why is an elite Miler racing a 10000 in December?
A workout?
As a rabbit?

Speaking of Track 10K's, Japan held a biggie recently.
While he didn't win, Kota Murayama broke the National Record, PR'ing by 43 seconds with a time of 27:29.69.
Titsuya Yoroizaha was just 0.05 seconds behind (27:29.74)--and record-less!!

The Delhi Half-Marathon was won by Birhane Legese in 59:20.
Four others broke 60 minutes!
The Women's race went to Cynthia Limo, time of 1:08:35.
Florence Kiplagat DNF'ed about halfway through!

The Regionals races to determine entrants for the Footlocker XC race were held in several locations.
Here's the highlights.

Taylor Werner won the Midwest Regional with a 16:57.
Judy Pendergast was far back in 2nd.
The Men's race was a lot closer, with winner Jonathan Davis just edging Paul Roberts and Ben Ventch, all 3 running 14:57 and change!

The Northeast Women's race was won by Madeline Davison's 17:39 over Jessica Lawson's 17:41.
Hannah DeBalsi was 4th.

Noah Affolhn (sp?) won the Men's race by about 2 seconds over Jake Brophy.

But it was the South Regional where the potential (probable??) Footlocker winners ruled.
Eritrean Weini Kelati easily beat recent 4:43+ INdoor Mile--10:02+ OUTdoor 3200 one day-doubler Nevada Mareno, 16:43 to 17:05, with most of that margin coming over the final 1000 meters!
Julia Heymach, another speedy Miler, was 5th, while 9th Grader (via Finland) Amaris Tyynismas was 20th, more than a minute behind Mareno!
(More on Kelati in a minute!)

The Men's race went to heavy favorite Drew Hunter!
He won by 33 seconds, time of 14:26!

Weini Kelati was brought over to her Heritage (VA) school by a relative in September 2014.
She became immediately successful, as she'd finished 8th in the 3000 won by Mary Cain in the WJC that summer.
Kelati's time was a PR--9:12+.

But Kelati was born December 1, 1996, so was 17 then, while beginning her US schooling as a 9th Grader!
Just turned 19 yesterday, she will have only this season (XC, INdoor & OUTdoor Track) to compete for her school, or for places on A-T lists.
Basically, this means--especially if she wants to compete for a US college starting in the fall of 2018--she can NOT turn Pro after her HS eligibility ends next year!
Which also means she'll need to run only "open" races as an "unattached" entrant!
An article on her said she's yet to make any future racing plans!
I began a T&FN MB thread on her, and Garry Hill has said that, because of her age, she is NOT eligible for any Class or HSR's!

Oops!
Forgot about the CIF XC Championships!

The Women's race had a big upset, with Destiny Collins taking just 3rd behind Cate Ratliff and Morgan Coonfield.
Their times were 17:03+, 17:07+, and 17:09+ for Collins!
Amanda Gehrich was 8th, while Fiona O'Keefe was 16th, and Rylee Bowen just 56th!

Phillip Rocha and Austin Tamagno had a wild battle in the Men's race, with Rocha reaching the tape first, time of 14:42.9, three seconds ahead of Tamagno!

Great Oak won both team battles!

My next two posts will predict which (if any!!) World, US, Collegiate, or HS Records will be broken this INdoor season!
They'll be divided by gender!
But first, here's a few more items I neglected to mention above!

Recent arrestee Lamine Diack is the Cover-person for the January edition of Track and Field News!
Is that not akin to Ayatollah Khomeini having been chosen Time's Man of the Year in 1980?
(Said only half in jest!)

Bernard Lagat said he'll retire from Track racing after next summer!
He also said he might try for the 10000 in Rio--if he can't make it in the 5000!
AND--he might try a Marathon after Rio sometime!

HS Track (Jack Shepard) will be out with its 2016 edition soon!
(Actually might be available now!)
Buy it!

But another new book offering totally intrigues me!
Advertised in the January T&FN, it's called "World's Greatest in Athletics", and is co-edited by Athletics Annual Editor Peter Matthews, and 2 others!
It's 832 pages, and is available for $69 ($49 for the book, $20 for shipping).
It has Top 10 rankings for every event, with detailed info on every ranker.
It also has Top 500 (!!!) A-T lists for every event!
Also over 300 photos, and lots of other stuff!!
As soon as I saw the ad, I set aside $69 for immediate purchase!!
You should too!

See you soon---maybe later today or tomorrow---with the INdoor Records Predictions posts!