In London, Eliud Kipchoge (a super fast track runner of yore) came within 8 seconds of Dennis Kimetto's World Record of 2:02:57, running a superb 2:03:05, and showing a disgusted face at how he'd ALMOST had the WR.
Fast forward about 5 months to today's Berlin race.
At 5000, a field of 10 or so blazes a 14:20, the WR assault ON
When they pass 10K in 29:00, then the Half in 1:01:11, the blast of WR air attacks even the most pragmatic and skeptical.
Kimetto's pace was 1:01:45, then 1:01:12.
They were 34 seconds up on WR pace.
BUT--they'd have to match Kimetto's opening salvo--after having run half the race!
The pace was still deadly at 30K in 1:27:26.
And it was becoming a RACE!
At points along the trail, Ken Bekele had fallen back---not by much--just 10 to 20 meters.
The more experienced 26.2 man--Wilson Kipsang--with a PR coming in 1:40 faster than the speedy trackster--held the lead, and looked comfortable.
But so did Bekele.
And when he closed those gaps every time they appeared, Kipsang started to fret.
Side by side they flew, but a bit slower---now off WR pace by 20 seconds approaching 40 kilometers!
Tim Hutchings (on NBC's livestream) was saying the WR chase was done---and now it would be a race---between the Kenyan and the Ethiopian.
Then Bekele stomped the gas pedal, opening a 15 meter spread in less than a "lap" of running.
The race was over, and the 12:37.35 and 26:17.53 man was sprinting!
SPRINTING!!!
Too little too late!
As Hutchings said, if he'd begun that kick a K earlier, the WR would've been his!
And he knew it.
Breaking the tape at 2:03:04, he shook his head, flipped his hands, knowing IF---IF---and how ALMOST he'd gotten!!
A virtual repeat of Kipchoge's reaction after London!
That said, Bekele destroyed the Age 34 record, as well as Haile Gebrsellassie's Ethiopia National Record.
He is now 3rd A-T World---on my list that includes times from Boston!
Kipsang, also 34, missed that Age record by---9 seconds!
He'd been 6th A-T World.
After this race--with Bekele's time added--he's still 6th, but now is 6th, tied with 1 other!
Thus he moves DOWN the list---in a way!
Third went to Evans Chebet in a slight PR of 2:05:31.
The Women's race also started fast---with the first Half going by in 1:09:27, with Berhane Dibaba narrowly trailing Aberu Kebede.
Not much was seen of the Women's race in the last half, as NBC focused on the great Men's battle.
But I know Kebede---who had dropped Dibaba---went by 30K in 1:38:42.
Then she slowed---pretty drastically--falling from the mid-16:30's to over 17 minute 5000's.
And there went her attempt to break 2:20!
But she easily won, time of 2:20:45, a full 3:13 ahead of Dibaba's 2:23:58.
Newcomer Ruti Aga was 3rd in a 45 second PR of 2:24:41.
In the past 2 weeks or so, there have been other good races on the roads of the world!
Mo Farah took the Great North Run 13.1 Miler in 60:04.
But surprising in 2nd---and actually leading at points!--Dathan Ritzenhein finished in 60:12.
Vivian Cheruiyot took the Women's race in 67:54, one second up on Priscah Jeptoo, with Tirunesh Dibaba in 3rd with a time of 68:04.
In the Prague 10K, Violah Jepchumbo's 30:24 missed the WR by just 3 seconds!!
Abe Kipyetich took the Men's division in 27:40.
Another fast Half-Marathon was taken by James Wangari in 59:07.
And there was good depth.
Stephen Kibet was 2nd in 59:28, with Albert Kangogo another second back, and 4 others getting under an hour!!
Wangari ran his first 10K in 27:15!!
The USATF 5000 was won by Ryan Hill (13:57) and Aliphine Tuliamuk (15:22).
In the Women's race, Emily Sisson was 2nd in 15:42--her 2nd good race in a row!
That Great North City Games held a couple of oddball 500 meter races.
These were DOWNhill (overall), and was a combined road AND track race!!
But they were also fast!
David Rudisha ran the fastest 500 ever--57.69---which obviously counts as much as a 100 with a 25 MPH wind at his back!!
Mark English took 2nd in 57.91, with Martyn Rooney getting the same time in 3rd!
Lynsey Sharp took the Women's race in another "fastest ever" time of 1:06.62.
Shalayna Oskan-Clarke took 2nd in 1:06.89.
The Talence Multi's were okay--if compared to a meet composed of Collegiate Frosh!!
Nadine Broersen took the Heptathlon with 6377 points, four more than Yorgelis Rodriguez.
Aleksey Kasyanov took the Decathlon with a measly 8077 points.
But 2nd was Canadian Pierre LePage, a 20 year old, whose previous best was about 500 points less than his 8027!
He'd led the field much of the way!
Erin Finn took her first 2 XC races, each by about 45 seconds!!
But then she faced Boise State's Brenna Peloquin in the Roy Griak 6K.
Even with a mile to go, Peloquin sprinted ahead, winning by over 10 seconds in 20:49 and change.
Third went to another new face (though introduced to you in this blog earlier this year!!), Portland's Lauren LaRocco.
In fact, Portland won BOTH races--Men and Women!!
The Men's race was taken by Colorado State's Jerrell Mock in 25:06.
Sam Prakel edged Tanner Anderson in the Dellinger XC race, both running 24:36.
Emily Weber won the Women's race.
Ed Cheserek didn't run.
But RONALD Cheserek did!!
That Cheserek (Related?? Don't know!) took the Mt. Dew Gator race in 24:43, winning by 18 seconds.
He's a Frosh at St Leo's!
A HS girl named Brie Oakley ran a SUPER fast XC time of 15:53 over a 5K course!
Don't have the details, so don't know the TRUE quality of her time.
But that is FAST!!
Alana Hadley FINISHED another Marathon---barely!
Starting good--tied with eventual winner Becki Spellman at 6 miles--Hadley was hurting---her ankle again!!---and stepped off the gas.
But she managed to finish her first race (of any distance??) since her Indy win in November of 2014!!
Timed in 3:18:32, she was then carted off in a wheelchair!!
Finally, Jenn Suhr is BACK!!
Super sick from early August on, she's apparently feeling good now.
In an "exhibition"---although it had other competitors---held INdoors (!!)--Suhr cleared the bar set at 4.88, or 16 feet even!!
And I mean she CLEARED it!!
However, she missed her Age 34 INdoor record set much earlier this year of 16-0.75!!
She said she'll compete again on October 1st.
I'm working on an idea for an "extra" post, where I'll list "Questions needing Answers"---on various subjects related to our sport!
But that's in the wind---nothing definite.
Next "results" post will probably be in 2 weeks--after the Chicago Marathon!
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
2016 High School Wrap-Up (& AOY's)
This one will be longer than the Collegiate review posted earlier.
More records broken, and more marks making my DDD's.
To save space, please refer to my Collegiate post for the usual intro stuff.
Pro HS'ers will be covered at the end of this post!!
The Men go first.
Four HSR's bit the dust in the 2016 OUTdoor season, and two of them came in similar (but different!!) events from the boys of Great Oak HS in Temecula CA.
They broke the 4X1600 Relay record with their 16:55.85.
And they nabbed the 40 year old 4X1Mile Relay mark with their 17:04.55 time!
Noah Ly;es broke another very old mark--the 200, with his 20.09.
And Chris Nilsen got the PV record with his 18-4.75!!
The Frosh Class saw 4 Class Records fall--out of 8 total!
Tyrese Cooper got 2 of them--the 200 in 20.62, and the 400 with his 45.23.
Sam Affolder got the Frosh Class 3000SC mark with his 9:16.43.
K Carrillo broke the Frosh Class DT record with his 198-9.
Mondo Duplantis got the lone Soph Class mark--his PV of 18-1.
Jordan Geist got the only Junior Class record--his SP measured 74-3.50.
Lyles and Nilsen were the Senior Class record breakers.
The following made my DDD lists!
200 Noah Lyles (20.09--HSR--1st) Michael Norman (20.14--3rd, tied with 1 other)
400 Cooper (45.23--8th)
800 Sean Torpy (1:47.95--9th) Michael Slagowski (1:48.36--18th)
1500 Drew Hunter (3:41.85--3rd) Slagowski (3:42.40--4th) Austin Tamagno (3:44.14--12th)
1 Mile Hunter (3:58.86--3rd) Slagowski (3:59.54--7th) Tamagno (4:01.04--12th) Thomas Ratcliffe (4:01.50--15th, tied with 1 other)
3000SC Elon Nohilly (9:06.36--13th) Noah Affolder (9:06.52--15th)
110H Marcus Krah (13.25--3rd) Grant Holloway (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Trey Cunningham (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Damion Thomas (13.42--21st, tied with 2 others)
HJ Vernon Turner (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darius Corbin (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darryl Sullivan (7-4--18th, tied with 6 others)
LJ JaMari Ward (26-1.50--8th, tied with 1 other)
TJ Ward (53-7.50--5th, tied with 1 other)
PV Nilsen (18-4.75--HSR--1st) Duplantis (18-1--7th)
SP Geist (74-3.50--5th) Tripp Piperi (73-5.25--7th, tied with 1 other) Bronson Osborn (71-7.25--16th) Dan Guiliani (71-1.50--20th, tied with 1 other)
DT Terrell Adams (213-9--15th)
JT Liam Christiansen (232-1--8th)
HT Bobby Colantonio (251-2--5th)
No marks for the 100, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, 10000, 400H, or the Decathlon.
There were 32 marks dated 2016 on my Men's lists!
The "AOY" would be the TOY (Team of the Year)--IF I thought Relay teams should get top rank!!
But I want to keep this an individual's award, so I'm giving this year's Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book Athlete of the Year award for the 2016 OUTdoor season to--NOAH LYLES!!
While Chris Nilsen also got a HSR, his broke a very recent mark.
Lyles got a mark dating back to 1985!!
But give Nilsen an Honorable Mention, as well as both Great Oak Relay squads!
Add Jordan Geist and Ty Cooper to my list of HM's!
While the Athlete of the Year can't go to a Relay team, the Performance of the Year can---and does!!
Of the two HSR's going to G-O's team, their 4X1Mile broke a mark dating back 40 years, and belonged to a team from South Eugene HS--icing on the cake!!
And that HSR gets my POY!!
HM's go to Lyles & Nilsen, of course.
But also give it to Duplantis, Geist, Krah, Cooper (for his 400 mark!), and to Drew Hunter, for both his 1500 and 1 Mile marks.
Oh yes, add Great Oak's 4X1600 Relay team!!
Three events got 4 marks each on my DDD's.
They were the 1 Mile, 110H, and the SP.
With 3 marks were the 1500 and HJ.
The 200, 800, 3000SC, and the PV had 2 marks on my lists!
Unlike the Collegiates, only one meet deserves recognition as Meet of the Year--and that's ALWAYS the NBN!!
Thus, I'm giving no award for this category for HS'ers!!
(Or just give the meet a Perpetual Trophy!! LOL)
For the first time ever, HS Men went Pro before leaving the HS ranks!
They are Drew Hunter and the Lyles brothers, Noah and Josephus!!
All Seniors, they nonetheless had Professional marks prior to August 31st!!
(Actually, Josephus ended his season early, due to injury, before turning Pro!)
Hunter ran his fastest Mile--a 3:57.15--in July.
Lyles ran his 20.09 at the Olympic Trials--after the NBN, but before going Pro.
Thus, my HS Pro AOY goes to DREW HUNTER!!
(As well as the HS Pro Performance of the Year!!)
And now for the Women---who, as ever recently--came through with more of---everything!!
(Well, they tied the Men for most HSR's!!)
Katie Rainsberger FINALLY took down Lynn Bjorklund's 1975 HSR in the 3000 meters!!
And no asterisks or special notations are needed!!
Her time of 9:00.62 did the trick!
Tia Jones ran the 100H in 12.84.
Sydney McLaughlin got the 400H record with her 54.15 (after first breaking it with her 54.46!!).
And as with the Men, the Great Oak HS 4X1600 Relay team got the HSR, running 19:52.88.
Thirteen Class Records fell--14, if you include Kate Tuohy's 8th Grade 1500 record of 4:24.36.
I don't, but thought it worth mentioning!!
The ones that count included 2 Frosh Class marks--the 12.84 by Tia Jones, and the 42-1.75 TJ by Jasmine Moore.
No Soph Class standards fell.
The Junior Class record list includes Kate Murphy's 4:07.21 in the 1500, Chanel Brissett's 100H time of 12.95 (which tied the record!!), McLaughlin's 54.15 (and her earlier 54.46--but I'm only counting her fastest!!), Rachel Baxter's 14-3 in the PV, Alyssa Wilson's SP mark of 55-9.25, and Nevada Mareno's 2 Mile mark of 10:00.44.
Senior Class records went to Christine Aragon's 4:08.71 in the 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, Anna Cockrell's 55.20 in the 400H, Vashti Cunningham's HJ of 6-4.25 (Before she turned Pro!!), and Emma Fitzgerald's Heptathlon total of 5577 points!
The Women scored heavily in the DDD department!
100 KT Seymour (11.26--20th, tied with 2 others)
200 Lauren Rain Williams (22.80--6th) Lauryn Ghee (22.97--20th, tied with 1 other)
400 Lynna Irby (51.39--7th) McLaughlin (51.87--12th)
800 Sammy Watson (2:02.91--9th) Aaliyah Miller (2:02.96--10th) Ruby Stauber (2:03.43--16th)
1500 Murphy (4:07.21--3rd) Aragon (4:08.71--4th) Rainsberger (4:12.62--6th) Ella Donaghu (4:14.11--7th) Mareno (4:18.48--18th) Caitlyn Collier (4:19.05--22nd)
3000 Rainsberger (9:00.62--HSR--1st) Murphy (9:10.51--3rd) Weini Kelati (9:19.91--17th)
2 Mile Mareno (10:00.44--5th) Fiona O'Keefe (10:05.63--12th) Abbey Wheeler (10:08.64--16th) Brie Oakley (10:08.89--17th) Rebecca Story (10:11.24--22nd, tied with 1 other) Molly Born (10:11.36--24th)
5000 O'Keefe (15:56.84--6th)
3000SC Flournoy (1st name unknown right now!) (10:48.68--9th)
100H Jones (12.84--HSR--1st) Alexis Duncan (12.93--3rd) Brissett (12.95--4th, tied with 1 other) Tonea Marshall (13.04--7th) Brandee Johnson (13.08--8th) Cockrell (13.17--10th, tied with 1 other)
400H McLaughlin (54.15--HSR--1st) Cockrell (55.20--2nd, tied with 1 other) Johnson (56.16--6th)
LJ Samiyah Samuels (21-1.50--9th, tied with 1 other) Taylor DeLoach (20-10.50--24th)
TJ Tara Davis (43-2--10th)
PV Baxter (14-3--3rd) Carson Dingler (13-11.25--11th, tied with 1 other) Alina McDonald (13-10.50--14th) Erika Malaspina (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Andrea Willis (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Margaret Ollinger (13-8.25--22nd, tied with 1 other) Makenna Caskey (13-8--24th, tied with 2 others)
SP Wilson (55-9.25--2nd) Elena Bruckner (54-7--5th) Nickolette Dunbar (52-3.75--18th)
DT Bruckner (186-10--4th) Josie Schaefer (176-3--24th)
JT Sophia Rivera (180-4--3rd) Katelyn Gochenour (171-1--11th)
HT Joy McArthur (203-8--2nd) Wilson (191-2--14th) Kamryn Brinson (187-0--17th) Courtney Jacobsen (185-11--19th)
Heptathlon Fitzgerald (5577 points--2nd) Tyra Gittens (5337--12th)
No marks were dated 2016 in the 1 Mile, 10000, or the HJ!
(Oh, what coulda been in the Mile!! With all the above-listed STUDS in the 1500, a blitz attack from those Women on the 1982 Mile HSR would have had a SRO crowd, and might have gotten televised live on ESPN!! A MONSTROUS oversight and a unique LOSS to HS historians!!)
The 2016 HS Athlete of the Year had several STRONG candidates!
And it took awhile for me to talk myself OUT of giving it to Tia Jones for her amazing 12.84--in the LOADED 100H event---as a FRESHMAN!!
It was THIS close--and I might be regretting it 5 minutes after posting!
But in the end, you have to go with someone who not only destroys the HSR---TWICE--but makes the Olympic team in doing so---and only performs somewhat below par because she got sick a week before her event began in Rio!!
For those reasons, this award goes to SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN!!
But (more than) Honorable Mention goes to Ms Jones!
Other HM's go to Rainsberger, Murphy, Baxter, Brissett, Cockrell, Cunningham, Wilson, and Fitzgerald.
Performance of the Year DOES go to Tia Jones's 12.84 in the 100H.
In a year which could easily be labeled the "Year of the Hurdles--BOTH distances!!", Jones's mark was simply stunning!!
You just don't break High School Records as a FRESHMAN!!
Yet she not only shoots that myth to pieces, she does it in an event that calls for some maturity, and learned technique--not just raw speed!!
But also give major props as POY HM's to Murphy's 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, plus to Wilson's SP and to Fitzgerald, who missed tying the HSR by ONE point in the Heptathlon!!
The prize for Event of the Year (based on number of marks on my DDD's dated this year!) SHOULD go to the PV, which led with 7 marks!!
But the 6 marks in the 100H--as noted above--included the HSR, plus several other high list placings!
The 1500 was close in this regard--also getting 6 marks, and with very high placings.
BUT---no HSR!!
So the award goes to the 100H!
The 2 Mile also got 6 DDD marks.
The Hammer Throw had 4.
Three each in the 800, 3000, 400H, and the SP.
Two apiece in the 200, 400, LJ, DT, JT, and Heptathlon!
Three Women competing as HS'ers in 2016 were Professional athletes---and one of them--Vashti Cunningham--didn't turn Pro until she'd already competed as an amateur OUTdoors.
(See my "amateur" DDD listings above!)
But AFTER turning Pro, Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5-50--becoming the first HS Pro FIELD event athlete to get a Pro mark!
Also competing as HS Pro's were 3 sprinters--Khalifa St Fort, Kaylin Whitney, and Candace Hill.
While all ran well, they didn't break any records--even if they'd be eligible to do so!!
St Fort went to the Olympics as a member of the Trinidad & Tobago team!
Whitney and Hill didn't make the US team, but did okay at the Trials!
Cunningham made the Rio team, and made the final!!
For that accomplishment, she gets my HS Pro AOY!!
Onwards to the INdoor season!!
More records broken, and more marks making my DDD's.
To save space, please refer to my Collegiate post for the usual intro stuff.
Pro HS'ers will be covered at the end of this post!!
The Men go first.
Four HSR's bit the dust in the 2016 OUTdoor season, and two of them came in similar (but different!!) events from the boys of Great Oak HS in Temecula CA.
They broke the 4X1600 Relay record with their 16:55.85.
And they nabbed the 40 year old 4X1Mile Relay mark with their 17:04.55 time!
Noah Ly;es broke another very old mark--the 200, with his 20.09.
And Chris Nilsen got the PV record with his 18-4.75!!
The Frosh Class saw 4 Class Records fall--out of 8 total!
Tyrese Cooper got 2 of them--the 200 in 20.62, and the 400 with his 45.23.
Sam Affolder got the Frosh Class 3000SC mark with his 9:16.43.
K Carrillo broke the Frosh Class DT record with his 198-9.
Mondo Duplantis got the lone Soph Class mark--his PV of 18-1.
Jordan Geist got the only Junior Class record--his SP measured 74-3.50.
Lyles and Nilsen were the Senior Class record breakers.
The following made my DDD lists!
200 Noah Lyles (20.09--HSR--1st) Michael Norman (20.14--3rd, tied with 1 other)
400 Cooper (45.23--8th)
800 Sean Torpy (1:47.95--9th) Michael Slagowski (1:48.36--18th)
1500 Drew Hunter (3:41.85--3rd) Slagowski (3:42.40--4th) Austin Tamagno (3:44.14--12th)
1 Mile Hunter (3:58.86--3rd) Slagowski (3:59.54--7th) Tamagno (4:01.04--12th) Thomas Ratcliffe (4:01.50--15th, tied with 1 other)
3000SC Elon Nohilly (9:06.36--13th) Noah Affolder (9:06.52--15th)
110H Marcus Krah (13.25--3rd) Grant Holloway (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Trey Cunningham (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Damion Thomas (13.42--21st, tied with 2 others)
HJ Vernon Turner (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darius Corbin (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darryl Sullivan (7-4--18th, tied with 6 others)
LJ JaMari Ward (26-1.50--8th, tied with 1 other)
TJ Ward (53-7.50--5th, tied with 1 other)
PV Nilsen (18-4.75--HSR--1st) Duplantis (18-1--7th)
SP Geist (74-3.50--5th) Tripp Piperi (73-5.25--7th, tied with 1 other) Bronson Osborn (71-7.25--16th) Dan Guiliani (71-1.50--20th, tied with 1 other)
DT Terrell Adams (213-9--15th)
JT Liam Christiansen (232-1--8th)
HT Bobby Colantonio (251-2--5th)
No marks for the 100, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, 10000, 400H, or the Decathlon.
There were 32 marks dated 2016 on my Men's lists!
The "AOY" would be the TOY (Team of the Year)--IF I thought Relay teams should get top rank!!
But I want to keep this an individual's award, so I'm giving this year's Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book Athlete of the Year award for the 2016 OUTdoor season to--NOAH LYLES!!
While Chris Nilsen also got a HSR, his broke a very recent mark.
Lyles got a mark dating back to 1985!!
But give Nilsen an Honorable Mention, as well as both Great Oak Relay squads!
Add Jordan Geist and Ty Cooper to my list of HM's!
While the Athlete of the Year can't go to a Relay team, the Performance of the Year can---and does!!
Of the two HSR's going to G-O's team, their 4X1Mile broke a mark dating back 40 years, and belonged to a team from South Eugene HS--icing on the cake!!
And that HSR gets my POY!!
HM's go to Lyles & Nilsen, of course.
But also give it to Duplantis, Geist, Krah, Cooper (for his 400 mark!), and to Drew Hunter, for both his 1500 and 1 Mile marks.
Oh yes, add Great Oak's 4X1600 Relay team!!
Three events got 4 marks each on my DDD's.
They were the 1 Mile, 110H, and the SP.
With 3 marks were the 1500 and HJ.
The 200, 800, 3000SC, and the PV had 2 marks on my lists!
Unlike the Collegiates, only one meet deserves recognition as Meet of the Year--and that's ALWAYS the NBN!!
Thus, I'm giving no award for this category for HS'ers!!
(Or just give the meet a Perpetual Trophy!! LOL)
For the first time ever, HS Men went Pro before leaving the HS ranks!
They are Drew Hunter and the Lyles brothers, Noah and Josephus!!
All Seniors, they nonetheless had Professional marks prior to August 31st!!
(Actually, Josephus ended his season early, due to injury, before turning Pro!)
Hunter ran his fastest Mile--a 3:57.15--in July.
Lyles ran his 20.09 at the Olympic Trials--after the NBN, but before going Pro.
Thus, my HS Pro AOY goes to DREW HUNTER!!
(As well as the HS Pro Performance of the Year!!)
And now for the Women---who, as ever recently--came through with more of---everything!!
(Well, they tied the Men for most HSR's!!)
Katie Rainsberger FINALLY took down Lynn Bjorklund's 1975 HSR in the 3000 meters!!
And no asterisks or special notations are needed!!
Her time of 9:00.62 did the trick!
Tia Jones ran the 100H in 12.84.
Sydney McLaughlin got the 400H record with her 54.15 (after first breaking it with her 54.46!!).
And as with the Men, the Great Oak HS 4X1600 Relay team got the HSR, running 19:52.88.
Thirteen Class Records fell--14, if you include Kate Tuohy's 8th Grade 1500 record of 4:24.36.
I don't, but thought it worth mentioning!!
The ones that count included 2 Frosh Class marks--the 12.84 by Tia Jones, and the 42-1.75 TJ by Jasmine Moore.
No Soph Class standards fell.
The Junior Class record list includes Kate Murphy's 4:07.21 in the 1500, Chanel Brissett's 100H time of 12.95 (which tied the record!!), McLaughlin's 54.15 (and her earlier 54.46--but I'm only counting her fastest!!), Rachel Baxter's 14-3 in the PV, Alyssa Wilson's SP mark of 55-9.25, and Nevada Mareno's 2 Mile mark of 10:00.44.
Senior Class records went to Christine Aragon's 4:08.71 in the 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, Anna Cockrell's 55.20 in the 400H, Vashti Cunningham's HJ of 6-4.25 (Before she turned Pro!!), and Emma Fitzgerald's Heptathlon total of 5577 points!
The Women scored heavily in the DDD department!
100 KT Seymour (11.26--20th, tied with 2 others)
200 Lauren Rain Williams (22.80--6th) Lauryn Ghee (22.97--20th, tied with 1 other)
400 Lynna Irby (51.39--7th) McLaughlin (51.87--12th)
800 Sammy Watson (2:02.91--9th) Aaliyah Miller (2:02.96--10th) Ruby Stauber (2:03.43--16th)
1500 Murphy (4:07.21--3rd) Aragon (4:08.71--4th) Rainsberger (4:12.62--6th) Ella Donaghu (4:14.11--7th) Mareno (4:18.48--18th) Caitlyn Collier (4:19.05--22nd)
3000 Rainsberger (9:00.62--HSR--1st) Murphy (9:10.51--3rd) Weini Kelati (9:19.91--17th)
2 Mile Mareno (10:00.44--5th) Fiona O'Keefe (10:05.63--12th) Abbey Wheeler (10:08.64--16th) Brie Oakley (10:08.89--17th) Rebecca Story (10:11.24--22nd, tied with 1 other) Molly Born (10:11.36--24th)
5000 O'Keefe (15:56.84--6th)
3000SC Flournoy (1st name unknown right now!) (10:48.68--9th)
100H Jones (12.84--HSR--1st) Alexis Duncan (12.93--3rd) Brissett (12.95--4th, tied with 1 other) Tonea Marshall (13.04--7th) Brandee Johnson (13.08--8th) Cockrell (13.17--10th, tied with 1 other)
400H McLaughlin (54.15--HSR--1st) Cockrell (55.20--2nd, tied with 1 other) Johnson (56.16--6th)
LJ Samiyah Samuels (21-1.50--9th, tied with 1 other) Taylor DeLoach (20-10.50--24th)
TJ Tara Davis (43-2--10th)
PV Baxter (14-3--3rd) Carson Dingler (13-11.25--11th, tied with 1 other) Alina McDonald (13-10.50--14th) Erika Malaspina (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Andrea Willis (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Margaret Ollinger (13-8.25--22nd, tied with 1 other) Makenna Caskey (13-8--24th, tied with 2 others)
SP Wilson (55-9.25--2nd) Elena Bruckner (54-7--5th) Nickolette Dunbar (52-3.75--18th)
DT Bruckner (186-10--4th) Josie Schaefer (176-3--24th)
JT Sophia Rivera (180-4--3rd) Katelyn Gochenour (171-1--11th)
HT Joy McArthur (203-8--2nd) Wilson (191-2--14th) Kamryn Brinson (187-0--17th) Courtney Jacobsen (185-11--19th)
Heptathlon Fitzgerald (5577 points--2nd) Tyra Gittens (5337--12th)
No marks were dated 2016 in the 1 Mile, 10000, or the HJ!
(Oh, what coulda been in the Mile!! With all the above-listed STUDS in the 1500, a blitz attack from those Women on the 1982 Mile HSR would have had a SRO crowd, and might have gotten televised live on ESPN!! A MONSTROUS oversight and a unique LOSS to HS historians!!)
The 2016 HS Athlete of the Year had several STRONG candidates!
And it took awhile for me to talk myself OUT of giving it to Tia Jones for her amazing 12.84--in the LOADED 100H event---as a FRESHMAN!!
It was THIS close--and I might be regretting it 5 minutes after posting!
But in the end, you have to go with someone who not only destroys the HSR---TWICE--but makes the Olympic team in doing so---and only performs somewhat below par because she got sick a week before her event began in Rio!!
For those reasons, this award goes to SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN!!
But (more than) Honorable Mention goes to Ms Jones!
Other HM's go to Rainsberger, Murphy, Baxter, Brissett, Cockrell, Cunningham, Wilson, and Fitzgerald.
Performance of the Year DOES go to Tia Jones's 12.84 in the 100H.
In a year which could easily be labeled the "Year of the Hurdles--BOTH distances!!", Jones's mark was simply stunning!!
You just don't break High School Records as a FRESHMAN!!
Yet she not only shoots that myth to pieces, she does it in an event that calls for some maturity, and learned technique--not just raw speed!!
But also give major props as POY HM's to Murphy's 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, plus to Wilson's SP and to Fitzgerald, who missed tying the HSR by ONE point in the Heptathlon!!
The prize for Event of the Year (based on number of marks on my DDD's dated this year!) SHOULD go to the PV, which led with 7 marks!!
But the 6 marks in the 100H--as noted above--included the HSR, plus several other high list placings!
The 1500 was close in this regard--also getting 6 marks, and with very high placings.
BUT---no HSR!!
So the award goes to the 100H!
The 2 Mile also got 6 DDD marks.
The Hammer Throw had 4.
Three each in the 800, 3000, 400H, and the SP.
Two apiece in the 200, 400, LJ, DT, JT, and Heptathlon!
Three Women competing as HS'ers in 2016 were Professional athletes---and one of them--Vashti Cunningham--didn't turn Pro until she'd already competed as an amateur OUTdoors.
(See my "amateur" DDD listings above!)
But AFTER turning Pro, Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5-50--becoming the first HS Pro FIELD event athlete to get a Pro mark!
Also competing as HS Pro's were 3 sprinters--Khalifa St Fort, Kaylin Whitney, and Candace Hill.
While all ran well, they didn't break any records--even if they'd be eligible to do so!!
St Fort went to the Olympics as a member of the Trinidad & Tobago team!
Whitney and Hill didn't make the US team, but did okay at the Trials!
Cunningham made the Rio team, and made the final!!
For that accomplishment, she gets my HS Pro AOY!!
Onwards to the INdoor season!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
2016 Collegiate Wrap-Up (& AOY's)
It's that time of year again.
The OUTdoor T&F season is winding down, and Cross Country & Road Racing is taking over--while we all await the start of the 2016-2017 INdoor Track and Field season.
There's still the Talence Multi's, and the fall Marathons, but generally, for Americans, OUTdoor T&F is finished for the year.
Two segments of the sport--Collegiate and High School--ended even earlier.
I follow T&FN's "rule" that the Collegiate season---whether INdoor or OUTdoor--ends with the close of the NCAA Championship meet.
And I agree that the HS season ends on August 31st, unless Seniors have already begun competing for their Collegiate team!!
For the Collegiates, if you know an athlete had a better mark during the summer--remember this rule!!
So who are Aaron K's T&F Record Book's picks for Athlete of the Year, and for Performance of the Year--for both Men and Women?
This post covers my Collegiate picks, while the next post will cover the High School scene.
One major note--even though it should be obvious to this blog's readers--is that because this blog is centered on Records & Marks, THAT is the major criteria I use for my AOY choices.
If someone breaks the Collegiate Record, and someone else has an unbeaten season (but no records!)--guess who gets my AOY!!
That said, let's get to it!
Men first.
Only Donavan Brazier broke a CR this year!!
His 1:43.55 in the 800 was sensational--and somewhat shocking--even though he'd run well in a few earlier races.
As for Class Records, there were just four.
Besides Brazier getting the Frosh Class standard, Brandon McBride's 1:44.50 got the Senior Class record.
Sam Mattis's early season Discus Throw of 221-3 is the new Senior Class record.
Ionnis Kyriazis's Javelin Throw of 268-7 took over the Soph Class record nook!
My DDD's (Double Dandy Dozen) are my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists.
I have them for World, US, Collegiate, and HS--INdoors & OUTdoors, Men & Women.
The following are those Collegiates whose marks date from 2016--by event.
100 SJ Givans (9.96--8th, tied with 2 others)
200 Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake (19.95--7th, tied with 1 other)
800 Brazier (1:43.55--CR, 1st) McBride (1:44.50--3rd) Shaquille Walker (1:44.99--15th)
1500 Clay Murphy (3:36.38--8th) Mason Ferlic (3:36.65--12th)
5000 Sean McGorty (13:24.25--20th)
10000 Futsam Zienasellassie (27:52.70--20th)
HJ Avion Jones (7-7--21st, tied with 6 others)
LJ Stefan Brits (26-11.75--24th)
PV Devin King (18-8.25--18th, tied with 6 others)
SP Filip Mihaljevic (67-11.50--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Mattis (221-3--2nd)
JT Kyiazis (268-7--8th, tied with 1 other) Curtis Thompson (265-10--13th)
HT Nick Miller (252-4--7th, tied with 1 other) Rudy Winkler (246-5--13th) Sam Donnelly (243-11--18th)
Decathlon Lindon Victor (8446 points--4th) Zach Ziemek (8300--8th)
4X100 Relay Houston (38.44--6th School) Western Kentucky (38.60--13th) North Carolina State (39.41--24th)
4X400 Relay Texas (3:02.18--22nd)
Some events are not listed!
They simply did not have any marks made in 2016!!
They were the 400, 1 Mile, 3000SC, 110H, 400H, and the TJ!!
Just 25 Men's marks made my Collegiate DDD this OUTdoor season!!
My 2016 Collegiate Men's Athlete of the Year is DONAVAN BRAZIER!!
Honorable Mentions go to McBride, Mattis, Victor, Mitchell-Blake, and Miller!
The Performance of the Year was a bit tougher to choose.
If Victor had scored just 20 more points--breaking the CR--he probably would have won!
But Brazier's mark gained added weight, since it came while a Freshman!!
The Meet of the Year (for Collegiates) was NOT the NCAA!!
It was the SEC meet, as it broke 3 of its Meet Records, while the NCAA got just one--even though it was Brazier's CR!!
The Event of the Year is measured by which event saw the most marks on my DDD's for the year.
Three events tied, with 3 marks each.
They were the 800, HT, and the 4X100 Relay.
With 2 each were the 1500, JT, and the Decathlon!
I'll give the edge to the 800, as it had the CR, and 2 other good marks!
The Women--as has been the case of late--did much better!
Their Collegiate Record list for 2016 OUTdoors numbers five!!
Courtney Okolo nabbed the 400 mark with her 49.71--the first sub-50!
Courtney Frerichs got the 3000SC standard with her 9:24.41.
Keturah Orji got the CR--as well as the American Record!!--in the TJ with her 47-8.
Raven Saunders sent the Shot Put standard out to 63-5.
And Maggie Malone's 204-0 Javelin Throw is the new CR there!
Class Records were broken by ten women!!
The new Frosh Class records are Arianna Washington's 22.21 in the 200, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn's 100H mark of 12.69, and Lexi Weeks's PV height of 15-2.75.
The Soph Class Record Book was changed by Hannah Cunliffe's 10.99 in the 100, Orji's 47-8 in the TJ, Saunders's SP of 63-5, and by Maggie Ewen's Hammer Throw of 231-3.
No Junior Class records went down.
The Senior Class saw Okolo's 49.71, Frerich's 9:24.41, and Malone's 204-0 JT enter the books!
The DDD list for the Women is long!!
100 Cunliffe (10.99--8th)
200 Washington (22.21--4th, tied with 1 other) Deajah Stevens (22.25--9th) Felicia Brown (22.26--10th)
400 Okolo (49.71--CR--1st) Taylor Ellis-Watson (50.78--20th)
800 Olivia Baker (2:01.02--15th, tied with 1 other)
1500 Marta Freitas (4:09.53--13th) Elise Cranny (4:09.54--14th)
5000 Dominique Scott (15:25.10--18th)
10000 Scott (31:56.84--6th) Courtney Smith (32:08.32--9th) Chelsea Blaase (32:08.39--10th)
3000SC Frerichs (9:24.41--CR--1st) Jessica Kamilos (9:41.28--12th) Elinor Purrier (9:47.17--22nd)
100H Camacho-Quinn (12.69--12th) Ebony Morrison (12.76--23rd, tied with 1 other)
400H Shamier Little (53.51--2nd) Kiah Seymour (54.67--18th) Sage Watson (54.82--20th) Autumne Franklin (54.91--22nd) Chanice Chase (54.94--24th)
HJ Akela Jones (6-4.75--7th, tied with 5 others)
TJ Orji (47-8--CR & AR--1st) Simone Charley (45-2.25--20th)
PV L Weeks (15-2.75--3rd) Megan Clark (15-2.25--4th) Alysha Newman (15-1--6th, tied with 1 other) Morgann LeLeux (14-10--9th) Annie Rhodes (14-7.25--18th, tied with 5 others)
SP Saunders (63-5--CR--1st) Kelsey Card (60-10.75--7th, tied with 1 other) Chase Ealey (59-0.25--21st, tied with 1 other) Nikki Okwelogu (58-9.25--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Card (208-5--7th) Hannah Carson (203-4--12th) Kellion Knibb (201-7--13th) Valerie Allman (201-6--14th) Tera Novy (200-5--15th)
JT M Malone (204-0--CR--1st) Carson (200-9--4th) Avione Allgood (192-11--11th) Marija Vucevenic (189-8--14th) Audrey Malone (187-2--18th)
HT DeAnna Price (238-5--2nd) Ewen (231-3--6th)
Heptathlon Kendell Williams (6225 points--6th) Amelie Iuel (6011--24th)
4X100 Relay UO (42.68--3rd School) USC (42.90--8th) San Diego State (43.55--21st)
4X400 Relay Arkansas (3:25.48--4th) Florida (3:26.28--6th) USC (3:26.73--9th) Kentucky (3:28.45--17th)
Two events had ZERO marks from 2016.
They were the 1 Mile and the LJ!!
55 marks made my Women's DDD's--more than double the Men's total!!
With FIVE Collegiate Records, my AOY was VERY difficult to choose!!
ANY Collegiate Record should be considered great.
But when said CR also breaks the American Record--well, that settles THAT!!
Thus, my 2016 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year is KETURAH ORJI.
(And remember, that's not even counting what happened AFTER the NCAA meet!!)
Honorable Mentions go to the other 4 CR breakers--Okolo, Saunders, M Malone, and Frerichs!!
But I would add Shamier Little, Lexi Weeks, Megan Clark, Kendell Williams, and Kelsey Card to the list of HM's!
The Performance of the Year is no mystery!
Orji's 47-8.
HM's go to Okolo's 49.71, Frerichs's 9:24.41, Saunders's 63-5, and M Malone's 204-0.
The Big 10 Conference meet saw 6 Meet Records going down!
Four each fell at the SEC, PAC-12, and the ACC.
But while the NCAA Championships didn't quite match the Big 10's total, their 5 MR's included that TJ American Record of Orji's--thus giving them the edge for Meet of the Year!
For Event of the Year, I'm giving that to the Javelin Throw, as its total of 5 DDD marks included the CR!!
Also getting 5 marks were the 400H, PV, and DT!
The SP and the 4X400 relay saw 4 marks on the list from 2016.
With 3 each were the 200, 10000, 3000SC, and the 4X100 Relay.
Two each went to the 400, 1500, 100H, TJ, HT, and the Heptathlon.
I know--as I noted earlier-- that several athletes had better marks during the summer--AFTER the NCAA meet!
In my various reports, I made note of the fact that IF so-and-so mark had been accomplished at the Championship meet--or before--that mark would be the CR--or at least higher on my list!!
But rules are rules!
And while I may not like the rule--I've chosen to incorporate it into my list-making and record-keeping.
It's different for High Schoolers, as they have several HS, or HS AGE--oriented meets held during the summer--AFTER the acknowledged HS Championship meet sponsored by New Balance!!
For Collegiates--because many Seniors "turn Pro" after the NCAA's, or because many are far older than their grade level permits--it would be unfair to allow marks made after the NCAA's to count in my AOY selections, or in my "Collegiate" Record Book!!
I'll have my HS Wrap-Up posted soon--probably early tomorrow!!
The OUTdoor T&F season is winding down, and Cross Country & Road Racing is taking over--while we all await the start of the 2016-2017 INdoor Track and Field season.
There's still the Talence Multi's, and the fall Marathons, but generally, for Americans, OUTdoor T&F is finished for the year.
Two segments of the sport--Collegiate and High School--ended even earlier.
I follow T&FN's "rule" that the Collegiate season---whether INdoor or OUTdoor--ends with the close of the NCAA Championship meet.
And I agree that the HS season ends on August 31st, unless Seniors have already begun competing for their Collegiate team!!
For the Collegiates, if you know an athlete had a better mark during the summer--remember this rule!!
So who are Aaron K's T&F Record Book's picks for Athlete of the Year, and for Performance of the Year--for both Men and Women?
This post covers my Collegiate picks, while the next post will cover the High School scene.
One major note--even though it should be obvious to this blog's readers--is that because this blog is centered on Records & Marks, THAT is the major criteria I use for my AOY choices.
If someone breaks the Collegiate Record, and someone else has an unbeaten season (but no records!)--guess who gets my AOY!!
That said, let's get to it!
Men first.
Only Donavan Brazier broke a CR this year!!
His 1:43.55 in the 800 was sensational--and somewhat shocking--even though he'd run well in a few earlier races.
As for Class Records, there were just four.
Besides Brazier getting the Frosh Class standard, Brandon McBride's 1:44.50 got the Senior Class record.
Sam Mattis's early season Discus Throw of 221-3 is the new Senior Class record.
Ionnis Kyriazis's Javelin Throw of 268-7 took over the Soph Class record nook!
My DDD's (Double Dandy Dozen) are my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists.
I have them for World, US, Collegiate, and HS--INdoors & OUTdoors, Men & Women.
The following are those Collegiates whose marks date from 2016--by event.
100 SJ Givans (9.96--8th, tied with 2 others)
200 Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake (19.95--7th, tied with 1 other)
800 Brazier (1:43.55--CR, 1st) McBride (1:44.50--3rd) Shaquille Walker (1:44.99--15th)
1500 Clay Murphy (3:36.38--8th) Mason Ferlic (3:36.65--12th)
5000 Sean McGorty (13:24.25--20th)
10000 Futsam Zienasellassie (27:52.70--20th)
HJ Avion Jones (7-7--21st, tied with 6 others)
LJ Stefan Brits (26-11.75--24th)
PV Devin King (18-8.25--18th, tied with 6 others)
SP Filip Mihaljevic (67-11.50--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Mattis (221-3--2nd)
JT Kyiazis (268-7--8th, tied with 1 other) Curtis Thompson (265-10--13th)
HT Nick Miller (252-4--7th, tied with 1 other) Rudy Winkler (246-5--13th) Sam Donnelly (243-11--18th)
Decathlon Lindon Victor (8446 points--4th) Zach Ziemek (8300--8th)
4X100 Relay Houston (38.44--6th School) Western Kentucky (38.60--13th) North Carolina State (39.41--24th)
4X400 Relay Texas (3:02.18--22nd)
Some events are not listed!
They simply did not have any marks made in 2016!!
They were the 400, 1 Mile, 3000SC, 110H, 400H, and the TJ!!
Just 25 Men's marks made my Collegiate DDD this OUTdoor season!!
My 2016 Collegiate Men's Athlete of the Year is DONAVAN BRAZIER!!
Honorable Mentions go to McBride, Mattis, Victor, Mitchell-Blake, and Miller!
The Performance of the Year was a bit tougher to choose.
If Victor had scored just 20 more points--breaking the CR--he probably would have won!
But Brazier's mark gained added weight, since it came while a Freshman!!
The Meet of the Year (for Collegiates) was NOT the NCAA!!
It was the SEC meet, as it broke 3 of its Meet Records, while the NCAA got just one--even though it was Brazier's CR!!
The Event of the Year is measured by which event saw the most marks on my DDD's for the year.
Three events tied, with 3 marks each.
They were the 800, HT, and the 4X100 Relay.
With 2 each were the 1500, JT, and the Decathlon!
I'll give the edge to the 800, as it had the CR, and 2 other good marks!
The Women--as has been the case of late--did much better!
Their Collegiate Record list for 2016 OUTdoors numbers five!!
Courtney Okolo nabbed the 400 mark with her 49.71--the first sub-50!
Courtney Frerichs got the 3000SC standard with her 9:24.41.
Keturah Orji got the CR--as well as the American Record!!--in the TJ with her 47-8.
Raven Saunders sent the Shot Put standard out to 63-5.
And Maggie Malone's 204-0 Javelin Throw is the new CR there!
Class Records were broken by ten women!!
The new Frosh Class records are Arianna Washington's 22.21 in the 200, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn's 100H mark of 12.69, and Lexi Weeks's PV height of 15-2.75.
The Soph Class Record Book was changed by Hannah Cunliffe's 10.99 in the 100, Orji's 47-8 in the TJ, Saunders's SP of 63-5, and by Maggie Ewen's Hammer Throw of 231-3.
No Junior Class records went down.
The Senior Class saw Okolo's 49.71, Frerich's 9:24.41, and Malone's 204-0 JT enter the books!
The DDD list for the Women is long!!
100 Cunliffe (10.99--8th)
200 Washington (22.21--4th, tied with 1 other) Deajah Stevens (22.25--9th) Felicia Brown (22.26--10th)
400 Okolo (49.71--CR--1st) Taylor Ellis-Watson (50.78--20th)
800 Olivia Baker (2:01.02--15th, tied with 1 other)
1500 Marta Freitas (4:09.53--13th) Elise Cranny (4:09.54--14th)
5000 Dominique Scott (15:25.10--18th)
10000 Scott (31:56.84--6th) Courtney Smith (32:08.32--9th) Chelsea Blaase (32:08.39--10th)
3000SC Frerichs (9:24.41--CR--1st) Jessica Kamilos (9:41.28--12th) Elinor Purrier (9:47.17--22nd)
100H Camacho-Quinn (12.69--12th) Ebony Morrison (12.76--23rd, tied with 1 other)
400H Shamier Little (53.51--2nd) Kiah Seymour (54.67--18th) Sage Watson (54.82--20th) Autumne Franklin (54.91--22nd) Chanice Chase (54.94--24th)
HJ Akela Jones (6-4.75--7th, tied with 5 others)
TJ Orji (47-8--CR & AR--1st) Simone Charley (45-2.25--20th)
PV L Weeks (15-2.75--3rd) Megan Clark (15-2.25--4th) Alysha Newman (15-1--6th, tied with 1 other) Morgann LeLeux (14-10--9th) Annie Rhodes (14-7.25--18th, tied with 5 others)
SP Saunders (63-5--CR--1st) Kelsey Card (60-10.75--7th, tied with 1 other) Chase Ealey (59-0.25--21st, tied with 1 other) Nikki Okwelogu (58-9.25--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Card (208-5--7th) Hannah Carson (203-4--12th) Kellion Knibb (201-7--13th) Valerie Allman (201-6--14th) Tera Novy (200-5--15th)
JT M Malone (204-0--CR--1st) Carson (200-9--4th) Avione Allgood (192-11--11th) Marija Vucevenic (189-8--14th) Audrey Malone (187-2--18th)
HT DeAnna Price (238-5--2nd) Ewen (231-3--6th)
Heptathlon Kendell Williams (6225 points--6th) Amelie Iuel (6011--24th)
4X100 Relay UO (42.68--3rd School) USC (42.90--8th) San Diego State (43.55--21st)
4X400 Relay Arkansas (3:25.48--4th) Florida (3:26.28--6th) USC (3:26.73--9th) Kentucky (3:28.45--17th)
Two events had ZERO marks from 2016.
They were the 1 Mile and the LJ!!
55 marks made my Women's DDD's--more than double the Men's total!!
With FIVE Collegiate Records, my AOY was VERY difficult to choose!!
ANY Collegiate Record should be considered great.
But when said CR also breaks the American Record--well, that settles THAT!!
Thus, my 2016 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year is KETURAH ORJI.
(And remember, that's not even counting what happened AFTER the NCAA meet!!)
Honorable Mentions go to the other 4 CR breakers--Okolo, Saunders, M Malone, and Frerichs!!
But I would add Shamier Little, Lexi Weeks, Megan Clark, Kendell Williams, and Kelsey Card to the list of HM's!
The Performance of the Year is no mystery!
Orji's 47-8.
HM's go to Okolo's 49.71, Frerichs's 9:24.41, Saunders's 63-5, and M Malone's 204-0.
The Big 10 Conference meet saw 6 Meet Records going down!
Four each fell at the SEC, PAC-12, and the ACC.
But while the NCAA Championships didn't quite match the Big 10's total, their 5 MR's included that TJ American Record of Orji's--thus giving them the edge for Meet of the Year!
For Event of the Year, I'm giving that to the Javelin Throw, as its total of 5 DDD marks included the CR!!
Also getting 5 marks were the 400H, PV, and DT!
The SP and the 4X400 relay saw 4 marks on the list from 2016.
With 3 each were the 200, 10000, 3000SC, and the 4X100 Relay.
Two each went to the 400, 1500, 100H, TJ, HT, and the Heptathlon.
I know--as I noted earlier-- that several athletes had better marks during the summer--AFTER the NCAA meet!
In my various reports, I made note of the fact that IF so-and-so mark had been accomplished at the Championship meet--or before--that mark would be the CR--or at least higher on my list!!
But rules are rules!
And while I may not like the rule--I've chosen to incorporate it into my list-making and record-keeping.
It's different for High Schoolers, as they have several HS, or HS AGE--oriented meets held during the summer--AFTER the acknowledged HS Championship meet sponsored by New Balance!!
For Collegiates--because many Seniors "turn Pro" after the NCAA's, or because many are far older than their grade level permits--it would be unfair to allow marks made after the NCAA's to count in my AOY selections, or in my "Collegiate" Record Book!!
I'll have my HS Wrap-Up posted soon--probably early tomorrow!!
Friday, September 9, 2016
Two More AR's for Women
It's a shutout (thus far), to use baseball terminology!
Eight--zip!
That is, Women of the United States have now broken EIGHT American Records in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
The Men?
Nada.
To Michelle Carter (SP), Keturah Orji (TJ), Gwen Berry (HT), Kendra Harrison (100H---Also the WORLD Record!!), Emma Coburn (3000SC), and Molly Huddle (10000), add Sandi Morris (Her own PV mark!) and Shannon Rowbury (5000)!!
The "predicted" World Records by Almaz Ayana and Consesius Kipruto never materialized.
Either the pacing was poor, or they just never REALLY intended to go after them!
However, one "prediction"--if you will--did come to fruition!
Morris had said she was in the best shape of her life, and wanted to go after Yelena Isinbayeva's Meet Record in Brussels..
That was 16-2, and if Morris was successful, she would not only break Isi's mark, but her own AR and OUTdoor PR, which matched Isi's mark!
Coming in at 14-10 with a miss, eyebrows rose.
Then she made her 2nd try, and successfully cleared 15-0.25 and 15-2.75 on first, then needed two at 15-5, before hitting her next 4 heights on first efforts--15-7.25, 15-9.75, 16-0, and 16-2.50--the latter of which was the Meet and Personal Record breaker!
But she wasn't done!
She missed her first at 16-4.75, or 5.00!
Then she went over on second, but touched the bar, jiggling it.
Standing stock-still, hands locked in prayer, eyes looking upward, waiting.
It stayed on!
And the celebration began.
Until she had the bar raised to the World Record height of 5.07, or 16-7.50.
Not sure how close she came, but heard they weren't "bad" efforts!
In other words, 2017 could be historic for Sandi.
(As if 2016 wasn't!)
Ekaterina Stefanida made 15-7.25.
She missed once at 15-9.75, then passed the next height, to try twice at 16-2.50.
But she missed both.
For Morris, she also breaks her own Age 24 record!
She remains 2nd A-T World, and 1st A-T US.
BTW, a tweet by Becca (PoleVaultPower) says she's filed legislation with USATF that they change their rule which doesn't recognize separate AR's for OUTdoors.
As everyone knows, I've NEVER recognized USATF's rule, nor those of IAAF, if such was the case, regarding the "combining" of the seasons!
No "absolutes" here, Baby!!
Almaz Ayana's WR "try" went off-track (sic!) in the first kilometer!
The rabbit hit 2:53---already 4 seconds slower than needed---and Ayana didn't take control until another K had come and gone.
Her series of 65-68 laps couldn't get her any closer than her final time of 14:18.89, which still got the Meet Record!
Well back in 2nd, Helen Obiri PR'ed with 14:25.78.
It's the Age 26 record, and moves her from 15th A-T World to 8th!
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list, her times of 3:57.05 and 14:25.78 add to 18:22.83, which moves her from 10th to 4th.
Senbere Teferi's 14:29.82 is the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
She's 16th A-T World.
Etanesh Diro Neda was 4th, in 14:33.30.
In 5th--moving up from 8th earlier in the race--came Shannon Rowbury, time of 14:38.92.
That removes Molly Huddle's 14:42.64 as the American Record.
Shannon moves from 4th to 1st on the US list.
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list for the US, her marks of 3:56.29 and 14:38.92 add to 18:35.21, which keeps her in 1st place!
Alice Aprot (Nawawuna) ran 14:39.56, after pacing Ayana earlier--though not sure if planned!
Her Combined Event times for the 5000 and 10000 (14:39.56 and 29:53.51) add to 44:33.07--for 8th A-T.
Back in 15th came GenGen LaCaze, whose 15:06.67 was her 17th PR of 2016!!
The rest of the Van Damme meet was good--even great--but not worth extensive reporting!
Here's the rest--
Elaine Thompson blasted a 10.72 to tie SAFP's Meet Record in the 100.
She WHUPPED Dafne Schippers, who managed just 10.97!!
The Men's 200 was fast---and close!
Jamaica's Julian Forte's 19.97 beat the 19.97 of Adam Gemili, and the 19.98 of Churandy Martina--PR's for the first two.
Tim Cheruiyot upset Abdelaati Iguider and Asbel Kiprop in the 1500, time of 3:31.34.
It had begun with an 800 in 1:50+, then slowed.
In 9th came Ben Blankenship's PR of 3:34.26, which missed my US DDD by 0.11.
Erik Kynard and Natissatou Thiam took the HJ's with "LOW" jumps of 7-7.25 and 6-4.
Orlando Ortega's 13.08 beat Pascal Martinot-Legarde's 13.12 in the 110H, while Jasmin Stowers beat a slow field in a slow 12.78 in the 100H.
Cassandra Tate won the 400H in 54.47.
An unnamed person ran ahead of the Women's 400 Winner, Courtney Okolo, whose 50.51 matched 2nd placer Stephanie McPherson's time.
Shericka Jackson and Natasha Hastings finished in 50.73 and 50.84.
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.36 beat the 1:44.44 of Kipyegon Bett.
Clay Murphy faded to 7th in 1:45.15.
Only in Belgium, Liguelin Santos's 45.02 beat the Borlee family male trio, who ended in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!
In the field (besides Morris!)---
Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-10, missing both the South Africa National Record and my World DDD by 0.75 inches!!
Caterine Ibarguen TJ'ed 48-1.25, winning easily.
(Couldn't help but notice that Keturah Orji's AR from Rio would have won here!!)
Daniel Stahl took the DT with 215-10.
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP--held the day before downtown!--65-6.75 to 64-2.50!
Madera Palameika's 217-1 PR in the Javelin Throw is the National Record for Latvia, and makes her 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Barbara Spotakova was well back, hitting 209-3, while Kara Winger's 202-11 is her 2016 best!
As noted earlier, Consesius Kipruto didn't break the WR, as he SAID he wanted, running just 8:03.74.
This beat Evan Jager's 2016 best time of 8:04.01.
In 6th was Hillary Bor of the US Army, whose 8:13.68 makes him 8th A-T US.
In 7th was the 8:16.11 PR of Andy Bayer, which moves him from 18th A-T US to 13th!
In Rovereto's meet, Genzebe Dibaba's desired World Record attempt on the Mile went out the window on the 2nd lap of rabbiting, which was just 67 seconds!!
But GD being GD, she took control and still managed to become 2nd A-T World with her 4:14.30!!
She passed 1500 in 3:57.31.
It's the National Record of Ethiopia!
And the Age 25 record!
In 4th was Alexa Efraimson--seemingly recovered from whatever befell her in that 9:11 3K recently!
Her 4:27.39 (4:05.50 in the 1500 enroute) misses my US list by just 0.16 seconds!!
People said it was the "AJR", beating Polly Plumer's 4:35.24.
First, as you know, I don't DO "Junior" records.
Second, Ms Plumer's mark REMAINS the HSR!
As for Efraimson's mark, she misses the Age 19 record of Zola Budd (Pieterse) by almost ten full seconds!!
Speaking of Age records, I have no idea if Solomon Baragi's 13:24.06 in the 5000 is the Age 16 record.
But it's fast!!
On the other end of the scale is Fabrizio Donato, whose TJ of 55-6.50 smashes the Age 40 & over record!!
In Zagreb, Ryan Crouser nailed a SP distance of 73-0.25.
This beat the 72-10.50 by Tom Walsh, which breaks his own New Zealand National Record.
It also breaks his own Age 24 record!
He moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Third was Darrell Hill's 70-4.25!
In the Swedish Champs, Daniel Stahl threw the Discus a PR distance of 225-5!
The Falmouth Mile---on a track--was won by Kyle Merber in 3:58.14.
But a mistake was made in the reporting about Drew Hunter's 6th place time of 4:06.71.
They said it was his first Pro race.
Nope!
His first was his OUTdoor PR of 3:57.15, run earlier in the summer!!
(See my post about that!!)
The USATF 20000 races were taken by Len Korir in 59:15 (over Sam Chelanga's 59:16 and Christo Landry's 59:24) and Aliphine Tuliamuk's 65:47.
Second was Emily Sisson's 66:02.
That's a good time for Sisson, whose 2016 has been slow.
It's about equal to a 1:10 Half-Marathon!!
In Collegiate XC, I saw where Erin Finn whipped her Michigan teammates (and everyone else) with a 47 second win over a 5K route.
She ran as unattached, which MIGHT mean she's still redshirting---for now!!
BTW, TFRSS got it wrong--apparently--about all those great Stanford distancers "DNF'ing" at a recent XC meet.
According to Flotrack, they never even started the race!!
What's left in 2016?
There's still the Talence Multis meet, plus maybe a couple of small "meets" elsewhere.
The Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Fukuoka Marathons are upcoming, of course!
Then there's Cross Country!!
As readers of this blog know, we can expect the first dribblings of INdoor marks to come in late November!
I'll soon have my AOY reports for Collegiates and HS'ers!!
(The World and US reports come at year's end!!)
The frequency of my posts will slow drastically over the next two months---especially after my Collegiate and HS reports!!
But there's tons of stuff to talk about OFF-track (and field), and I'm sure you'll see a "rant" or 2 or 3 before Thanksgiving!!
Oh, one late item.
Reports have broken on Twitter (through fairly reliable sources!) that the young behemoth SP'er Konrad Bukowiecki has tested positive for a "stimulant".
But said stimulant apparently is NOT on the banned substances list of WADA!!
Buko of course denies taking drugs!
These are through initial reports.
I'm sure more details will soon come through!
See you soon!
Eight--zip!
That is, Women of the United States have now broken EIGHT American Records in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
The Men?
Nada.
To Michelle Carter (SP), Keturah Orji (TJ), Gwen Berry (HT), Kendra Harrison (100H---Also the WORLD Record!!), Emma Coburn (3000SC), and Molly Huddle (10000), add Sandi Morris (Her own PV mark!) and Shannon Rowbury (5000)!!
The "predicted" World Records by Almaz Ayana and Consesius Kipruto never materialized.
Either the pacing was poor, or they just never REALLY intended to go after them!
However, one "prediction"--if you will--did come to fruition!
Morris had said she was in the best shape of her life, and wanted to go after Yelena Isinbayeva's Meet Record in Brussels..
That was 16-2, and if Morris was successful, she would not only break Isi's mark, but her own AR and OUTdoor PR, which matched Isi's mark!
Coming in at 14-10 with a miss, eyebrows rose.
Then she made her 2nd try, and successfully cleared 15-0.25 and 15-2.75 on first, then needed two at 15-5, before hitting her next 4 heights on first efforts--15-7.25, 15-9.75, 16-0, and 16-2.50--the latter of which was the Meet and Personal Record breaker!
But she wasn't done!
She missed her first at 16-4.75, or 5.00!
Then she went over on second, but touched the bar, jiggling it.
Standing stock-still, hands locked in prayer, eyes looking upward, waiting.
It stayed on!
And the celebration began.
Until she had the bar raised to the World Record height of 5.07, or 16-7.50.
Not sure how close she came, but heard they weren't "bad" efforts!
In other words, 2017 could be historic for Sandi.
(As if 2016 wasn't!)
Ekaterina Stefanida made 15-7.25.
She missed once at 15-9.75, then passed the next height, to try twice at 16-2.50.
But she missed both.
For Morris, she also breaks her own Age 24 record!
She remains 2nd A-T World, and 1st A-T US.
BTW, a tweet by Becca (PoleVaultPower) says she's filed legislation with USATF that they change their rule which doesn't recognize separate AR's for OUTdoors.
As everyone knows, I've NEVER recognized USATF's rule, nor those of IAAF, if such was the case, regarding the "combining" of the seasons!
No "absolutes" here, Baby!!
Almaz Ayana's WR "try" went off-track (sic!) in the first kilometer!
The rabbit hit 2:53---already 4 seconds slower than needed---and Ayana didn't take control until another K had come and gone.
Her series of 65-68 laps couldn't get her any closer than her final time of 14:18.89, which still got the Meet Record!
Well back in 2nd, Helen Obiri PR'ed with 14:25.78.
It's the Age 26 record, and moves her from 15th A-T World to 8th!
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list, her times of 3:57.05 and 14:25.78 add to 18:22.83, which moves her from 10th to 4th.
Senbere Teferi's 14:29.82 is the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
She's 16th A-T World.
Etanesh Diro Neda was 4th, in 14:33.30.
In 5th--moving up from 8th earlier in the race--came Shannon Rowbury, time of 14:38.92.
That removes Molly Huddle's 14:42.64 as the American Record.
Shannon moves from 4th to 1st on the US list.
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list for the US, her marks of 3:56.29 and 14:38.92 add to 18:35.21, which keeps her in 1st place!
Alice Aprot (Nawawuna) ran 14:39.56, after pacing Ayana earlier--though not sure if planned!
Her Combined Event times for the 5000 and 10000 (14:39.56 and 29:53.51) add to 44:33.07--for 8th A-T.
Back in 15th came GenGen LaCaze, whose 15:06.67 was her 17th PR of 2016!!
The rest of the Van Damme meet was good--even great--but not worth extensive reporting!
Here's the rest--
Elaine Thompson blasted a 10.72 to tie SAFP's Meet Record in the 100.
She WHUPPED Dafne Schippers, who managed just 10.97!!
The Men's 200 was fast---and close!
Jamaica's Julian Forte's 19.97 beat the 19.97 of Adam Gemili, and the 19.98 of Churandy Martina--PR's for the first two.
Tim Cheruiyot upset Abdelaati Iguider and Asbel Kiprop in the 1500, time of 3:31.34.
It had begun with an 800 in 1:50+, then slowed.
In 9th came Ben Blankenship's PR of 3:34.26, which missed my US DDD by 0.11.
Erik Kynard and Natissatou Thiam took the HJ's with "LOW" jumps of 7-7.25 and 6-4.
Orlando Ortega's 13.08 beat Pascal Martinot-Legarde's 13.12 in the 110H, while Jasmin Stowers beat a slow field in a slow 12.78 in the 100H.
Cassandra Tate won the 400H in 54.47.
An unnamed person ran ahead of the Women's 400 Winner, Courtney Okolo, whose 50.51 matched 2nd placer Stephanie McPherson's time.
Shericka Jackson and Natasha Hastings finished in 50.73 and 50.84.
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.36 beat the 1:44.44 of Kipyegon Bett.
Clay Murphy faded to 7th in 1:45.15.
Only in Belgium, Liguelin Santos's 45.02 beat the Borlee family male trio, who ended in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!
In the field (besides Morris!)---
Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-10, missing both the South Africa National Record and my World DDD by 0.75 inches!!
Caterine Ibarguen TJ'ed 48-1.25, winning easily.
(Couldn't help but notice that Keturah Orji's AR from Rio would have won here!!)
Daniel Stahl took the DT with 215-10.
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP--held the day before downtown!--65-6.75 to 64-2.50!
Madera Palameika's 217-1 PR in the Javelin Throw is the National Record for Latvia, and makes her 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Barbara Spotakova was well back, hitting 209-3, while Kara Winger's 202-11 is her 2016 best!
As noted earlier, Consesius Kipruto didn't break the WR, as he SAID he wanted, running just 8:03.74.
This beat Evan Jager's 2016 best time of 8:04.01.
In 6th was Hillary Bor of the US Army, whose 8:13.68 makes him 8th A-T US.
In 7th was the 8:16.11 PR of Andy Bayer, which moves him from 18th A-T US to 13th!
In Rovereto's meet, Genzebe Dibaba's desired World Record attempt on the Mile went out the window on the 2nd lap of rabbiting, which was just 67 seconds!!
But GD being GD, she took control and still managed to become 2nd A-T World with her 4:14.30!!
She passed 1500 in 3:57.31.
It's the National Record of Ethiopia!
And the Age 25 record!
In 4th was Alexa Efraimson--seemingly recovered from whatever befell her in that 9:11 3K recently!
Her 4:27.39 (4:05.50 in the 1500 enroute) misses my US list by just 0.16 seconds!!
People said it was the "AJR", beating Polly Plumer's 4:35.24.
First, as you know, I don't DO "Junior" records.
Second, Ms Plumer's mark REMAINS the HSR!
As for Efraimson's mark, she misses the Age 19 record of Zola Budd (Pieterse) by almost ten full seconds!!
Speaking of Age records, I have no idea if Solomon Baragi's 13:24.06 in the 5000 is the Age 16 record.
But it's fast!!
On the other end of the scale is Fabrizio Donato, whose TJ of 55-6.50 smashes the Age 40 & over record!!
In Zagreb, Ryan Crouser nailed a SP distance of 73-0.25.
This beat the 72-10.50 by Tom Walsh, which breaks his own New Zealand National Record.
It also breaks his own Age 24 record!
He moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Third was Darrell Hill's 70-4.25!
In the Swedish Champs, Daniel Stahl threw the Discus a PR distance of 225-5!
The Falmouth Mile---on a track--was won by Kyle Merber in 3:58.14.
But a mistake was made in the reporting about Drew Hunter's 6th place time of 4:06.71.
They said it was his first Pro race.
Nope!
His first was his OUTdoor PR of 3:57.15, run earlier in the summer!!
(See my post about that!!)
The USATF 20000 races were taken by Len Korir in 59:15 (over Sam Chelanga's 59:16 and Christo Landry's 59:24) and Aliphine Tuliamuk's 65:47.
Second was Emily Sisson's 66:02.
That's a good time for Sisson, whose 2016 has been slow.
It's about equal to a 1:10 Half-Marathon!!
In Collegiate XC, I saw where Erin Finn whipped her Michigan teammates (and everyone else) with a 47 second win over a 5K route.
She ran as unattached, which MIGHT mean she's still redshirting---for now!!
BTW, TFRSS got it wrong--apparently--about all those great Stanford distancers "DNF'ing" at a recent XC meet.
According to Flotrack, they never even started the race!!
What's left in 2016?
There's still the Talence Multis meet, plus maybe a couple of small "meets" elsewhere.
The Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Fukuoka Marathons are upcoming, of course!
Then there's Cross Country!!
As readers of this blog know, we can expect the first dribblings of INdoor marks to come in late November!
I'll soon have my AOY reports for Collegiates and HS'ers!!
(The World and US reports come at year's end!!)
The frequency of my posts will slow drastically over the next two months---especially after my Collegiate and HS reports!!
But there's tons of stuff to talk about OFF-track (and field), and I'm sure you'll see a "rant" or 2 or 3 before Thanksgiving!!
Oh, one late item.
Reports have broken on Twitter (through fairly reliable sources!) that the young behemoth SP'er Konrad Bukowiecki has tested positive for a "stimulant".
But said stimulant apparently is NOT on the banned substances list of WADA!!
Buko of course denies taking drugs!
These are through initial reports.
I'm sure more details will soon come through!
See you soon!
Saturday, September 3, 2016
5th Ave Mile Livens Season's End
Maybe it was expected.
It was an Olympics year, after all.
But with four post-OG DL's, I thought (hoped??) we'd see better stuff coming from these "Olympians".
Especially when one of those DL's---the one just passed--is called "Weltklasse"---or "World Class".
And that meet--the Zurich affair--HAS been just that.
But not so much this year!
Thus the delay in posting the results from there.
Luckily, today's Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC saved the day---and my ass!!
So let's begin there!
The Women's race had 5 athletes who had competed in Zurich just 2 days prior.
Consider a flight to NY and the ensuing jet lag, and we maybe shouldn't have expected such a fantastically deep & fast race!
With $1000 on the line for the leader at halfway--it appeared that Morgan Uceny sprinted ahead just before that point, although it was hard to tell from the camera's angle.
From that point, Jenny Simpson and Laura Muir battled it out almost side by side, with Muir a step behind.
Muir has been the dominant figure in the Women's 1500 on the circuit, but Simpson had just run two of her fastest times also!
Simpson just edged Muir at the tape, their times 4:18.3 and 4:18.5.
And coming on strong at the end was "Queen of the Road Mile" Heather Kampf, who also dipped under 4:20 with her 4:19.8.
If the course is accurate, that's Kampf's fastest race ever---over a Mile or 1500!!
Next came perennial 4th placer Amanda Eccleston, who also probably ran her fastest--4:20.7.
Kate Grace--normally an 800 gal--was 5th in 4:22.7, also worth faster than her 1500 PR!!
Shelby Houlihan, Nicole Sifuentes, Katie Mackey, and Emma Coburn all were under 4:24!!
If you thought the Women's race was close (and a bit of an upset!), the Men shocked the crowd even more.
The Olympic 1500 Gold winner Matthew Centrowitz was favored, but he'd have to deal with 800 man Clay Murphy.
Bearded Ben Blankenship won the Grand at the Half, and then fell back a bit, with Centro just ahead!
Then Colby Alexander gave chase, running to Centro's left.
It appeared to be a two-man dash for the cash!
In fact, Centro--in the lead--checked his left side-view mirror right before the line.
He was going to beat Alexander.
And he did!
BUT---he shoulda looked to his RIGHT!!!
Sprinting like Usain Bolt, Eric Jenkins swept past him on the OTHER side, his 3:49.5 nipping Centro's 3:49.6.
Believe me, they weren't even a tenth apart!!
Alexander finished in 3:50.3!
Murphy was another 2 seconds back--3:52.3, with Charles Philibut-Thiboutout next in 3:52.8.
Then came Chris O'Hare, Ford Palmer, Blankenship, and Leo Manzano, all sub 3:55.
Well, let's see what Zurich DID have to offer!
The Women's PV was held in the train station the night before--so was an INdoor event!!
Holly Bradshaw and Sandi Morris both reached 15-7.25, with Bradshaw the winner!
The Men's PV was held OUTdoors the next day!
Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie both jumped 19-4.25, Kendricks the winner.
Both missed their tries at 19-8.50!
Thiago Braz Da Silva was 3rd with 19-2.
Another close contest came in the Women's LJ, with Brittney Reese's 22-9.75 prevailing over Ivana Spanovic's 22-9!
Sandra Perkovic won the DT with a good 224-6.
Ruth Beitia again took the HJ with a 6-5 mark.
She then tried 3 times at 6-7.50!!
Shamier Little found a little (sic!) bit of redemption with her 53.97 win in the 400H over Sara Petersen's 54.22.
The Men's 5000--promoted as a VERY fast race--was a disappointment!
They flew the first 1000 in 2:34, then started jogging.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won in 13:14.82.
Paul Chelimo and Evan Jager were 2nd and 3rd, with Ageless Bernard Lagat a decent 6th in 13:19.73!
Ryan Hill was 9th a second or so behind Lagat!
Tom Walsh continued his hot streak, again breaking his own National Record of New Zealand in the SP--mark of 72-10.
He moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 17th, where he's tied with 2 others!
Ryan Crouser's 72-2.25 wasn't bad in 2nd!
The Women's 200 was a doozy--NOT a snoozer!!
Waiting for the gun were 3 of the best ever--Allyson Felix, Dafne Schippers, and Elaine Thompson!
Schippers appeared ahead coming off the curve, with Thompson right there, and Felix looking good.
But ET stretched her legs just a bit more--edging Schippers for the win--21.85 to 21.86!!
Felix ran strong, her 22.02 in 3rd not an embarrassment!!
This one has been, and will be talked about through the winter doldrums!!
The Women's Metric Mile produced a shock winner--and perhaps a DQ-able offence!!
Laura Muir had run 3:55.22, and apart from the dangerous Faith Kipyegon, appeared to be the woman to beat!
When the rabbit left, it was Muir in front, with Kipyegon and Jenny Simpson right there.
Sifan Hassan used the 2nd lane to move up to do battle, while American Record holder Shannon Rowbury hugged the rail.
Off the final curve, Muir drifted wide, leaving the door open for Rowbury's charge, while Simpson and Hassan were back a ways, and Kipyegon was---heh--gone!
Muir stayed ahead until JUST before the line, when Rowbury flew by (Remember Molly Huddle and Emily Infeld in Beijing, except here, Muir wasn't yet celebrating!!).
At that point, Shannon's right arm seemed to jab Muir, and in fact HIT her--seeming to stop Muir in her tracks, while Rowbury was declared the winner by 0.07, 3:57.78 to 3:57.85!!
There's (last I saw!) six pages of commentary on the Let's Run Forum, most of it saying Rowbury should have been DQ'ed!!
Even the more "sane" T&FN MB people agreed, for the most part!
But Muir, having won the DL's $40G's prize, didn't file a protest, so the result remains as is!
Hassan took 3rd in 3:58.43 over Simpson's 3:58.54, and Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.63.
Also finishing in front of Kipyegon's 4:01.86 in 7th was Besu Sado's PR of 3:59.47!
Another race was controversial, but for different reasons.
That Women's 2-lapper!!
The first 3 across the line will remain unnamed!
And you know why--and who they are!
But a great race was happening for the WIN--with Joanna Jozwik's 1:58.21 nipping the solid PR of Kate Grace--1:58.28!
Grace moves from 23rd A-T US to 19th!!
Melissa Bishop, who was the best and most consistent all year, ran 1:58.84!
Ruth Jebet's 9:07.00 win in the 3000SC got her the Meet Record!
Hyvin Kiyeng was 2nd in 9:10.15.
But Emma Coburn wasn't close, even though her 9:17.42 took 3rd.
Colleen Quigley and GenGen LaCaze had bad hair days, running over 15 and 21 seconds slower than their respective recent PR's!!
In other events, Asefa Powell took the 100 in 9.94.
Kerron Clement won the 400H in 48.72.
Kendra Harrison won again, her time a slowish 12.63.
Cindy Ofili and Dawn Harper-Nelson followed in 12.70 and 12.73.
Christian Taylor took the TJ with 58-4.75.
It also got him the Weltklasse Meet Record!!
LaShawn Merritt cruised to the 400 win in 44.64 over Bralon Taplin's 44.70.
Jakub Vadlijch's 286-4 took the Javelin Throw over Thomas Rohler's 284-0.
Jamaica's 41.65 took the meet-ending 4X100 Relay from the United States, who finished well back, in 43.30!
That is, until the Americans were DQ'ed for passing out of the zone!
And it apparently was Allyson Felix's fault!!
More hand-wringing about US Relay disasters!!
Oh, almost forgot!!
Anita Wlodarczyk SHATTERED her own World Record---AGAIN!!!
Ho hum.
Kidding aside, this woman is simply amazing!!
At the Skolimowska Memorial, she set the Hammer sailing out to 272-3, or 82.98 metric!
She also breaks her own National Record of Poland, and her own Age 31 record!
Her series wasn't bad either!
Besides the 272-3, she also threw 263-6, 266-7, AND 268-3!!
Pawel Fajdek returned to form, also winning with a toss of 270-7!!
The Hoka One One Mile in Long Island (NY) were taken by David Torrence in 3:54.99, and Amanda Eccleston in 4:26.87.
Lauren Johnson and Shannon Osika ran in the 4:28's!
Some Young Un's news!
I may have mentioned this in an earlier post---too lazy to check!!--but Ty Cooper continued his HOT season of Frosh Class record-smashing at the AAU Junior Olympics!!
He TRIPLED in 10.36 (a PR, and 0.01 off the Frosh Class record!), 20.62 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record), and 45.23, which simply obliterated his old Frosh Class record by a whopping 0.31 seconds!!
And he apparently ran all three finals within a four hour span of time!!
ADDED hours later---
I DID mention Cooper's triple in an earlier post.
But not completely!
In my Rio post called "Four Fabulous Finals", I said he tripled, and that his 45.23 moved him to 8th A-T HS, and shattered his own Frosh Class record.
But I didn't list his times for the 100 or 200, so those are new!
Sorry for the repeat, but always striving for accuracy!
Also at that meet, Tyra Gittens scored 5337 points in the Heptathlon, making her 12th A-T HS!!
At the USATF Junior Olympics, INdoor Frosh 400 sensation Brian Herron ran a PR of 46.30.
If not for Cooper, that would be BIG news---or at least bigger than it is now!!
Alina McDonald PV'ed 13-10.50, to become 14th A-T HS!
Berlin's ISTAF meet, once a very important Invitational, but now an IWC meet, produced a few decent marks.
Bernard Lagat says he's now retired from track racing, after taking 2nd in the 3000 to Augustine Choge's 7:43.00 winner, his time being a not-bad-for-Age-41, 7:43.63!!
His time was only 0.88 slower than his 2015 Age 40 & over record!!
David Rudisha won the 800 in 1:43.31 over Kipyegon Bett's 1:43.76!
Two nameless people finished in front of Eunice Sum's 1:57.95 winner in the Women's 800!
Joanna Jozwik and Lynsey Sharp were next in 1:58.20 and 1:58.31.
Celliphine Chespol took a sluggish 3000SC in 9:25.49.
Speaking of Ageless Wonders, Kim Collins WON the 100 in 10.07, beating guys 10 and more years younger!!
David Omoregie's 13.24 prevailed over Pascal Martinot-Legarde's own 13.24, separated by hairs!
Cindy Roleder won the 100H in 12.65, beating some good ladies.
Jasmin Stowers took 2nd in 12.72, with Phylicia George next in 12.74, then Dawn Harper-Nelson in 12.76, with Tiffany Porter running 12.79 in 5th!
Johannes Vetter produced a Javelin Throw measuring 293-10, which makes him 16th A-T World!
Julian Weber threw 289-8, while Thomas Rohler was further behind!
Christina Obergfoll's 210-11 took the Women's JT!
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP, her 64-6.75 beating Val's 64-5.
Well, folks, don't look now, but CROSS COUNTRY has snuck up on us!!
While most of the results I've seen so far haven't included many "names", the San Francisco Invitational was interesting for its list of DNF's!!
While Cal's Trent Brandel was winning the Men's 8K race in 24:21, Sean McGorty, Grant Fisher, and Kai Benedict were listed as being DNF's!
I don't know if they served as "rabbits" for their teammates, or whether they had problems, but a DNF isn't what we expect from guys like these so early in the season!
And the Women's race had an even longer roster of DNF's!!
They included Jordyn Colter, Fiona O'Keefe, Ella Donaghu, Christine Aragon, Sarah Walker, and Hannah DeBalsi!!
WHY???
BTW, Vanessa Fraser and Elise Cranny went 1-2, both given the same time of 20:52.3 for the 6K course.
Right behind them came Charlotte Taylor in 20:52.4.
Bethan Knights of Cal was 4th about 10 seconds later!
A few new faces to watch for MIGHT be---
Karis Joshen, a Senior at Texas A&M, who won a 4.1K race in 13:50.4 by a big margin!
Cameron Villereal (an A&M Senior), who took the Men's 6K in 18:18.1.
Andrew Schille, a Northern Kentucky Soph, who won a 6K in 18:14.8.
And watch also for Lainey Studebaker, who revved her engines (Pardon the lame pun!!) to a 6K win in 20:53.8.
Caroline Alcorta also won easily.
As did Katie Michta!
Wait, Katie MICHTA---the WALKER???
Yes, THAT Katie Michta!
I was so surprised seeing her as the WINNER (She's a Molloy College Junior!) over 4K--that I tweeted her about that.
She replied, laughing, saying she "gets that all the time", and is definitely continuing in RaceWalking, while being a "proud runner" for Molloy!!
(But what are her TRACK times??)
One final XC-related item.
The Belmont Invitational in Tennessee--where Lipscomb College opened their season--did NOT include the name of Kayla Montgomery in its results---where the "entire" Lipscomb Women's squad ran!
I know she had an MS relapse about a year ago.
But last I heard, she had run a road 5000 race--or at least it SEEMED that was the case, based on a Facebook post I saw about it--and was training hard.
She's still on Lipscomb's roster--a Junior now!---so I'm curious why she didn't run!
And whether she WILL compete this year!!
I wish her the very best, and will report anything I find out!
One more Diamond League meet to go---Brussels' Van Damme, 5 days from now!
Almaz Ayana will race the 5000.
She's "expected" to try for the World Record!!
And there's lots of other greats there too!
Hopefully, they'll let it rip for that one final push to keep 2016 OUTdoors a Record-smashing year!!
Will see you then.
I'll also tell you my planned schedule for the remainder of 2016!
It was an Olympics year, after all.
But with four post-OG DL's, I thought (hoped??) we'd see better stuff coming from these "Olympians".
Especially when one of those DL's---the one just passed--is called "Weltklasse"---or "World Class".
And that meet--the Zurich affair--HAS been just that.
But not so much this year!
Thus the delay in posting the results from there.
Luckily, today's Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC saved the day---and my ass!!
So let's begin there!
The Women's race had 5 athletes who had competed in Zurich just 2 days prior.
Consider a flight to NY and the ensuing jet lag, and we maybe shouldn't have expected such a fantastically deep & fast race!
With $1000 on the line for the leader at halfway--it appeared that Morgan Uceny sprinted ahead just before that point, although it was hard to tell from the camera's angle.
From that point, Jenny Simpson and Laura Muir battled it out almost side by side, with Muir a step behind.
Muir has been the dominant figure in the Women's 1500 on the circuit, but Simpson had just run two of her fastest times also!
Simpson just edged Muir at the tape, their times 4:18.3 and 4:18.5.
And coming on strong at the end was "Queen of the Road Mile" Heather Kampf, who also dipped under 4:20 with her 4:19.8.
If the course is accurate, that's Kampf's fastest race ever---over a Mile or 1500!!
Next came perennial 4th placer Amanda Eccleston, who also probably ran her fastest--4:20.7.
Kate Grace--normally an 800 gal--was 5th in 4:22.7, also worth faster than her 1500 PR!!
Shelby Houlihan, Nicole Sifuentes, Katie Mackey, and Emma Coburn all were under 4:24!!
If you thought the Women's race was close (and a bit of an upset!), the Men shocked the crowd even more.
The Olympic 1500 Gold winner Matthew Centrowitz was favored, but he'd have to deal with 800 man Clay Murphy.
Bearded Ben Blankenship won the Grand at the Half, and then fell back a bit, with Centro just ahead!
Then Colby Alexander gave chase, running to Centro's left.
It appeared to be a two-man dash for the cash!
In fact, Centro--in the lead--checked his left side-view mirror right before the line.
He was going to beat Alexander.
And he did!
BUT---he shoulda looked to his RIGHT!!!
Sprinting like Usain Bolt, Eric Jenkins swept past him on the OTHER side, his 3:49.5 nipping Centro's 3:49.6.
Believe me, they weren't even a tenth apart!!
Alexander finished in 3:50.3!
Murphy was another 2 seconds back--3:52.3, with Charles Philibut-Thiboutout next in 3:52.8.
Then came Chris O'Hare, Ford Palmer, Blankenship, and Leo Manzano, all sub 3:55.
Well, let's see what Zurich DID have to offer!
The Women's PV was held in the train station the night before--so was an INdoor event!!
Holly Bradshaw and Sandi Morris both reached 15-7.25, with Bradshaw the winner!
The Men's PV was held OUTdoors the next day!
Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie both jumped 19-4.25, Kendricks the winner.
Both missed their tries at 19-8.50!
Thiago Braz Da Silva was 3rd with 19-2.
Another close contest came in the Women's LJ, with Brittney Reese's 22-9.75 prevailing over Ivana Spanovic's 22-9!
Sandra Perkovic won the DT with a good 224-6.
Ruth Beitia again took the HJ with a 6-5 mark.
She then tried 3 times at 6-7.50!!
Shamier Little found a little (sic!) bit of redemption with her 53.97 win in the 400H over Sara Petersen's 54.22.
The Men's 5000--promoted as a VERY fast race--was a disappointment!
They flew the first 1000 in 2:34, then started jogging.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won in 13:14.82.
Paul Chelimo and Evan Jager were 2nd and 3rd, with Ageless Bernard Lagat a decent 6th in 13:19.73!
Ryan Hill was 9th a second or so behind Lagat!
Tom Walsh continued his hot streak, again breaking his own National Record of New Zealand in the SP--mark of 72-10.
He moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 17th, where he's tied with 2 others!
Ryan Crouser's 72-2.25 wasn't bad in 2nd!
The Women's 200 was a doozy--NOT a snoozer!!
Waiting for the gun were 3 of the best ever--Allyson Felix, Dafne Schippers, and Elaine Thompson!
Schippers appeared ahead coming off the curve, with Thompson right there, and Felix looking good.
But ET stretched her legs just a bit more--edging Schippers for the win--21.85 to 21.86!!
Felix ran strong, her 22.02 in 3rd not an embarrassment!!
This one has been, and will be talked about through the winter doldrums!!
The Women's Metric Mile produced a shock winner--and perhaps a DQ-able offence!!
Laura Muir had run 3:55.22, and apart from the dangerous Faith Kipyegon, appeared to be the woman to beat!
When the rabbit left, it was Muir in front, with Kipyegon and Jenny Simpson right there.
Sifan Hassan used the 2nd lane to move up to do battle, while American Record holder Shannon Rowbury hugged the rail.
Off the final curve, Muir drifted wide, leaving the door open for Rowbury's charge, while Simpson and Hassan were back a ways, and Kipyegon was---heh--gone!
Muir stayed ahead until JUST before the line, when Rowbury flew by (Remember Molly Huddle and Emily Infeld in Beijing, except here, Muir wasn't yet celebrating!!).
At that point, Shannon's right arm seemed to jab Muir, and in fact HIT her--seeming to stop Muir in her tracks, while Rowbury was declared the winner by 0.07, 3:57.78 to 3:57.85!!
There's (last I saw!) six pages of commentary on the Let's Run Forum, most of it saying Rowbury should have been DQ'ed!!
Even the more "sane" T&FN MB people agreed, for the most part!
But Muir, having won the DL's $40G's prize, didn't file a protest, so the result remains as is!
Hassan took 3rd in 3:58.43 over Simpson's 3:58.54, and Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.63.
Also finishing in front of Kipyegon's 4:01.86 in 7th was Besu Sado's PR of 3:59.47!
Another race was controversial, but for different reasons.
That Women's 2-lapper!!
The first 3 across the line will remain unnamed!
And you know why--and who they are!
But a great race was happening for the WIN--with Joanna Jozwik's 1:58.21 nipping the solid PR of Kate Grace--1:58.28!
Grace moves from 23rd A-T US to 19th!!
Melissa Bishop, who was the best and most consistent all year, ran 1:58.84!
Ruth Jebet's 9:07.00 win in the 3000SC got her the Meet Record!
Hyvin Kiyeng was 2nd in 9:10.15.
But Emma Coburn wasn't close, even though her 9:17.42 took 3rd.
Colleen Quigley and GenGen LaCaze had bad hair days, running over 15 and 21 seconds slower than their respective recent PR's!!
In other events, Asefa Powell took the 100 in 9.94.
Kerron Clement won the 400H in 48.72.
Kendra Harrison won again, her time a slowish 12.63.
Cindy Ofili and Dawn Harper-Nelson followed in 12.70 and 12.73.
Christian Taylor took the TJ with 58-4.75.
It also got him the Weltklasse Meet Record!!
LaShawn Merritt cruised to the 400 win in 44.64 over Bralon Taplin's 44.70.
Jakub Vadlijch's 286-4 took the Javelin Throw over Thomas Rohler's 284-0.
Jamaica's 41.65 took the meet-ending 4X100 Relay from the United States, who finished well back, in 43.30!
That is, until the Americans were DQ'ed for passing out of the zone!
And it apparently was Allyson Felix's fault!!
More hand-wringing about US Relay disasters!!
Oh, almost forgot!!
Anita Wlodarczyk SHATTERED her own World Record---AGAIN!!!
Ho hum.
Kidding aside, this woman is simply amazing!!
At the Skolimowska Memorial, she set the Hammer sailing out to 272-3, or 82.98 metric!
She also breaks her own National Record of Poland, and her own Age 31 record!
Her series wasn't bad either!
Besides the 272-3, she also threw 263-6, 266-7, AND 268-3!!
Pawel Fajdek returned to form, also winning with a toss of 270-7!!
The Hoka One One Mile in Long Island (NY) were taken by David Torrence in 3:54.99, and Amanda Eccleston in 4:26.87.
Lauren Johnson and Shannon Osika ran in the 4:28's!
Some Young Un's news!
I may have mentioned this in an earlier post---too lazy to check!!--but Ty Cooper continued his HOT season of Frosh Class record-smashing at the AAU Junior Olympics!!
He TRIPLED in 10.36 (a PR, and 0.01 off the Frosh Class record!), 20.62 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record), and 45.23, which simply obliterated his old Frosh Class record by a whopping 0.31 seconds!!
And he apparently ran all three finals within a four hour span of time!!
ADDED hours later---
I DID mention Cooper's triple in an earlier post.
But not completely!
In my Rio post called "Four Fabulous Finals", I said he tripled, and that his 45.23 moved him to 8th A-T HS, and shattered his own Frosh Class record.
But I didn't list his times for the 100 or 200, so those are new!
Sorry for the repeat, but always striving for accuracy!
Also at that meet, Tyra Gittens scored 5337 points in the Heptathlon, making her 12th A-T HS!!
At the USATF Junior Olympics, INdoor Frosh 400 sensation Brian Herron ran a PR of 46.30.
If not for Cooper, that would be BIG news---or at least bigger than it is now!!
Alina McDonald PV'ed 13-10.50, to become 14th A-T HS!
Berlin's ISTAF meet, once a very important Invitational, but now an IWC meet, produced a few decent marks.
Bernard Lagat says he's now retired from track racing, after taking 2nd in the 3000 to Augustine Choge's 7:43.00 winner, his time being a not-bad-for-Age-41, 7:43.63!!
His time was only 0.88 slower than his 2015 Age 40 & over record!!
David Rudisha won the 800 in 1:43.31 over Kipyegon Bett's 1:43.76!
Two nameless people finished in front of Eunice Sum's 1:57.95 winner in the Women's 800!
Joanna Jozwik and Lynsey Sharp were next in 1:58.20 and 1:58.31.
Celliphine Chespol took a sluggish 3000SC in 9:25.49.
Speaking of Ageless Wonders, Kim Collins WON the 100 in 10.07, beating guys 10 and more years younger!!
David Omoregie's 13.24 prevailed over Pascal Martinot-Legarde's own 13.24, separated by hairs!
Cindy Roleder won the 100H in 12.65, beating some good ladies.
Jasmin Stowers took 2nd in 12.72, with Phylicia George next in 12.74, then Dawn Harper-Nelson in 12.76, with Tiffany Porter running 12.79 in 5th!
Johannes Vetter produced a Javelin Throw measuring 293-10, which makes him 16th A-T World!
Julian Weber threw 289-8, while Thomas Rohler was further behind!
Christina Obergfoll's 210-11 took the Women's JT!
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP, her 64-6.75 beating Val's 64-5.
Well, folks, don't look now, but CROSS COUNTRY has snuck up on us!!
While most of the results I've seen so far haven't included many "names", the San Francisco Invitational was interesting for its list of DNF's!!
While Cal's Trent Brandel was winning the Men's 8K race in 24:21, Sean McGorty, Grant Fisher, and Kai Benedict were listed as being DNF's!
I don't know if they served as "rabbits" for their teammates, or whether they had problems, but a DNF isn't what we expect from guys like these so early in the season!
And the Women's race had an even longer roster of DNF's!!
They included Jordyn Colter, Fiona O'Keefe, Ella Donaghu, Christine Aragon, Sarah Walker, and Hannah DeBalsi!!
WHY???
BTW, Vanessa Fraser and Elise Cranny went 1-2, both given the same time of 20:52.3 for the 6K course.
Right behind them came Charlotte Taylor in 20:52.4.
Bethan Knights of Cal was 4th about 10 seconds later!
A few new faces to watch for MIGHT be---
Karis Joshen, a Senior at Texas A&M, who won a 4.1K race in 13:50.4 by a big margin!
Cameron Villereal (an A&M Senior), who took the Men's 6K in 18:18.1.
Andrew Schille, a Northern Kentucky Soph, who won a 6K in 18:14.8.
And watch also for Lainey Studebaker, who revved her engines (Pardon the lame pun!!) to a 6K win in 20:53.8.
Caroline Alcorta also won easily.
As did Katie Michta!
Wait, Katie MICHTA---the WALKER???
Yes, THAT Katie Michta!
I was so surprised seeing her as the WINNER (She's a Molloy College Junior!) over 4K--that I tweeted her about that.
She replied, laughing, saying she "gets that all the time", and is definitely continuing in RaceWalking, while being a "proud runner" for Molloy!!
(But what are her TRACK times??)
One final XC-related item.
The Belmont Invitational in Tennessee--where Lipscomb College opened their season--did NOT include the name of Kayla Montgomery in its results---where the "entire" Lipscomb Women's squad ran!
I know she had an MS relapse about a year ago.
But last I heard, she had run a road 5000 race--or at least it SEEMED that was the case, based on a Facebook post I saw about it--and was training hard.
She's still on Lipscomb's roster--a Junior now!---so I'm curious why she didn't run!
And whether she WILL compete this year!!
I wish her the very best, and will report anything I find out!
One more Diamond League meet to go---Brussels' Van Damme, 5 days from now!
Almaz Ayana will race the 5000.
She's "expected" to try for the World Record!!
And there's lots of other greats there too!
Hopefully, they'll let it rip for that one final push to keep 2016 OUTdoors a Record-smashing year!!
Will see you then.
I'll also tell you my planned schedule for the remainder of 2016!
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