Oh, how I love punning!
I also love Running (& jumping & throwing things).
Lucky for you (?), you're getting a dose of both!
For all across these great United States of America, lightning did indeed strike!
It struck--literally!!--in Kansas, causing several delays, postponements, and cancellations at the West version of the NCAA whatchamacallits.
But it also struck--on the Tracks and Fields of Jacksonville, Florida (at the East version of those whatchamacallits), and in Eugene, Oregon at the Records-smashing Prefontaine Classic!
Emma Coburn broke her own---Yes, I said Emma Coburn broke HER OWN---American Record in the 3000 meter Steeplechase!
You know the story.
In 2014, summer of, Emma broke Jenny Simpson's AR of 9:12.50 with a great and powerful time of 9:11.42.
She was so thrilled that she left the stadium without having been tested for drugs.
The DIS-organization known as USATF had installed a rule stating that any AR breaker needed to be drug tested for their record to be ratified.
The IAAF, meanwhile, had a rule that only the winner (Emma placed 2nd!) and another athlete from the event would get tested.
She wasn't selected, so left the stadium to celebrate her new record!
Then, a few months later, USATF says it wouldn't ratify her time as the AR because she hadn't been tested!
Sides were taken, with myself (and this blog) siding with Coburn, saying she'd broken Simpson's record, and would be honored and respected as the holder of the 3000SC American Record for Women!
Thus, when Emma sprinted across the line (in 3rd place), and the clock stopped at 9:10.76, Emma Coburn broke HER OWN American Record--pure and simple, USATF be damned!!
She remains 13th A-T World.
But what a battle for first!
Hyvin Kiyeng had run 9:07 recently, while teenager Ruth Jebet ran the Age 19 record time of 9:15.
With a lap to go, Jebet had moved ahead, and kept widening the gap approaching the final curve.
Then Kiyeng sprinted, and you could see the gap closing, until, coming out of the last water pit, there was just a step between them!
Into the straight, over the final hurdle, Kiyeng was at Jebet's side, and the sprint was on!
At the tape, Jebet's 8:59.97 had edged Kiyeng's 9:00.01 for the greatest ever finish to a Women's SC--or maybe any race!!
Jebet broke her own Age 19 record (by almost 16 seconds!!).
It's the Prefontaine Meet Record.
It breaks her own National Record of Bahrain.
She moves from 21st A-T World to 2nd!
Kiyeng gets the best-ever 2nd Place record!
She broke her own Age 24 record.
It's the National Record of Kenya.
She moves from 9th A-T World to 3rd.
Beatrice Chepkoech's 9:17.41 in 4th misses my World DDD by 0.47 seconds!
Sofia Assefa was 5th in 9:18.16.
Then came American Leah O'Connor, who ran 9:18.85, moving her from 14th A-T US all the way to 3rd!!
Just Coburn and Simpson are faster!
Back in 10th place, Genevieve LaLonde's 9:32.13 became Canada's new National Record!
Ashley Higginson's 9:33.08 finished ahead of Virginia Nyambura's 9:36.09!
Also over hurdles--ten of them, of the thinner 33 inch variety, and no water pit--sped Kendra Harrison!
It took her just 12.24 seconds to speed down the Hayward Field track, setting a new American Record in the 100H, ending Brianna Rollins's brief 3 year reign!
And coming within 0.03 of the now-questionable 12.21 World Record of Yordanka Donkova, set in 1988.
With no one really close--Rollins was 2nd in 12.53--Harrison (and the sold out crowd) was stunned when she saw the time--and was told it was wind-legal!!
Besides the AR, it also gives her the Age 23 record, and the Meet Record!
She moves from 5th A-T US to the top rung.
And she moves from 9th A-T World all the way to 2nd!!
Jasmin Stowers finished in 12.55 behind Rollins, with super-vet Dawn Harper-Nelson ending up last in 13.01.
The Women's 1500 also saw a Prefontaine Meet Record fall!
Faith Kipyegon--who had already run a 3:56 this year--broke her own National Record of Kenya with her 3:56.41, in addition to the MR.
She's now 21st A-T World.
And she improves her standing on two of my Combined Events lists!
On the Combined Events 1500 & 3000 list, her total time of 12:19.96 (3:56.41 plus 8:23.55) moves her from 9th place to 8th.
On the Combined Events 1500 & 5000 list, her total time of 18:28.36 (3:56.41 plus 14:31.95) moves her up one spot, from 8th to 7th!
Dawit Seyaum finished in a solid 3:58.10, two seconds in front of Gudaf Tsegay's 4:00.18.
Jenny Simpson played it safe, moving up at the end to a 4:01.57, which just beat Australian Linden Hall, who ran a PR of 4:01.78!
Brenda Martinez finished in 8th, time of 4:03.57, two places ahead of AR holder Shannon Rowbury's 4:04.85.
Treniere Moser and Alexa Efraimson ended in 11th & 12th, a few seconds slower, but still under 4:09!
But the real American story of the race was Shelby Houlihan's spectacular 6 second PR time of 4:03.39 in 7th!
She becomes 18th A-T US, tied with 1 other--who just happens to be Ms Efraimson!!
The 3 Pre sprint races were--er, lightning quick!
Tori Bowie had the Beijing WC 1-2 of Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson to deal with.
And deal with them she did!!
When the curve straightened out, Bowie had a small lead, with the muscular Schippers pounding out her lengthy strides, with Thompson on her other side also in contention.
Then Bowie used her 10.80 afterburners to help her disappear, with her 21.99 beating the WC pair by almost two tenths, Times of 22.11 and 22.16 for the Dutch and Jamaican!
For Bowie, it was a big PR, and makes her 23rd A-T US, tied with 3 others!
Jenna Prandini finished well back in 4th, time of 22.61.
The HS PRO Kaylin Whitney found out what racing against adults was all about, her 23.17 in 6th still finishing ahead of Kim Duncan and Candyce McGrone!!
English Gardner came home--again!
The former Duck darling is STILL a darling of the Duck faithful, who cheered vociferously when Gardner sped across the line in 10.81, just 0.02 from her PR!
It was really no contest, even though Tianna Bartoletta ran 10.94 in 2nd.
Murielle Ahoure ran 11.01, with 36 year old Carmelita Jeter's 11.16 beating the wounded toe'd Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce's 11.18.
In the Men's 100, wind took away the legality of Justin Gatlin's 9.88.
As well as Asefa Powell's 9.94 in 2nd, Tyson Gay's 9.98 in 3rd, and Andre De Grasse's 10.05 back in 8th--and last!!
As I'd suggested in my massive Pre meet Preview post, High Schoolers stole the thunder from the more-renowned (and a whole bunch faster) Professionals in the two Mile races, the National and the Bowerman!
Michael Slagowski tried, but failed to PR, yet still broke 4 minutes in the National race, his 3:59.78 finishing ahead of Leo Manzano's 4:00.27 back in 4th & 5th!
In 6th came Austin Tamagno, who couldn't quite get there, his 4:01.04 still a two second PR.
Tamagno is now 12th A-T HS.
Charlie Grice of Great Britain won this race in 3:52.64!
He's just 22 years old!
In the Bowerman race, Drew Hunter never was close to Alan Webb's HSR, and ended up last, yet still got an OUTdoor sub-4 time of 3:58.86!
He moves from 20th A-T HS to 3rd!
Ahead of him came the winner, Asbel Kiprop, said to look bored as he crossed the line in 3:51.54.
Abdelaati Iguider's 3:51.96 ended 2nd, while in 7th & 8th came American's Ben Blankenship and Evan Jager, BB's 3:53.83 an OUTdoor PR!
The 3 longest races produced deep finishes & fast times.
Leading off was the Women's 5000, where Helen Obiri tore apart her PR.
Her winning time was 14:32.02, which makes her 23rd A-T World!
Also, she takes over 10th place on my Combined Events list for the 1500 and 5000.
Her times of 3:57.05 added to the 14:32.02 gives her a total time of 18:29.07.
The V-chips were next, Viola Kibiwot ending 2nd in 14:35.13, ahead of Vivian Cheruiyot's 14:35.68.
Mercy Cherono continued the Kenyan dominance, her 14:37.08 taking 4th.
Molly Huddle ran a solid 14:48.14, never really close to American record pace!
She ended in 11th, with Betsy Saina in 8th and Sally Kipyego in 7th in 14:44 territory!
Mo Farah took the 10000 in 26:53.91, again failing to take control and move the pace along at a desired PR tempo after the rabbits took him through 5000 in 13:23.
He did get the Age 33 record, however!
But he had lots of company!
Unknown William Sitonik gave Mo some battle, but lost despite running 26:54.66.
Tammat Tola (26:57.33), Stephen Sambu (26:58.25), and Ibrahim Jelan (26:58.75) all broke 27 minutes, with Zerzenay Tadese just missing at 27:00.66.
Eric Jenkins was top American, with a Trials qualifying time of 27:48.92.
The 5000 was also deep and fairly fast.
Muktar Edris beat Geoff Kamworor, 12:59.43 to 12:59.98.
Mo Ahmed destroyed his own National Record of Canada, his 13:01.74 taking 3rd.
Hassan Mead was top American, his 13:04.17 in 6th not a PR.
Ben True finished 11th, while Bernard Lagat, in his final track race at Hayward Field, was a DNF, due to a cold!
There's lots more to tell--from Pre, and from Kansas and Florida (and elsewhere)--but due to length, I'll end this here, and continue my tale in another post!
I may wait a day---or most of a day---as I want to include the results from Gotzis, which will begin its 2nd day of the Multi's in a few hours!
See you then!
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