USATF Juniors--and much more

The USATF Junior Championships suffered by the absence (Some late scratches!) of a few of HS's greatest evers!!

While "Best Ever" is subjective, there's no denying that such as Sydney McLaughlin, Jordan Geist, Samantha Watson, and Tara Davis belong in that category!

And in fact, Davis and Geist DID compete in BOTH meets!!
June 25th was all Seniors, but the first 3 days (June 22nd to the 24th) were a mixture, even though the separate meet's events were generally segmented into Junior and Senior sessions!!
It was the crossover that might have weakened the Junior meet from what it COULD have been, if the 2 meets had been a week apart!

Anyway, let's see what DID occur!!

Tara Davis was indeed the best of the "crossovers", as she won the Junior LJ and 100H, then finished 5th in the Senior meet LJ!  (See my previous post!)

In the heats, she sped 12.95 (0.5), moving her from 6th A-T HS to 4th, tied with 2 others!

She becomes the 6th HS girl to dip under 13 seconds!!

Davis had to duel with HSR holder Tia Jones in the final--and it was a doozie!!

Davis just beat the younger Jones, 13.01 to 13.02, the wind AGAINST them at 0.7!!
For Jones, she breaks her own Soph Class Record!!

She returned to win the LJ with her 1st round 21-9!!
This is the USATF Junior Meet Record--the old record held by one Tianna Madison--aka Bartoletta, whom she later met in the Senior LJ!!

I don't pay attention to "Junior" SP's for the Men, as they use "Junior" weight implements, while the Women use Professional weights from Frosh year of HS on!!
(See my early post--January 2014--called "Should HS Boys use the 16 pound SP from Day One?"!)

Anyway, Geist won that Junior event with 69-4.25, then competed in the Senior event (16 pounders!)!!

Samantha Watson had been entered in the 800, but she had higher goals--to make the WC team, and to break 2 minutes!
So it was left for Caitlin Collier to take an easy victory--2:03.63--not a PR!

Davis opted to not do the TJ, but Jaimie Robinson PR'ed at 43-10.50, making her 7th A-T HS!!

Jasmine Moore was relegated to 2nd, her windy 43-6.50 her best mark, but having a legal 42-11.75 also!

Tyrese Cooper has been busy all year--normally TRIPLING in his meets--not to mention having to run heats in most!!
But here again, he had his feet (Literally!!) in both pools--the Seniors and Juniors!

In the Junior 400, however, he scratched!

Zach Shinnick didn't miss him, as his 45.20 makes him 8th A-T HS!!
Josephus Lyles was 2nd in 45.74, with Sean Hooper running 45.86, and Brian Herron taking 4th in 46.07!

Taken OFF my HS list was Roddie Haley, his 45.66 dating from 1984!!

Cooper won the 200 in 20.89!
His heat time was 20.85, with Max Willis running fastest--a 20.55!

Symone Mason was busy--all at the Junior meet!

In the 200 heats, she was 2nd in 23.48 (-1.9!!).
ShaCarri Richardson ran 23.36 in a separate heat, wind of "only" -1.2!
Mason won the final in 23.09!
She ran the 100 also, but was a DNS in the 400!!

In McLaughlin's absence, Brandee Johnson won the 400H in 57.27.
But it was Masai Russell's 57.55 in 2nd that made the HS Record Book--as she's now 21st A-T HS!
In the Men's 400H, Quincy Hall won in 49.51, but again, it was the HS'er--Cory Poole--whose 49.88 makes him 8th A-T HS!!

In the heats, Poole ran 50.64, then missing my DDD by 0.08 seconds!
The fastest heat was that of Thomas Burns, whose 50.12 makes him 14th A-T HS!!

In the 110H, Eric Edwards improved to 13.32 (Wind a MINUS 1.8!!), giving him the Junior Class Record!!
He moves from 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 1 other!!

Cameron Cooper ran good in the 800!

His heat time of 1:48.60 missed my HS DDD by 0.10 seconds!!

But he crushed the final, his 1:47.59 making him 5th A-T HS!!

Josh Hoey was 2nd in 1:49.37!

Taken OFF my HS list was an oldie--Dale Scott's 1:48.5, dating from 1972!!

A pair of HS 3000SC'ers made my short "Top 24" Performers list!

While Sarah Edwards won it in 10:14.67, it was Alexandria Harris's 10:25.80 that moves her from 6th A-T HS to 5th!

A newcomer to the list was Clare Martin's 10:46.36, which makes her 9th A-T HS!!
BTW, Edwards's time is the USATF Junior Meet Record!!

Rachel Baxter won the PV by a foot, her 14-1.25 tying the Junior Meet Record!!
She missed 3 times at 14-5.25!!

The Women's 400 was won by Takyena Roberson in 51.25, with Jaevin Reed's 51.52 taking 2nd!
But it was HS Soph Arria Minor's 52.05 that makes her 20th A-T HS!!
Syaira Richardson was 4th in 52.25!

HS PRO Candace Hill also competed in both meets!!
She ran 11.23 (1.1) in her Junior 100 heat!

Alyssa Wilson competed in the HT here, and won it with a fling of 185-11.
Tierra Crockrell finished the Heptathlon with 5149 points!

She's just a HS Soph, and fell only 21 points shy of getting the Soph Class Record!!

She was 61 points shy of making my A-T HS list!!

The two 10000 Track Walks were won by two of the HS world's finest!

Cameron Haught took the Men's event with 47:32.90!

Taylor Ewart--a Freshman!!--won the Women's event--her 51:12.42 beating her Senior Class opponent (And Mile specialist!!) Lauren Harris, who Walked 52:47.84!!

Both meets were in the same venue, with basically the same people watching--but surely better scheduling might have tempted the SUPERstars to try both--Davis, Geist, Cooper & Co notwithstanding!!

Jamaica's National Championships were sprint heavy, as that hot island nation doesn't attract many distance types!

ET---aka Elaine Thompson--sprinted the 100 in 10.71--all by herself, as Simone Facey was 0.33 back in 2nd!!
The wind was just 0.8!

Yohan Blake took the Men's race in 9.90, wind of 0.9!
Seemingly back to near-PR shape, Blake also won the 200--time of 19.97 (1.0).

But it was left to Omar McLeod to have the best Men's mark!
He blasted the 110H in 12.90--the fastest time since 2012!!
He gets the Age 23 Record, as well as Jamaica's National Record!

He moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 5th, also tied with 1 other!!

Ronald Levy was far back in 2nd, time of 13.13.

But finishing 4th was young DeJour Russell, who broke the World Age 17 Record with his 13.32!!
Russell was born on April Fool's Day in 2000---NO fooling!!

Another one getting an Age Record was Novlene Williams-Mills!
Shericka Jackson won the 400 in 50.05, with recent US Collegiate Chrisann Gordon taking 2nd in a PR of 50.13!

But it was NWM's 3rd place time of 50.14 that broke her own Age 35 Record!!

Think the World's 100H talent is limited to the United States??

Think again!
Jamaica's 100H final saw 6 Women run 12.85 or faster, with 4 of them at 12.70 or faster!
Danielle Williams was the best of them, her 12.56 taking the W (wind of 0.4)!
She'd run 12.62 in her Semi!!

Nathan Allen won the 400 in 44.58!
And Kellion Knibb--also a recent US Collegiate--got back her National Record with a Discus Throw of 205-9!

The rest of the World had some impressive marks!
Michelle Lee-Ahye exploded to a 10.82 Century in her Trinidad & Tobago National Championships!
The wind was a mild 0.9, as she gets the National Record!!
The old record belonged to Kelly Ann-Baptiste.
She finished 2nd in a quick 10.88!!
And young Khalifa St Fort PR'ed in 3rd with 11.06!!

Kenya's National Championships--almost always held at high altitude--produced a couple of times impressive at ANY level, let alone at altitude!!

In fact, Ronald Kwemoi's 3:30.89 is the fastest ever 1500 run at altitude!!

And Emmanuel Korir--recently starring on the NCAA circuit--won the 800 in 1:43.86!!
BTW, the altitude height was 6000 feet!!

Tsenko Arnaudov won the Euro Team Champs SP with 70-9!
This is the National Record of Portugal!!

In the IAAF Challenge Multi's in Ratingen, Germany, Rico Freimuth won the Decathlon with 8663 points!!
He misses the World DDD by just 4 points!!
Kurt Felix was second with his PR total of 8509 points!!

BTW, Freimuth is the SON of Uwe Freimuth, whose 8792 from 1984 still ranks 10th A-T World!!
(Could Rico soon join his Dad on the list??)

Carolin Schafer won the Heptathlon with a non-PR tally of 6667 points!

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a 400 time of 47.01 for a certain man!
That fellow is none other than SUPER Vet Chris Brown of the Bahamas!!
He didn't win his National Championship, but that time is the new Age 38 Record!!
(Hopefully, he'll race again, and bring it closer to his "normal" 44 and 45 second record!!)

That, as they say, is that!
What a weekend, eh??

Next up are some DL's, and the series of 3 meets known as the Tracktown Summer Series!!

Also, keep your eyes open for some US athletes who will be chasing London Q marks through July 21st!!
I have no idea where or when they'll show up, but when they do, the marks should be Record Book-worthy!!

I'll end on that note, adding that Samantha (Not Sammy anymore, please!!  LOL) Watson has hinted that her summer of racing isn't over yet!!

She wants that sub-2 in the 800, but said she might race the 1500 at the Junior Olympics meet!!

The August 5th starting date for London's WC's is just 40 days away!!

See you soon!

Solid, Solid, Solid--USATF WOMEN

In almost every event, the Women's squad heading to London in August is LOADED with medal contenders--but more in tune with this blog--with a really SOLID group of Record Book tenants, and wannabe leasers!!
Without further ado, let me introduce you!!

Four hundred meters of track oval, with 10 hurdles installed in each lane, is the normal state for 400H types!
But after what these Women did, there is no barrier known that could slow them down!
What a stupendous race!!

Most of the talk pre-meet was about the 17 year old HS wunderkind named Sydney McLaughlin!
With a recent 49.85 Relay leg, and the HSR in the 400H of 54.03 (Not to mention that CRUSHING of the 300H HSR at Arcadia!!), we all wondered--How fast can she run?

53.82, that's how fast!
Another breaking of her own HSR, and Senior Class Record, the breaking of her own World Age 17 Record, and moving from 16th to 15th on the A-T US list!!
But the mark most of us are simply AWED by is that she ALSO is now owner of the Best-Ever SIXTH PLACE Record!!
That's correct--SIXTH place!!

In the greatest 400H race in the history of Women's T&F, this is the carnage these Women did to the Record Books!

Delilah Muhammed proved her doubters wrong---VERY wrong!!--by sprinting smoothly around the oval in 52.64, a PR by 0.24 seconds!!
She claims the USATF Meet Record!
And the Age 27 Record!
She moves from 5th to 4th on the A-T US list!
And from 13th to 6th on the A-T World list!!
In my US Combined Events list for the 400 & 400H, her total time is now 1:45.28!
Amazingly, her flat 400 PR exactly MATCHES her 400 time with hurdles!!
She's 6th on that list!
On the 100H & 400H C-E list, her 13.33 and 52.64 add to 1:05.97, where she ties for 5th!

Shamier Little was 2nd in 52.75, a PR by 0.69 seconds!
She gets the Age 22 Record!
Her 400 and 400H times of 51.06 and 52.75 add to 1:43.81, making her 4th on my US Combined Events list!
And she moves from 12th A-T US to 5th, while moving onto the World list into 9th A-T!!

Kori Carter improved to 52.95, for the best 3rd Place mark!!
On the World Combined Events list for the 100H & 400H, her 12.76 & 52.95 adds to 1:05.71, making her 4th A-T US, and 6th A-T World!
She moves from 8th A-T US to 7th, where she's tied with 1 other!
Also, she moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 18th, tied with 1 other!

Ashley Spencer and Georgeanne Moline finished close together--in 53.11 and 53.14, respectively!
Both got Place Records---Spencer for 4th, and Moline for 5th!!
Spencer's 50.28 for 400 adds to her time here for a Combined Events (US) total of 1:43.39, ranking her 2nd!!
She moves from 12th A-T US, to 9th!
She becomes 21st A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Moline moves from 14th to 10th on the A-T US list!
She claims 23rd on my World DDD!!

And then came McLaughlin!!
Pushed OFF my World list was Marie Jose-Perec, whose 53.21 dated from 1995!!
Jaide Stepter and Anna Cockrell ended 7th & 8th, with respective times of 55.06 and 55.14--a PR for Cockrell!!
BTW, the semis were fast too--Little (53.78), Moline (53.84), Muhammad (53.95), Carter (54.04), and McLaughlin (54.76)!!

The Shot Put saw two HUGE advancements made--and neither of them belong to Michelle Carter!
The Raven---aka Ms Saunders--has made it a habit to shatter her PR's--whether INdoors or OUTdoors--by foot-long (or more!) margins!!
This was no different!
Adding 16 inches to her 63-6 PR, Saunders's 64-10 6th round Shot was enough to overcome Dani Bunch's similar bomb, measuring 64-5.50 in the 5th round!!
(Bunch improved by even MORE than Saunders, adding over 21 inches to her previous best!!)
Saunders moves from 7th A-T US to 4th!
Bunch moves from 10th to 6th--the same list!
As for Ms 6th Round Shot Diva, Carter could end with "just" 63-5.50, and 3rd place!
Monique Riddick added a bunch (Sic!) to her PR too--her 61.11.75 moving her from 21st A-T US to 14th!
Felicia Johnson finished 5th with a throw of 61-2!

The Heptathlon saw a wicked battle of former SEC rivals--with Kendell Williams edging Erica Bougard by 7 points--6564 to 6557!!
After a 100H PR of 12.82, Williams was already ahead of her 6402 PR pace!
But a 6-3.50 HJ gave Bougard the edge!
At the end of Day One, Bougard had a 41 point edge--3966 to Williams's PR pace of 3925!
Sharon Day-Monroe had 3852 in 3rd!

But PR's (or near-PR's) in the last 3 events moved Williams to the Top!
She moves from 12th A-T US, to 4th!
Bougard moves up one notch, from 7th to 6th!
Day-Monroe finished strong, her 6421 giving her 3rd.
Alex Gochenour was the only other 6000-plus scorer--her 6129 taking 4th!

The 800 was run---oddly!
Or negatively---as in with negative splits---which is---odd!!
Wanting to take on the American Record of 1:56.40 in the Monaco DL race, Ajee Wilson's splits here of 59.66 and 58.12 bodes well for such an attack!!
Her total time of 1:57.78 wasn't a PR, but it did give her the USATF Meet Record!!
Her teammate & friend Charlene Lipsey ran 1:58.01 (59.87 & 58.14), making her 16th A-T US!!
Brenda Martinez ran splits of 59.89 and 58.57 (1:58.46)--but she'd done that before!!
Raevyn Rogers took 4th in 2:00.18.
Samantha Watson--another HS prodigy--ran 2:00.99 in 6th, but couldn't PR!
She did beat Laura Roesler, however!!
In the Semi's, Wilson used softer negative splits to run a quick 1:58.94.
Lipsey ran 1:59.56, while Watson used a 2:02.54 to advance to the final!

Keturah Orji dominated the TJ, as expected, her 46-9.50 nabbing the USATF Meet Record!!
Tori Franklin improved to 45-3.50, missing the US list by 1.75 inches!

The 400 saw another deep field of fast times!
Quanera Hayes PR'ed to 49.72, moving her from 18th A-T US to 14th!
Phyllis Francis didn't PR, but her 49.96 was enough to beat the 50.00 from Kendell Ellis.
For Ellis, this makes her 22nd A-T US!!

Natasha Hastings ended in 4th--again!!--with a 50.14 time!
The Semi's saw a group of 5 (Francis, Ellis, Shakima Wimbley, Daina Harper, and Hayes all timed between 50.20 and 50.74!!

The Hammer Throw and Pole Vault are---um---poles apart in their techniques and fan support!
But each produced significant results!!

Gwen Berry got the W with her fling of 245-3!!
But she had to sweat a little waiting for the measurement of recent Collegiate Record setter Maggie Ewen's 6th round effort!!
Turned out to be 8 inches short, but was enough to give Ewen a massive four foot PR of 244-7!!
Too late for a new CR, but good to move her from 8th to 3rd on the A-T US list!!
The woman who was 2016's Collegiate star--Deanna Price--threw 243-0 to punch her ticket to London!!
Amber Campbell finished 4th, but her 241-5 makes her the Age 36 Record holder!!
Amanda Bingson could reach only 228-2 in 5th, but Heavin Warner improved to 226-11, making her 22nd A-T US!!

It was Morris vs Suhr---and SUHR as shootin' (Heh!)--it was a sight to behold!
The evergreen Jenn and the snake-loving Sandi both cleared 15-3.
Then the fun began!
As Morris made each height, Suhr took one attempt each at 15-5 and 15-7, leaving her 3rd attempt for 15-9--a height she can do blind-folded!!
When Suhr missed that final bar, Morris had won!
She then missed her 3 tries at 16-0.75!!

But before that, the event was Carnage City!!
The opening height of 14-5.25 saw No Heights by several who could call themselves 15 footers!!
The Weeks twins, Tori and Lexi!
Megan Clark and Annie Rhodes!!
And a few others!
With Mary Saxer, Morgann LeLeux, Kortney Ross, Katie Nageotte, and Emily Grove all reaching 14-11, it came to a jump-off between Grove and LeLeux for the 3rd London spot!!
Grove won!!

I'll finish the rest by event group!
But believe me, there are some Record Book marks to come!!

The distances were faster than I expected!
(See my Preview posts!)
The heats of the 3000SC saw Emma Coburn and Colleen Quigley cruise to easy finals spots!
It also saw 6 of 7 Oiselle members make it through!!
No PR's in the final, but it saw the same threesome prevail that ran in Rio!
Coburn won in 9:20.28, with Courtney Frerichs taking 2nd in 9:22.23, and Quigley 3rd in 9:25.40.
Odd Woman out was Stephanie Garcia, who went for a little swim late in the game, but rose to finish 4th in 9:27.66!

The longest track race--the 10000--saw Shalane Flanagan lead awhile, only to give way to the Beast called Molly Huddle when the "real" running began!
Closing laps of 69 and 65 was enough to hold off the closing sprint of Emily Infeld (shades of  Beijing's WC's of 2015!!), 31:19.86 to 31:22.67!
Infeld's time was a PR, but she remains 14th A-T US!
Emily Sisson also improved--to 31:25.64--and she moves from 17th A-T US, to 15th!
Flanagan faded to 4th in 31:31.12.
Natosha Rogers had enough of a lead to prevent the onrushing Erin Finn from passing her for 5th!
Huddle's splits were 15:47 and 15:32!

Huddle doubled back in the 5000, but middle distance specialists Shelby Houlihan and Shannon Rowbury outkicked her, with Houlihan winning in 15:13.87 to Rowbury's 15:14.08!
Huddle finished in 15:15.29!
Karissa Schweizer continued her year of big breakthroughs, this time PR'ing in 15:18.69, a time that if run at the NCAA meet, would have made her 9th A-T Collegiate!
Stanford's Vanessa Fraser was another impressive "Collegiate"--ending in 7th!!

Rowbury tried a double of her own, but her 5K effort stifled her needed kick!
Jenny Simpson DID have a kick---as always!!--and snagged victory in a slowish 4:06.33, but with a 60.41 final lap!!
Rio 800 gal Kate Grace finished with a lap of 60.84, and ended 2nd in 4:06.95!
But it was the Bronze Woman who got all the attention!
Full time Realtor--Mother of 3--and Professional Veteran Runner!
That describes 31 year old Sara Vaughn--maybe mostly known as a solid rabbit for INdoor races!!
A journeywoman, if ever there was one!!
Totally overwhelmed and overjoyed by her ticket to London, she was warmly embraced by all--especially Simpson!!
Vaughn had sprinted a 61.27 final lap!!
Alexa Efraimson was 5th, while Rowbury took 8th!

Another "group hug" was awarded to the human angel called Gabrielle Grunewald!
Battling cancer for the 4th time--and undergoing treatments--Grunewald took her place on the starting line of her heat!
While the healthy speedsters galloped around at 4:10-ish pace, Grunewald fell behind quickly.
Further and further back--to louder and more heartfelt applause--as each meter of track passed under her feet!
This valiant Woman ended far back.
Then, standing there and smiling, she was suddenly surrounded by ALL of her fellow competitors--in a group hug and prayer!!
It was enough to bring a well of tears to this old man's eyes!!
THE moment of the Meet---and maybe the year!!

Maria Michta-Coffey was on Meet Record pace through the first 10K of the 20K Walk, but couldn't hold it.
She did win, however, time of 1:33:19!

As with the Men, the sprints were a mixed bag.
Tori Bowie took her 100 heat in 10.90, with Morolake Akinosun running 10.98.
Allyson Felix ended 7th in 11.03.
Bowie led the Semi's---with the wind against them--in 11.03 (-1.2!).
Hannah Cunliffe, Tianna Bartoletta, Jenna Prandini, and Barbara Pierre failed to Q for the final!!
The final was Bowie's, a 10.94 with an 0.3 breeze.
Deajah Stevens ran 11.08.
Akinosun was 4th, while English Gardner took 6th.
Felix was last in 11.28!!

Felix Q'ed for the 200 semi, but in only 22.95!
Stevens led the Q's with 22.55, while Ariana Washington hit 22.57.
Candace Hill was way back in 23.11.
Kim Duncan--making a mini-comeback of sorts--had the fastest semi time, a 22.59!
Felix, in a separate section, ran 22.62.
Bowie could manage just 22.89, while recent CR breaker Kyra Jefferson was 6th in 22.93.
Hill again was far back in non-Q land!

Similar to the Men's 200, a major DNS spoiled the promising party!!
This time, it was the Veteran Felix!!
Stevens won it in 22.30, with Duncan way back in 22.59, edging Bowie's 22.60!!
Will Bowie be ready for her "showdown" with Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers in London??

In the remaining events--
Kara Winger's JT of 206-0 won over Ariana Ince's 191-4!
Hannah Carson finished a dismal 12th with her 152-7--about 50 feet off her PR!!
Gia Lewis-Smallwood edged Whitney Ashley in the DT--205-6 to 204-1.
The 100H saw the Usual Suspects (minus banned Brianna Rollins and the otherwise-occupied Lolo Jones!) run their usual superb races!
Kendra Harrison took her heat in 12.54--against a wind of 1.4!!
Tara Davis--who was busy at the USATF Junior meet, as well as the LJ here!--was a DNS!
The Semi's saw Jasmin Stowers lead the pack, her 12.47 helped by a wind of 0.9.
Nia Ali ran 12.52, while Kendra (No Keni, please, she says!!) ran 12.58, and Sharika Nelvis ran 12.60.
And Kendra prevailed in the final, her 12.60 winning against a wind of 1.7, as well as Ali's 12.68, Christina Manning's 12.70, and Dawn Harper-Nelson's 12.78!

Youth conquered Age in the High Jump!!
Vashti Cunningham, already a veteran at Age 19, prevailed with her OUTdoor PR leap of 6-6.25!!
This moves her from 9th A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 8th!
Liz Patterson and Inika McPherson both cleared 6-3.25 for the other 2 spots.
Losing out was Super Vet Chaunte Lowe and comebacking Brigetta Barrett!!

Finally, the Long Jump saw another great duel of long-time rivals!
Tianna Bartoletta jumped (Literally!!  LOL) to a 1st round lead with a 23-0 mark!
Brittney Reese, known for her 6th round blasters, couldn't do it this time, her best being a windy 22-10.75!
(Her best legal mark was 22-6.25!)
Bartoletta had a better windy mark too--a 23-1.75!!
Sha'Keela Saunders's windy 22-8.50 took 3rd, but she had a good mark of 22-2.50!
As for the Teen Terror Tara Davis---she leapt a first round windy 21-9.50--leaving her 3rd!
But the older Pro's took over, and Davis ended in 5th.
She had a legal mark of 21-8.25.
Not bad for a girl just turned 18!!

And not bad for this entire meet!!
Am I done??
Hell NO!!

I'll have yet ANOTHER post--probably out MUCH later today!--with all the OTHER news---from the USATF Juniors, the Jamaica National Championships--and elsewhere!!

See you then!!

DNS's can't stop Feats of Claye--USATF MEN

The Male side of the 4-day extravaganza known as the USATF Track & Field Championships was marred by several key athletes NOT competing---and in some cases, that means NOT competing at the WC's in London!!
Expected highlights became lowlights when too many elites DNS'ed out of the Team USA selection process!
But one athlete let his FEET perform FEATS that awed the sparse "crowds"---and his name allowed for my little name pun in the title!

Will Claye---in the absence of Christian Taylor (See comment at end!)--sent his feet soaring down the runway and into the sand some 58 feet away---FOUR times!!
Yes, this was the first TJ comp with one athlete having FOUR legal efforts measuring 58 feet or more!!
His longest was 58-9.25, which gave him the USATF Meet Record!
He moves from 6th A-T US to 4th!
And from 15th A-T World to 9th!!

Claye's feats (Heh.) must have inspired the other placers, for they too made moves on A-T lists!
Chris Benard's 57-4.25 moves him from 21st A-T US to 14th!
And Donald Scott's 56-7.25 makes him 19th A-T US!!

The SP was a spectacular duel between 2 of the World's greatest!!
And it came down to the 6th round to play itself out!!
While Ryan Crouser had his first 4 of 5 Puts land between 71-7 and 72-3, Joe Kovacs's best was 71-11+.
Then Kovacs sent the 16 pound orb out to 73-4, challenging the younger Crouser!
And he replied with a massive 74-3.75!!

This gave Crouser the USATF Meet Record.
And broke his own Age 24 Record!
He moves from 6th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
And he moves from 10th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 7th!
Kovacs's mark wasn't a PR, nor was Ryan Whiting's 3rd place 70-8!
But it gives the American's a "massive" presence in London's SP ring!!

Not everything of note happened on the field!
Two races---or I should say two RACERS!--provided memorable moments!

Paul Chelimo decided a slow MoBot pace wasn't for him, so threw in an early lap of 61 in the 5000, opening an instant--and ever-widening lead!
No one followed!
So there you watched Chelimo bust out lap after lap--no rabbits!--and winning in a Meet Record time of  13:08.62!
In the hot 100-plus temps, fast distance times were NOT expected!
But all you need is one athlete who ignores the fear and the drumbeats of the jog & kick crowd!
Thank you, Mr Chelimo, for your courage!

BTW, he got the USATF Meet Record!
Eric Jenkins made up 5 seconds at the end with his 54.06 final 400!
Ryan Hill's 54.76 was also quick, giving him 3rd in 13:16.99.

Evan Jager didn't push the pace in the 3000SC---until 400 to go!
Then--with hurdles and water pit included--he sped a 56.70 to win easily!
Stan Kebenai missed his recent PR by 0.01, but his 8:18.55 took 2nd over Hillary Bor's 8:18.83 and Andy Bayer's 8:18.90!

Sam Kendricks defied the tricky winds to become the World's (and America's) latest 6 meter PV'er!!
Making his first 7 bars on first try, he then passed 19-2.25, and made 19-4.75 on his first!
He'd already won, so he had the bar raised to 19-8.25.
One miss, then the make!!
He moves from 8th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th, tied with 1 other!
And he's now 13th A-T World, tied with 5 others!!

Both Andrew Irwin and Chris Nilsen made 18-10.25, and both made 3 attempts at 19-0.25!
Devin King reached 18-8.25!

A lot was expected from Fred Kerley, America's new 400 sensation!
While Gil Roberts ran 44.63 in the heats (and Teen King Ty Cooper moved to the Semi's with a 45.45!), it was the Semi's that saw Kerley strut his stuff.
His 44.11 looked VERY easy!
But it was Roberts who most surprised with his 44.33 PR!
He missed the US list by 0.09 seconds!
Michael Norman PR'ed at 44.60, while the ubiquitous Cooper ran just 46.12 in 15th!!

In the final, Kerley ran 44.03--a slight disappointment to those thinking 43.5 or faster!
But it was enough to hold off Roberts, who ran even faster here--a 44.22--making him 18th A-T US!!
And what about that Wil London??!!
Not only does he have the perfect name for such a quest, but his massive PR of 44.47 does indeed send London--to London!!
He's just 19 years old--and suddenly he's a 44 second guy!!
Brysom Nellum's 44.50 nipped Tony McQuay's 44.51 for Bronze!
Michael's Cherry & Norman were next--in 44.67 and 44.80!

Let's take the rest by event group!
The field events first!
Alex Young opened the festivities with a HT of 241-11, missing the US list by 2 feet!
Rudy Winkler finished only 4th with 234-4, while Vet Kibwe Johnson was back in 6th with 229-11.
I'd say Pawel Fajdek can rest easy!!

The Decathlon was one of those events that maybe belonged in an amusement park's haunted house--where you waited for trap door's to open & for scary monsters to jump out!
That was what it was like watching Trey Hardee!!
While he DID finish the event--he said himself that he did so blowing through smoke & mirrors--and using duct tape!
His 8225 winning score was NOT impressive!!
Neither were the efforts of Zack Ziemek (8155) or Devon Williams (8131).
Blame it on the weather, or whatever, but PLEASE, ASHTON, come on back!!

Mason Finley topped a weak DT field with his winning 206-9.
Riley Dolezel threw the Javelin out 268-3 to defeat Cy Hostetler's 261.6.
Erik Kynard couldn't top 7-5.25 in the HJ, taking 3rd behind the pair of 7-6.50's of Bryan McBride and Ricky Robertson!
Jeron Robinson also cleared 7-5.25!
The LJ was marred by big winds, making a bunch of 27-plus jumps not legal!
Jarrion Lawson's 27-10.75 went the farthest, but his best legal effort was 27-1.75.
Marquis Dendy's 26-10 was good, but he had a windy 27-6.50.
The real shock was 3rd placer Demarcus Simpson--from the Oregon Ducks team!!
He blasted a windy 27-5.25!!
He had NO legal marks!
(I'm not sure if windy marks count for WC Qualifying!  I don't think they do, so that might mean Jeff Henderson will go to London---unless Simpson gets a legal Q by July 21st!!)
Henderson was 5th with a 27-2 leap!
But his mark stands as the best ever for 5th Place!!

The other distance events were of the average type!
After a first 2000 run (??) slower than the Women (!!), and a first 5000 reached in 15:00, Hassan Mead & Co finally started lengthening their strides!
A 14:01 brought Mead home in front with a 10K time of 29:01.44!
Shadrack Kipchirchir was close, running 29:01.68.
Len Korir was 3rd.
Galen Rupp didn't have IT---or enough of it!!--and finished a disheartened 5th!
Sam Chelanga, who led the slow parade for awhile, was 7th!
Chris Derrick tried to breakaway with 800 to go, but suffered for it, fading to 8th!

Erik Sowinski and Clay Murphy led the Semi's of the 800 with 1:45's.
But then Murphy DNS'ed the final, claiming a slight injury!
In his absence, Donavan Brazier won in 1:44.14!
Isaiah Harris used his 600 creds to take 2nd in 1:44.53, while crowd darling Drew Windle somewhat shocked in 3rd with his 1:44.95 PR!
The 1500 was your classic sit & kick farce, allowing Robby Andrews to sprint a 52.53 final lap to out-kick the kicker--Matthew Centrowitz--who sped a 53.11.
John Gregorek took just 52.36 to get 3rd.
The 1500 times?
Don't matter!!
BTW, Drew Hunter was 11th, Ben Blankenship was 12th, while Murphy finished 13th---before his 800 DNS!

Emmanuel Korvera and Nick Christie made the 20000 Walk interesting by going back and forth into the lead.
Korvera finally prevailed, Walking 1:26:43, a PR, to defeat Christie's 1:26:49.
Super Vet John Nunn came on fast at the end, but it was too little too late!!

The Sprints!
Bleh!
Christian Coleman opened with a heat time of 9.93, the wind a mild 0.2 in his favor!
Isaiah Young ran 9.97, but in a separate heat, had a breeze of 1.5.
It was the Semi's where the wind turned against them!
Despite a -1.4, Coleman sped 10.02!
Justin Gatlin battled a 1.6, yet sprinted 10.04!
Ronnie Baker shocked some by failing to make the cut!
But the final had "just" a wind of -0.7, allowing the 35 year old Gatlin to claim the Age 35 Record, and a victory-- in 9.95, with Coleman finishing in 9.98.
Chris Belcher was 3rd in 10.06.
Mike Rodgers ended 6th with a 10.17!

Aries Merritt isn't letting a little "niggle"--like a kidney transplant!--stop him from re-claiming his status as the King of the Timber Toppers--aka the 110H!
In the heats--against a wind of 1.9--Merritt sped a 13.41.
Grant Holloway impressed in 3rd with his 13.59.
The Semi's saw Merritt defy an anti-wind of 1.7, speeding to a 13.33, with Holloway 4th in 13.55.
Super Vet David Oliver made the final, but was just 5th in 13.58!
Jason Richardson, however, didn't Q--ending 11th in 13.74!
The final had Merritt lose--although "losing" here doesn't really matter that much!
Aleec Harris had to battle a 1.7 to win in 13.24 over Merritt's 13.31, and Devon Allen's 13.34.
The young Holloway was 4th in 13.39!
Oliver was 5th in 13.51.
The 400H was a bleak shadow of America's 20th Century dominance in the event!
Michael Tinsley failed to make the final, ending 8th!
Bershawn Jackson, however, did make it, but only after an apparent DQ was reversed!
Kerron Clement led the Semi's with his 48.61.
In that final, Eric Futch's 48.18 was enough to defeat Michael Stigler's 48.26.
TJ Holmes's 48.44 left Byron Robinson's 48.50 off Team USA's London roster!
Clement was 7th, while Batman was 8th and last in a piddly 49.51.

It was in the 200 where my post's title comes into play!
Not starting the heats were such names as Justin Gatlin, Fred Kerley, Michael Norman, and Tyrese Cooper!
The latter trio weren't really expected to make it to London---at least not in the Half Lap!
But why did Gatlin DNS??
Did he intend to do just the Century in London all along?
If so, why take up a lane space?
The semi's saw Coleman fight a HUGE 2.9 wind, but still speed a 20.18!!
Don't ask me what that's worth with no wind, but I'm guessing WELL under 20 flat!!
Isaiah Young had "just" a 2.1 wind in his face, but won his Semi in 20.28.

The BIG news was Noah Lyles not taking his assigned lane--a DNS!!
He claimed a small injury--but his incredible running--and his Social Media braggadocio led many to believe America's Future in sprinting had arrived!
As for Tyson Gay, despite a 14th place 21.37, he said he's NOT retiring!!
Not yet!
(He did have a good excuse--the premature death of his 15 year old daughter last year!!)
The final was anticlimactic, with Ameer Webb taking Gold with his 20.09, despite a negative 2.1 wind!
Coleman was 2nd in 20.10.
In 3rd came another little shocker---in the name of 22 year old Houston Junior Elijah Hall-Thompson, who ran 20.21.

OK.
I can understand the injury claims of some of the star athletes, such as Lyles!
But what about Christian Taylor??
Here's the gig.

Being one of America's "wild cards"--meaning he goes to London by just "competing" in Sacramento--Taylor stepped up for his first much-anticipated attack on Jonathan Edwards's 60-0.25 WR!
The crowd watched--and waited.
He started his sprint--then ran past the plasticine & into the sand--like a little boy with his pail & shovel romping on the beach!!
Maybe his steps were off.
But when he then PASSED his next 2 tries--the fans watching understood what had happened.

One of America's--and the World's!!--greatest athletes acted like some two-bit street artist pretending to have talent!!
What's going on here?
Professional athletes--especially those at the very TOP of their game!!--should ACT like Professionals!!
Under no obligation, they should WANT to be "Puttin' on the Ritz"---as they say on Broadway!!
And many---most!---do!!
They "work" the crowd--eliciting the loudest cheers (and rhythmic hand claps!)--inspiring them to ever-greater efforts!!
They sign autographs, pose for selfies, talk to the media---even in defeat, if that's the case!!

But Taylor basically led his fans on--like bitchy lovers sometimes do!!
Who cares about the people watching?
Who cares about BEING the Professional they ARE!!

Enough.
I'll have my Women's USATF report up in a few hours!!

2017 USATF (Sr & Jr) Preview--WOMEN

Ready to rip it up---in the comfort of my cool apartment!!
For all the intro stuff, please refer to the Men's Preview!
But basically, events are in the order of the CURRENT schedule of finals!
All times given are Pacific!
I give the Meet Record, and its chances of being broken!
I give MY top picks for Podium spots, plus a few other names to watch, if it's warranted!
Onward!

June 22nd
5:00 p.m. Javelin Throw
When you have a veteran in the field, who's had some okay throws this year (but nothing spectacular!), you go with her.
So put Kara Winger at the head of the class!
But don't discount Hannah Carson.
Ariana Ince is another to watch!
Winger's Meet Record of 218-8 from 2010 is also the American Record!
20-80 for it to go!

6:20 p.m.  Triple Jump
One name!
Keturah Orji---at Age 21, has been the leading US Tripler for years!!
No one else is close!  The ONLY question is--Does she break the MR of 46-8.75?
It's 14 years old!
It's GONE---90-10 odds!
Andrea Geubelle is having a good year, and could PR, but would still fall a foot or more short of Orji!!
Tori Franklin is another who should make the team---if she has the WC standard!

6:50 p.m.  Discus Throw
Two Super Vets are in the field--Stephanie Brown Trafton and Gia Lewis Smallwood!
Put GLS in the top end with Whitney Ashley and Valerie Allman!
SBT isn't quite there, so set her among Kelsey Card and Liz Podomenick as probable finalists!
The MR is 221-9, and gets 30-70 odds!

9:27 p.m.  10000
Having the Women run 25 laps 42 minutes before the Men might not seem like much!
But with temps going down slow, it might still be a few degrees hotter for the ladies at the start!!
Whatever the actual numbers are, expect a SLOW race--with the MR of 30:59.97 safe until at least 2018!
Yes, even with a BEAST like Shalane Flanagan in the field!
Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson have the wheels--and the courage!--to stay with her!
But keep your eyes on Natosha Rogers, Emily Infeld, and Kim Conley, the latter of whom will have her local family and friends out as her personal cheering section!!

June 23rd
5:40 p.m.  High Jump
This event has a LOT of questions!
Has age & THREE children caught up with Chaunte Lowe?
Is Brigetta Barrett ready for WAR?
Can 19 year old Vashti Cunningham make 2.00 (6-6.75) look easy?
The MR is 6-8.25, and should survive!
If any of the Top Trio falters, look for Liz Patterson, Inika McPherson, and Madeline Fagan to fill the gap!

7:52 p.m.  100
I wrote down all my picks---for TeamUSA spots, AND for their probable back-ups, a day BEFORE T&FN posted their final formcharts!
And it's AMAZING how close we are in our choices!!
Normally, we're poles apart, as I tend to make more "shock" picks than they do!
Not this time!
We're about an 80% MATCH up and down the line!
Even in this unpredictable event!
So put Tori Bowie, English Gardner, and Morolake Akinosun on YOUR list too!
Add Tianna Bartoletta, Deajah Stevens, and Aleia Hobbs as solid threats!!
The MR is 10.71, and would need a solid (legal!) wind to break it!

8:46 p.m.  5000
As with ALL the distance events, expect the MR's to survive!
This one (14:51.75) is no different!
But here's a little puzzle thrown in the stew!
Shannon Rowbury has declared for the 1500 AND this event!
But she's said she favors the 1500--for now!
Remember when Jenny Simpson ran the 5K after winning the 1500 in 2013?
She ran the longer race just to RUN it!
I'm seeing Rowbury's intentions the same here!
That said, the 3 leaders should be (besides Shannon!) Shelby Houlihan, Molly Huddle, and Emily Sisson!
Watch also for local gal Kim Conley!
BTW, Huddle, Conley, and Sisson---among other intended doublers here--might also opt for just ONE distance in London!!

June 24th
12:30 p.m.  Shot Put
Seems the Women---in several events!--have a deeper field of contenders for Team spots than the Men do!
Michelle Carter---Shot Diva to you peons!!--sits head & shoulders above the rest.
She owns the MR of 66-5, and is the one most likely to break it!
Give her 50-50 odds---LEANING towards 51-49!!
But will that huge (but many times unpredictable!) talent--Raven Saunders--be ON??
If she is, put her ON the team!!
Dani Bunch has been having a good year, so give her top billing too!
But don't forget Brittany Smith, Jeneva Stevens, and Felicia Johnson!!

12:45 p.m.  Long Jump
As usual, Tianna Bartoletta will be sprinting as well as LJ'ing!
And should do well in both!
But you can stamp Brittney Reese's London passport right now!
She's ready!
Her own MR of 23-7.25 (from 2011) could go---give it 60-40 odds!
But who's the 3rd TeamUSA member gonna be?
Believe it or not, T&FN picked recent HS graduate Tara Davis for that spot!
I would LOVE that if it happened!
BUT I just don't feel she'll be able to deal with the pressure, going up against Veteran Professionals for a World Championships team spot!!
Prove me wrong, Tara!!
So I see Quanesha Burks coming through for that desired 3rd spot!
But include Davis among your group of finalists---where anything can happen!!
Kate Hall and Sha'Keela Saunders are 2 others to watch!

1:22 p.m.  400
No SRR--No Fran McCorory--No Allyson Felix--despite the fact she'll be running the Lap race in London!!
But this could still be a fantastic RACE!!
Look for Vet Natasha Hastings to duel with Courtney Okolo for the lead!
Flip a coin!
Phyliis Francis has solid wheels, but don't discount top recent Collegiates, such as Kendell Ellis and Shakima Wimbley!
Quanera Hayes has a sub-50 in her logbook, but not from 2017!
She could still threaten, however!
The MR of 49.27 should remain after it's over!

2:12 p.m.  1500
Here's yet another LOADED field!
Except that Brenda Martinez has stated she's racing the 800 only!
You can say Signed, Sealed, and Delivered for Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson!
(Even though Simpson has NOT been super sharp this season---so far!!)
Kate Grace is Martinez's "replacement" here.
She's an 800 gal with the necessary kick to challenge the lead pair!
Alexa Efraimson is always right there---until the final 200 or so!!
Can she stay up front till the end this time?
Heather Kampf is good, and Amanda Eccleston recently ran a good time in Europe!
The MR of 4:01.63 is doable, but maybe not with 100+ temps!!
30-70 odds!

2:24 p.m.  3000SC
Emma Coburn will win, and even in these hot temps, could challenge her own MR of 9:15.59!
(Those Colorado girls are TOUGH!)
But her Back-Up Crew has some questions!
Especially Stephanie Garcia, who hasn't shown much this season!
So play it safe, and put Colleen Quigley and Courtney Frerichs on the Team!!
Garcia has solid street cred!
Two possible surprises could be Marie Lawrence and Emily Oren!!
(There's at least FIVE Oiselle members in this field--including Lawrence & Oren!!)

2:54 p.m.  100H
Do you have a few HOURS for me to list all the TOP contenders for TeamUSA in this event?
Even with Brianna Rollins out on a USADA ban, and Lolo Jones doing---SOMEthing!!---and with Dawn Harper Nelson just turned 33---this field has TOO MANY contenders!!
But once again, T&FN and I agree on the first 3---Sharika Nelvis, Jasmin Stowers, and Kendra Harrison!!
While Rollins's MR of 12.26 should remain, watch for some serious challenges for the top spots!
Queen Harrison, Nia Ali, and DHN are my picks as the solid threats!

June 25th
6:46 a.m.  20000 Walk
As with the Men, we have a solid threesome to vie for the Team!!
Maria Michta-Coffey should lead the way, with Miranda Melville her "Tonto"-like sidekick--and 50K Veteran Erin Taylor-Talcott a solid threat!
No MR---and no times even approaching MMC's AR!!

11:15 a.m.  Hammer Throw
The American Record holder---twice over (See my first post from today!!)--Gwen Berry-- should win!
Amanda Bingson's MR of 248-5 should be under an Alamo-type siege!!
Maggie Ewen got the Collegiate Record recently---and could make this squad!!
Bingson--the famous ESPN Body Issue lady!--should be right there too!
In fact, this could be a 5 or 6-way attack on the Podium--with Amber Campbell, Jeneva Stevens, and Rio Olympian DeAnna Price not far removed---if at all---from the leaders!!

12:00 p.m.  Pole Vault
One of our 16 footers is MIA---Demi Payne!
But the 2 others are here, and ready to mix it up!!
Sandi Morris and Jenn Suhr---despite some recent inconsistency---seem LOCKS for London!!
It's that 3rd spot that has me---in Twitterese--SMH!!
Will Rio Olympian Lexi Weeks repeat her magic from 2016?
Thus far, she has NOT!!
So I'm going with Katie Nageotte for that 3rd spot!
Keep Weeks (AND twin sister Tori!!) in your sights, however!
Kristin Hixson is another with solid credentials!
The MR (by Suhr) of 16-0.50 could fall---if the BAR doesn't!!
LOL

1:28 p.m.  Heptathlon (the 800)
Barbara Nwaba is not here!
So make this a real serious competition between Erica Bougard and Kendell Williams!!
While Super-Vet Sharon Day-Monroe is here, I'm going with Taliyah Brooks as the top pair's main challenger!
But do NOT discount Day-Monroe!!
While JJK's MR of "only" 6979 is 100% safe, watch for possible scores exceeding 6500 points!!
Lindsay Schwartz and Payton Stumbaugh could PR here, but even if they do, they won't make the team!!

1:46 p.m.  400H
This is one I've been WAITING to do---and scared shitless to do!!
The reason is named Sydney McLaughlin, and she won't be 18 until August 7th!!
You know what this Teen Phenom can do---54.03 HSR--49.85 400 Relay leg!!
But can she handle the pressure--and the rounds??
She'll have some SERIOUS competition too, as this has been a GREAT year for Americans in this event!!
But put her on the plane to LondonTown!!
Her seat-mates?
Shamier Little and Ashley Spencer look good.
But so do---EQUALLY!!--Georgeanne Moline and Kori Carter!!
And what about the one with the fastest PR--Delilah Muhammad??
Oh my!!
Give the MR of 52.97 a 55-45 chance of going down---and YES, McLaughlin is one of those who could do it!!

2:06 p.m.  800
While pregnant (AGAIN!!) Alysia Montano is declared for this race---but only about 18 weeks along, not 34!!--the serious contenders should be Brenda Martinez, Raevyn Rogers, and the USADA/USATF-attacked Ajee Wilson!!
(See my first post from earlier today!!)
But this event has some interesting stories awaiting their denouement's!!
Is Laura Roesler ready to rock & roll?
Will Wilson's friend & training partner, Charlene Lipsey, beat her??
And can HS phenom Samantha Watson follow Mary Cain (4 years later) into the World of HS sub-2:00 Two Lappers??
The MR of 1:58.33 is given 65-35 odds of falling!!

2:43 p.m.  200
This could be another Race for the Ages!
Allyson Felix--as noted earlier--will do the 100 & 200 here!
But put Tori Bowie as your winner, with Felix and Deajah Stevens as her main challengers!
New Collegiate Record holder Kyra Jefferson could lead the others, which includes two who have worn the Oregon Ducks uniform--Jenna Prandini and Ariana Washington!!
The MR of 21.88--dating from 1983!!--could fall with a strong (legal) wind!!

As I did with the Men, here's some names to watch in the USATF Junior meet!!
Here, however, I have names to offer for EVERY event!

100 has Candace Hill & Symone Mason!
200 has Mason!
400 ALSO has Mason (!!), as well as Shae Anderson!
800 has Samantha Watson LISTED, but she's also in the Senior 800!  Caitlin Collier is also here.
1500 has Clare Martin, Gabrielle Wilkinson, and Jessica Drop.
3000 has Taylor Werner.
5000 has Judy Pendergast.
(NOTE:  Why no 10000 for Women??  The Men run it!!  SEXIST!!!)
3000SC has Sarah Edwards, Eliza Rego, and Alexandria Harris.
10000 Walk has Lauren Harris AND HS Frosh sensation Taylor Ewart!!  Could be the BEST race of the Junior meet!!
100H has Tara Davis & Tia Jones!  Davis is also in the Senior 100H!!
400H has Brandee Johnson
HJ has Jelena Rowe!
LJ has Tara Davis listed!  She's also in the Senior meet's LJ!!
TJ has Jasmine Moore!
PV has Rachel Baxter and Carson Dingler!
SP has Alyssa Wilson, Kathleen Young, and Elena Bruckner!
DT has Wilson and Ashley Anumba.
JT has Madison Wiltrout and Katelyn Gochenour.
HT has Wilson here too!!
Heptathlon has Ariel Okorie and Lauren Taubert!!

Check with your cable company and/or T&FN website for livestreaming/television schedules & availability!!
And---Heh!---stay WARM!!

2017 USATF (Sr & Jr) Preview--MEN

I just made a "joke" on Twitter about placing bets on how many Steeplers take an "accidental" dive into the pool during their race!
With temps expected as high as 108, maybe NOT a joke!

As for the "heated" (Sorry!  LOL) competitions to make TeamUSA for the London World Championships, expect some classic duels!!

Because most of America's best are here!

However, some are competing in events other than what they'll do in London!

This Preview will list the events in order of the scheduled finals!

NOTE: There have already been schedule changes made, due to the heat!

There could be more!!

So don't take this blog's listed schedule as THE schedule---it might change!
(I'm giving the new listed times for each final to begin!  The times for the Multi's are for each event's final discipline!)

I'll also list the USATF Meet Records!
Then I'll offer two sets of names!
My "picks" for Top Three!

Then some others with a good chance to make that esteemed group!
At the end, I'll give you a brief overview of the Junior USATF meet!
Two posts--Men first!

June 22nd
1:45 p.m. (All times Pacific!) Hammer Throw
The MR of 270-8 will NOT be approached, let alone broken!
Rudy Winkler should win, with Kibwe Johnson and Alex Young offering a challenge!
Conor McCullough could upset, but Sean Donnelly and Colin Dunbar should be filler!

10:09 p.m.  10000

ALL distance (1500 on up) MR's are safe!

This one is 27:39.4--dating from 1979!!
Despite the late start, temps will be in the 90's, so expect a "strategic" race!
Galen Rupp is reliable, so give him the win!
But transplanted Africans should be feared, so watch for Shadrack Kipchirchir and Len Korir to stay close!
Sam Chelanga is the best of the rest, with Chris Derrick looking good this spring, and Hassan Mead always there!

June 23rd
6:00 p.m.  Triple Jump
Heat shouldn't affect the Horizontals, but winds could!
Stamp Christian Taylor and Will Claye as locks, with Omar Craddock almost so!
KeAndre Bates had a long Collegiate season(s), but he was always in the 55 foot range!
Chris Benard and Matthew O'Neal are others to watch!

The 58-4.50 MR could go---70-30 odds!!

7:06 p.m.  Decathlon (the 1500)
Where's Mr Eaton?
(Rhetorical question!!)
Without "HIM", look for Devon Williams to fill the gap!
Trey Hardee is too injury prone for me to gamble on a comethrough!
But Zach Ziemek looks good to challenge.
Harrison Williams, Scott Filip, and Matt Modin could reach 8000 points.
Keep Hardee in sight for a possible (SUPER) upset!!

8:02 p.m.  100
Justin Gatlin has NOT been sharp this year!
But you just CAN'T deny this Super Vet!!

But give this title to newbie Profesh Christian Coleman!
With a DEFINITE chance to get the MR of 9.84!!
Ronnie Baker should be there!
After those 3, watch for Trayvon Bromell, Michael Rodgers, and Tyson Gay--who might have extra motivation, as he's dedicating this meet to his daughter, who was tragically murdered last year at age 15!!

9:10 p.m.  5000
Paul Chelimo should be the favorite here!
But Ben True and Eric Jenkins have fierce kicks--and in a slow race, that matters!!
The MR is totally safe--13:12.76.
(I would LOVE to be wrong!!)
Len Korir, Hassan Mead, and Ryan Hill could be close---especially in a tactical race!

June 24th (My 73rd Birthday!!  JEEZ!!!!)
11:30 a.m.  Javelin Throw
The US is weak in this event!
So it really doesn't matter who makes the team!!
But Riley Dolezel, Cy Hostetler, and maybe Curtis Thompson are ones to watch!
Flip a coin----a Wooden Nickel!!
(MR is 299-6!!  Even Thomas Kohler would be hard-pressed to break that!!)

12:00 p.m.  Pole Vault
Sam Kendricks!
For the win, and MAYBE for the 19-9 MR!!
Chris Nilsen should make this team, as could Andrew Irwin.
Logan Cunningham, Audie Wyatt, and Matthew Ludwig will be fighting for the lower places!

12:40 p.m.  Discus Throw
The MR of 233-9 can be tucked away for another year (decade, century!!).
That said, Mason Finley should be given a slight edge for the win!
Rod Brown and Andrew Evans could easily take that away!
Jared Schuurmans is tough, but Brian Williams and Sam Mattis should be seen as mostly filler!

1:31 p.m.  400
LaShawn Merritt is entered in the 200 ONLY, even though he's ON the 400 team for London!!

Fred Kerley will win this, and CAN get the Meet Record of 43.66--set by Michael Johnson in 1995!
(I just hope he saves his best effort for the final!!)

Two OTHER Michael's might slip onto the podium--Cherry and Norman!!

Tony McQuay has a 44.24 PR, but not this year!
David Verburg is reliable!
The final challenger is open!
I'm going with Teen Machine Tyrese Cooper!!

He's due for a BIG 400 time---maybe in 44.69 HSR territory!!

2:41 p.m.  1500
This time, a 3:50 time might seem sensible---even to this Records-conscious fanatic!
(Not really!!  LOL)
Give Matthew Centrowitz the win---but not the MR of 3:34.82!
Kickers should have the edge here, so give the places to Robby Andrews and Clay Murphy!!
Kyle Merber and Ben Blankenship are always there.
Don't deny Leo Manzano a spot either!

June 25th
6:45 a.m.  20000 Walk
I'm naming just 3 guys here.
No one else will be close!
John Nunn, Nick Christie, and Emmanuel Corvera are the trio!
If they break 88 minutes, I'd be surprised!

11:55 a.m.  Shot Put
Adam Nelson's MR of 72-10.75 could be smashed in the first round---by TWO men!!
Randy Crouser and Joe Kovacs are the pair.
80-20 odds!
Ryan Whiting has been sharper than in recent years, and could be ready to REjoin the "Elite Elites"!!
Darrell Hill and Jonathan Jones might reach 70, but not much farther!
Watch for Jordan Geist to shock!!
He threw the 16 pounder 68-4 INdoors---smashing Mr Crouser's HSR!!
Michael Carter has the OUTdoor mark of 67-9!!
Just saying.

12:05 p.m.  High Jump
Another relatively weak US event---EXCEPT for Eric Kynard!!
But the 7-9.25 MR will be tough---so give Kynard just 20-80 odds!
Ricky Robertson and Brad Adkins might have 7-6's in them.
Kyle Landon, JaCorian Duffield, and Jeron Robinson should make the final!

12:10 p.m.  Long Jump
Some events have a solid threesome vying for the TeamUSA spots.
True here, with T&FN Centerfold'er (June issue!) Jeff Henderson leading the candidates.
Although the MR of 28-10.25 won't be touched!

Jarrion Lawson and Marquis Dendy are "almost" certainties!
Will Claye, KeAndre Bates, and Jarvis Gotch might be almost a foot behind!!
(One day and a dollar short!  LOL)

1:20 p.m. 800
The MR is 1:43.27!
Give it 65-35 odds of going down!!

Boris Berian is MIA---for an unknown reason!
(Actually, he's been MIA all season!!)

But don't fear--Clayton Murphy's here!!
And so is Donavan Brazier!!
If the 400 is reached in 50 flat (or faster!), watch out!!
I'm giving the 3rd podium spot to Charles Jock!
He runs hot or cold, but a recent fast 600 (See previous post!) is promising!
Erik Sowinski also has good 600 wheels---but over 800??
Watch for Eliud Rutto and Drew Windle to be in the mix!

1:56 p.m.  400H
Some folks (T&FN!!) are leaving Bershawn Jackson OUT of the Top 3!!

Not me!!
Add Kerron Clement and recent "find" Quincy Downing to my choices!
Michael Stigler should be there, as should Eric Futch.
Add Byron Robinson as a possible surprise!
The MR of 47.03 (from 1988!!) is inviolable!!

2:16 p.m.  3000SC

After Mr Bun (aka Evan Jager), watch for Hillary Bor and Andrew Bayer to stay close!

Both had big PR's recently, and might be ready for more!
(Although a mid-afternoon time slot in 100-PLUS temps might deter them from anything faster than a LOPE!!)
In this heat--Don't be a DOPE--LOPE!!  LOL

All these lousy "jokes"
Must be my age showing!!
BTW, the MR of 8:12.29 should survive!!
Oh yeah, watch for Dan Huling, Don Cabral, and Stan Kebenai as possible shockers!

2:33 p.m.  200
This could be THE final of the meet!!
Noah Lyles for the WIN!!
While Justin Gatlin's MR of 19.57 SHOULD be safe, watch for Gatlin and LaShawn Merritt to give Lyles some "HEAT"!!
(Heh.)
But don't stop at these three!
Because new Pro Christian Coleman might be right behind---or ahead!!
Isaiah Young and Ameer Webb are also fast, and could be more than mere lane fillers!

2:53 p.m.  110H
Since when does a major meet END with the 110H??
Anyway, Devon Allen seems the slight favorite here, but NOT for the 12.93 MR!!
Aries Merritt is my sentimental favorite---and shouldn't be underestimated!
Aleec Harris can turn on the sub-13.20 jets as he pleases!
David Oliver is a Super Vet NOT to be overlooked!
Jarrett Eaton is another good one!

As for the Juniors, here's some key names to watch!
Not all events are covered, as some don't have the big names!

100 has Anthony Schwartz!
200 has Schwartz AND Tyrese Cooper!  (The latter is entered in the Senior meet too!!)

400 has Cooper again, but how many events (Sr & Jr) will he run??  Brian Herron and Josephus Lyles are also entered!
800 has Cameron Cooper and Rey Rivera!
1500 has Cooper(s)!!  Cooper Teare and Cameron Cooper!
10000 has Steven Cross.
3000SC has Eion Nohilly!
10000 Walk has Cameron Haught!
110H has Joseph Anderson and Eric Edwards!
400H has Cory Poole, Quincy Hall, and Noah Green!

HJ has Zack Anderson and Isaiah Holmes!
LJ has JaMari Ward and Isaiah Holmes.

PV has Chris Nilsen (In BOTH meets??), KC Lightfoot, Cole Riddle, and Riley Richards!

SP has Jordan Geist (Using "Junior" implement, no doubt!) and Tripp Piperi!
DT has Turner Washington!  Jeff Williams too.
JT has Liam Christensen!
HT has Michael Feldman.
Dec has George Patrick.

The Women's Preview will be posted in a few hours!

Why This Blog

I began this blog December 9, 2013.
In January of 2014, I wrote "May I Introduce My Book".
A blog?  A book?
In the past few months, I've happily acquired some new (& loyal!) readers!
Welcome all!!
But maybe they haven't dug into my Archives, where all 385 posts reside!
So I'm using this forum to tell you what my book and blog are, and WHY they exist!!

I started running track in 1962, and became an instant stat nut through my reading of Track and Field News!
I searched around (No internet then!), but couldn't find ONE book that had ALL the different types of Records & Marks I needed to begin my OWN Record Book!
So, using all the different books (NCAA Guide, HS Track, to name 2), and T&FN (which then had LOADS more lists & stats than they do now!!), I created what I now call "Aaron K's T&F Record Book!
Which is NOT  a book, per se!
It's not bound, or published.
In fact, it's an ever-messy collection of 8X10.5 inch college rule lined notebook pages---over 600 pages!!---collected into 28 manila folders!

Divided as follows---
4 main groups (INdoor Men, INdoor Women, OUTdoor Men, OUTdoor Women)
7 categories (Miscellaneous, Age Records, Meet Records, National Records, DDD for HS, DDD for Collegiate, and in one folder, DDD's for US & the World)

Miscellaneous
The largest of these is the Men's OUTdoors!
In that folder, I have numbers on my Book (for my own use!), Combined Events lists for the World, and just begun, the same for US athletes only, Place Records, generic list of World, Collegiate & HS Records, then Class Records (for HS & Collegiate).
The only thing missing from my Women's OUTdoor Misc are those "private" numbers!
INdoor Misc does NOT have Combined Events lists or Place Records, as I feel there's not enough data to warrant them!

Age Records
These are for Individual Year Ages---meaning they're based on actual birthdates, not just year of birth, as "Junior", Youth", and "Masters" records are!!
They go from 17 to 40, with the ends designated as "0-17" (Any age up to & including 17!) and "40 & over" (Any age beginning at 40, but could be ANY age thereafter!).
Thus, someone born July 1st could set one Age Record on June 30th, and another on July 1st!

Meet Records
Self-explanatory, but I don't have all the meets, nor all the records from a particular meet!
Just the ones that make my lists, or come close to doing so!

National Records
Same as with Meet Records, not every nation is included, nor all of a nation's bests!
The USA is grouped in here with the other nations!

DDD's
The initials stand for Double Dandy Dozen!
I began with lists 30 deep, then shortened them to 25, then again to 24.
Two dozen equals 24---Voila!
Since beginning this blog, I've added some events, such as the INdoor 300 & 600, and some Relays!
These are the Top 24 All-Time Performers in one of my 4 core groups (World, US, Collegiate, HS).
As noted, there are separate lists for INdoors and OUTdoors, and for the two genders!

But WHY this blog??
You may have read comments & articles about World Records becoming rarer and rarer.
In fact, there are moves afoot to REWRITE the WR lists!!
(I totally DISagree!!!)
But as my Book aged---especially in the 90's, I realized there's an answer to the "problem" of WR's coming less often!
Bad for the fans---and the media---they cried!!
But why center on just World Records?
Aren't OTHER Records worth a mention---and coverage??
I sure as heck believed so!
Thus this Book and this blog!!
If we waited for a WR to go down to post, we'd be waiting a long time between posts!
But what about all those Collegiate, HS, Class, Place, National, Meet, Individual Year Age, and even Combined Events Records??
What if we had a Record Book AND a blog DEDICATED to the honoring & reporting of ALL the Records getting broken---a whole lot more often than World Records are??
Well, folks, here it is!!
I honor & respect---AND report EVERY Record & Top 24 A-T Mark!!
THAT is the WHY of it!!

I use my Record Book---which is updated immediately as new marks come in!---as my main source for this blog!
Other key sources include--
HS Track, Athletics Annual, FAST Annual, World's Greatest in Athletics & other important historical statistical books!
Track & Field News magazine, as well as their eTN.
Tilastopaia Oy, the best FREE site for current Top 20 lists!!
(Marks new to their lists are highlighted in green!!)
Birthdates, as well as LOTS of other key info is given---such as if a mark is a National Record, the date & venue, etc!

But this blog has "rules"---self-created to be sure, but rules nonetheless.
They are---

For HS lists, NO 1600 or 3200 times are included, nor marks converted from them!!
Thus, my One MILE and Two MILE lists are exactly that--for the English distances, not the aberrations created when tracks changed from 440 yards to 400 meters (or INdoors from 220 yards to 200 meters)!!
Thus, you will NOT find such marks as Kim Mortensen's 9:48.59 for 3200 on my HS Women's 2 MILE list!!

No Oversize Track marks for my INdoor lists!
Thus, Alexa Efraimson's 9:00.16 run in Seattle does NOT appear on my 3000 list!

No "absolute" marks!
T&FN has what they call "absolute" lists, meaning it's the best mark by an athlete for that year---whether made INdoors or OUTdoors.
Thus, if Athlete X runs a Mile in 3:50.00 INdoors--then runs a Mile in 3:50.01 OUTdoors---all you'll see will be his INdoor mark---whether it's February, April, July, or November!!

I keep totally separate lists (& sets of records) for the TWO DISTINCT Seasons!!!

Now we come to the "controversial" stuff!
(And in fact, the main reason I thought to write this post!!)
You've no doubt heard that USATF will NOT ratify Ajee Wilson's INdoor AR of 1:58.27, due to a USADA finding of "tainted beef" in the test she took following that run!
They didn't ban her, but took away her record!
(And since Charlene Lipsey wasn't tested (She also broke the old mark!!), the AR reverts back to Nicole Teter's 1:58.71.)

NOT in MY Book---or blog!!
Just as I did with Emma Coburn's then AR of 9:11.42 (She didn't get tested, so USATF didn't ratify that AR!), and Gwen Berry's then- HT AR of 250-4 (She was banned for 3 months, and her record was removed, due to a medication she took for her asthma!), I REFUSE to follow the rulings of USATF, or for that matter, USADA!!

Does this make me a supporter of drugs in sport!
Hell, NO!!!!
But I AM a supporter of HONESTY & TRUTH in sport!!
And in no way, shape, or form do I believe for one second that any of the 3-above named examples should have lost, or should lose the Records they worked so hard, long, and CLEANLY for!!

Thus, MY Record Book and blog listed Coburn's mark as the AR (which she later broke!), and Berry's mark as the AR (She recently broke her OWN mark!!), as well as Wilson's INdoor mark (She IS the INdoor AR holder, the "suits" be damned!!).

Also, you might have noticed I almost totally IGNORE anything Caster Semenya, Margaret Wambui, and Francine Niyonsaba do!
I say something like---3 unknowns ran a bit faster----or there were 3 unnamed rabbits---!!!
I do NOT believe those 3 belong in all-WOMEN's races!!
Call me any name you like---that is my opinion---and this blog will follow my beliefs!!
They are NOT in my lists of records or marks!!


Three more items!

NBC recently offered their "Gold" package of livestreams of DL & other major meets---cost of about $70!
Flotrack, Runner Space, and Mile Split all offer similar livestream services for various prices!

But you see, they're really LOUSY livestreamers!
Jumpy bumpy videos.
Uninformed announcing!

I pay $40 per month for Xfinity/Comcast---which includes high speed internet AND access to most TV channels, and many old (or current) TV shows and movies!
I've gotten livestreams of NBCSN's presentations---basically for FREE (part of my basic bill).
Why pay extra??

Two recent books & 2 recent movies I highly recommend---

Run Fast Eat Slow, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky.
It's a cookbook, but focused on recipes athletes---especially runners--can use!
It includes many recipes that have meat---so veggies beware!
It's beautifully presented, with loads of great color photos---including a few of the 2 authors!

18 Months Raising the Bar, by the Texas Mile Split people!
I have NOT read, bought, or even seen this book----yet!
That's because they promised me an autographed copy!
But I'll be buying it soon!!
It's an account of the 18 months (sic!) when the Women's Collegiate PV scene was torn asunder by the incredible seasons (INdoors & OUTdoors) of Demi Payne and Sandi Morris---when they seemingly traded the CR every week or 2!!
They say it has photos, is paperback, and has 192 pages!
Can't wait!

The movies are actually very similar in tone & theme!
One is a French-Canadian flick called "Sarah Prefers to Run".
It's about an 800 runner who attends McGill University in Toronto, but chooses to marry her roommate so as to save money!!
The running scenes are excellent!
It's nice, funny, and sweet!

So is Tracktown, starring Alexi Pappas (with MANY cameos of elite athletes!!).
Same basic theme, except she doesn't get married, but DOES have a little romantic action!
Both movies worth your time!

I'll close with a short list of some old posts of mine---which I believe are STILL as important and relevant as when I wrote them!
They are---

Should HS boys throw the 16 pound SP from Day One?  (December 14, 2013)
Open Letter to Alberto Salazar  (February 23, 2014)
The Future of Track and Field  (April 4, 2014)
Morality of T&F Message Boards  (December 25, 2014)
The Legacy of Ron Clarke  (June 19, 2015)
Opinions on T&F History & Culture, Parts 1 & 2  (both July 12, 2015)
Why I (Mostly) Ignore XC  (October 8, 2015)
The Mile in a Metric World  (December 19, 2015)
Olympic Trials Marathon Preview (February 12, 2016)
(The above gives a good history of the last 40+ years of OT Marathons!!)
Dramatic close to LA 26.2's  (February 13, 2016)
(My race results coverage---but maybe my best---if I do say so myself!!  LOL)
Historic 10K Rewrites Record Book  (August 13, 2016)
(Same here!  Full details on Almaz Ayana's sensational run!!)
2017 THE Retirement Year?  (January 4, 2017)
(A tribute to the Eatons!!)
Relays (Records, Trivia, Oddballs)  May 9, 2017)

Of course, ALL of my posts are available for your perusal---and they're all FREE!
Read about ANY meet you want, or ANY Record!!

My USATF meet Previews will be posted later today or VERY early tomorrow!!

High Schoolers Rise Above

My NBN & Brooks PR Preview post wasn't too giddy in declaring this duel of HS meets as promising.
But it seems kids nowadays just don't want to listen to their (VERY!) elders!
Not sure how the 2017 versions rank alongside previous versions, but when the NBN sees 3 HSR's, 11 Meet Records, and 3 Class Records broken--and when the Brooks PR has one race that sees the HSR and 2 Class Records broken--well, maybe it's time for me to quit the prognosticating business!!
(One thing's for sure--the two HS meets far outshone the Stockholm Diamond League in terms of quality (& quantity) of good marks!!)

Brie Oakley and Claudia Lane had dueled before---at Arcadia!
This "re-match" was nothing short of sensational!!

The Brooks PR Two Mile saw Oakley and Lane going to the front immediately, followed closely by Lauren Gregory and Frosh stud London Culbreath!
When Lane's lead slowed a bit, Oakley took over!
They hit the Mile in 4:55, with Gregory and Culbreath maybe 30 to 40 meters back.
When Oakley kept pounding out 73's and 74's, Lane finally had to let go!
Then it became Oakley against the Clock!
And this steady striding metronome from Colorado came to the tape in the HSR time of 9:51.35!!

She also gets the Senior Class record!
She moves from 17th A-T HS to 1st!
And she becomes 14th A-T United States!!

Lane finished in 10:01.18, making her 10th A-T HS, and 24th A-T US!!
Knocked OFF that US list was the iconic Mary Shea, whose 10:03.5 dated from 1979!!

Culbreath was 3rd in 10:04.73, breaking the old Frosh Class record by almost 12 seconds!!
(This is for OUTdoors, and does NOT include any 3200 times, or times converted FROM 3200's!!)
She also becomes 12th A-T HS!!

Gregory was right behind, her 10:05.26 making her 14th A-T HS!!

The NBN Two Mile saw a Kelsey Chmiel runaway, her 10:10.45 giving her 22nd A-T HS!
It also saw a real oldie EXITING my list!
Gone is Lynn Bjorklund's 10:11.1, dating from 1974!!

Turns out the Brooks Men's TWO Mile was better than the over-hyped multiple sub-4 attempts by the best of the 2017 crop!
Brodey Hasty let his mop of braids fly behind him, as he kicked past Luis Grijalvo to win in 8:45.95!!
He's 19th A-T HS!!
Grijalvo's 8:46.68 gets him on the DDD in 24th position!!

The Mile?
No one broke 4 minutes!
And no one even PR'ed!!
While a great RACE, the times--when placed against expectations!--were rather "average".
One must consider, however, the steady rise in quality of the High School Mile crowd in recent years, which has seen FIVE Men run sub-4's since 2015!!
Not to mention the ones here who have all run in the 4:00's!

Anyway, Sam Worley's 4:02.04 beat Cooper Teare's 4:02.56, and Casey Clinger's 4:02.90!!
Their best bet to break 4 would be to race against Pro's in a rabbited race!
(The rabbit at Brooks was a guy with an 800 PR of 1:55!)

The Women's Mile was the same!
All the top girls didn't PR either!
Anna Gibson surprised them by taking the win in 4:43.77.
Allie Schadler was 2nd in 4:44.03, with HS leader Lexy Halladay ending 3rd in 4:44.24!

Sydney McLaughlin.
Maybe the greatest HS athlete of All-Time!
That's to be debated, but her 49.85 anchor to her Union Catholic's HSR in the Swedish Relay sure as heck gave TONS of weight to that idea!
We thought her Penn Relays anchor of 50.37 was incredible, and indicative of her potential to break the 400 HSR of 50.69 by Sanya Richards (Ross)!!
So what to think about this 49.85---which was officially (FAT) timed??
She came from a far back 6th at the hand-off, slowly (HA!!) moving past runner after runner until, on the home straight, she sprinted into the lead with 50 meters to go!!

The Swedish Relay has legs of 100, 200, 300, and 400!
Union Catholic's 2:05.93 destroyed the record, and got them the NBN Meet Record too!

But the Best HS Juggler wasn't done!
She returned in her specialty--the 400H--winning in 54.22--the THIRD best performance by this Rio Olympian!!
Second placer Deandreah Young---even though 3.29 seconds behind McLaughlin, saw her 57.51 make her 19th A-T HS!!
And saw her erase Janine Vickers from the list, her 57.80 dating from 1987!!

But the Record-Breaking didn't stop there.
In fact, the very first race of the 3-day meet saw an ancient Class Record getting smashed!!
Taylor Ewart--who had broken the INdoor Mile Walk Frosh Class Record earlier this year--Walked 3000 meters in 14:24.63, taking down a Class Record that had stood since 1976!!
In an interview, she said she wants to make the Tokyo Olympic team in the 20000 Walk!!

Right after UC's team broke the HSR in the Swedish Relay, the Men's team called the Parkview Express (Georgia) crushed the HSR with their 1:52.39!
It also gives them the NBN Meet Record!

Alyssa Wilson got a Meet Record at NBN, but it wasn't in the SP!!
While she won the SP with a good mark of 54-10.75, it was her DT of 179-7 that got the MR!!

I failed to note a time of 13.21 by Tia Jones from earlier this season--which gave her the Soph Class Record in the 100H--though far slower than her HS (& Frosh Class) Record of 12.84 from last year!
Well, here she ran 13.03 to break her own Class Record!!
Chanel Brissett ran 13.12 in 2nd!

Another to break her own Soph Class Record was TJ'er Jasmine Moore!
Her 43-7.25 moves her from 9th A-T HS to 7th!
Her series included 4 jumps of 43-1 or better!!

Another Class Record went down in the Women's HJ!!
Coming into the meet, Jenna Rogers's PR was 5-7.75 from 2016.
A former volleyball player, her best this year was just 5-5!!
Jelena Rowe was heavily favored, having a 6-1 to her credit!
But when Rogers cleared a PR of  5-8.75 on 1st attempt---keeping her 4-height record of clearances clean--heads started turning!
Then she cleared 5-10-75 on 2nd try!
Rowe failed her 3 attempts at 6-0.75.
Rogers then cleared it on her 2nd try!
And she broke the Frosh Class Record of one Vashti Cunningham!!
(Now you see where I got my "Rise Above" part of my title!!  LOL)

Jordan Geist was said to have a practice throw in the SP of 79 feet!!
But it was his toss of 76-0 that broke the NBN Meet Record, and saw him move from 7th to 3rd on the A-T HS list!!

Remember Maggie Ewen's sensational CR in the Hammer Throw at NCAA's?
And that she ALSO scored points in the DT and SP??
Well, meet the MALE Maggie Ewen!!
Geist shocked everyone with a 6th round smashing of his HT best--measured at 238-9!!
This makes him 12th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
But get this!
HS Track 2017's list for the 2016 season ends at 189 feet for the HT!
Geist isn't on that list!
Nor was he on T&FN's 2017 list, which ended at 210 feet!
So he very likely got a PR of more than FIFTY feet, but no less than 29 feet!!
However, he had thrown 217 in the 2nd round, then 221-6 in the 4th!

He was 2nd in the DT, hitting 201-9 behind Turner Washington's 220-9 winner--and NBN Meet Record!!

Other NBN Meet Records went to--
Cameron Cooper's 800 anchor of 1:47.79 brought the Motor City TC of Michigan to a SMR time of 3:20.25, and a Meet Record!
It's 2nd A-T HS!!
Western Branch TC of Virginia broke the MR in the 4X110H Shuttle Hurdle Relay with their 55.06!
BTW, it's also the High School Record!!
Symone Mason tied the MR in the 100, winning in 11.27 (0.9).
Anna Watson sent favored Carson Dingler down to defeat in the Women's PV!
Her 13-9 took down the MR, and made her 15th A-T HS, tied with 6 others!!
It also REMOVES one of the early HS greats from my DDD!
Gone is Sheila Balentine's 13-8, dating from 2001!!
Also off the list is Kaitlin Petrillose's 13-8, dating from 2011.
Watson missed her 3 tries at 14-0!
The Bullis TC of Maryland got the Meet Record in the 4X100 Relay with their time of 44.88!!
Finally (in the MR department!) came Ayden Owens Decathlon score of 7009!!
Besides the MR, it makes him 17th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!

Before I move to the Profeshes, let's see what other good marks came from the two HS meets!
The 5000's at NBN were won by Jessica Lawson and Ryan Oosting!
Lawson's 16:38.54 misses my DDD by 7.14 seconds!
Oosting's 14:36.13 was much further removed from my list!!
Anthony Schwartz ran 10.27 (1.0) to win the 100, then lost to Tyrese Cooper's 20.99 (-1.4!!) in the 200, Schwartz running 21.11.
A good 400 at the Brooks meet saw Jamal Walton win in 46.04 over Elija Godwin's 46.23, and Sean Hooper's 46.40!
The ALSO-over-hyped Men's 800 saw no one breaking 1:50, with Dawson Larance's 1:50.98 winning over Frosh sensation Brandon Miller's 3rd place time of 1:51.81.

The Wildcats TC of New York came close to the HSR in the 4XMile Relay, but their 20:00.59 was still 2 seconds removed.
I believe it makes them 3rd A-T HS!
(I'm not sure, because 4X1600 converted times are included on the HS Track book's list!!)
Thomas Burns extended his "normal" 300H distance an extra 100 meters, winning the 400H in 50.63,
He misses the HS list by a mere 0.02 seconds!!
Ty Cooper's 400 win was an "average" 45.81.
Lynna Irby's 52.83 also fits that description!
Rey Rivera won the Men's 800 at NBN in 1:50.47, while Samantha (No more "Sammy", she says!!) Watson cruised to a 2:05.70 NBN victory!

I've heard (but can't confirm) that Katelyn Tuohy's Mile time of 4:45.95 in winning at NBN broke Mary Cain's NY State Frosh Class Record!!
Have no idea what that was, but Tuohy continues to impress!!
Frosh Class Record holder Cole Johnson--now a Junior!--took the NBN Mile in 4:11.09.
Erick Duffy took the Men;s PV with 17-1.
Finally, the return of Kate Murphy was less than ideal--even though her 1600 anchor of 5:03 brought her Burks TC of Virginia to victory in the DMR, their time being 11:49.62.
Bottom line, however, is I'm VERY happy she's back--and apparently healthy!!

So what about that 3rd DL meet of June--the Stockholm affair?
Eh--as Canadians are wont to say--it's said!  LOL
The average fan might see these marks and think--WOW!.
But we "in crowders" come to a whole different understanding!
So following are the marks that constituted this latest Diamond League meet!

Fedrick Dacres upset Daniel Stahl in the Men's Discus Throw, 224-3 to 223-6.
A bigger upset took place in the Women's event--as Cuba's Yaimi Perez's 222-10 stopped Sandra Perkovic's lengthy win streak (34 meets??), as Perky could reach just 222-3.
Maybe NOT so "perky"!!
Three Women--Nicole Buchler, Angelica Bengtsson, and Robeilys Peinado--cleared 15-3 in the PV, with Buchler winning!
Peinado is still only 19 years old!
Karsten Warholm continued his win streak, running the 400H in 48.82.
Mariya Kositskene's HJ win of 6-6.75 came only after she protested an earlier "fail", and was allowed to continue!
Don't know what that was about!
Kamila Licwinko took 2nd with 6-5.50.
Steven Gardiner took the 400 in 44.58.
Murielle Ahoure had a 1.1 wind help her to a 200 victory in 22.68..
Orlando Ortega had a big 3.5 wind push him to a 110H win in 13.09 over Russian Sergey Shubenkov's 13.10.
Andre De Grasse had a small 'cane of 4.5 lead him to a 100 win in 9.69!
"Experts" say that's 9.88 with no wind!!

Tim Cheruiyot ran the World-leading time of 3:30.77 in the 1500!
Alsadik Makhou was 2nd in 3:31.48!
Nine ran faster than 3:35!
Eleventh went to 16 year old Jakob Ingebrigtsen--time of 3:39.92.
I researched a bit, and found a 3:33 time assigned to a 16 year old Kenyan--but we all know that some African birthdates might be off--by a few years!!
Also, Jim Ryun ran 3:39.0 when 17 years old--the same year when he first broke 4 minutes!!
In the "Women's" 800, Lovisa Lindg's 1:59.41 was the winner!
(One unknown ran a bit faster!)
Anita Hinriksdottir edged ever closer to the 1:59's--her latest Iceland National Record being her 2:00.05!!
Come on, Anita, DO IT already!!

In other meets--
Galen Rupp won the Stumptown 5000 in 13:54.88--negative split!
Cam Levins returned to action with a 5th place time of 14:10.92.
Jordan Hasay finished just 5th in her 5K--time of 15:45.84!
Georgia Griffith took the Women's 1500 in 4:07.32.
But it was 2 Oregon Ducks that most impressed!
Frosh sensation Katie Rainsberger improved to 4:09.08 in 2nd, while Lilli Burdon was 5th in 4:11.19.
BUT---their official Collegiate Track season ended at the NCAA's!!

Erin Teschuk won the 3000SC in 9:43.34!
A Star Athletics meet on June 10th saw a QUICK Women's 100!!
Murielle Ahoure used a wind of 1.1 to win in 10.83 over the 10.84 of Veronica Campbell-Brown!!
VCB's time is an Age 35 record!!
I missed Charles Jock's 600 time of 1:15.42 at the PTF meet!!
He won over Casimir Loxsom's 1:15.94!
Kara Goucher holds the Course Record at the Grandma's Half-Marathon--a sub 1:10!
She told everyone she would NOT run that fast this year--in her first race since the Olympic Trials Marathon last year!!
Her 1:15:12 took 5th place!
A meet in Southern California saw Brittney Reese LJ 23-4.75 for a World Leader!
Christobel Nettey was 2nd with 22-9.25, while Jasmine Todd returned in a big way, jumping 22-5!!
Another "returnee" was the guy known as PPPP---aka Pablo Pedro Pichardo!!
His TJ mark of 55-11 was far off his best, but not bad at all for a TWO YEARS GONE rust-buster!!
Watch out, Christian and Will---Game is ON!!

Some Corrections and Additions--
Luiza Gega's 3000SC time of 9:26.05 at the Oslo DL broke her own National Record of Albania!
Hengelo saw 2 National Records go down--both in the Men's 1500!
Ronald Masagala's 3:33.65 is the NR of Uganda.
Ismael Debjani's 3:33.70 is the NR of Belgium!!
In a previous post, I said that Norah Jeruto had won the Oslo 3000SC in 9:17.27.
The time and place were correct, but apparently her name is Norah TANUI---at least according to the eTN and the Athletics Annual!!
(The results page had her as Jeruto!!)

Finally--in the news department--two Collegiate greats went Profesh---one a year before graduation!!
Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman--the latter with a year of college to go!--signed Pro contracts--not shocking anyone!!
I'm sure several others will soon join them!

Well, friends, the USATF meet--aka the World Championship Trials--is just 5 days away!
I will try to have my Preview post up before the meet begins--but want to wait for the heat sheets to be released!
Let's put it this way---it's gonna be HOT!!
(As in predicted temps of 100-plus during the day!!)
But also in the list of names already declared!!

Also upcoming (same place, but starting a day earlier) are the USATF Juniors!!
I might also be posting an "editorial" soon--dealing with the DL's, and their scheduling--among other things!
These last two DL's have suffered--and I think I know the reason--AND have a solution!

See you soon!

NBN & Brooks PR Previews (& Oslo DL)

Don't expect much!
From the meets---or from this Preview.
Why?
The NBN fields have a few standouts--Sydney McLaughlin for one!!--but the fields seem far less "loaded" than in previous versions--and even weaker than its INdoor counterpart--the NBIN!
As for the Brooks meet, the distance races have some tantalizing prospects, but the sprints are fairly empty this time--no Candace Hill's on the horizen!!
Too, the weather might be bad in Greensboro NC---site of the NBN---where thunderstorms are predicted.
Weather looks a bit better in Shoreline (near Seattle) on Saturday for the Brooks meet!

Brooks PR
Joseph Anderson is in the 110H.
He has a 13.33 PR this season!

Kaylah Robinson, who ran 12.98 behind Tara Davis's 12.83 at the CA State meet--strongly wind-aided!!--is in the 100H.

Jamal Walton and Elija Goodwin will do battle in the 400!
Natalie Price and Kennedy Simon (both sub-53's) will face off in the Women's 400.

Frosh Class Record holder Brandon Miller is one of 8 Men with PR's of 1:50.84 or faster!!
Will he break his own record??

Sammy Watson wants a sub-2 in the 800, but she'll probably have to wait until the USATF meet!!
Rachel McArthur and Julia Heymach are about 5 seconds slower!!

The Women's Mile (NOT 1600!!) has Lexy Halladay and Annie Hill--plus 5 others with sub-4:46 PR's!

The Men's 2 Mile (NOT 3200!!) has Brodey Hasty--plus 5 others with sub-8:49 PR's!

The Women's 2 Mile has a classic race brewing--Brie Oakley vs Claudia Lane!
Add Rebecca Story for extra flavoring!
Plus, can London Culbreath get the Frosh Class Record of 10:16.20??
She's run a 3200 in 10:13!!

Then there's that Men's Mile!!
Will Cooper Teare, Sam Worley, DJ Principe, and Casey Clinger work together to try for MULTIPLE sub-4's??
They're all capable of going 3:59 or faster!
I don't know if any rabbits are planned!
Actually, I hope they do it withOUT a pacer!!


As for the NBN----

Sydney McLaughlin is slated to run on THREE Relays (the 4X400, SMR, and the Swedish 1000 Meter Relay) and her specialty, the 400H!

Anthony Schwartz (10.15 PR) will do a 100--200 double.
He'll face Tyrese Cooper in the 200!!

Ty will run the 400 also!
I didn't see him listed for any Relays, so we might see some good times from him here!!
Brian Herron is also in the 400!

Lynna Irby is the big name in the Women's 400!

Cameron Cooper vs Brandon McGorty in the 800!

Caitlin Collier will have Katelyn Tuohy to deal with in the 1 Mile!
Tuohy recently threatened Mary Cain's Frosh Class 1500 record, and seems capable of a sub-4:40!!
That would break Lexy Halladay's recent 4:41.80 Frosh Class Record---unless Halladay herself breaks it again at the Brooks meet!!  (See above!!)

The Two Mile has Kelsey Chmiel and Katherine Lee!
Don't expect much from either of the 5000's!

Trey Cunningham is in the 110H!!
If he's in his record-smashing shape from INdoors, watch out!!

Chanel Brissett will have 100H HSR holder Tia Jones to deal with!!

Thomas Burns will headline the 400H!

WHAT will Syd do??
Is this just a workout before USATF?
Or does she want to end her HS career with another great time??
(Actually, unless she turns Pro---unlikely!--she has until August 31st to break HSR's!!)

As noted above, McLaughlin will anchor 3 Relays for her Union Catholic squad!
Watch for possible Meet Records in each one!!

Kate Murphy is slated to run just one race here---the 3rd leg of her Burke TC (VA) DMR team!!
If they run the legs in the usual order, that means she'll run the 800!!
This is apparently her first race of the OUTdoor season!
She ran that 9:14 INdoor 3000 in the Ocean Breeze--then nothing---as far as I know!!

Jelena Rowe leads the Women's HJ!
Titiana Marsh vs Jasmine Moore in the TJ!!
KC Lightfoot is the main name in the Men's PV!
Carson Dingler could get 14 feet in the Women's PV!

Jordan Geist and Alyssa Wilson will shoot for big marks in the SP's!!
Turner Washington is in the DT!
Enough said!!

Madison Wiltrout seems strong following last year's surgery!
Her best this year is 173-10.
Can she approach her 185-8 HSR in the JT??

Taylor Ewart, the Frosh Class Record holder in the INdoor Mile Walk is in the 3000 meter Walk here!
(She's also slated to run the 2000SC!!  Interesting!)

Sorry for the limited Previews, but I'm just not that excited about these meets this year!
Hopefully, the results will prove me wrong!!

Since I haven't used too much space--and since the Oslo Diamond League was somewhat UNDERwhelming--I decided to do my report on the Bislett Games meet now, instead of grouping it with the upcoming Stockholm DL!!

The main item of interest came from a False Start that SHOULD have been an automatic DQ, but was appealed!
Then the person won the race, was then DQ'ed, but appealed the decision, which was overturned---thus this person WON the race---in the end!!
WHEW!!

Her name is Dafne Schippers!
She rose from the blocks--but NOT forcibly!--way before the gun!
She told the judges she "heard a noise" from the crowd!!
So she ran an easy 22.31--beating Murielle Ahoure's 22.74!

Then they DQ'ed her!
Then she appealed!
Then they reversed the DQ!

The OTHER featured moment of this DL was when Blessing Okagbare lost her WIG when landing in the LJ pit!!
A WIG??
Yes, it came flying off as she landed---and the jump was measured from where the WIG landed---not where Blessing's bod alit!!
Wacky!!

The best ATHLETIC event?
Probably the "B" Mile!!
That's where Jakob Ingebrigtsen smashed his own Age 16 Record of 3:58.07 with a great 3:56.29!!
He was born September 19th, 2000--so he has over 3 months to break the record again!!

Mutaz Barshim HJ'ed a Meet Record 7-9.75, easily beating the 7-6 of comebacking Bogdan Bondarenko--appearing in his first meet in over a year!!

Yarisley Silva PV'ed 15-9.25, then tried to go over 16-1.75, but missed her 3 tries!
Russian Anzhelika Sidorova cleared 15-7 in 2nd!

Sandra Perkovic had to work for her DT win of 219-1.
Daniel Stahl won his DT with 223-1.

Pam Dutkiewicz defeated Kristi Castlin---12.73 to 12.75--in the 100H.
Tianna Bartoletta took that LJ with 22-3.50!

A relative newcomer beat Sofia Assefa in the 3000SC.
Norah Jeruto ran 9:17.27--just 0.07 seconds ahead of Assefa!
But Fabienne Schlumpf smashed her own National Record of Switzerland by about 9 seconds with her 9:21.65!!

Andre De Grasse won the 100 in 10.01.
Behind 3 unknowns, Louise Lindh WON the WOMEN's 800 with HER 1:59.23!
Anita Hinriksdottir's years-long quest for a sub-2 got ever closer to fruition---as her 2:00.05 broke her own National Record of Iceland!!

Karsten Warholm is having a great year!
He broke the National Record of Norway with his earlier 44.87 in the 400.
Here, he added 10 hurdles, as his 48.25 broke his own NR!
The crowd loved it!!

A real shocker happened in the Men's 1500!!
Jake Wightman--from Great Britain--defeated some FAST Africans---such as Ayanleh Souleiman, Abdelaati Iguider, Silas Kiplagat, and Elijah Manangoi--winning in 3:34.17 over Manangoi's 3:34.30.
Marcin Lewandowski moved up from the 800 to run a PR of 3:34.60!!

So, thank our lucky stars we had a Flying Wig and Super Confusion to keep us riveted!!
LOL

Remember, you can watch ALL of the NBN's 3 days of action for FREE!!
But return here in a few days for all the results!!

Many Bridges to London

I just LOVE creative titles--ones that play with words!
(I wanted to use "London Bridges Falling Down"--but with the recent terror attack AT the London Bridge, I decided against it!)
The Collegiate season is over.
The HS season continues, and will soon get red HOT with the Brooks PR & NBN meets!
The USATF (aka London WC Trials) is just days away!!
So this is the time when things get serious!
Those who need USATF and/or London Qualifying marks are trying for them!
The lucky ones who have them are in their final training phase!
And we, the fans, await the Records & Marks that will change people's thinking about what CAN be--IF!!
Here's the latest selection of results that indicate we're on the road to London--and that there are many bridges available to getting there!!

Genzebe Dibaba left question marks in her wake, after she faded to 6th place over the last K of the Rome DL 5000!!
Bad rabbiting--or lack of intent--left any idea of a possible World Record behind after 3000 meters were run.
Passing that mark in 8:36 left too much work to do!
At 4K, Helen Obiri took command, and using her significant 1500 speed, finished in 14:18.37 for a 4 second PR, the National Record of Kenya, the Age 27 Record, and a big win over G-D!!
Obiri moves from 6th to 5th on the A-T World list!
On my 1500 & 5000 Combined Events list, she moves from 4th A-T to 3rd--her times being 3:57.05 & 14:18.37, adding to 18:15.42.

Agnes Tirop was 2nd in 14:33.09, and Letesenbet Gidey's time of 14:33.32 in 3rd misses the Age 19 record by 0.80 seconds--that record held by one Tirunesh Dibaba!!
Yasmin Can PR'ed in 4th with 14:36.82.
Dibaba's time was 14:41.55, with her final 1000 in 3:15!!
Dominique Scott got a PR of 15:20.10 back in 13th!!

Sifan Hassan made the Rome 1500 a fast race, clipping off a 3:56.22!
It's the Meet Record!
Winny Chebet (3:59.16) and Konstanze Klosterhalfen (3:59.30) also got in under 4 minutes!
Meref Bahta ran 4:00.59, while Amanda Eccleston's 4:07.07 was the lone American time!

I should mention here that Hassan ran slightly faster (3:56.15) in the Hengelo meet a few days later!
It got her the Meet Record!
Besu Sado took 2nd in 4:00.98, followed by Winny Chebet (4:01.32), and Laura Weightman (4:01.95).
A big PR came for Icelander Anita Hinriksdottir back in 10th, her 4:06.43 giving her the National Record!!

Hengelo was the site for the Women's Ethiopian 10000 Trials.
Gelete Burka led the way with 30:40.87, which was also the Hengelo Meet Record!
Senbere Teferi's 30:41.68 took 2nd, with Belaynesh Oljira's 30:44.57 next!

The Men's race saw Abadi Hadis winning in 27:08.26 from Jamel Mekonnen's 27:09.08!

Rome produced the fastest Men's Steeplechase of the year, as Consesius Kipruto led a parade with his 8:04.63.
Soufiane El Bakhala of Morocco was 2nd in 8:05.17, Jarius Birech finishing in 8:07.84, with Amos Kirui 4th in 8:08.37.

Two Americans got list-worthy marks!
Hillary Bor ran 8:11.82 in 6th, moving him from 8th A-T US to 5th!
Andy Bayer ended in 8th with his PR of 8:14.46, which moves him from 13th A-T US to 10th!!

Dafne Schippers took the 100 in 10.99 (0.5), with Marie Josee Ta Lou running 11.03, and Michelle Lee Ahye ending in 11.07.

Aries Merritt had his fastest 110H time since 2015's kidney transplant, his 13.13 run INTO a wind of 0.3!
He beat a class field--Orlando Ortega was 2nd in 13.17, with RUSSIAN (NOT "neutral"!!) Sergey Shubenkov next in 13.21, and Andrew Pozzi running 13.24!

Andre DeGrasse sped 200 meters in 20.01, while Natasha Hastings had a win in 50.52!!
Janieve Russell took the 400H in 54.14.

Rome field events were good overall!
And had some significant upsets!

Michelle Carter was just 3rd in the SP, her 61-10.50 finishing behind Lijiao Gong's 64-2.25 winner, and American Dani Bunch's 62-2.25!!
Yulimar Rojas TJ'ed 48-8.25, winning over the once-invincible Caterine Ibarguen's 48-6!!
Thomas Rohler took the JT with ease, his 295-6 prevailing over Johannes Vetter's 289-2!

Russian Mariya Lasitskene (formerly Kuchina!) is 2017's Premier High Jumper, and she continued her season with a 6-6.75 win!
She tried 3 times at 6-8.75, but missed!
I should mention here that, like Sifan Hassan, Lasitskene improved from Rome to Hengelo!!
There, her winning mark was 6-8.25!
She got the Meet Record, and with her 0.25 inch improvement, she moved from 18th A-T World, tied with 6 others, to 14th, where she's tied with 4 others!!

Sandi Morris had a mixed European trip!
She won Hengelo's PV on fewer misses over another Russian (who, IMHO, are VERY welcome ANYwhere they're "allowed" to compete!!!), Olga Mulline, both clearing 15-3.
But she couldn't get past 14-11 in Rome!!
She wound up just 6th, after missing her 3 attempts at 15-3!!
Winning was Rio Golden Girl Ekaterina Stefanidi, her 15-11 prevailing over the 15-7's of Eliza McCartney and Yarislav Silva!!
Stef then attempted the WORLD Record height of 5.07 (16-7.50), but missed her 3 tries!!

The Racers GP meet in Jamaica had some notable names--giving average (for them!!) results!
Mo Farah won the 3000 in 7:41.20, with Pat Tiernan (7:41.62) and Kemoy Campbell (7:41.87) left behind!
Campbell's time breaks his own National Record of Jamaica!
David Rudisha suffered a loss in the 800, his time of 1:44.90 just 0.04 seconds behind the winner--Willy Tarbei.
Erik Sowinski was 3rd in 1:45.27.
Allyson Felix won the 400 in 50.52 over Courtney Okolo's 50.72.
I heard Felix was fading over the final 50!!

A possible "new" American 400H stud was unearthed in Jamaica!
Quincy Downing got a big PR of about 0.7 seconds, his 48.13 winner making him 20th A-T US!!
He beat Jaheel Hyde's 48.82.

Knocked OFF the US list was a real oldie--Jim Bolding's 48.24, dating from 1974!!

Wayde Van Niekerk sped the 200 in 19.84 (1.2).
It's the National Record of South Africa!
He becomes 24th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
While he remains 2nd A-T on my 100-200-400 Combined Events list, his time improves to 1:12.85 (9.98--19.84--43.03).

Jenna Prandini won the 200 in 22.57 over Kim Duncan's 22.61.
But Prandini took 2nd in 11.16 in the 100 (-0.8), with Kelly Ann-Baptiste winning in 11.13.
English Gardner was 5th, while Candace Hill was 8th!
Sharika Nelvis ran the 100H INTO a wind of 1.4, her 12.78 prevailing over Sally Pearson, who ended in 3rd with her 12.83.
Ronald Levy also had a negative wind (0.7), his 13.17 winning over Devon Allen's 13.26!
Yohan Blake won the 100 in 9.97 (0.6) over Akani Simbine's 10.00!
Shamier Little took the 400H in 54.21.
Ryan Whiting and O'Dayne Richards both had SP marks of 69-3.25, with Whiting winning on 2nd best mark!!

Oops!
I must have overlooked someone.
Some guy named Usain Bolt ran the 100 in 10.03.
And for some unknown reason, was massively celebrated after running his LAST race in Jamaica.
Weird, huh?

Back to Earth!
The Portland Track Festival had lots of American stars trying for USATF/London Q's.
And being just 110 miles from Eugene, several Collegiates drove up to run--just a day or 2 after ending their Collegiate season!!

Friday was the night of the 10000's--but minus the Beer Tent the British use in THEIR 10K's!!
(See a previous post!)
Shalane Flanagan returned to track racing in a big way, winning in a Meet Record 31:38.68!
Rachel Cliff of Canada got her Q in 2nd, running 32:07.
Galen Rupp's winner of 28:18.29 wasn't an MR, however!

On Saturday, Kate Grace roared through the 800 in 1:59.30, but a solid string of runners-up followed!
Grace's time was a PTF Meet Record!!
Hannah Fields was 2nd in 2:00.53, with 20 year old Australian Georgia Griffith next in 2:00.90, followed by Hannah Hermansson's 2:00.94, and Alexa Efraimson's 0.04 second PR of 2:00.95!!

Nick Symmonds had the 13th "best" time in the 800--his 1:49.48 his first track race in a couple of years!
Chris Low's 1:46.40 led the Men!

Brenda Martinez wanted a sub-4:00 in the 1500, but settled for 4:03.15, and the Meet Record!!
(That old MR belonged to Kate Grace!!)
Aussie Linden Hall took 2nd in 4:04.37.
Lauren Johnson ran 4:05.08, with Colorado's Dani Jones improving over her NCAA race, running 4:08.42.
But of course it's too late for inclusion on the A-T Collegiate list--by ONE DAY!!!
Another College gal--Kaela Edwards--ran 4:11.42 in 9th!
A different section saw Steepler Marie Lawrence PR'ing in 4:11.34!!
High Schooler Annie Hill (She's a Junior!) ran 4:19.42!
This is a good HS time, but with the recent climb in HS Mile standards, she misses my DDD by--0.08 seconds!!!

Eric Jenkins won the Men's 1500 in 3:37.55, with Sam Prakel and Lopez Lomong also at sub-3:38!
Maria Bernard took the Women's 3000SC in 9:44.29 over Meg Rolland's 9:47.00.
But the Men's race saw Stan Kebenai soloing to a PTF Meet Record of 8:18.55!!
He's 20th A-T US!
Anthony Rotich was 2nd in 8:27.16, with Dan Huling running 8:30.36!

Run OFF my US list was another Ancient--Doug Brown's 8:19.29 from 1978 is GONE!!

Shannon Rowbury cruised to a 5000 win in 15:12.52, and said she's still deciding whether to double at USATF in the 1500 and 5K!
Jess Tonn was 2nd in 15:33 and change.
Kirubel Erassa took the Men's race in 13:23.12 over Morgan McDonald's 13:23.28!
The latter is another Collegiate--and from Australia!

Clay Murphy wanted the AR in the 1000, but was over 3 seconds shy, his 2:17.17 an easy winner!
He's also now 13th A-T US, and owner of the PTF Meet Record!!
BTW, the owner of the AR--Rick Wohlhuter--was in attendance!!
He said in an interview that he WANTS his record to be broken--after 43 years!!
He shook hands with Murphy!!

Grace Ping--still 13 years young--continues to amaze!
She cut about 1 second off her Age 13 record in the 5000, running 16:25.63 against older 2nd tier  Pro's and some Collegians!!
On my A-T HS list (Yes, she's included, even though she's an 8th Grader!), she moves from 18th All-Time to 17th.
She also improves her 8th Grade Record!!

I'll finish this LONGGGG piece off by collapsing the remaining marks into event groups!

Sprints
At the Music City (Nashville!!) meet, Karsten Warholm ran the 400 in 44.87, getting the National Record of Norway!!
Hengelo's meet saw Germany's 4X100 team score a win over Dafne Schipper's-led Netherlands team--42.25 to 43.02!
At Arizona's ALTIS meet, Jamaica's Schillonie Calvert ran her 100 heat in 10.94, against a breeze of 0.1.
She took the final in 11.10.
And Sydney McLaughlin had a one-day double at HER final NJ meet as a HS'er--running the 400H in 56.97, then returning for a flat 400 in 51.91.

Distances
Brodey Hasty joined the list of fast HS Milers--running 4:01.75 (against just HS'ers!), becoming 21st A-T HS!!
He was timed at 1500 also---something I wish EVERY meet would do when a fast time is expected!!
His enroute 3:44.75 makes him 17th A-T HS!!
Laura Roesler took the Music City 800 in 2:00.54, with Natoya Goule just 0.02 seconds back!
In 5th came Jenny Simpson's 2:01.89!
Sara Vaughn--a mother and full-time Realtor!!--finally WON a race--her 4:06.64 PR winning in Nashville.
ALSO winning there was Gabe Grunewald, whose 4:28.28 in 12th was excused--She'd just completed her first round of chemotherapy!!!

Emily Oren of Oiselle took the MC Steeplechase in 9:40.15!
Hengelo's SC saw Sofia Assefa winning in a MR time of 9:07.06!!
She moves from 13th A-T World to 9th!!
Sadik Mikhou won the 1500 in 3:31.34 over Yomif Kejelcha's PR of 3:32.94.

And in the NY State HS meet, Katelyn Tuohy's 4:18.51 in the 1500 missed Mary Cain's Frosh Class record by 0.67 seconds!!
But she becomes 19th A-T HS!!
Knocked OFF my HS list was Darlene Beckford's 4:19.6--dating from 1979!!

Field Events
Jill Shippee PR'ed in the HT with 201-4!
It's a FIVE FOOT PR, but she remains 5th A-T HS!
Fabrizio Donato continues to amaze!
His 56-10 TJ breaks his own Age 40 record!!
Unknown (to me!) Menno Vloon PV'ed 19-2.25, giving him the National Record of the Netherlands!!
Hengelo had a good Men''s LJ!
Luvo Manyonga continued his string of 28 footers--his 28-3.25 winning over the 27-4.50 of Rushval Samaaj, and the 27-2.50 of Damar Forbes.

Finally, we have a 6-2.75 HJ (at ALTIS) from the comebacking Brigetta Barrett---and the reason she dropped out of competitive sport for awhile!!
She said on Facebook that she'd been heavily depressed, and wasn't enjoying her sport!
But now she's okay, and liking what she's doing again!!
Welcome back, Brigetta!!

Next up will be my COMBINED Preview of the NBN and Brooks PR meets!!
The Brooks PR is a one-day meet near Seattle--on June 17th!
The New Balance Nationals are in Greensboro, North Carolina (at NC A&T!!), and run from June 16th to the 18th!
Expect my Preview on the 15th, or very early on the 16th!