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!!
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