Monday, May 1, 2017

Relays (Records, Trivia, Oddballs)

THREE Collegiate Records in the Sprint Medley Relay--within one hour!!
FOUR other Collegiate Relay Records---broken or tied!
And that's just for OUTdoors--through April 30th!!
Keep this up, and we might have ourselves the "Year of the Relays"!!
(At least on the Collegiate level!!)
Here's the list of EVERY Relays Record broken or tied this OUTdoor season--so far!

Oregon (42.34 in the FL Relays 4X100)
Oregon (1:28.78 in the FL Relays 4X200)
American Fork HS (16:41.30 in the Arcadia 4X1600)
Oregon (42.12 in the Mt SAC 4X100)
Oregon (3:39.05 in the Penn Relays SMR)
Texas A&M (3:39.04 in the SEC Relays SMR)
Texas A&M (3:11.94 in the SEC Relays SMR)
LSU (42.12 in the SEC Relays 4X100)
USA (1:35.59 in the Penn Relays "shorter" SMR--both the World & American Records!!)

Some amazing facts about the above list--
The 4X1600's lead-off runner timed only 4:25!!
He was the younger brother of anchor Casey Clinger, who ran 4:02.
Oregon's SMR was run just 4 MINUTES before A&M's--maybe the shortest span of time a CR was held--before being broken!!
The A&M Men's team ran their CR maybe 30-60 minutes after the Women--maybe the first time one school broke the CR for the same Relay within an hour--at the same meet!
UO's SMR at Penn was run withOUT Hannah Cunliffe or Ariana Washington!!
LSU had finished 2nd to UO in the first 4X100 CR--running 42.14--which broke their School record by 0.36 seconds!

There was so much great action from the Relays this past weekend that I decided to do a separate post--all on the Relays.
So, before I continue with my various facts & figures, I'll report all the Relay marks I have!
(I'll have a separate post a few hours after this one, giving you all the OTHER Records & Marks from this weekend--plus other news items!)

I neglected to report that Jamaica's winning 1:29.04 in the World Relays 4X200 was a National Record!!
As was Germany's 1:30.68!

Sydney McLaughlin broke a "record" TWICE at the Penn Relays.
In the heats, she anchored her Union Catholic team with a 50.78, which was said to be the fastest-ever 400 split for a Female HS'er at the Penn Relays!!
Then she split a 50.37 in the final to break her own record!!
(Note that the HSR for the open 400 is 50.69!!)

Penn had a deep Women's Collegiate DMR--with 4 Schools causing additions or revisions to my A-T list!
But NOT from Villanova's winning 10:53.77!
In 2nd came Penn State's 10:56.07, making them the 7th A-T School!
Third was Notre Dame's 10:58.22, which makes them 11th A-T School!
Next was Indiana's 11:02.25, making them School Number 16 A-T!
Finally, Columbia's 11:02.32 moves them from 22nd A-T School to 17th!!

The Men's DMR was also a deep one!
WithOUT Ed Cheserek, UO won the race in 9:32.61.
Indiana's 9:33.10 took 2nd.
Apres moi le deluge!!
Middle Tennessee timed 9:33.25, making them 14th A-T School!
Penn (Natch!!) ran 9:33.35, making them 16th A-T School!
Villanova interrupted the flow in 5th, but then came Columbia's 9:34.92, which moves them from 23rd A-T School to 18th!
Buffalo's 9:35.72 in 7th makes them 20th A-T School!!

UO's Women ran 42.35 in Penn's 4X100, but it gets them "just" Penn's Collegiate section Meet Record, not the overall MR!
In 2nd came Auburn's 43.02, moving them from 12th A-T School to 10th!

Villanova's Women beat Stanford in the 4X1500 Relay at Penn--17:25.85 to 17:27.47.
I thought both teams had a shot at the CR of 17:08.34.
A bit more on that later!

Jamaican HS's have a pervasive presence at Penn!
This year was no different!
Edwin Allen--one of Jam's best--timed 43.96 in the HEATS of the 4X100 for Women!
Consider that the US HSR is 44.50!!
Calabar ran 39.00 in the Men's 4X100!
It was reported that 3 of EA's runners are 18, while the other is just 15!!

As reported above, the Sprint Medley Relay (200-200-400-800) saw BIG action over the weekend!
In order, then!
UO's 3:39.05 at Penn was withOUT Cunliffe or Washington!!
After Makenzie Dunmore's opening 23.28, Deajah Stevens blasted a 21.68.
Then came Hannah Waller's 51.65, followed by anchor Raevyn Rogers's 2:02.44!!
This got them the Collegiate section Meet Record!

As noted, FOUR MINUTES later--at the new SEC Relays--Texas A&M's Women broke UO's CR with 3:39.04!!
I don't have the 200 splits, but Jaevin Reed ran the 400 in 50.9, with Jasmin Fray anchoring in 2:02.3
Fray later ran the anchor leg on A&M's 3:27.72 winner in the 4X400.
Her time was--51.45!!
Would that suggest a potential of WELL under 2:00 for the 800?
IMHO---YES!!!.
Reed ran her leg in 51.91!

The A&M Men followed with their CR time of 3:11.94.
Don't have Fred Kerley's opening leg split, but brother Myrik split 44.8, followed by Devin Dixon's 800 in 1:47.00!
Someone on T&FN's MB mentioned that had Donavan Brazier NOT gone Pro, his split of 1:44 this weekend (See below!) would have brought the record into the 3:09's!!
Second place wasn't exactly a jog!
LSU ran 3:12.25!!
Arkansas was 3rd in 3:15.38.

At the Tom Jones meet, Florida's Men's and Women's 4X400 teams won in 3:04.54 and 3:27.65, respectively!
Third in the Men's race came Belgium---but with only TWO Borlee's!!

In the US vs World portion of Penn, Jamaica got a SMOKING anchor from ET (Elaine Thompson)--just BURNING!!
Her multi-colored hair & heavy make-up didn't slow her down at all, as she came from 5 meters down to 5 meters in front!
Jam's 42.25 beat the USA's 42.42, with Morolake Akinosun on anchor!
The US Men's team, however, beat Jamaica, 38.87 to 39.01!

What if UO or LSU's Women had been in that race?
Well, we know that Oregon had run 42.12 recently!
Then, at the SEC meet, LSU tied that Record!!
Texas A&M was 2nd in 43.01.
Then came Alabama's 43.17, which moved them from 20th A-T School to 12th!!
Arkansas's 43.57 followed, making them 23rd A-T School!

Think we're finished?
Think again!!

Yet another speedy SMR came from Penn's meet!
The USA Red team won in 3:11.45, giving them the Penn Relays Meet Record, and gives them the  3rd best time ever!!
This was where Brazier ran that 1:44 anchor I mentioned earlier!!

A more obscure Relay--the shorter Sprint Medley (100-100-200-400)--saw the Women's WORLD (& American!) Records broken!!
The team had Morolake Akinosun, English Gardner, Dezerea Bryant, and Miki Barber!
Barber's REPORTED 400 split was 49 seconds, according to USATF!!
But Garry Hill, among others, say NO--that Barber's PR of 50.6 came 16 (!!) years ago, as she's 36 now--and that no way she split a 49!!
This USA Red team's time was 1:35.59.
The old AR was by Wilt's AC in 1982--time of 1:36.79!
Yes, Wilt was Wilt Chamberlain's team!!
The old WR was by Nebraska, time of 1:36.05!
Jamaica's 1:36.67 took 2nd!
Don't have Jam's line-up!

In other Relays--
Jamaica's teams beat the US in both 4X400's!
3:03.14 to 3:03.25 for the Men, and 3:28.32 to 3:29.00 for the Women!
Virginia Tech took a 4X800 race in 7:13.75!
LSU's Men beat Arkansas at the SEC meet, 38.88 to 38.95!
Texas A&M's Women ran the 4X400 in 3:27.72, while Alabama's 3:28.65 missed their 1997 School record by 0.09 seconds!!

The A&M Men's team won SEC in 3:00.74, with Fred Kerley's 3rd leg reported as 43.7!!
LSU took 2nd in 3:02.80!
Finally, UO's Women's 4X400 team won Penn in a speedy 3:24.72, missing their School record by 0.18 seconds!!

More (hopefully!) interesting Relays data!

The WR's are (Men first, then Women)--
4X100 (36.84 & 40.82)
4X200 (1:18.63 & 1:27.46)
4X400 (2:54.29 & 3:15.17)
4X800 (7:02.43 & 7:50.17)
4X1500 (14:22.22 & 16:33.58)
4XMile (15:49.08 & 18:39.58)
SMR (3:10.76 & 3:34.56)
DMR (9:15.50 & 10:36.50)

Here's the Place Records for the 4X100 and the 4X400--again, Men on the left)--
2nd (Japan 37.60 in 2016 & Jamaica 41.36 in 2016)
3rd (Canada 37.64 in 2016 & Great Britain 41.77 in 2016)
4th (Canada 37.90 in 2016 & a tie between Germany (2016) and Great Britain (2015), both 42.10)
5th (Great Britain 37.98 in 2016 & Trinidad 42.12 in 2016)
6th (Germany 38.26 in 2016 & Ukraine 42.36 in 2016)
7th (Germany 38.37 in 2012 & Brazil 42.91 in 2012)
8th (Netherlands 38.53 in 2016 & Nigeria 43.21 in 2016)

2nd (Great Britain 2:56.60 in 1996 & USA 3:15.51 in 1987)
3rd (Russia 2:58.06 in 2008 & East Germany 3:18.29 in 1988)
4th (Jamaica 2:58.51 in 2015 & Russia 3:20.25 in 2007)
5th (Botswana 2:59.06 in 2016 & Belarus 3:21.88 in 2007)
6th (Cuba 2:59.53 in 2016 & Cuba 3:23.21 in 2008)
7th (Poland (3:00.32 in 2008 & Nigeria 3:23.74 in 2008)
8th (Ireland 3:01.26 in 2015 & Australia 3:27.45 in 2016)

From my DDD's, or Top 24 A-T Performers lists, the 24th place time, and how many marks from 2017 make these lists---so far--

On the World lists--
38.46 is 24th for the Men, with ZERO marks from 2017.
There are 10 Nations with times under 38.00!
42.99 is 24th for the Women, also a shut-out in 2017!
There are 7 Nations with times of sub-42.00!
3:01.12 gets 24th for the Men, while 3:26.89 gets 24th for the Women!
Both genders have NO marks on the lists from 2017!!

I have lists for 3 Collegiate Relays--the 4X100, 4X400, and the DMR!
39.11 is the Men's 24th, but none from 2017!
The Women's 24th spot is 43.58, but has FIVE 2017 marks on it!!
3:02.47 for the Men, but no 2017 marks!
3:29.41 for the Women, with 1 mark from this OUTdoor season!
9:37.15 gets 24th on the Men's list, and they have FOUR 2017 marks!!
11:08.83 gets 24th for the Women, with FOUR for them too!!

About that SLOW Women's 4X1500 at Penn, reported above!
Stanford had Elise Cranny and Christine Aragon on their team, while UO ran without stud Frosh Katie Rainsberger!
But what if--instead of running for the WIN--they ran to break the Collegiate Record of 17:08.34??
Cranny's & Aragon's PR's add to about 8:18 and change!
If they'd matched those times, the other 2 members would have been left to run an average of 4:25 per leg!!
More than doable---DONE!!
Ditto with the Ducks!
Rainsberger has a PR of 4:12.
Add 1:59 gal Raevyn Rogers to the team (Give her a 4:20, since the 1500 is out of her comfort zone!), and you have a potential 3K time of 8:32.
Yes, the other 2 would then have to run 4:18's, but we're talking the DUCKS here, folks!!
Doable?
Done---with a slight bit of doubt attached!

But NO Collegiate Record at Penn!!

Same with the long WR's listed above!
A 4-Star US or Kenyan Men's team could run UNDER 14:20 for the 4X1500--average leg of 3:35 or less!
Heck, sub-14:00 is possible--at least for the Kenyans!
For the Women, the WR & AR are GONE--IF the best teams are there!!
16:33 is 4:08+ per leg!
16:55 (the AR) is about 4:14!
Put Shannon Rowbury, Jenny Simpson, Brenda Martinez, and Kate Grace on the team, and VOILA!, you have a sub-16:00 potential!!

And what about that REALLY obscure Collegiate (and World??) 4XMile record of 18:39.58 for Women??
That's an average Mile of just under 4:40!!
Imagine the Pre Classic organizers setting up a Record Chase during the Friday evening session!!
With the DUCKS as the chief chasers!!
Surely, with Raevyn Rogers and Katie Rainsberger on their team, the record would be SMASHED!!
Right there at Hayward Field!
BTW, Oregon's 1985 team set the record!!

I included "oddballs" in my title!
What are they?
Well, back when I was a serious runner, I ran in and/or helped orchestrate several Relays that ANYone would say were "oddballs"
Here's a brief replay--

I ran TWO 24 Hour 10XMile Relays on Humboldt State's (then-) 440 yard track, on my Six Rivers Running Club team!
The first--on October 26 & 27 of 1974-- went 245 Miles 1595 yards!
I ran 25 of those legs, with 11 of them between 5:38 & 5:59!
We had someone's truck headlights lighting up the totally dark track.
We had people helping us--as timers, food & drink providers, etc, and HSU left the gym's restroom open for us!
The 2nd (November 1st & 2nd, 1975) went 253 miles 220 yards!
I ran 26 legs--my 1st 14 miles between 5:29 & 5:56, with a 15th sub-6 my LAST--a 5:45!!

I also ran in a 4X10Mile Relay!
Yes, that is correct---10 guys ran 10 MILES on HSU's 440 yard track!
Beginning at 6 a.m. (!!) of September 27th, 1975, I ran the lead-off leg in 63:57.
I can't remember, but I don't think we carried a baton--just touched hands!
Each guy ran their leg separately.
Can't remember the team's total time, but I know we had a few guys who ran well under an hour each!
It was FUN!!!!

I ran 2 "Round a Lake" Relays!
One was around Whiskeytown (near Redding CA), the other around Lake Tahoe!
I remember I ran the "anchor" leg at Tahoe---a DOWNhill 9.8 miler!!
NOT an altitude kind of guy, I was HEAVY-legged after the first couple of miles---going DOWNhill!!
Imagine how I felt at the finish!!

I helped organize & orchestrate a couple of Women's Relays at HSU---a 100X440 & a 100XMile!
Yes, you read that correctly---I said ONE HUNDRED Women & Girls ran each Relay!!
The HSU Women's T&F & XC Coach--Joli Sandoz--was the key person.
She brought together students, track team members, and anyone else who volunteered to be part of it!!
As I recall, we established "WR's" in each--though the 100XMile record was soon broken by a team from San Francisco!!

Aah, the 70's!!

Well, enough!
There was other action on the Track's & Fields over the weekend!
Look for THAT report in a few hours!





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