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!