Sunday, November 19, 2017

NCAA XC--2 Ways to Win

Ednah Kurgat broke off early, gapped the field, and won as she pleased, despite the presence of a very strong field!

Justyn Knight used a blistering sprint finish to overtake the two leaders at the very end of a dramatic race.

Two ways to win, but win they did!

Kurgat, who told interviewers she was 22 years old--but whom IAAF lists as 26 (Born June 15, 1991, they say!), ran the fastest time ever in an NCAA Cross Country Championship final!
Her time of 19:19.5 beat Amy Eloise-Neale by 7.5 seconds, even though she seemed to be slogging her way into the tape, while Eloise-Neale passed a squadron of speedsters--coming from 19th at 4K to reach the podium!

The "favorite", the 2016 Champion--Karissa Schweizer--had "one of those days" many athletes mysteriously have, and gave no excuses for her 11th place finish!
She also had a strong end-kick, but it was too little, too late!

Here's the Top 8, with a list of where other "name" runners finished--and for the Women, there are TONS of them---

1. Ednah Kurgat               19:19.5
2. Amy Eloise-Neale        19:27.0
3. Charlotte Taylor           19:28.6
4. Allie Ostrander             19:31.2
5. Weronika Pyzik            19:34.0
6. Caroline Sang               19:35.6
7. Weini Kelati                  19:35.8 (1st Frosh, even though she'll be 21 on December 1st!!)
8. Grayson Murphy          19:36.3

9. Allie Buchalski
10. Dani Jones
11. Karissa Schweizer
12. Charlotte Prouse
13. Fiona O'Keefe
14. Alice Wright
16. Katie Rainsberger
18. Elinor Purrier
20. Katherine Receveur
23. Bethan Knights
30 & 31. Samantha & Jessica Drop
38. Brie Oakley (2nd Frosh)
39. Sarah Disanza
44. Sharon Lokedi
53. Emily Venters (3rd Frosh--from Boise State)
57. Elise Cranny
65. Bella Burda
70 & 74. Bethany & Megan Hasz
79. Callie Logue
134. Destiny Collins
150. Ryen Frazier

Knight, who can claim he once beat Ed Cheserek in a track 5000, had to overtake Matthew Baxter, a New Zealander, just before the tape in an exciting finish rarely seen during the King Ches era, XC or track!
Grant Fisher--like Ms Schweizer, a co-favorite for the title with Knight--also disappointed, ending 5th, but 12 seconds from Knight!
He was never really in it!

Following are the Men's Top 8, along with a string of "names" who either over or under-performed---

1. Justyn Knight             29:00.11
2. Matthew Baxter         29:00.78
3. Tyler Day                   29:04.55
4. Gilbert Kigen             29:11.90
5. Grant Fisher               29:12.6
6. Dillon Maggard         29:16.20
7. Vincent Kiprop          29:27.13
8. Peter Lomong            29:33.09

9. Lawrence Kipkoech
10. Jonathan Green
11. Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse
12. Sean Tobin
16. Alex Ostberg
17. Steven Fahy
24. Casey Clinger
27. Gilbert Kirui
30. Conner McMillan
34. Jacob Choge
37. Alfred Chelanga
39. Rory Linkletter
44. Cooper Teare
47. Hassan Abdi
67. Joe Klecker
78. Reed Brown
169. Jerrell Mock
185. Oliver Hoare

The Men's team title went to Northern Arizona, whose 74 points beat Portland's 127.
BYU was 3rd with 165, while Stanford (221), Arkansas (269), and Oregon (274) were next.

The Women's team title went to New Mexico's 90, which beat surprising San Francisco, who finished with 105.
Colorado followed with 139, while Stanford's 165, Oregon's 203, and Boise State's 264 were next.

Not sure if they're related, but another Kurgat--Caroline--won the Division II race, time of 20:32.
She ended 20 seconds ahead of Silver!
The Men's race also was a runaway, with James Nganda's 30:18 ending 34 seconds in front!

There were 2 more NXN Regional races---
London Culbreath took the South, running 17:33, easily beating Carrie Fish's 17:47.
Carter Cheeseman's 15:34 just nipped Alex Maier's 15:35!

The Southwest Women's race went to Amanda Mayoral, time of 17:14.
Aidan Troutner took the Men's race in 14:50!

Claudia Lane demolished the CIF field by 50 seconds, winning in 16:32.
And not sure where, but Katelyn Tuohy continues to rock & roll!
Her 16:52.4 was a new Course Record (for whatever course it was!)!!

Hoka One One's National Postal races saw Rebecca Story dip under 10 minutes for the 3200 meter track race for the 2nd time!
Her 9:59.80 included a 69 final lap, and beat 2nd by a HUGE margin!!
Titus Winders used a blazing 62.3 closer to take the Men's race in 9:01.55!!

The JDL November Tune-Up INdoor meet saw just one mark worth noting--
Cameron Haught Walked the Mile in 7:00.75!
Yes, that is the first INdoor mark this blog is reporting for the 2017-2018 INdoor T&F season, now officially OPEN!!

A few Road events saw some amazing results over 3 different distances!!
Almaz Ayana's much-ballyhooed first Half saw her winning the New Delhi race in 67:11.
Not the quick time predicted for her, but enough to win by 9 seconds over Yeshanah Abebel, a fellow Ethiopian!
It misses my World DDD list by 36 seconds!!
The air pollution, and initial Half inexperience, probably made her time slower than hoped for!

The Men's race went to Berhanu Legesse, his 59:46 beating A Belihu's 59:51.
But in 3rd came US Army's Len Korir, whose 59:52 was a 1:22 PR, and moving him from 10th A-T US to 2nd, just 9 seconds behind Ryan Hall's American Record!!

Another American ran well in the Kobe (Japan) Marathon!
Maegan Krifchin is 29 years old, and has a Half of 69:51 to her credit from 2015.
She improved her Marathon time by just a  few seconds--to 2:33:14--but it was enough to WIN the Women's division!!
That Half time indicates she's ripe for a HUGE improvement over the full distance--maybe to 2:26 territory!!

The Men's portion of the Valencia Marathon went to Sammy Kitwara's 2:05:15.
Evans Chebet was 2nd in 2:05:30.

Finally, in a WR attempt over 15K in a Netherlands race, Joshua Cheptegai came up 2 seconds shy of the 41:13 WR!!
And he was disappointed!!

Karissa Schweizers coach indicated she wants to run a fast 5000 in the Boston University meet in December--if she recovers well from her NCAA race!
(I have a feeling she'll be there--engines revving!!)
See you soon with more INdoor Previews, and anything else that stirs the juices!

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