April FLOOD of Great Marks!

April showers?
Nah!
Let's call it a FLOOD!!
(And here's all the reasons why!)

Starting with today's Boston Marathon--on the 50th Anniversary of the 1st Woman to finish the race!!
After a slow/slower/slowest start (at 2:34 pace after 1st 10K!), four Ethiopians took over from early leaders Neely Spence Gracey and Sarah Crouch (!!), and gradually pulled away before the Newton Hills.
No, Gracey and Crouch weren't showboating---they led because everyone else was WALKING!!

Anyway, it soon came down to Tirfi Tsegaye and a surprise late surge by Alsede Bayle, who shocked Tsegaye when she blasted past, then ran away to a 2:29:19 to 2:30:03 win!
Gracey SPRINTED---yes, I said SPRINTED!!--the final 400 or so (sub-70 seconds?) to finish 9th in 2:35:00 in her initial 26.2.
She'd been 14th at 90 minutes in, then 10th 30 minutes later, then 9th at the line!
Crouch ended just under 2:38, but was happy with her race!

The Men also started slow, and were about 2:14 pace after 10K.
They too came down to a 2-person race---Lelisa Desisa vs 21 year old Lemi Hayle.
After running side-by-side for a bit, Hayle surged, and Desisa couldn't respond.
Hayle's winning time was 2:12:44, with Desisa coming in several seconds back!
No American men in the top 10!

On to the TONS of material I have for you!
What a wild mid-April weekend!!
Something for everyone--whether a fan of World, Collegiate, or HS T&F!

Let's start with the Great Oak (CA) distance teams!
The Men's team broke a HSR they broke just a week ago!
They reduced their own HSR in the 4X1600 Relay by about 3 seconds, winning in 16:52.95 at Mt SAC!
Add a fast DMR of 10:01.71 and a fast 4X800 of 7:37.61!
But it wasn't just the guys who shone!
The vaunted G-O Women kicked some ass too!!
Their 4X1600 squad, anchored by Superstar Destiny Collins, ran 19:52.88.
As I noted in my last post, there's a 4XMILE Relay HSR of 19:56.75!
However, I don't know what the 4X1600 HSR is---as several times are just conversions FROM 4XMile's!!
If anyone has any information as to the fastest PURE 4X1600 Relay times for Girls--NO converted times!!---please tell me!!
As of now, the G-O Women will be given the 4X1600 Relay HSR---by me!
(Subject to change!!)
BTW, they also ran a fast DMR---11:41.54!

Due to amount of material, I will need to compact what remains as much as I can!
I'll split it into event groups!
Sprints first!

Jenna Prandini--former Duck, now Pro--beat current Duck Hannah Cunliffe in the Mt SAC 100, 10.95 to 10.99--a HUGE breakthrough for the new transfer from Oklahoma!!
Although not too surprising, given her INdoor 2nd in the NCAA 60!!
For Cunliffe, it's the new Collegiate Soph Class record, and makes her 8th A-T Collegiate!
No PR for Prandini, but almost so, as it's 10.92.
Cunliffe, Arianna Washington, Deajea Stevens, and Jasmine Todd broke the UO record for the 4X100 Relay, their 42.68 moving them from 7th A-T School to 3rd!
Stevens also won the 200, her 22.61 beating Cunliffe's PR of 22.71.

Yohan Blake ran his best time in 4 years--sprinting the 100 in 9.95 (1.4 wind).
He left 19.80 (200) Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer's 10.10 far behind!
He also anchored a Jamaican 4X100 Relay team called Anchor Racers, their time a good 38.45!
Walter Dix also returned from the "dead", running his fastest 100 since 2013--a 10.06, beating Christian Coleman's 10.11.
He also ran a windy 10.03!
Ameer Webb had a great double---his 19.91 in the 200 the Mt SAC Meet Record, and making him 20th A-T US!
He added a windy 100 of 9.90 (!), which beat newbie Pro Andre De Grasse's 10.04!
Webb also ran a leg on that 38.40 4X100 Relay team (Altis B) I reported in my previous post!
I mistakenly reversed the names of Wilfried Koffi--sorry about that!
Andre De Grasse also was on that team!

Tori Bowie blew away the field in the Chris Brown Invitational 200, her 22.26 not a PR, however!
She beat the 22.57 PR of Natasha Hastings and the solid opener of HS Pro Kaylin Whitney, a 22.84, which gave her 4th place!
And she gets the HS PRO 12th Grade record with this mark!
Yes, Whitney's still in HS!

LaShawn Merritt shocked a few folks when he used the FAST track at the Chris Brown Invite in the Bahamas to get a 200 PR of 19.78!!
His previous best?
Would you believe a 19.98---run in 2007??!!
On my Combined Events list for the 100-200-400, he moved from 6th A-T to 3rd!
His times of 10.47, 19.78, and 43.65 add to 1:13:90!
He's also now 15th A-T World!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 1 other, all the way to 10th!

Other noteworthy marks in the short races included---
a 9.90 wind-aided (2.3) 100 for Tyson Gay, which beat Femi Ogunode's 9.94
Devon Allen's 20.68 200 (and 2 other events!)
Kirani James's 44.36, with Jeremy Wariner in 3rd with 45.55
a 49.5 relay leg by Allyson Felix (as part of a 3:32+ 4X400 Relay--she ran 2nd leg, I believe)
a non-PR 200 by HS'er Lauren Rain Williams, time of 23.07
Wayde Van Niekirk's 44.98 in the one lapper
a Collegiate leading 100 from Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, time of 10.09
ditto (Collegiate leading) the 200 of 22.55 by Felicia Brown
a GREAT double by HOT HS Freshman Tyrese Cooper--46.52 in the 400, and a JUST windy (2.2) 200 of 20.46, which, if legal, would have DESTROYED the Frosh Class record of 20.99
the PR 100 by Brit Desiree Henry, time of 11.06 (She also ran 22.98 for half a lap!)
a non-PR in the 100H by HS'er Brittley Humphrey, time of 13.24--continuing the "Year of the 100H" for HS Women
Cindy Ofili's Collegiate leading 100H time of 12.66, not a PR
Johnny Dutch's fast 400H time of 48.36, leaving Javier Culson's 49.02 far behind
a 400 by USC's Kendell Ellis, time of 51.82
a  400H best by Jaidi Stepter, time of 55.90
the 51.62 in the flat 400 by Shakima Wimbley--the break-out star of 2015
(Wimbley also ran a leg on Miami's 3:31.73 4X400 Relay team!)
Michael Norman's non-PR 100 of 10.27, run AGAINST a wind of 1.2
a tight 100 race between winner Michelle Lee-Ahye (11.14), Murielle Ahoure (11.15), Veronica Campbell Brown (11.17), and Candyce McGrone (11.18)!

Need to report THIS result by itself!
Shaunae Miller ran a solid April 400 of 49.69---just missing her PR from 2015 by 0.07!--which beat Quinera Hayes's HUGE breakthrough time of 49.91.
Her previous best was almost a full second slower!!
It makes her 17th A-T US!!

The Field events provided an Easter Basket full of goodies for me to report!!
(Sorry--couldn't resist!!  LOL)
In many ways, it was the Women's Pole Vault which was a Tale(s) of the Bunny!!
(PLEASE--no wise-ass remarks!!  Leave those to yours truly!!  LOL)
ANYWAYYYYY---
Diamara Plenell Cruz continues her Record-breaking 2016, her latest Puerto Rico National Record being 14-9.
In a different meet--a small affair in one of those Mid-USA states--Sandi Morris nabbed her OUTdoor PR, topping the bar set at 15-9!!
While she remains 3rd A-T US, this moves her from 17th A-T World to 11th, where she's tied with 2 others!
She took 3 shots at 16-2!!
Megan Clark tied the Mt SAC Meet Record with her 14-11.
She remains 7th A-T Collegiate, but moves up the A-T US list, from 22nd to 19th, where she's tied with 2 others!

I'll put this next PV result all by its lonesome!
Lexi Weeks's 14-10 created a lot of mayhem in my Record Book!!
She's the new Collegiate Frosh Class record holder!!
She WAS 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others.
She's NOW 8th, but not tied with anyone!
She also becomes 23rd A-T US, tied with 1 other!
And she beat some studs!!
Vet Mary Saxer's 14-6 took 2nd, while 15+ footer Katie Nageotte's 14-4 took 3rd!
Kristen Brown is another who reached 14-10.
In fact, while achieved in a different meet, it makes her tied with Weeks (See above!) for 23rd A-T US!!
Tori Pena's 14-10 took second behind Brown!
Finally (in the PV!!), 2 HS'ers got good marks!
(Three, if you include the non-PR 13-10 by recent 14-2 girl Rachel Baxter!!)
Carson Dingler and Andrea Willis topped 13-8 in separate meets, each making them 19th A-T HS, tied with 3 others, including each other!

As I said, there were other good Field event marks!
Amber Campbell tied her 2014 PR of 241-6 in the Hammer Throw at Mt SAC, then went to another meet, where she threw 241-1.
Marcel Lomnicky of Slovakia got a Hammer toss out to 252-5!
Courtney Jacobson took over the Women's HS leadership for 2016 in the HT with her 185-11.
It makes her 16th A-T HS!
Sophie Rivera's Javelin Throw measuring 176-3 is a slight PR, but leaves her 6th A-T HS.
Speaking of the Women's HS Javelin--watch for the NEXT meet of HSR holder Madison Wiltrout.
In her 1st meet back after surgery in 2015 (after breaking the HSR with her 185-8!!), Wiltrout threw 148-5.
Okay, so that's FAR removed from her HSR!
BUT--she said she was just testing her arm--and expects to let loose in her next meet!
That 148-5 was her only throw of the meet!

Greg Rutherford got a LJ mark of 27-2.75!
Vashti Cunningham opened her HS Pro career with a Mt SAC win, and a HS PRO record of 6-4.
It's the HS PRO record, and the HS PRO 12th Grade record!!
She'd wanted 6-7, but apparently the conditions weren't up to snuff!
But not bad for a newly-minted HS Profesh!!
Zibby Boyer took second with 6-2.75!
Akela Jones topped the bar set at 6-4.75 for a new Barbados National Record!
She moves up the A-T Collegiate list from 23rd, tied with 7 others (!), to 7th, tied with 5 others!!
Her 6307 in the Heptathlon wasn't a PR, but was listed on Tilastopaia as the Barbados National Record!
A quick explanation!
She scored 6371 points last year, which I duly noted as the NR, despite its "windy" classification!
So make your choice!
Is that 6371W the NR of Barbados, or this 6307 non-windy mark??
I say the former!!
WITH the "W" attached!!
Other good Heptathlon marks came from Annie Kunz (5904), Lindsey Schwartz (5991), Lindsey Lettow (5988), Kiani Profit (5977), Chari Hawkins (5968), and World Class 100H specialist Nia Ali (5870)!
Jessica Flax finished 2nd to Jones's 6307 with her 6068!

Christian Taylor opened with a TJ of 56-1.75.
Rushwal Samsai got a LJ World leader of 27-4.50.
He's a South African!
It came a bit after Greg Rutherford's mark (See above!), which temporarily was the World leader!
Victor Hogan, another from South Africa, took over the World DT lead (from Sam Mattis!!) with his throw of 221-10!!
Rodney Brown added weight (sic!!) to the DT circle with his 216-6!
Nick Scarvelis got a good SP mark of 67-0, the Collegiate leader!
The HS Men's SP is having a weighty (OK, so I'm FULL of these precious bon mots today!  Kill me!!  LOL) year in 2016!
Bronson Osborn added his 71-7.25 to the 70+ gang of Tripp Piperi and Jordan Geist!
He moves from 23rd A-T HS to 15th!!
He added a HS Discus leader of 204-4, barely topping Piperi's earlier season mark!
A few Female SP'ers had some fun too!
Jeneva Stevens threw the ball out 60-4, with Dani Bunch 2nd with 59-4.75.
But they were both beaten (in a separate meet!!) by Raven Saunders's mark of 60-11.25--not a PR!
Another non-PR came from Ryan Crouser, his toss measuring 70-0.25!
Before I leave the Field events, I must make a couple of corrections!
I reported marks from Heather Steacy (236-6 HT) and Taryn Suttie (58-8 SP) in my previous post, saying I wasn't familiar with them!
That might be because they're both from Canada, and while I LOVE that beautiful (Nay, GORGEOUS!!!) country, I'm just not as well informed about "foreigners" as I am with US folks!
Sorry, Gals!!

And yes, there's MORE!!
Too much for one post?
Tell me if you'd prefer me splitting these LONGGGG posts in half next time, posting twice!!

I'll do the Middle and Long Distances next, excluding the Boston Marathon results, already done (See above!).
Duane Solomon took the Mt SAC 800 with his 1:45.47.
Eliud Rutto was 2nd in 1:45.59.
Laura Roesler sprinted from 3rd or 4th to a win with her 2:01.54 at Mt SAC.
Kaela Edwards ran a good Collegiate time of 2:01.97 in 2nd, beating Raevyn Rogers's 2:02.81!!
Molly Ludlow was 7th in that race!!
Michael Slagowski's 1:48.70 missed my HS DDD by just 0.18 seconds!
Asbel Kiprop got the World leader with his 1:44.34!

In the 1500-Mile category, we saw a fast Mile from Austin Tamagno, time of 4:03.21.
Connor Dunne was 2nd, over 6 seconds back!
Tamagno wanted to go sub-4!!
He missed my HS DDD by 0.49 seconds!
David Torrence won the Mt SAC 1500 with his 3:40.67.
Nicole Sifuentes won the 1500 in 4:12.01.
Soph Rylee Bowen took the HS Mile in 4:47.26, beating the 4:48.34 of Amanda Gehrich!

As always, I saved the best (in the 1500-Mile category!!) for last!
Katie Rainsberger ran a fast 1500 of 4:17.52.
It makes her 12th A-T HS.
But that's not the best part!!
She WON the race at the Oregon Relays in Eugene, beating Pro vet Geena Gall (Listed that way in the results!  Not Geena Lara anymore??) and Maggie Vessey (!!).
Sarah Baxter finished a far back 17th, running 4:34.24!

The Mt SAC Women's 5000 produced another surprise winner!
(Remember Marielle Hall coming from nowhere to run 15:19 there??)
Well, this time it was 29 year old Lauren Paquette, whose 15:20.44 is an OG Qualifier!
She turns 30 on June 27th, and had no times listed for 5000 as of 2014!  (FAST Annual, thank you!)
Alphine Bolton was 2nd in 15:30.02, while Erin Finn (who is apparently redshirting this OUTdoor season at Michigan to train for and try for the OG--she ran unattached!) and Erin Teschuk were 5th and 6th with times of 15:38.20 and 15:41.35, respectively!
Syd Gidabuday of Adams State won the 5000 in 13:36.83, with Patrick Corona (?) and Mason Ferlic finishing a second or less behind!
At the Brian Clay Invite, Futsam Zinesellassie ran 13:37.89 for the win.
Alexi Pappas easily won the Eugene 5000 in 15:33.78!
In the BAA Road 5000--connected to the Boston Marathon weekend party!--Molly Huddle and Dejen Gebremeskel took the titles, times of 15:10 and 13:35, respectively!
Ben True was 2nd in the Men's race, with Stephen Sambu 3rd, while Huddle was by herself at the finish!

A good Women's 3000SC saw Eleanor Purrier's 9:47.17 beating Danielle Winslow's 9:48.81.
For Purrier, this makes her 21st A-T Collegiate!

Some added Road Race news.
In the Milan Half-Marathon, James Wangai won in a fast 59:12.
The Milan FULL Marathon saw Kenneth Mungara AGAIN break his own Age 40 & over record with his 2:08:38.
In the Hamburg Marathon, Tesfaye Abere won in 2:06:58, while Meselech Melkamu took the Women's race in 2:21:54.
In my previous post, I reported TWO times as possibilities for Meseret Defar's winning time at the Carlsbad 5000--either 15:02 or 14:59.
It was the slower time!

And finally---REALLY!!!---an announced World Record attempt came from 3000SC'er Jairus Birech, who said he 'll go for it in the Rome DL!

And that is a WRAP!!