"That" list is in the Archives section of the Track & Field News website!
It's amazingly detailed!
It lists the athlete's name, his time, the venue, and the date!
(This is an All-Male list, regrettably! It would be nice if T&FN did the same for Women---Say, every US Miler's first-ever Sub-4:30!!)
As you might expect, I disagree with T&FN's calculations!
In two very important ways---
Their list combines INdoor with OUTdoor!
And with their INdoor listings, they include Oversize Track marks!!
So following is this Blogger's breakdown of T&FN's list!
Here are some of the more famous names on their list--with the number they rank!
I've chosen 20 names!
Don Bowden was the first, his 3:58.7 being run on June 1, 1957!
Dyrol Burleson & Jim Beatty were Numbers 2 & 3.
(More on Beatty below!)
Jim Ryun's 3:59.0 in 1964 made him 13th!
25th was Marty Liquori.
The Legendary Steve Prefontaine was 37th!
Matt Centrowitz became Sub-4 US Miler Number 78.
(See below for Matthew's entry!)
Number 83 was Steve Scott!
Craig Masback--best known now as an announcer--was 90th!
Sydney Maree was 116th!
Mark Coogan--now a famous Coach--was 165th!
Kara Goucher's husband--Adam--was 231st!
Alan Webb's INdoor 3:59.86 in 2001 became 238th on the list!
Bernard Lagat was Number 265!
BTW, both Syd Maree and Lagat had previous Sub-4's---but as citizens of South Africa & Kenya, respectively!
Andrew Wheating--now retired--made the list in 311th position!
Centro (Matthew Centrowitz!) is Number 319!
Galen Rupp followed shortly after--as Number 321!
Evan Jager was 327th!
We skip to 445th---who was Grant Fisher!!
Finally--at Number 500--came Emmanuel Bor!!
(There are now 501 on their list, but I'm using only the first 500 for my purposes here!!)
About Jim Beatty---
His time comes from 1960, and was run OUTdoors!
Tom O'Hara's 3:59.2 from 1963 was run INdoors!
But Beatty ran the first-ever INdoor Mile under 4 minutes---in 1962!!
If you break down T&FN's list by Decade, the numbers are as follows---
50's (1)
60's (30)
70's (68)
80's (69)
90's (63!!)
00's (98)
10's (171)
Obviously, this counts ALL marks from their list--including IN & OUT, and all OT marks!
There have been 262 OUTdoor times on the list!
And 238 INdoor times!
And therein is my first problem with the way T&FN does things!
As my loyal readers know, I see the INdoor season as TOTALLY SEPARATE from the OUTdoor season!!
T&FN should have made TWO lists, not one!!
If they had, we would be FAR removed from seeing the 500th American Sub-4 Miler!
In fact, we'd still be pretty distant from Number THREE hundred!!
On either list!!
The second problem is with their listing marks made on Oversize Tracks!!
NO marks---at ANY distance!!--made on an OT are eligible for inclusion on OFFICIAL lists!!
This is not just MY ruling!!
I don't believe ANY record-keeping person or agency sees OT times as legit for Record or List purposes!
Even T&FN---on their weekly or yearly lists---separates OT marks from their "regular" lists!
I wanted a complete number to offer you of OT marks on the T&FN list!
But not knowing--with 100% certainty!--the size of some INdoor tracks--I decided to limit my count to those Sub-4's run on either Notre Dame's 352 yard track, or Seattle's 307 meter track!
Here are my counts!
Notre Dame has seen 24 such Milers!
Seattle has seen a whopping 65!
It's interesting how those counts break down!
The first ND time comes from 1988.
Then nothing until 1994.
The highest number for ND is 4 from 2009!
But the LAST Miler to run his first-ever Sub-4 on the ND track happened in 2014!
NONE were run in 2015, 2016, or 2017!
(Nor in 2018!)
Why??
My opinion is that most potential Sub-4 guys chose Seattle over ND--while the ND track saw a RISE in the number of Collegiate teams who ran their NCAA Qualifying time for the Distance Medley Relay!
THEY mostly chose ND for that project!
The first Sub-4 Miler on Seattle's OT wasn't until 2002!
(Were they not open before that? I'm not familiar with when Seattle built their OT!)
Anyway, 4 Men ran their times in 2002!
None in 2003, then 1 in 2004!
Grew to 5 in 2006--with 5 again in 2008!
But in 2010, that number doubled--to 10!!
They haven't been over 7 (in 2012) since then, but the Dempsey Center has seen OT Miles run EVERY year from 2006 through 2017!!
(None of the first 500 have been run this year! But Number 501 WAS in Seattle!!)
So, if you subtract those DEFINITE Oversize Track marks from T&FN's list, their INdoor total is reduced to 149!
With those 262 OUTdoor times, their "500" list count is actually 411--149 + 262 = 411.
You can take T&FN's list any way you choose!
I choose to see it MY way!!
And MY way says they are FAR REMOVED from any count of 500!!
Next post will have the Millrose results--and LOTS more!
Maybe TWO posts???
(I have some results & news items to report, but I'm holding them back for my next post!)
See you soon!
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Collegiates Explode
In what might be termed a weekend of transition, it was the Collegiates that led the storming of the fortress that is my Record Book!
The attack came from all sides--the track AND the field--and seemed to be never ending!
(BTW, "weekend of transition" is that 72 hour period between the "rust-busting" of December and January, and the "serious work" of the last 6 weeks of the INdoor season!! It's a time when one doesn't expect the DELUGE of fantastic marks that exploded from the many venues of America and the World these past few days!)
Let's start with the Dubai Marathon!
The Men's finish became what some dubbed the "best track race" NOT on a track!!
After a series of 5K's in the 14:30's (14:31, 14:36, 14:40, 14:37, and 14:33), the lead group still numbered 6 or 7!
Sisay Lemma was the nominal leader, but they were really tied in a knot!
This nearly-all Ethiopian field was running FAST--a few seconds under WR pace--yet seemed to be cruising behind a pacer!
That pacer found himself about 15 meters in front, and the thought was that he might try to steal the race!
But he finally DNF'ed after another 5000 in 14:43.
This changed the thinking from WR to "racing"!
And what a RACE it became!!
As they came into the final 500 meter stretch of road, it became a simulated track race!!
At the tape, the Winner's blood belonged to Mosinet Geremew, in a time of 2:04:00.
He's now 12th A-T World!
Alema Gebresilase came next, just 2 seconds off, in 2:04:02.
The next 5 finishers all set Place Records, as well as some others!
Tamirat Tola's 2:04:06 is the best 3rd Place mark!
He's 13th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
Asefa Mengstu sprinted in with the same time--2:04:06--for the best 4th Place mark!
He also gets the Age 33 Record!!
He is also 13th A-T World, tied with Tola!!
Sisay Lemma faded just a bit--running 2:04:08!
It's the best 5th Place mark, the Age 27 Record, and makes him 15th A-T World!!
Birhanu Legese gets the best 6th Place mark--2:04:15--AND the Age 23 Record!
He is 16th A-T World!!
With the best 7th Place mark came Sesfa Tura's 2:04:44.
And the Women were pretty close to the Men, depth-wise!!
Reaching the Half in about 1:10:05 (Couldn't get actual split!), the pace then picked up!
With a couple of Men "rabbiting", a group of 5 or 6 tagged along in fluid striding motion!
After 5K's ranging from 16:28 (3rd) to 16:45 (1st) & 16:43 (5th), they changed gears!
While most eyes were on the experienced Ethiopians (Feysa Tadese, Worknesh Degefa, and Gelete Burka), it was the eventual winner--Roza Dereje--who stayed quiet & hidden in the mix!
But when the 5K's sped up to the 16:20's, it was Dereje who came to the front--and stayed there!
Her 2:19:17 claims the 7th A-T spot on the World list!!
(So she apparently ran her 2nd Half in 69:12 or so!!)
Tadese took 2nd, time of 2:19:30.
She WAS 24th on my DDD, but with Dereje's time, became 25th--for a few seconds!
Then she whipped herself back ONto the list--in 10th!!
Matching Deena Kastor's American Record time of 2:19:36 was Yebryual Melesa!
She becomes the best 3rd Place ever!!
And she is now 12th A-T World, tied with Kastor!
Degefa gets the best 4th Place mark with her 2:19:53!
She ranks 24th A-T World!!
The best 5th Place mark goes to Haflemesh Tesfay's 2:20:13!!
It's also the Age 23 Record!
Best 6th Place goes to the veteran Burka, her time being 2:20:45!
Dera Dida's 2:21:45 becomes the best 7th Place mark!
She gets the Age 21 Record!!
WOW!!
Now let's sort out the rubble of the T&F portion of the weekend!
Seattle's Dempsey Arena is best known--infamously, in my eyes!!--as the site of a 307 meter Oversize Track!
But it was on its FIELD where the best mark of the Weekend happened!
Just over a year ago, then-HS Senior Jordan Geist shocked the T&F World by shoving the rarely-thrown 16 pound ball out 68-4, utterly destroying the HSR of Ryan Crouser--a 63-11.
His 68-4 was even farther than the iconic Mike Carter had thrown OUTdoors in HS!!
But he began his Frosh season with a butterball in the 63's!
Not bad, but...!!!
Then came the Seattle meet!
His series went like this---
64-5.25----67-7.50 (breaking the Frosh Class Record by about 2 feet!!)----69-3.50 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record!!----66-10----67-9---and closing with a monster Shot (pun intended!) of 70-4.50--again breaking his own Frosh Class standard!!!
He is 7th A-T Collegiate!
He gets 18th spot on the A-T US list!!
And he misses the World (!!) list by just 6 inches!!!
In my blog post called "Of Babies and Snakes", I reviewed the GREAT book "18 Months Raising the Bar"---about the 2015-2016 seasons when Demi Payne and Sandi Morris clashed fiercely for Collegiate supremacy in the PV!
Well, folks, we may have a "Part II" developing here!!
(NOT with Ms's Payne & Morris, however!!)
Coming off an injury, Lexi (Weeks) Jacobus is BACK!!
After leaving twin sister Tori Hoggard behind at 14-4.75, Jacobus went over 15-1.50, reaching the sphere of her 2016 Rio OUTdoor season!
While not an INdoor PR, it does give her the Junior Class Record!!
She then tried thrice at 15-7.25, but missed!
The comparison to Payne & Morris comes from the knowledge that she passed Olivia Gruver's earlier 15-1 (See previous post!)--claiming (temporary??) Collegiate leadership!!
Stay tuned!!
Skipping around, the Texas Tech meet saw former SEC Multi's rivals Erica Bougard and Kendell Williams--now both Professionals!--go at it again!
Bougard's 4504 beat Williams's 4375---this time!
BTW, they train together!!
Annie Kunz took 3rd with her 4078 score!
In the Razorback meet, Taliyah Brooks scored 4395 points, beating Louisa Grauvogel's 4253.
Tyra Gittens scored 4009 in 3rd!
Let's move to NY's Armory for one of the better January Mile races!
Kate Van Buskirk sprinted ahead at the end, her 4:26.92 breaking Sheila Reid's 4:27.02 Canadian National Record!
(Reid's time came in 2013, when Mary Cain ran 2nd to her in the HSR time of 4:28.25!!)
Rachel Schneider was 2nd, her 4:27.30 not a PR!
But in 3rd--with a great kick--came Karissa Schweizer's 4:27.54!
This makes her 4th A-T Collegiate!!
And 18th A-T US!!
But she ALSO gets 3rd A-T Collegiate on the 1500 list!
Her enroute time was 4:10.68.
Shannon Osika was 4th, time of 4:27.55--just a tick behind Schweizer!
She moves from 24th A-T US to 19th!!
Canada's Gabriella Stafford was 5th in 4:28.88!!
Oregon's Lilli Burdon, who ended 7th in the Mile, claimed 20th A-T Collegiate with her 1500 enroute time of 4:15.72.
Knocked OFF my Collegiate list was Jordan Hasay's 4:33.01 from 2011.
Shoved OFF my US list were 2 icons--Abbey D'Agostino & Vicki Huber!
Abbey's 4:28.31 came in 2014, while Huber's 4:28.31 was from 1988!!
The Men's Mile in NY was fast also!
But while Craig Engels ran 3:57.35 to win, beating Julian Oakley's 3:57.45, and UO's redshirting Mick Stanovick's 3:57.90, the crowd was watching Brodey Hasty's attempt to dip under 4 minutes while in HS!
Nope!
His 4:03.26 back in 13th moves him from 22nd A-T HS all the way to 6th!!
His 1500 enroute time of 3:47.39 moves him from 23rd to 6th on the A-T HS list!!
Reed Brown and Cooper Teare--both UO Frosh--ran under 4 for the 1st time--Brown in 3:59.03, Teare in 3:59.29!
To save space, but also to more neatly present what I have left to report, I'll move to my by-event-group listing M.O.!!
Sprints & Hurdles
A German race found Gina Luckenkemper's 7.11 beating Lisa Mayer's 7.17 in the 60!
In Iowa, Aleia Hobbs sped a 60 in 7.14, becoming 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
In the Ostrava meet, Ewe Swoboda sped the 60 in 7.21, while Spain's Yanier Perez was timed in 6.53!
In the Ostrava 300, Pavel Maslak's non-PR of 32.52 beat Karol Zalewski's 32.60!
But Zalewski's time makes him 19th A-T World!
Petri Swoboda's 7.56 won the Ostrava 60H!
In the ISTAF meet, Tatjana Pinto's 7.08 took over the World lead!!
She'd run her heat in 7.13.
Mujinga Kambundji ran her heat in 7.14, while Michelle Lee-Ahye was timed in 7.16!
Also in Berlin, Kim Collins continued his miraculous ageing process, speeding over 60 meters in 6.64!
He'll be 42 on April 5th!!
Bingtian Su won that race in 6.55.
Andrew Pozzi won the 60H in 7.58!
The ISTAF Women's 60H saw Alina Talay winning in 7.89, with Pam Dutkiewicz 2nd in 7.91.
Cindy Roleder (7.93) and Sharika Nelvis (7.94) were next!
Alaysha Johnson of UO ran the 60H in 8.10 in NYC.
I should mention here that Ncincihli Titi's recent 20.45 200 (See earlier post!) is the National Record of South Africa!
Lynna Irby had quite the Razorback meet!!
She ran the fastest Collegiate 200--time of 22.96, beating Payton Chadwick's 22.99!
But it was in the 400 where she really shone!!
Her 51.48 makes her 16th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
She's also 20th A-T US!
She's just a Freshman!!
She beat Kendell Ellis's 51.53, the time not a PR!
Next came Sharrika Barnett's 51.64, which makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate!!
Omar McLeod doubled in the 60 flat and 200--times of 6.77 and 21.12.
Kendra Harrison did the same--times of 7.37 and 23.31.
In the Armory, Deajah Stevens sped a 60 in 7.24!
She then later was a member of a US team that broke the American Record in the 4X200 Relay!!
Their time of 1:32.67 beat the 1994 record of 1:33.24!!
The other members were Kyra Jefferson, Daina Harper, and Asha Ruth!
In the Ocean Breeze, Austin Kratz sped a 200 in 21.23, making him 21st A-T HS!!
Karsten Warholm ran a 400 in 45.88, becoming the National Record holder of Norway!!
In NY---before Irby's race--Courtney Okolo had run the 400 in 51.89, which was the temporary World leader!
She beat Shakima Wimbley's 52.11.
Devon Allen doubled in the 60H and 200--times of 7.64 & 20.94!
Dior Hall sped 60H in 7.98.
Kristei Johnson's 7.18 flat 60 misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.01 seconds!
On Liberty's track (where Katelyn Tuohy ran her 15:37.12 HSR over 5000---see my previous post!), Obi Igbokwu ran the 400 in 45.72, making him the Collegiate leader!
In NYC, Mario Heslop ran the 300 in 33.26, making him 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
Morolake Akinosun's 7.18 won Texas Tech's 60.
Tobi Amusan's 7.94 took the 60H!
(She'd run her heat in 7.95!)
She beat Queen Harrison's season opener of 8.03!
While completely worthless for List or Record purposes, I suppose I should mention Raevyn Rogers winning the 400 in 52.24 on Seattle's OT!!
This is already a LONGGGG post!
Should I keep going---or start a 2nd post??
Oh well, let's continue!
Take a break, then return for MUCH more!!
Distances
Sarah Brown returned to action with a Mile in 4:36.81!
She's back from injury & motherhood, among other things!!
In the Ostrava Men's 3000, Mohammed Tiouali's 7:44.58 beat Ben Kigen's 7:44.77!
The Women's race saw Helen Obiri prevailing, her 8:38.81 beating Beatrice Chepkoech's 8:39.15!
Fantasy Worku took 3rd in 8:39.55.
Back in 5th was OUTdoor 3000SC WR holder Ruth Jebet--time of 8:48.99!
(That's less than 4 seconds faster than her WR in the SC!!)
Oregon ran the DMR in 11:00.13 in the Armory, but without Katie Rainsberger!
They beat Villanova's 11:11.76.
The UO Men won their DMR in 9:31.87, getting a 3:58.7 anchor--from someone!!)
In Boston, Shadrack Kipchirchir's planned attack on the 3000 American Record went awry early!
Still, his 7:42.71 makes him 21st A-T US!
Emmanuel Bor was 2nd in 7:44.93, while Kirubel Erassa's 7:47.48 was 3rd!
Pushed OFF the US list was an oldie!
Doug Padilla's 7:43.69 from 1990 is GONE!!
Daniel Kuhn's 600 time of 1:16.62 isn't a PR.
Natalija Piliusina's 4:32.67 beat Marathoner (!!!) Kellyn Taylor's 4:33.40 in the Mile!
And Taylor said she'd wanted a sub-4:30, so was disappointed!!
In NYC, Lauren Paquette won the 3000 in 8:53.09, making her 22nd A-T US!
She beat Sarah Pagano's 8:58.42.
Jessica Hull of the Ducks ran 9:11.03 in 3rd!
But OFF my US list is one Joanie Samuelson, her 8:53.55 dating from 1983!!
Ajee Wilson slowed at the end, but still won the NY 800 in 2:00.90.
Natoya Goule was 2nd in 2:01.07.
But Charlene Lipsey had a bad race, ending 6th in 2:03.74!
Jazmine Fray took the Arkansas 800 in 2:02.30.
Second was Jasmine Staebler's 2:03.59!
On Liberty's track, Rachel Pocratsky ran the 1000 in 2:41.98.
This makes her suddenly 6th A-T Collegiate!!
Seattle's OT saw some USELESS fast times run!
Bethan Knights won the 5000 in 15:45.95, as she beat Vanessa Fraser's 15:46.02.
In a last minute decision, Galen Rupp and Yomif Kejelcha ran the 5000 as a workout!
Kejelcha nipped Rupp at the tape--13:34.67 to 13:34.78.
Later, Kejelcha won a Mile in 3:56.95.
Finally (in my OT report!), Sifan Hassan wanted to work on her kick!
She did, winning the OT 3K in 8:34.45 over the 8:43.28 of Ageless Shalane Flanagan!!
Flanagan actually didn't try staying with Hassan, as she used Brie Oakley and another Cal Gal as her personal rabbits!
And MORE!!!
Michael Saruni--who had run 1:45.92 on an OT earlier--ran a Collegiate leading 800 time of 1:45.19!
Coached by Paul Ereng at UTEP--Ereng holding the CR of 1:44.84 from 1989--and both being Kenyans--Saruni's time was run on a LEGAL track!!
He is now 2nd--to Ereng!!--A-T Collegiate!!
He's also 18th A-T World!!
In Albuquerque's 5000 feet of altitude, Ed Cheserek reigned supreme again---his 3:54.73 Mile beating Ben Blankenship by about 7 seconds--Ches's time being 2nd best ever run at that level of altitude--though Kip Keino's faster time was run OUTdoors!
And---Shadrack Kipchirchir won a Mile race in 3:55.52.
In 2nd was Syracuse's Justyn Knight, whose 3:55.82 makes him 15th A-T Collegiate!
Sadly, I couldn't find a 1500 enroute time for Knight!!
Field Events & Multi's
Trey Knight has done it AGAIN!!
His 83-6.75 WT broke his own Soph Class Record!
He moves from 11th to 5th on the A-T HS list!!
Amazing!!!
(He also did the SP--mark of 62-1.25 a PR!)
Tomas Stanek threw the Shot 70-10.75, becoming 23rd A-T World!
Jordan Geist's mark (See above!) makes him currently 2nd in the World!!
In Missouri, Alex Gochenour did a Pentathlon, scoring 4368 points.
It's not a PR.
Madeline Holmberg scored 4133 points!
The ISTAF Pole Vault saw Piotr Lisek beating Renaud Lavillenie and Thiago Braz, 19-1.50 to their 18-8.25's!
Lisa Gunnarsson is becoming one of the better Collegiate PV'ers!
Her latest is a 14-7.50 clearance!
She missed her 3 tries at 15-0!
Matt Ludwig's 18-6.75 took the Penn State PV.
Jake Wooten cleared 18-3 in the Armory.
Chris Nilsen PV'ed 18-9.25.
He moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 10th!
Kristen Hixson PV'ed 14-10.75.
In the Texas Tech meet, Annie Rhodes Johnigan's 14-10 beat Anicka Newell's 14-10!
Kortney Ross and Kristen Brown both went over 14-6, while Megan Clark made it over 14-2.
Johnigan and Newell both tried 3 times at 15-1.75!!
David Lucas threw the WT 71-6.75!
Janeah Stewart won the Razorback meet WT with her 75-3.50!
In NY, Alyssa Wilson won the SP with her 54-11.50.
Tripp Piperi improved to 65-0.75, but fell 5 feet behind his former HS rival Geist!!
Danniel Thomas-Dodd won a SP with her 60-6.75!
This breaks her own National Record of Jamaica!!
Penn State saw a good SP duel.
Darrell Hill's 67-4.75 prevailed over Ashinia Miller's 67-0.
Annette Echikunwoke's WT sailed out to 77-8.75!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 6th!
She becomes 9th A-T US, and 12th A-T World!
A few more marks!!
These in the Jumps Dept!
But I'll open by saying that Janay DeLoach Soukup is pregnant--due this spring!
AND---she has retired!!
Kate Hall's 21-6 beat Tara Davis's 21-1.25 in the LJ!
Randall Cunniingham won a HJ at 7-4.50, then failed 3 times at 7-5.75!!
Donald Scott TJ'ed 55-4.25!
At Texas Tech, THREE Men HJ'ed 7-6.50!!
Jeron Robinson was the winner, with Trey Culver in 2nd, and Frosh Vernon Turner 3rd!!
Turner's mark becomes the Collegiate Frosh Class Record!!
He's 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with ELEVEN others!!
In Seattle, Django Lovett got over 7-6!
Uber-Vet Brittney Reese LJ'ed 21-6.75, beating Christobel Nettey's 21-6.25!
Mariya Lasitskene continues her domination of the Women's HJ--her latest being an INdoor PR of 6-8.25!!
She moves from 11th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 8th, where she's also tied with 3 others!
Fellow Russian Danyil Lysenko HJ'ed 7-9.25.
This makes him 18th A-T World, tied with 6 others!!
Moving OUTdoors for a second, Eliza McCartney returned from injury in a big way!
She went over 15-5, then missed 3 tries at 15-10--with tries 1 & 3 being termed "good"!!
FINALLY---Yes, REALLY!!--I have some results from this morning's Osaka Women's Marathon!!
Winner was Mizuki Matsuda's 2:22:44!
She beat the 2:23:48 of Honami Maeda!!
In 12th was the American Esther Atkins, whose 2:36:57 qualifies her for the OT Marathon!!
Thank you for hanging in there!!
See you soon!
The attack came from all sides--the track AND the field--and seemed to be never ending!
(BTW, "weekend of transition" is that 72 hour period between the "rust-busting" of December and January, and the "serious work" of the last 6 weeks of the INdoor season!! It's a time when one doesn't expect the DELUGE of fantastic marks that exploded from the many venues of America and the World these past few days!)
Let's start with the Dubai Marathon!
The Men's finish became what some dubbed the "best track race" NOT on a track!!
After a series of 5K's in the 14:30's (14:31, 14:36, 14:40, 14:37, and 14:33), the lead group still numbered 6 or 7!
Sisay Lemma was the nominal leader, but they were really tied in a knot!
This nearly-all Ethiopian field was running FAST--a few seconds under WR pace--yet seemed to be cruising behind a pacer!
That pacer found himself about 15 meters in front, and the thought was that he might try to steal the race!
But he finally DNF'ed after another 5000 in 14:43.
This changed the thinking from WR to "racing"!
And what a RACE it became!!
As they came into the final 500 meter stretch of road, it became a simulated track race!!
At the tape, the Winner's blood belonged to Mosinet Geremew, in a time of 2:04:00.
He's now 12th A-T World!
Alema Gebresilase came next, just 2 seconds off, in 2:04:02.
The next 5 finishers all set Place Records, as well as some others!
Tamirat Tola's 2:04:06 is the best 3rd Place mark!
He's 13th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
Asefa Mengstu sprinted in with the same time--2:04:06--for the best 4th Place mark!
He also gets the Age 33 Record!!
He is also 13th A-T World, tied with Tola!!
Sisay Lemma faded just a bit--running 2:04:08!
It's the best 5th Place mark, the Age 27 Record, and makes him 15th A-T World!!
Birhanu Legese gets the best 6th Place mark--2:04:15--AND the Age 23 Record!
He is 16th A-T World!!
With the best 7th Place mark came Sesfa Tura's 2:04:44.
And the Women were pretty close to the Men, depth-wise!!
Reaching the Half in about 1:10:05 (Couldn't get actual split!), the pace then picked up!
With a couple of Men "rabbiting", a group of 5 or 6 tagged along in fluid striding motion!
After 5K's ranging from 16:28 (3rd) to 16:45 (1st) & 16:43 (5th), they changed gears!
While most eyes were on the experienced Ethiopians (Feysa Tadese, Worknesh Degefa, and Gelete Burka), it was the eventual winner--Roza Dereje--who stayed quiet & hidden in the mix!
But when the 5K's sped up to the 16:20's, it was Dereje who came to the front--and stayed there!
Her 2:19:17 claims the 7th A-T spot on the World list!!
(So she apparently ran her 2nd Half in 69:12 or so!!)
Tadese took 2nd, time of 2:19:30.
She WAS 24th on my DDD, but with Dereje's time, became 25th--for a few seconds!
Then she whipped herself back ONto the list--in 10th!!
Matching Deena Kastor's American Record time of 2:19:36 was Yebryual Melesa!
She becomes the best 3rd Place ever!!
And she is now 12th A-T World, tied with Kastor!
Degefa gets the best 4th Place mark with her 2:19:53!
She ranks 24th A-T World!!
The best 5th Place mark goes to Haflemesh Tesfay's 2:20:13!!
It's also the Age 23 Record!
Best 6th Place goes to the veteran Burka, her time being 2:20:45!
Dera Dida's 2:21:45 becomes the best 7th Place mark!
She gets the Age 21 Record!!
WOW!!
Now let's sort out the rubble of the T&F portion of the weekend!
Seattle's Dempsey Arena is best known--infamously, in my eyes!!--as the site of a 307 meter Oversize Track!
But it was on its FIELD where the best mark of the Weekend happened!
Just over a year ago, then-HS Senior Jordan Geist shocked the T&F World by shoving the rarely-thrown 16 pound ball out 68-4, utterly destroying the HSR of Ryan Crouser--a 63-11.
His 68-4 was even farther than the iconic Mike Carter had thrown OUTdoors in HS!!
But he began his Frosh season with a butterball in the 63's!
Not bad, but...!!!
Then came the Seattle meet!
His series went like this---
64-5.25----67-7.50 (breaking the Frosh Class Record by about 2 feet!!)----69-3.50 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record!!----66-10----67-9---and closing with a monster Shot (pun intended!) of 70-4.50--again breaking his own Frosh Class standard!!!
He is 7th A-T Collegiate!
He gets 18th spot on the A-T US list!!
And he misses the World (!!) list by just 6 inches!!!
In my blog post called "Of Babies and Snakes", I reviewed the GREAT book "18 Months Raising the Bar"---about the 2015-2016 seasons when Demi Payne and Sandi Morris clashed fiercely for Collegiate supremacy in the PV!
Well, folks, we may have a "Part II" developing here!!
(NOT with Ms's Payne & Morris, however!!)
Coming off an injury, Lexi (Weeks) Jacobus is BACK!!
After leaving twin sister Tori Hoggard behind at 14-4.75, Jacobus went over 15-1.50, reaching the sphere of her 2016 Rio OUTdoor season!
While not an INdoor PR, it does give her the Junior Class Record!!
She then tried thrice at 15-7.25, but missed!
The comparison to Payne & Morris comes from the knowledge that she passed Olivia Gruver's earlier 15-1 (See previous post!)--claiming (temporary??) Collegiate leadership!!
Stay tuned!!
Skipping around, the Texas Tech meet saw former SEC Multi's rivals Erica Bougard and Kendell Williams--now both Professionals!--go at it again!
Bougard's 4504 beat Williams's 4375---this time!
BTW, they train together!!
Annie Kunz took 3rd with her 4078 score!
In the Razorback meet, Taliyah Brooks scored 4395 points, beating Louisa Grauvogel's 4253.
Tyra Gittens scored 4009 in 3rd!
Let's move to NY's Armory for one of the better January Mile races!
Kate Van Buskirk sprinted ahead at the end, her 4:26.92 breaking Sheila Reid's 4:27.02 Canadian National Record!
(Reid's time came in 2013, when Mary Cain ran 2nd to her in the HSR time of 4:28.25!!)
Rachel Schneider was 2nd, her 4:27.30 not a PR!
But in 3rd--with a great kick--came Karissa Schweizer's 4:27.54!
This makes her 4th A-T Collegiate!!
And 18th A-T US!!
But she ALSO gets 3rd A-T Collegiate on the 1500 list!
Her enroute time was 4:10.68.
Shannon Osika was 4th, time of 4:27.55--just a tick behind Schweizer!
She moves from 24th A-T US to 19th!!
Canada's Gabriella Stafford was 5th in 4:28.88!!
Oregon's Lilli Burdon, who ended 7th in the Mile, claimed 20th A-T Collegiate with her 1500 enroute time of 4:15.72.
Knocked OFF my Collegiate list was Jordan Hasay's 4:33.01 from 2011.
Shoved OFF my US list were 2 icons--Abbey D'Agostino & Vicki Huber!
Abbey's 4:28.31 came in 2014, while Huber's 4:28.31 was from 1988!!
The Men's Mile in NY was fast also!
But while Craig Engels ran 3:57.35 to win, beating Julian Oakley's 3:57.45, and UO's redshirting Mick Stanovick's 3:57.90, the crowd was watching Brodey Hasty's attempt to dip under 4 minutes while in HS!
Nope!
His 4:03.26 back in 13th moves him from 22nd A-T HS all the way to 6th!!
His 1500 enroute time of 3:47.39 moves him from 23rd to 6th on the A-T HS list!!
Reed Brown and Cooper Teare--both UO Frosh--ran under 4 for the 1st time--Brown in 3:59.03, Teare in 3:59.29!
To save space, but also to more neatly present what I have left to report, I'll move to my by-event-group listing M.O.!!
Sprints & Hurdles
A German race found Gina Luckenkemper's 7.11 beating Lisa Mayer's 7.17 in the 60!
In Iowa, Aleia Hobbs sped a 60 in 7.14, becoming 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
In the Ostrava meet, Ewe Swoboda sped the 60 in 7.21, while Spain's Yanier Perez was timed in 6.53!
In the Ostrava 300, Pavel Maslak's non-PR of 32.52 beat Karol Zalewski's 32.60!
But Zalewski's time makes him 19th A-T World!
Petri Swoboda's 7.56 won the Ostrava 60H!
In the ISTAF meet, Tatjana Pinto's 7.08 took over the World lead!!
She'd run her heat in 7.13.
Mujinga Kambundji ran her heat in 7.14, while Michelle Lee-Ahye was timed in 7.16!
Also in Berlin, Kim Collins continued his miraculous ageing process, speeding over 60 meters in 6.64!
He'll be 42 on April 5th!!
Bingtian Su won that race in 6.55.
Andrew Pozzi won the 60H in 7.58!
The ISTAF Women's 60H saw Alina Talay winning in 7.89, with Pam Dutkiewicz 2nd in 7.91.
Cindy Roleder (7.93) and Sharika Nelvis (7.94) were next!
Alaysha Johnson of UO ran the 60H in 8.10 in NYC.
I should mention here that Ncincihli Titi's recent 20.45 200 (See earlier post!) is the National Record of South Africa!
Lynna Irby had quite the Razorback meet!!
She ran the fastest Collegiate 200--time of 22.96, beating Payton Chadwick's 22.99!
But it was in the 400 where she really shone!!
Her 51.48 makes her 16th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
She's also 20th A-T US!
She's just a Freshman!!
She beat Kendell Ellis's 51.53, the time not a PR!
Next came Sharrika Barnett's 51.64, which makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate!!
Omar McLeod doubled in the 60 flat and 200--times of 6.77 and 21.12.
Kendra Harrison did the same--times of 7.37 and 23.31.
In the Armory, Deajah Stevens sped a 60 in 7.24!
She then later was a member of a US team that broke the American Record in the 4X200 Relay!!
Their time of 1:32.67 beat the 1994 record of 1:33.24!!
The other members were Kyra Jefferson, Daina Harper, and Asha Ruth!
In the Ocean Breeze, Austin Kratz sped a 200 in 21.23, making him 21st A-T HS!!
Karsten Warholm ran a 400 in 45.88, becoming the National Record holder of Norway!!
In NY---before Irby's race--Courtney Okolo had run the 400 in 51.89, which was the temporary World leader!
She beat Shakima Wimbley's 52.11.
Devon Allen doubled in the 60H and 200--times of 7.64 & 20.94!
Dior Hall sped 60H in 7.98.
Kristei Johnson's 7.18 flat 60 misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.01 seconds!
On Liberty's track (where Katelyn Tuohy ran her 15:37.12 HSR over 5000---see my previous post!), Obi Igbokwu ran the 400 in 45.72, making him the Collegiate leader!
In NYC, Mario Heslop ran the 300 in 33.26, making him 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
Morolake Akinosun's 7.18 won Texas Tech's 60.
Tobi Amusan's 7.94 took the 60H!
(She'd run her heat in 7.95!)
She beat Queen Harrison's season opener of 8.03!
While completely worthless for List or Record purposes, I suppose I should mention Raevyn Rogers winning the 400 in 52.24 on Seattle's OT!!
This is already a LONGGGG post!
Should I keep going---or start a 2nd post??
Oh well, let's continue!
Take a break, then return for MUCH more!!
Distances
Sarah Brown returned to action with a Mile in 4:36.81!
She's back from injury & motherhood, among other things!!
In the Ostrava Men's 3000, Mohammed Tiouali's 7:44.58 beat Ben Kigen's 7:44.77!
The Women's race saw Helen Obiri prevailing, her 8:38.81 beating Beatrice Chepkoech's 8:39.15!
Fantasy Worku took 3rd in 8:39.55.
Back in 5th was OUTdoor 3000SC WR holder Ruth Jebet--time of 8:48.99!
(That's less than 4 seconds faster than her WR in the SC!!)
Oregon ran the DMR in 11:00.13 in the Armory, but without Katie Rainsberger!
They beat Villanova's 11:11.76.
The UO Men won their DMR in 9:31.87, getting a 3:58.7 anchor--from someone!!)
In Boston, Shadrack Kipchirchir's planned attack on the 3000 American Record went awry early!
Still, his 7:42.71 makes him 21st A-T US!
Emmanuel Bor was 2nd in 7:44.93, while Kirubel Erassa's 7:47.48 was 3rd!
Pushed OFF the US list was an oldie!
Doug Padilla's 7:43.69 from 1990 is GONE!!
Daniel Kuhn's 600 time of 1:16.62 isn't a PR.
Natalija Piliusina's 4:32.67 beat Marathoner (!!!) Kellyn Taylor's 4:33.40 in the Mile!
And Taylor said she'd wanted a sub-4:30, so was disappointed!!
In NYC, Lauren Paquette won the 3000 in 8:53.09, making her 22nd A-T US!
She beat Sarah Pagano's 8:58.42.
Jessica Hull of the Ducks ran 9:11.03 in 3rd!
But OFF my US list is one Joanie Samuelson, her 8:53.55 dating from 1983!!
Ajee Wilson slowed at the end, but still won the NY 800 in 2:00.90.
Natoya Goule was 2nd in 2:01.07.
But Charlene Lipsey had a bad race, ending 6th in 2:03.74!
Jazmine Fray took the Arkansas 800 in 2:02.30.
Second was Jasmine Staebler's 2:03.59!
On Liberty's track, Rachel Pocratsky ran the 1000 in 2:41.98.
This makes her suddenly 6th A-T Collegiate!!
Seattle's OT saw some USELESS fast times run!
Bethan Knights won the 5000 in 15:45.95, as she beat Vanessa Fraser's 15:46.02.
In a last minute decision, Galen Rupp and Yomif Kejelcha ran the 5000 as a workout!
Kejelcha nipped Rupp at the tape--13:34.67 to 13:34.78.
Later, Kejelcha won a Mile in 3:56.95.
Finally (in my OT report!), Sifan Hassan wanted to work on her kick!
She did, winning the OT 3K in 8:34.45 over the 8:43.28 of Ageless Shalane Flanagan!!
Flanagan actually didn't try staying with Hassan, as she used Brie Oakley and another Cal Gal as her personal rabbits!
And MORE!!!
Michael Saruni--who had run 1:45.92 on an OT earlier--ran a Collegiate leading 800 time of 1:45.19!
Coached by Paul Ereng at UTEP--Ereng holding the CR of 1:44.84 from 1989--and both being Kenyans--Saruni's time was run on a LEGAL track!!
He is now 2nd--to Ereng!!--A-T Collegiate!!
He's also 18th A-T World!!
In Albuquerque's 5000 feet of altitude, Ed Cheserek reigned supreme again---his 3:54.73 Mile beating Ben Blankenship by about 7 seconds--Ches's time being 2nd best ever run at that level of altitude--though Kip Keino's faster time was run OUTdoors!
And---Shadrack Kipchirchir won a Mile race in 3:55.52.
In 2nd was Syracuse's Justyn Knight, whose 3:55.82 makes him 15th A-T Collegiate!
Sadly, I couldn't find a 1500 enroute time for Knight!!
Field Events & Multi's
Trey Knight has done it AGAIN!!
His 83-6.75 WT broke his own Soph Class Record!
He moves from 11th to 5th on the A-T HS list!!
Amazing!!!
(He also did the SP--mark of 62-1.25 a PR!)
Tomas Stanek threw the Shot 70-10.75, becoming 23rd A-T World!
Jordan Geist's mark (See above!) makes him currently 2nd in the World!!
In Missouri, Alex Gochenour did a Pentathlon, scoring 4368 points.
It's not a PR.
Madeline Holmberg scored 4133 points!
The ISTAF Pole Vault saw Piotr Lisek beating Renaud Lavillenie and Thiago Braz, 19-1.50 to their 18-8.25's!
Lisa Gunnarsson is becoming one of the better Collegiate PV'ers!
Her latest is a 14-7.50 clearance!
She missed her 3 tries at 15-0!
Matt Ludwig's 18-6.75 took the Penn State PV.
Jake Wooten cleared 18-3 in the Armory.
Chris Nilsen PV'ed 18-9.25.
He moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 10th!
Kristen Hixson PV'ed 14-10.75.
In the Texas Tech meet, Annie Rhodes Johnigan's 14-10 beat Anicka Newell's 14-10!
Kortney Ross and Kristen Brown both went over 14-6, while Megan Clark made it over 14-2.
Johnigan and Newell both tried 3 times at 15-1.75!!
David Lucas threw the WT 71-6.75!
Janeah Stewart won the Razorback meet WT with her 75-3.50!
In NY, Alyssa Wilson won the SP with her 54-11.50.
Tripp Piperi improved to 65-0.75, but fell 5 feet behind his former HS rival Geist!!
Danniel Thomas-Dodd won a SP with her 60-6.75!
This breaks her own National Record of Jamaica!!
Penn State saw a good SP duel.
Darrell Hill's 67-4.75 prevailed over Ashinia Miller's 67-0.
Annette Echikunwoke's WT sailed out to 77-8.75!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 6th!
She becomes 9th A-T US, and 12th A-T World!
A few more marks!!
These in the Jumps Dept!
But I'll open by saying that Janay DeLoach Soukup is pregnant--due this spring!
AND---she has retired!!
Kate Hall's 21-6 beat Tara Davis's 21-1.25 in the LJ!
Randall Cunniingham won a HJ at 7-4.50, then failed 3 times at 7-5.75!!
Donald Scott TJ'ed 55-4.25!
At Texas Tech, THREE Men HJ'ed 7-6.50!!
Jeron Robinson was the winner, with Trey Culver in 2nd, and Frosh Vernon Turner 3rd!!
Turner's mark becomes the Collegiate Frosh Class Record!!
He's 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with ELEVEN others!!
In Seattle, Django Lovett got over 7-6!
Uber-Vet Brittney Reese LJ'ed 21-6.75, beating Christobel Nettey's 21-6.25!
Mariya Lasitskene continues her domination of the Women's HJ--her latest being an INdoor PR of 6-8.25!!
She moves from 11th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 8th, where she's also tied with 3 others!
Fellow Russian Danyil Lysenko HJ'ed 7-9.25.
This makes him 18th A-T World, tied with 6 others!!
Moving OUTdoors for a second, Eliza McCartney returned from injury in a big way!
She went over 15-5, then missed 3 tries at 15-10--with tries 1 & 3 being termed "good"!!
FINALLY---Yes, REALLY!!--I have some results from this morning's Osaka Women's Marathon!!
Winner was Mizuki Matsuda's 2:22:44!
She beat the 2:23:48 of Honami Maeda!!
In 12th was the American Esther Atkins, whose 2:36:57 qualifies her for the OT Marathon!!
Thank you for hanging in there!!
See you soon!
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Track & Field News--a personal memoir
January 1962 at North Hollywood High School in the San Fernando Valley.
First (& only) team--I was 3rd Miler (behind Burt Ballentine & Mike Adams).
A man came to visit--H Archie Richardson??--selling books about T&F--and subscriptions to T&FN.
That was my initial "hook-up" with the "Bible of the Sport"!
Like every relationship, it went through all the changes, bumpy rides, emotional separations, the life-and-death situations of LIFE!
Till death do us part?
Well, not exactly!
The 1st issue I read was January 1962.
Peter Snell's 3:54.4 Mile WR run on a 385 yard grass track in New Zealand!
INdoor meets--then abundant & thriving--covered in detail.
Lists--World, US, HS, even Collegiate Frosh & JC!
The "European Report"
Columns like Last Lap, On Your Marks, and my favorite--Letters to the Editor!
(I had a few printed there!)
But to this lifelong sports stat freak, it was the numbers I loved most!
Track & Field NEWS was exactly that--filled with NEWS about my new "BFF"!
Because the News was mostly statistical in nature--the times, the feet & inches (Not much metric then--except from Europe!)--I devoured every word of every issue--hungrily!
It was a few years later that I noticed the lack of T&F statistical "almanacs"--collections of all the Records & Lists from ALL the varied sectors of our sport!
There was the HS Track book--which covered HS T&F like no one else!
I found some NCAA Guides, which had good material on the Collegiate scene!
(It was only decades later that I discovered Roberto Quercetani's Histories, the Athletics & FAST Annuals, and other Stat Histories!)
So, about 1965, I began compiling a series of Lists of the Records & Marks inherent to the health & welfare of the sport!
It began as a "filler" to what T&FN did NOT provide--at least not all in one place--in a compact tome--a compendium of all things Statistical about T&F!
As with all affairs, it started in private--just one man sitting in a room--pen & paper in hand--scouring every issue of T&FN he had at that time, the NCAA & HS books--even newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, which then had GREAT coverage of T&F!
(Many years later, the Eugene Register-Guard's coverage put the Times to shame!!)
So my dependence on, my addiction to, my love for--T&FN changed!
Expanding my then un-named T&F Record Book, I USED the magazine to satisfy my own needs & whims!
Exactly as happens in any extra-marital tryst!
And then 2 things happened.
My life's direction headed to hippieland--the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, then the revolutionary streets of Berkeley CA!!
And I LOST all those pages & pages (about 250 at that time??) of numbers I'd compiled so painstakingly & lovingly while reading T&FN!
In 1973, I ended (or more to the point--separated from) my relationship with the freakdom of LSD, grass, and the Berkeley Barb--moving to Arcata in Humboldt County!
It was there that I revived my running career--AND my Record Book!!
During the years in the Bay Area, my reading of T&FN came in once-yearly doses--through their Bound Volumes--full years of the magazine bound between cardboard covers!
Also, during that time, I'd procured previous years of the mag--the 1957 through 1961 Bound Volumes!
And while browsing a Portland used bookstore's magazine section, I found the Olympic Games issue from 1956!
(I've never read the initial years of T&FN--from 1948 on--and probably never will!)
My Record Book became a 600-plus page compendium of Lists (my DDD's) and Records (World, US, Collegiate, HS, Meet, National, Place, Age, Class, Combined Events) that, sadly, T&FN slowly deleted from their coverage!!
The 60's issues (& those earlier years I'd read in retrospect) were TYPED--mimeographed--about as "professional" in style as the "Barb" & other hippie alternative papers were!
But this isn't a complaint!
I LOVED that "homey" "cozy" nature of the beast!
It was like receiving a handwritten letter from a friend--a friend who had the exact same passions I did!
So many historic names, so many great records & marks, so much CANDY!!
I couldn't get enough!!
In 1970, this started to change.
T&FN called it progress.
I saw it differently.
Instead of NEWS on the front cover (Really the 1st PAGE!!), we got photos!
Studio stills, or frozen "action" shots--of star athletes of the month!
Then the lists began to disappear--even as the number of yearly issues expanded to 18--with 2 issues during the spring & summer months!
In 1973, T&FN tried Psychedelia!
Using "Fillmore lightshow-style colors", these splashes of paint sometimes made reading the words impossible!
(Some Letters agreed!!)
Maybe it was the era we were living in--the post-hippie eye-glaze and brain-haze of the recovering long-haired freak!
Or maybe it was just T&FN trying to be "hip"!
Whatever the case, it eroded the JOY I felt when I received my issue in the mail (Though I bought many issues at various newsstands & bookstores!).
And with my Record Book now "complete"--and with T&FN's ending their Diet of Lists (to a great extent!)--I no longer NEEDED Track and Field News!
But the habit was ingrained!
I'd become an addict.
I craved my monthly fix!!
So I continued to read every word, search for every number, look at every photo as if it were a Van Gogh artwork in some Museum!
My collection of the magazine had grown to large piles in a closet or in boxes on the floor!
All those Bound Volumes ('57 to '61--then '67 to '72)!
All those individual issues--that '56 OG issue, the years from 1962 to 1966--and then again from January 1973 forward!
The '70's, the 80's, the 90's!!
All those changes in the Record Book, all reported in fine detail on the pages of T&FN!
Sure, the reportage became less and less "newsy"--more & more an attempt at "literature"!
There were frequent interviews with star athletes from every segment of the sport!
Distance runners, Pole Vaulters, a Shot putter, Sprinters, Hurdlers, Decathletes!
In the mid-70's, Women's news & features began appearing!
T&FN had always been a "stag mag"--for Men Only--without the lurid or obscene!
Then "Little Mary Decker" began her controversial but highly successful career--a 14 year old in pigtails!
Apparently liking its readers reactions, T&FN continued its "coverage" of the distaff side of the sport!
In the late '70's, with Grete Waitz and Joan Samuelson winning marathons, and with European icons like Marlies Gohr, Marita Koch, and several Throwers setting Records that wouldn't be surpassed to this day--T&FN initiated FULL coverage of Women's T&F!!
Their Rankings expanded to both sexes!
Their year-ending Top 40 Lists now had the same for Women!
And the photos now included many of the "opposite sex".
The health of the marriage was improving.
For awhile!
The lists--except for HS--for all intents ENDED as the century of World Wars ended!
And that--the HS list exception--gave me pause!
WHY would they (She, my "wife"!) stop providing monthly lists for the World & US--but continue having deep lists for HS'ers??
I mean, I LOVED that they continued the HS depth of coverage--but why not the others?
It was like having a few children, but deciding only ONE was worth having around all the time!!
A few years later--early 2009, to be exact--I discovered the computer!
With this new "lover", I found that the "magazine" (In fact, ALL printed works!!) was dying!
T&FN had its "website"--with all sorts of material--including LISTS!!
(Albeit "comprehensive"--later "absolute"--lists!!)
All of the "news" found in the paper magazine could now be viewed "online"!
And it was instantaneous!
Instead of waiting days & weeks to read those juicy news items, you could now just "google" the T&FN website--and it was like entering a delicatessen, a supermarket, a MALL!!
Everything T&F--including Cross Country, Road Racing, even the Walks--was all there with one little move of the "mouse"!!
Marvelous---or grotesque?
Progress--or regress?
Life--or impending death??
The "writing" was on the wall---or more to the point, on your computer's monitor!!
And on the T&FN website's Message Board!
This--with its 100's & 100's of "threads"--became what was once the "Letters" section of the printed magazine!!
And with my now-round-the-clock involvement with all-things computer--and having been a writer for five decades-and counting--I soon discovered "blogging".
This was, in essence, putting your Diary or Journal scribblings out into cyberspace for all to see!
On December 9, 2013, I began this blog--named after my Record Book--and using IT as my main source of material!
My need---even if that need was now on life support--for T&FN was closing down!
And so was Track and Field News!
What once was a thrilling excursion into the dynamic world of T&F--had evolved into a boring chore which "needed" doing--or completion!
In 1990--with the lists getting less & less frequent--I began subscribing to their Track Newsletter!
This was normally an 8 to 16 page collection of ALL the the results from meets large & small--from the US and around the globe--with added Lists in several of its yearly 40 to 50 issues!
It filled many of the holes that had eroded my interest in the magazine over the past 20 years or so!
I'd found that sweet lover who could satisfy ALL my T&F-related needs!
But they KILLED the Newsletter at the end of 2001.
At least the PRINTED version of it!
Not then on computers, I didn't know about (or see) the "e" version of the TN!!
(But in 2012, when I began adding the "digital" mag to my sub, I received access to the archives of all the eTN's--from January 2002 onward!!)
So this beautiful "marriage"--from its honeymoon in early 1962--to the onset of online--continued--and was reinvigorated--with access to those digital TN's!
And my T&F Record Book had reached full maturity!
It was now an ageing "GrandDad"--an obstreperous, argumentative, egomaniacal chronicler of the greatest sport--Track and Field!
With my Blog now a blossoming "child"--a student, yet a teacher--and with other long-lived magazines also going online only--the PRINT version of T&FN--while desired--was no longer a necessity!
Yes, this marriage had evolved to the point where the passions had ripened, then slowly waned into memories!
Memories of those typed pages, of those lists, of that European Report, of the black & white photos, of reports of births & deaths (from Prefontaine's to the potential death of the sport itself--see the May 1991 issue of T&FN!), and all the other "body parts" of the magazine called Track and Field News!!
It's ironic--and maybe even fraudulent, to an extent!--that in its "final" printed issue--December 2017--in its Preview of its "next issue"--they wrote "this issue will soon become dog-eared" (because of its frequent handling!).
How can an ONLINE edition become "dog-eared", pray tell??
I mean, come ON!!
And so it goes, as my favorite novelist Kurt Vonnegut repeatedly lamented about various forms of death in his classic "Slaughterhouse-Five"!
And so it's GONE!
Rest in Peace, my dear sweet friend--and lifelong companion!!
Make ours an amicable divorce!
First (& only) team--I was 3rd Miler (behind Burt Ballentine & Mike Adams).
A man came to visit--H Archie Richardson??--selling books about T&F--and subscriptions to T&FN.
That was my initial "hook-up" with the "Bible of the Sport"!
Like every relationship, it went through all the changes, bumpy rides, emotional separations, the life-and-death situations of LIFE!
Till death do us part?
Well, not exactly!
The 1st issue I read was January 1962.
Peter Snell's 3:54.4 Mile WR run on a 385 yard grass track in New Zealand!
INdoor meets--then abundant & thriving--covered in detail.
Lists--World, US, HS, even Collegiate Frosh & JC!
The "European Report"
Columns like Last Lap, On Your Marks, and my favorite--Letters to the Editor!
(I had a few printed there!)
But to this lifelong sports stat freak, it was the numbers I loved most!
Track & Field NEWS was exactly that--filled with NEWS about my new "BFF"!
Because the News was mostly statistical in nature--the times, the feet & inches (Not much metric then--except from Europe!)--I devoured every word of every issue--hungrily!
It was a few years later that I noticed the lack of T&F statistical "almanacs"--collections of all the Records & Lists from ALL the varied sectors of our sport!
There was the HS Track book--which covered HS T&F like no one else!
I found some NCAA Guides, which had good material on the Collegiate scene!
(It was only decades later that I discovered Roberto Quercetani's Histories, the Athletics & FAST Annuals, and other Stat Histories!)
So, about 1965, I began compiling a series of Lists of the Records & Marks inherent to the health & welfare of the sport!
It began as a "filler" to what T&FN did NOT provide--at least not all in one place--in a compact tome--a compendium of all things Statistical about T&F!
As with all affairs, it started in private--just one man sitting in a room--pen & paper in hand--scouring every issue of T&FN he had at that time, the NCAA & HS books--even newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, which then had GREAT coverage of T&F!
(Many years later, the Eugene Register-Guard's coverage put the Times to shame!!)
So my dependence on, my addiction to, my love for--T&FN changed!
Expanding my then un-named T&F Record Book, I USED the magazine to satisfy my own needs & whims!
Exactly as happens in any extra-marital tryst!
And then 2 things happened.
My life's direction headed to hippieland--the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, then the revolutionary streets of Berkeley CA!!
And I LOST all those pages & pages (about 250 at that time??) of numbers I'd compiled so painstakingly & lovingly while reading T&FN!
In 1973, I ended (or more to the point--separated from) my relationship with the freakdom of LSD, grass, and the Berkeley Barb--moving to Arcata in Humboldt County!
It was there that I revived my running career--AND my Record Book!!
During the years in the Bay Area, my reading of T&FN came in once-yearly doses--through their Bound Volumes--full years of the magazine bound between cardboard covers!
Also, during that time, I'd procured previous years of the mag--the 1957 through 1961 Bound Volumes!
And while browsing a Portland used bookstore's magazine section, I found the Olympic Games issue from 1956!
(I've never read the initial years of T&FN--from 1948 on--and probably never will!)
My Record Book became a 600-plus page compendium of Lists (my DDD's) and Records (World, US, Collegiate, HS, Meet, National, Place, Age, Class, Combined Events) that, sadly, T&FN slowly deleted from their coverage!!
The 60's issues (& those earlier years I'd read in retrospect) were TYPED--mimeographed--about as "professional" in style as the "Barb" & other hippie alternative papers were!
But this isn't a complaint!
I LOVED that "homey" "cozy" nature of the beast!
It was like receiving a handwritten letter from a friend--a friend who had the exact same passions I did!
So many historic names, so many great records & marks, so much CANDY!!
I couldn't get enough!!
In 1970, this started to change.
T&FN called it progress.
I saw it differently.
Instead of NEWS on the front cover (Really the 1st PAGE!!), we got photos!
Studio stills, or frozen "action" shots--of star athletes of the month!
Then the lists began to disappear--even as the number of yearly issues expanded to 18--with 2 issues during the spring & summer months!
In 1973, T&FN tried Psychedelia!
Using "Fillmore lightshow-style colors", these splashes of paint sometimes made reading the words impossible!
(Some Letters agreed!!)
Maybe it was the era we were living in--the post-hippie eye-glaze and brain-haze of the recovering long-haired freak!
Or maybe it was just T&FN trying to be "hip"!
Whatever the case, it eroded the JOY I felt when I received my issue in the mail (Though I bought many issues at various newsstands & bookstores!).
And with my Record Book now "complete"--and with T&FN's ending their Diet of Lists (to a great extent!)--I no longer NEEDED Track and Field News!
But the habit was ingrained!
I'd become an addict.
I craved my monthly fix!!
So I continued to read every word, search for every number, look at every photo as if it were a Van Gogh artwork in some Museum!
My collection of the magazine had grown to large piles in a closet or in boxes on the floor!
All those Bound Volumes ('57 to '61--then '67 to '72)!
All those individual issues--that '56 OG issue, the years from 1962 to 1966--and then again from January 1973 forward!
The '70's, the 80's, the 90's!!
All those changes in the Record Book, all reported in fine detail on the pages of T&FN!
Sure, the reportage became less and less "newsy"--more & more an attempt at "literature"!
There were frequent interviews with star athletes from every segment of the sport!
Distance runners, Pole Vaulters, a Shot putter, Sprinters, Hurdlers, Decathletes!
In the mid-70's, Women's news & features began appearing!
T&FN had always been a "stag mag"--for Men Only--without the lurid or obscene!
Then "Little Mary Decker" began her controversial but highly successful career--a 14 year old in pigtails!
Apparently liking its readers reactions, T&FN continued its "coverage" of the distaff side of the sport!
In the late '70's, with Grete Waitz and Joan Samuelson winning marathons, and with European icons like Marlies Gohr, Marita Koch, and several Throwers setting Records that wouldn't be surpassed to this day--T&FN initiated FULL coverage of Women's T&F!!
Their Rankings expanded to both sexes!
Their year-ending Top 40 Lists now had the same for Women!
And the photos now included many of the "opposite sex".
The health of the marriage was improving.
For awhile!
The lists--except for HS--for all intents ENDED as the century of World Wars ended!
And that--the HS list exception--gave me pause!
WHY would they (She, my "wife"!) stop providing monthly lists for the World & US--but continue having deep lists for HS'ers??
I mean, I LOVED that they continued the HS depth of coverage--but why not the others?
It was like having a few children, but deciding only ONE was worth having around all the time!!
A few years later--early 2009, to be exact--I discovered the computer!
With this new "lover", I found that the "magazine" (In fact, ALL printed works!!) was dying!
T&FN had its "website"--with all sorts of material--including LISTS!!
(Albeit "comprehensive"--later "absolute"--lists!!)
All of the "news" found in the paper magazine could now be viewed "online"!
And it was instantaneous!
Instead of waiting days & weeks to read those juicy news items, you could now just "google" the T&FN website--and it was like entering a delicatessen, a supermarket, a MALL!!
Everything T&F--including Cross Country, Road Racing, even the Walks--was all there with one little move of the "mouse"!!
Marvelous---or grotesque?
Progress--or regress?
Life--or impending death??
The "writing" was on the wall---or more to the point, on your computer's monitor!!
And on the T&FN website's Message Board!
This--with its 100's & 100's of "threads"--became what was once the "Letters" section of the printed magazine!!
And with my now-round-the-clock involvement with all-things computer--and having been a writer for five decades-and counting--I soon discovered "blogging".
This was, in essence, putting your Diary or Journal scribblings out into cyberspace for all to see!
On December 9, 2013, I began this blog--named after my Record Book--and using IT as my main source of material!
My need---even if that need was now on life support--for T&FN was closing down!
And so was Track and Field News!
What once was a thrilling excursion into the dynamic world of T&F--had evolved into a boring chore which "needed" doing--or completion!
In 1990--with the lists getting less & less frequent--I began subscribing to their Track Newsletter!
This was normally an 8 to 16 page collection of ALL the the results from meets large & small--from the US and around the globe--with added Lists in several of its yearly 40 to 50 issues!
It filled many of the holes that had eroded my interest in the magazine over the past 20 years or so!
I'd found that sweet lover who could satisfy ALL my T&F-related needs!
But they KILLED the Newsletter at the end of 2001.
At least the PRINTED version of it!
Not then on computers, I didn't know about (or see) the "e" version of the TN!!
(But in 2012, when I began adding the "digital" mag to my sub, I received access to the archives of all the eTN's--from January 2002 onward!!)
So this beautiful "marriage"--from its honeymoon in early 1962--to the onset of online--continued--and was reinvigorated--with access to those digital TN's!
And my T&F Record Book had reached full maturity!
It was now an ageing "GrandDad"--an obstreperous, argumentative, egomaniacal chronicler of the greatest sport--Track and Field!
With my Blog now a blossoming "child"--a student, yet a teacher--and with other long-lived magazines also going online only--the PRINT version of T&FN--while desired--was no longer a necessity!
Yes, this marriage had evolved to the point where the passions had ripened, then slowly waned into memories!
Memories of those typed pages, of those lists, of that European Report, of the black & white photos, of reports of births & deaths (from Prefontaine's to the potential death of the sport itself--see the May 1991 issue of T&FN!), and all the other "body parts" of the magazine called Track and Field News!!
It's ironic--and maybe even fraudulent, to an extent!--that in its "final" printed issue--December 2017--in its Preview of its "next issue"--they wrote "this issue will soon become dog-eared" (because of its frequent handling!).
How can an ONLINE edition become "dog-eared", pray tell??
I mean, come ON!!
And so it goes, as my favorite novelist Kurt Vonnegut repeatedly lamented about various forms of death in his classic "Slaughterhouse-Five"!
And so it's GONE!
Rest in Peace, my dear sweet friend--and lifelong companion!!
Make ours an amicable divorce!
And So Much More!
The WR's, AR's, CR's, and HSR's covered in the previous post was just the proverbial tip of the iceberg (albeit the part strong enough to sink the ship!!)!!
Hang on, as I report to you all the rest of the List-making Marks from recent days--several of which broke OTHER kinds of Records!!
(In fact, maybe the best Record was the NUMBER of Record Book revisions I've had to make these past 48 hours!)
To keep things as neat and readable as possible, I'll do what I always do when I have too much to report--I'll divide it into event groups!!
Sprints & Hurdles
Andre Ewers suddenly emerged as a competitive Collegiate sprinter, his 6.52 making him 15th A-T Collegiate, tied wiith 4 others!
He's a Florida State Junior!
Aries Merritt won a 60H race in a quick 7.54!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the 60H at the Clemson meet, her 8.00 defeating Janine Williams's 8.02.
In a separate race, Kristi Castlin ran 8.06.
Grant Holloway's 7.49 Clemson win in the 60H moves him from 16th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, to 3rd, tied with 1 other.
He does NOT get the Soph Class Record, however, as that is Omar McLeod's CR of 7.45!!
Holloway's mark makes him 20th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
Devon Allen took the Albuquerque 60H in 7.59.
Tobi Amusan's 7.95 beat Dior Hall's 7.98 in the 60H.
But both ran faster heats---Hall a 7.94, and Amusan a 7.89!!
Kelly Ann Baptiste returned to action with a 60 in 7.25!
This was at Vanderbilt!
Kate Hall took the Women's 60 in 7.28!
Ky Westbrook is back in business--her 7.29 taking the Albuquerque 60!
She also ran the 200 in 23.59.
She's a Junior at USC!
Divine (Yes, that's his name!) Oduduru sped the 200 in 20.49, just 0.06 off the Collegiate DDD!
He's from Nigeria, and attends Texas Tech!
Another interesting name is that of Ncincilili Titi, a South Carolina Junior!
He's also fast--winning the Clemson 200 in 20.45!
It misses the Collegiate list by a mere 0.02 seconds!!
Dwight St Hillaire was 2nd in 20.73.
He's a Kentucky Frosh!
In the Virginia Showcase meet, the Bullis (MD) Women's 4X400 Relay team won in 3:39.60, 2nd A-T HS!!
Florida's 4X400 Relay teams ran fast times in winning!
The Women--with Sharrika Barnett anchoring in 50.56--ran 3:31.17.
They beat Kentucky's 3:31.65, where Sydney McLaughlin's 2nd leg of 50.96 was fastest!
The Men nipped their School Record by 0.01 seconds, their 3:03.49 moving them from 2nd A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 2nd, but with no ties!
Shamier Little won the A&M meet 400 with her 52.84.
The A&M Men's 4X400 team won in 3:04.38!
Arria Minor's 7.30 in the 60 makes her 15th A-T HS, but tied with 5 others!
Grace Stark's 8.25 over the 60H makes her 14th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
And Eric Edwards ran 60H in 7.66, making him 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Distances--from the 500 to the 5000
Madeline Kopp won the Clemson 600 in 1:27.46.
She's now 15th A-T US!
Isaiah Harris took the Men's race in a non-PR of 1:16.55!
Jenna Westaway took a 600 in 1:28.29!
Natoya Goule dipped under two minutes in the 800, her 1:59.86 leaving Danae Rivers's 2:03.13 far behind!
In a 3000, Jacob Thompson won in 7:53.87.
Erin Finn--in her final year at Michigan--won the 3000 in 8:58.69.
This makes her 18th A-T Collegiate!
Remember that Georgia finished a close 2nd to Oregon at the OUTdoor NCAA last year!
Their points came entirely from Field events!!
Well, the Drop sisters might change that!
Jessica's 9:17.60 set a School record, and beat Grace Barnett's 9:17.64!
In the Albuquerque Mile, Katie Mackey beat Ednah Kurgat handily--4:35.50 to 4:41.42!
If you think Albuquerque's altitude is bad, try the 7700 feet in Colorado where Emma Coburn dragged herself through a Mile in 4:38.08!!
She was followed by fellow Steepler Aisha Praught-Leer, who ran in the 4:41's!
(Worth maybe 10 seconds less at sea level??)
Josh Hoey won a fast 1000!
His 2:24.64 makes him 10th A-T HS!
He beat Dalton Hengst's 2:25.30, which makes him 12th A-T HS!
Claire Green's mile in 4:39.74 gives her the Collegiate lead!
The USATF 50000 meter Walks were won by Nick Christie's 4:09:32, and Katie Burnett's 4:47:50!
However, Burnett wasn't the overall winner, as Mariela Sanchez Walked 4:46:12.
And on Vanderbilt's OT, Erin Teschuk ran an UN-listable 3000 time of 9:01.30!
High Jump
Mariya Lasitskene HJ'ed 6.7!
Lavern Spencer cleared 6-2.75 in the Clemson meet!
Darius Corbin reached 7-3.
Landon Bartel went over 7-3.75.
LJ & TJ
I'll begin here by clearing up the Ayesha Champagnie situation!
Her alleged 21-6.25 LJ was just that--alleged!!
It did NOT happen!!
That's the firm conclusion of EVERYONE on the T&FN Message Board!
In fact, some said the Minnesota Coach let the error slide, helping his team win the meet!
But they also said that by retaining the mark as legit, it denies a place at the NCAA's for a REAL 6.56 LJ'er!!
Fess up, folks!!
The Clemson Women's LJ was taken by Quanesha Burks's 21-3.50!
Chanice Porter's 21-5.50 won another meet!
Jasmine Todd used just 6 or 7 steps to LJ 21-0.50!
Marquis Dendy made good use of Albuquerque's altitude, leaping 26-8.25!
Jasmine Moore continues as one of the best HS Tripler's!
Her 42-9.50 took over the Junior Class Record!!
The old mark dated from 1990!!
She moves up one spot on the A-T HS list--from 8th to 7th!
Jessie Maduka, a UCLA Senior from Germany, TJ'ed 45-1, making her 21st A-T Collegiate!!
She's 6 feet tall!!
And Lanae Tava Thomas LJ'ed 21-8, taking over the HS lead!
But let's look at this in its proper sequence!
She first leaped 21-4!
This moved her from 8th A-T HS to 4th!
Then she improved to the 21-8, which took her from that 4th into 2nd A-T HS!!
She misses the US list by 2.75 inches!!
Pole Vault
Lots of stuff here!!
If you follow Becca Peter (PoleVaultPower) on Twitter, you probably already know that the Reno meet--at least for the elite Men--was a near-fiasco!!
Mondo's 19-1.50 stands as the HSR, and as the Senior Class Record!
But it won't be ratified by the IAAF, since the wrong size pegs were used!!
(Don't ask me to explain--just read what Becca said!)
So his National Record of Sweden reverts to 2017's 19-1.
Sondre Guttormsen's 18-0 is still good for the HS lists!
Ditto with KC Lightfoot's 17-8!
The Women's marks are all still good--it only affected the Men!
So retain Reagann LeLeux's 13-10 and Ellie Talius's 13-6!!
Speaking of Mondo, he Vaulted some after Reno, but couldn't reach 19 feet!
He cleared 18-4.50, then missed his trio of attempts at 18-10.75!
A couple of Mondo's young competitors had good marks!
In an OUTdoor meet in Australia, Kurtis Marschall cleared 19-0.25!!
And Emmanouil Karalis cleared 18-6.50!
Anzhelika Sidorova reached 15-7 in Russia.
In a Canadian meet, Jenn Suhr soared over 15-9.25!
She broke her own Age 35 Record!!
Olivia Gruver, who cleared a PR of 15-1 recently, could do just 14-2 this weekend!
But Katie Nageotte finally got her PR of 15-7.25!!
This was in a Washington State meet!
She moves from 6th to 5th on the A-T US list!
She moves from 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Erica Ellis cleared 13-7.25, then missed 3 times at a HSR height of 14-4.50!
Annie Rhodes got married!
At least I assume that's why she's now called Annie Rhodes Johnigan!!
It seems to be good for her, as she finally reached 15 feet--exactly!
This makes her 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Speaking of recently married female Vaulters---
Tori Hoggard beat her former-Weeks twin sister, Lexi Jacobus--14-7.25 to 14-1.25!
Hoggard had 3 misses at 15-1.50, while Lexi missed her 3 tries at 14-7.25!
Desiree Freier was 3rd, reaching 13-7.25!
Laura Taylor went over 14-0.50.
Jacob Wooten and Audie Wyatt both went over 18-1.25!
At Notre Dame, Adrian Valles--a Senior at Cincinnati--cleared 18-4.75!
In Minnesota, Chris Nilsen missed 3 times at 18-10.75--after making 18-6.50!!
Finally--in the PV section--Megan Clark and Kristin Brown both reached 14-8, but missed all their tries at 15-0!
Throws & Multi's
Leading off this group is the happy news that Javelin Queen Barbora Spotakova is pregnant!!
She's due sometime this summer, and will miss the 2018 season!
But she'll be returning for 2019!!
The Clemson meet had a great Women's WT!
Gwen Berry's 81-6.50 gave her the Age 28 Record!!
Also 28, Jeneva Stevens took 2nd with 79-6.50!
She moves from 8th A-T US to 5th!
And from 10th A-T World to 5th!
In 3rd and 4th came Jeneah Stewart's 75-0.75, and Jessica Ramsey's 71-8.25!
The Men's event saw Denzel Comenentia winning with a toss of 73-6.75!
In Michigan,Joseph Ellis's 73-11.75 beat Grant Cartwright's 73-3.25!
Sade Olatoya--an Ohio state Junior--got it out to 74-8.25!
This makes her 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Tripp Piperi's 63-4 kept him steadily in the 63's in the SP!
Patrick Larrison SP'ed 67-7.25, making him 15th A-T HS!!
Maggie Ewen might be a better Shot Putter than Hammer Thrower!
With no HT INdoors, she's really getting that ball out there!
First was last week's 60-6 PR--See my earlier post!
Now she's out to 61-3!!
This moves her from 9th A-T Collegiate to 5th!!
She also moves from 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 15th!
Keeping the "Hammer" in her side pocket, she also threw the WT out to 70-5.25!
Amanda Froeynes--a Florida Frosh--scored 4199 Pentathlon points at Clemson!
Tim Duckworth ran a slowish 1000, but he was able to stay ahead of Maicel Uibo's much faster time---at least in total points--as he won the Clemson Heptathlon--6071 to 6039!
Finally, some OTHER news---
A 4-some of Ajee Wilson, Charlene Lipsey, Raevyn Rogers, and Chrishuna Williams plan an attack on Russia's INdoor 4X800 Relay WR of 8:06.24 at the Millrose meet!
With PR's (OUT or IN) adding to about 7:53, this should be a slam dunk--pardon the mixed metaphor!!
And what about Centro--aka Matthew Centrowitz??
Well, he's decided to skip INdoors this year--all of it!!
He's instead planning an OUTdoor racing tour--Down Under--starting in March!
That month just so happens to be the month before the Commonwealth Games!!
So his opposition should be in top shape!!
Also, he's moved to the DC area--close to his father!
He's still with NOP--and will still be coached by Alberto Salazar--but with help from Matt the Dad!
Interesting.
Hope you enjoyed this 2-part report!
Will next week require the same??
See you soon!
Hang on, as I report to you all the rest of the List-making Marks from recent days--several of which broke OTHER kinds of Records!!
(In fact, maybe the best Record was the NUMBER of Record Book revisions I've had to make these past 48 hours!)
To keep things as neat and readable as possible, I'll do what I always do when I have too much to report--I'll divide it into event groups!!
Sprints & Hurdles
Andre Ewers suddenly emerged as a competitive Collegiate sprinter, his 6.52 making him 15th A-T Collegiate, tied wiith 4 others!
He's a Florida State Junior!
Aries Merritt won a 60H race in a quick 7.54!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the 60H at the Clemson meet, her 8.00 defeating Janine Williams's 8.02.
In a separate race, Kristi Castlin ran 8.06.
Grant Holloway's 7.49 Clemson win in the 60H moves him from 16th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, to 3rd, tied with 1 other.
He does NOT get the Soph Class Record, however, as that is Omar McLeod's CR of 7.45!!
Holloway's mark makes him 20th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
Devon Allen took the Albuquerque 60H in 7.59.
Tobi Amusan's 7.95 beat Dior Hall's 7.98 in the 60H.
But both ran faster heats---Hall a 7.94, and Amusan a 7.89!!
Kelly Ann Baptiste returned to action with a 60 in 7.25!
This was at Vanderbilt!
Kate Hall took the Women's 60 in 7.28!
Ky Westbrook is back in business--her 7.29 taking the Albuquerque 60!
She also ran the 200 in 23.59.
She's a Junior at USC!
Divine (Yes, that's his name!) Oduduru sped the 200 in 20.49, just 0.06 off the Collegiate DDD!
He's from Nigeria, and attends Texas Tech!
Another interesting name is that of Ncincilili Titi, a South Carolina Junior!
He's also fast--winning the Clemson 200 in 20.45!
It misses the Collegiate list by a mere 0.02 seconds!!
Dwight St Hillaire was 2nd in 20.73.
He's a Kentucky Frosh!
In the Virginia Showcase meet, the Bullis (MD) Women's 4X400 Relay team won in 3:39.60, 2nd A-T HS!!
Florida's 4X400 Relay teams ran fast times in winning!
The Women--with Sharrika Barnett anchoring in 50.56--ran 3:31.17.
They beat Kentucky's 3:31.65, where Sydney McLaughlin's 2nd leg of 50.96 was fastest!
The Men nipped their School Record by 0.01 seconds, their 3:03.49 moving them from 2nd A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 2nd, but with no ties!
Shamier Little won the A&M meet 400 with her 52.84.
The A&M Men's 4X400 team won in 3:04.38!
Arria Minor's 7.30 in the 60 makes her 15th A-T HS, but tied with 5 others!
Grace Stark's 8.25 over the 60H makes her 14th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
And Eric Edwards ran 60H in 7.66, making him 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Distances--from the 500 to the 5000
Madeline Kopp won the Clemson 600 in 1:27.46.
She's now 15th A-T US!
Isaiah Harris took the Men's race in a non-PR of 1:16.55!
Jenna Westaway took a 600 in 1:28.29!
Natoya Goule dipped under two minutes in the 800, her 1:59.86 leaving Danae Rivers's 2:03.13 far behind!
In a 3000, Jacob Thompson won in 7:53.87.
Erin Finn--in her final year at Michigan--won the 3000 in 8:58.69.
This makes her 18th A-T Collegiate!
Remember that Georgia finished a close 2nd to Oregon at the OUTdoor NCAA last year!
Their points came entirely from Field events!!
Well, the Drop sisters might change that!
Jessica's 9:17.60 set a School record, and beat Grace Barnett's 9:17.64!
In the Albuquerque Mile, Katie Mackey beat Ednah Kurgat handily--4:35.50 to 4:41.42!
If you think Albuquerque's altitude is bad, try the 7700 feet in Colorado where Emma Coburn dragged herself through a Mile in 4:38.08!!
She was followed by fellow Steepler Aisha Praught-Leer, who ran in the 4:41's!
(Worth maybe 10 seconds less at sea level??)
Josh Hoey won a fast 1000!
His 2:24.64 makes him 10th A-T HS!
He beat Dalton Hengst's 2:25.30, which makes him 12th A-T HS!
Claire Green's mile in 4:39.74 gives her the Collegiate lead!
The USATF 50000 meter Walks were won by Nick Christie's 4:09:32, and Katie Burnett's 4:47:50!
However, Burnett wasn't the overall winner, as Mariela Sanchez Walked 4:46:12.
And on Vanderbilt's OT, Erin Teschuk ran an UN-listable 3000 time of 9:01.30!
High Jump
Mariya Lasitskene HJ'ed 6.7!
Lavern Spencer cleared 6-2.75 in the Clemson meet!
Darius Corbin reached 7-3.
Landon Bartel went over 7-3.75.
LJ & TJ
I'll begin here by clearing up the Ayesha Champagnie situation!
Her alleged 21-6.25 LJ was just that--alleged!!
It did NOT happen!!
That's the firm conclusion of EVERYONE on the T&FN Message Board!
In fact, some said the Minnesota Coach let the error slide, helping his team win the meet!
But they also said that by retaining the mark as legit, it denies a place at the NCAA's for a REAL 6.56 LJ'er!!
Fess up, folks!!
The Clemson Women's LJ was taken by Quanesha Burks's 21-3.50!
Chanice Porter's 21-5.50 won another meet!
Jasmine Todd used just 6 or 7 steps to LJ 21-0.50!
Marquis Dendy made good use of Albuquerque's altitude, leaping 26-8.25!
Jasmine Moore continues as one of the best HS Tripler's!
Her 42-9.50 took over the Junior Class Record!!
The old mark dated from 1990!!
She moves up one spot on the A-T HS list--from 8th to 7th!
Jessie Maduka, a UCLA Senior from Germany, TJ'ed 45-1, making her 21st A-T Collegiate!!
She's 6 feet tall!!
And Lanae Tava Thomas LJ'ed 21-8, taking over the HS lead!
But let's look at this in its proper sequence!
She first leaped 21-4!
This moved her from 8th A-T HS to 4th!
Then she improved to the 21-8, which took her from that 4th into 2nd A-T HS!!
She misses the US list by 2.75 inches!!
Pole Vault
Lots of stuff here!!
If you follow Becca Peter (PoleVaultPower) on Twitter, you probably already know that the Reno meet--at least for the elite Men--was a near-fiasco!!
Mondo's 19-1.50 stands as the HSR, and as the Senior Class Record!
But it won't be ratified by the IAAF, since the wrong size pegs were used!!
(Don't ask me to explain--just read what Becca said!)
So his National Record of Sweden reverts to 2017's 19-1.
Sondre Guttormsen's 18-0 is still good for the HS lists!
Ditto with KC Lightfoot's 17-8!
The Women's marks are all still good--it only affected the Men!
So retain Reagann LeLeux's 13-10 and Ellie Talius's 13-6!!
Speaking of Mondo, he Vaulted some after Reno, but couldn't reach 19 feet!
He cleared 18-4.50, then missed his trio of attempts at 18-10.75!
A couple of Mondo's young competitors had good marks!
In an OUTdoor meet in Australia, Kurtis Marschall cleared 19-0.25!!
And Emmanouil Karalis cleared 18-6.50!
Anzhelika Sidorova reached 15-7 in Russia.
In a Canadian meet, Jenn Suhr soared over 15-9.25!
She broke her own Age 35 Record!!
Olivia Gruver, who cleared a PR of 15-1 recently, could do just 14-2 this weekend!
But Katie Nageotte finally got her PR of 15-7.25!!
This was in a Washington State meet!
She moves from 6th to 5th on the A-T US list!
She moves from 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Erica Ellis cleared 13-7.25, then missed 3 times at a HSR height of 14-4.50!
Annie Rhodes got married!
At least I assume that's why she's now called Annie Rhodes Johnigan!!
It seems to be good for her, as she finally reached 15 feet--exactly!
This makes her 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Speaking of recently married female Vaulters---
Tori Hoggard beat her former-Weeks twin sister, Lexi Jacobus--14-7.25 to 14-1.25!
Hoggard had 3 misses at 15-1.50, while Lexi missed her 3 tries at 14-7.25!
Desiree Freier was 3rd, reaching 13-7.25!
Laura Taylor went over 14-0.50.
Jacob Wooten and Audie Wyatt both went over 18-1.25!
At Notre Dame, Adrian Valles--a Senior at Cincinnati--cleared 18-4.75!
In Minnesota, Chris Nilsen missed 3 times at 18-10.75--after making 18-6.50!!
Finally--in the PV section--Megan Clark and Kristin Brown both reached 14-8, but missed all their tries at 15-0!
Throws & Multi's
Leading off this group is the happy news that Javelin Queen Barbora Spotakova is pregnant!!
She's due sometime this summer, and will miss the 2018 season!
But she'll be returning for 2019!!
The Clemson meet had a great Women's WT!
Gwen Berry's 81-6.50 gave her the Age 28 Record!!
Also 28, Jeneva Stevens took 2nd with 79-6.50!
She moves from 8th A-T US to 5th!
And from 10th A-T World to 5th!
In 3rd and 4th came Jeneah Stewart's 75-0.75, and Jessica Ramsey's 71-8.25!
The Men's event saw Denzel Comenentia winning with a toss of 73-6.75!
In Michigan,Joseph Ellis's 73-11.75 beat Grant Cartwright's 73-3.25!
Sade Olatoya--an Ohio state Junior--got it out to 74-8.25!
This makes her 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Tripp Piperi's 63-4 kept him steadily in the 63's in the SP!
Patrick Larrison SP'ed 67-7.25, making him 15th A-T HS!!
Maggie Ewen might be a better Shot Putter than Hammer Thrower!
With no HT INdoors, she's really getting that ball out there!
First was last week's 60-6 PR--See my earlier post!
Now she's out to 61-3!!
This moves her from 9th A-T Collegiate to 5th!!
She also moves from 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 15th!
Keeping the "Hammer" in her side pocket, she also threw the WT out to 70-5.25!
Amanda Froeynes--a Florida Frosh--scored 4199 Pentathlon points at Clemson!
Tim Duckworth ran a slowish 1000, but he was able to stay ahead of Maicel Uibo's much faster time---at least in total points--as he won the Clemson Heptathlon--6071 to 6039!
Finally, some OTHER news---
A 4-some of Ajee Wilson, Charlene Lipsey, Raevyn Rogers, and Chrishuna Williams plan an attack on Russia's INdoor 4X800 Relay WR of 8:06.24 at the Millrose meet!
With PR's (OUT or IN) adding to about 7:53, this should be a slam dunk--pardon the mixed metaphor!!
And what about Centro--aka Matthew Centrowitz??
Well, he's decided to skip INdoors this year--all of it!!
He's instead planning an OUTdoor racing tour--Down Under--starting in March!
That month just so happens to be the month before the Commonwealth Games!!
So his opposition should be in top shape!!
Also, he's moved to the DC area--close to his father!
He's still with NOP--and will still be coached by Alberto Salazar--but with help from Matt the Dad!
Interesting.
Hope you enjoyed this 2-part report!
Will next week require the same??
See you soon!
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Record Book-Smashing Tsunami
The first Record attacked without warning!
Then, close behind, came another---and another!
With a seemingly unending trail of Records following in close order--from venues across America!
You would expect such a torrent in a couple of weeks, maybe, when Millrose, the IAAF World Tour, the Collegiate Conference season, then the NCAA & NBIN in March, not forgetting USATF and the WC's--are happening!!
But not now, the 3rd weekend of January!!
Here's some numbers---
2 World Records
2 American Records
2 Collegiate Records
4 High School Records
Yes, TEN Major Core Group Records fell inside a period lasting less than 48 hours!!
In my INdoor Records Preview in November, I wrote--"With Christian Coleman on the rise, the 60 WR of 6.39 just might have a chance! 40-60 odds."
Shoulda given it better odds!! LOL
Because, at the incredible Clemson Invite, Mr Coleman realized a humongous portion of his potential, as he blasted down the straight, through the tape, till becoming a fly(er) on the padded wall ahead--after stopping the clock at a World Record time of 6.37!
Mo Greene's pair of 6.39's (from 1998 & 2001) had been erased!!
He'd run a fast heat of 6.47, but this was in another universe!
Besides the World and American Records, he got the Age 21 Record too!
He moved from 4th A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 1st!
On the World list, he moved from 6th A-T, tied with 7 (!!) others, to the Top!!
Tevin Hester's good 6.57 seemed to be in a separate race!
Taking the Records in the order they were reported, next came the Virginia Showcase showdown between HS 11th Grade phenoms Tyrese Cooper and Brian Herron!!
This was over 300 meters of banked track, and Cooper--despite the December heroics of Herron (See earlier post!)--was the favorite!
His own HSR of 32.87 was on the line!
But as they rounded the 2nd curve, it was Herron--one lane inside of Cooper--who had already made up the stagger.
When he stretched his stride over the last 100, Cooper had no response!
In what could be termed an upset, Herron's 32.64 took down Cooper's HSR!
He also claimed the Junior Class and Age 17 Records!
He is 12th A-T US!
And 21st A-T World!!
It was Eric Allen, NOT Cooper, who came in 2nd!
His 32.84 nabbed the Senior Class Record.
He moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
He's also 19th A-T US!!
Cooper ran a good 33.12--great for most--but not for this young phenom!
BTW, Cooper later won the 500--time of 1:03.18.
And in an interview, said he wants to run an 800 this year--probably OUTdoors!
After 2017--when the 600 Records took a beating (WR and CR--twice each!!)--you'd think the 600 event could relax, enjoy a year of relative quietude!
HA!
Tell that to Michael Saruni, a Kenyan running for UTEP!
He reached the 1st of 3 laps (in Albuquerque's altitude!) in 24.2, then hit 400 in 49.7.
Not super fast if you're thinking WR!
But he tore through the ultimate lap in just under 26 seconds, hitting the tape in a WR and CR time of 1:14.79!
It's also the Soph Class Record, the Age 22 Record, and the National Record of Kenya!!
If you recall, he'd recently run an 800 in 1:45.92 on an Oversize Track!
Unless you follow the Walk scene, you might have missed this next Record!
Especially since it happened at Goshen College---that beacon of Elite Athletic accomplishment!!
(Pardon my SARC!!)
But I know you've heard of the athlete who shattered a HSR most never heard of, or don't care about!
Taylor Ewart had broken Records before!
(The Frosh Class INdoor Record for the Mile Walk, for example!)
She was also a good RUNNER---running XC and Track!
So when I heard she Walked 3000 meters in 13:45.0--taking down the old HSR of 14:17--I wasn't surprised!
But when I saw that the old mark had belonged to Maria Michta (Coffey), it suddenly became significant beyond the Record Book!!
While Michta-Coffey continues as America's premier Walker (Male or Female!), she's now 31--and needs someone to follow her!
It might be Ewart--and Lauren Harris!
Keturah Orji had opened her season with a 2nd in the LJ--See an earlier post!
But as the 4th placer in the Rio Olympic Games, she is much better known as America's Top Triple Jumper!
In her first round effort, she smashed her own American and Collegiate Records!!
Measuring 47-8 (14.53), it also made her holder of all 4 Collegiate Class Records, as she now had the Senior Class mark!!
(She's tied for the Soph Class Record, however!)
After 2nd & 3rd round jumps of 46-10.25 and 46-0.75, she passed her last 3 rounds!
She misses the World list by 6.75 inches!!
(Matching her OUTdoor AR of 48-3.25 would get her on that DDD!!)
Yanis David took Silver with her non-PR of 44-7.50!
It's back to the Virginia Showcase meet for the last pair of Major Records!!
The Bullis HS (MD) 4X200 Relay 4-some got a classic 2-for-1.
Their 1:35.40 not only defeated the legendary St Jago team from Jamaica, but it got them the HSR!!
That's an average 200 of 23.85--not bad for ONE 200 in an open race!!
The Jam's were far back--time of 1:38.05!
The Men's team from Bullis also won--their 1:27.44 defeating Nansemond River's 1:27.74!
But it was maybe the final Record of this weekend (??) which most impressed this ancient observer of all things Mercurial in T&F!!
(With ALL due respect to the others--detailed above!!)
Katelyn Tuohy--after a XC season which saw her DESTROY Course Records and her "opposition"--had told people she wanted the HSR in the 5000--and that she would use the Virginia Showcase meet in which to do it!!
As lead-up, she merely ran a 3000 in 9:05.26--just 0.75 seconds slower than Mary Cain did in her 2013 INdoor campaign (against Professionals!!)!
In Tuohy's race, she ran against only HS'ers--none of whom were anywhere close to her in latent ability!!
That race laser-beamed the Track World's focus on the VA meet's final event!
Again, she would have nominal HS-only "competition"!
(She wound up lapping the 2nd place runner THREE times--and the others even more!!)
In an astounding use of pace judgment--and running much of the latter half of the race in the 2nd, or even 3rd, lane!!--Tuohy utterly OBLITERATED all kinds of Records in this incredible display of INdoor Track racing!!
In a virtual time trial, Tuohy ran her first 200 in 35, and her first 400 in 72.
She was moving at a pace where her end time would be 15:00!!
Of course, she slowed down!
But when she hit the 800 in 2:26, then the first K in 3:03, she was still on 15:15 pace!
(If you remember, in her HSR 5000 at the NBIN in 2016, Weini Kelati had also gone out in 3:03!!)
She hit 1600 in 4:54.
Apparently, no times were taken at the One & Two Mile points!!
She reached 2000 in 6:08!
(Her pace was now that needed for 15:20!!)
At 3000 meters, her time of 9:16 was just 11 seconds off her earlier run--something only an extremely courageous--and supremely confident--athlete would venture to undertake!!
Katelyn Tuohy IS such an athlete!!
Not even the Beast that WAS Mary Cain didn't take those kinds of chances!
Her Coach--Alberto Salazar--wouldn't allow it!
His leash kept Cain from even greater HSR's!!
But Tuohy had no such inhibitors working against her!
She just had the fearlessness of a hearty 15 year old Girl--and the iron & steel strength of a Woman 10 years older!!
She hit 3200 in 9:54.
IF she'd been timed at Two Miles, her probable time of 9:57 would have put her VERY close to 4th A-T HS--with almost 9 full laps left to run!!
She did slow--to a 4th K of 3:11 (12:27).
But she picked it up--just a bit--to a 3:10 final kilometer--and an end time of 15:37.12!!
It's the HSR (by 18 seconds), the Soph Class Record (by over one full minute!!), and the World Age 15 Record!!
She even makes the All-Time US list--in 23rd place!!
(She is currently 4th on the 2017-2018 INdoor list--for the WORLD!!!)
She said she wants to break 4:40 in her next race--the Millrose HS Mile!
(Suffice to say, IF she ran in the Wanamaker Mile instead, she could challenge Cain's HSR's of 4:11.72 and 4:28.25! And what, if anything, will she run at NBIN? Also, will she take on the OUTdoor 10000 HSR of 32:52.5, dating from 1979??)
Do you think that's all I have??
Think again!!
Wanting to tell you as much about the above Records as I could, I didn't leave room for all the OTHER Records & Marks that came to me in a tsunamic wave as I tried to keep up!!
Check back in a few hours for Part Two!!
I guarantee--you will NOT be disappointed!!
Then, close behind, came another---and another!
With a seemingly unending trail of Records following in close order--from venues across America!
You would expect such a torrent in a couple of weeks, maybe, when Millrose, the IAAF World Tour, the Collegiate Conference season, then the NCAA & NBIN in March, not forgetting USATF and the WC's--are happening!!
But not now, the 3rd weekend of January!!
Here's some numbers---
2 World Records
2 American Records
2 Collegiate Records
4 High School Records
Yes, TEN Major Core Group Records fell inside a period lasting less than 48 hours!!
In my INdoor Records Preview in November, I wrote--"With Christian Coleman on the rise, the 60 WR of 6.39 just might have a chance! 40-60 odds."
Shoulda given it better odds!! LOL
Because, at the incredible Clemson Invite, Mr Coleman realized a humongous portion of his potential, as he blasted down the straight, through the tape, till becoming a fly(er) on the padded wall ahead--after stopping the clock at a World Record time of 6.37!
Mo Greene's pair of 6.39's (from 1998 & 2001) had been erased!!
He'd run a fast heat of 6.47, but this was in another universe!
Besides the World and American Records, he got the Age 21 Record too!
He moved from 4th A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 1st!
On the World list, he moved from 6th A-T, tied with 7 (!!) others, to the Top!!
Tevin Hester's good 6.57 seemed to be in a separate race!
Taking the Records in the order they were reported, next came the Virginia Showcase showdown between HS 11th Grade phenoms Tyrese Cooper and Brian Herron!!
This was over 300 meters of banked track, and Cooper--despite the December heroics of Herron (See earlier post!)--was the favorite!
His own HSR of 32.87 was on the line!
But as they rounded the 2nd curve, it was Herron--one lane inside of Cooper--who had already made up the stagger.
When he stretched his stride over the last 100, Cooper had no response!
In what could be termed an upset, Herron's 32.64 took down Cooper's HSR!
He also claimed the Junior Class and Age 17 Records!
He is 12th A-T US!
And 21st A-T World!!
It was Eric Allen, NOT Cooper, who came in 2nd!
His 32.84 nabbed the Senior Class Record.
He moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
He's also 19th A-T US!!
Cooper ran a good 33.12--great for most--but not for this young phenom!
BTW, Cooper later won the 500--time of 1:03.18.
And in an interview, said he wants to run an 800 this year--probably OUTdoors!
After 2017--when the 600 Records took a beating (WR and CR--twice each!!)--you'd think the 600 event could relax, enjoy a year of relative quietude!
HA!
Tell that to Michael Saruni, a Kenyan running for UTEP!
He reached the 1st of 3 laps (in Albuquerque's altitude!) in 24.2, then hit 400 in 49.7.
Not super fast if you're thinking WR!
But he tore through the ultimate lap in just under 26 seconds, hitting the tape in a WR and CR time of 1:14.79!
It's also the Soph Class Record, the Age 22 Record, and the National Record of Kenya!!
If you recall, he'd recently run an 800 in 1:45.92 on an Oversize Track!
Unless you follow the Walk scene, you might have missed this next Record!
Especially since it happened at Goshen College---that beacon of Elite Athletic accomplishment!!
(Pardon my SARC!!)
But I know you've heard of the athlete who shattered a HSR most never heard of, or don't care about!
Taylor Ewart had broken Records before!
(The Frosh Class INdoor Record for the Mile Walk, for example!)
She was also a good RUNNER---running XC and Track!
So when I heard she Walked 3000 meters in 13:45.0--taking down the old HSR of 14:17--I wasn't surprised!
But when I saw that the old mark had belonged to Maria Michta (Coffey), it suddenly became significant beyond the Record Book!!
While Michta-Coffey continues as America's premier Walker (Male or Female!), she's now 31--and needs someone to follow her!
It might be Ewart--and Lauren Harris!
Keturah Orji had opened her season with a 2nd in the LJ--See an earlier post!
But as the 4th placer in the Rio Olympic Games, she is much better known as America's Top Triple Jumper!
In her first round effort, she smashed her own American and Collegiate Records!!
Measuring 47-8 (14.53), it also made her holder of all 4 Collegiate Class Records, as she now had the Senior Class mark!!
(She's tied for the Soph Class Record, however!)
After 2nd & 3rd round jumps of 46-10.25 and 46-0.75, she passed her last 3 rounds!
She misses the World list by 6.75 inches!!
(Matching her OUTdoor AR of 48-3.25 would get her on that DDD!!)
Yanis David took Silver with her non-PR of 44-7.50!
It's back to the Virginia Showcase meet for the last pair of Major Records!!
The Bullis HS (MD) 4X200 Relay 4-some got a classic 2-for-1.
Their 1:35.40 not only defeated the legendary St Jago team from Jamaica, but it got them the HSR!!
That's an average 200 of 23.85--not bad for ONE 200 in an open race!!
The Jam's were far back--time of 1:38.05!
The Men's team from Bullis also won--their 1:27.44 defeating Nansemond River's 1:27.74!
But it was maybe the final Record of this weekend (??) which most impressed this ancient observer of all things Mercurial in T&F!!
(With ALL due respect to the others--detailed above!!)
Katelyn Tuohy--after a XC season which saw her DESTROY Course Records and her "opposition"--had told people she wanted the HSR in the 5000--and that she would use the Virginia Showcase meet in which to do it!!
As lead-up, she merely ran a 3000 in 9:05.26--just 0.75 seconds slower than Mary Cain did in her 2013 INdoor campaign (against Professionals!!)!
In Tuohy's race, she ran against only HS'ers--none of whom were anywhere close to her in latent ability!!
That race laser-beamed the Track World's focus on the VA meet's final event!
Again, she would have nominal HS-only "competition"!
(She wound up lapping the 2nd place runner THREE times--and the others even more!!)
In an astounding use of pace judgment--and running much of the latter half of the race in the 2nd, or even 3rd, lane!!--Tuohy utterly OBLITERATED all kinds of Records in this incredible display of INdoor Track racing!!
In a virtual time trial, Tuohy ran her first 200 in 35, and her first 400 in 72.
She was moving at a pace where her end time would be 15:00!!
Of course, she slowed down!
But when she hit the 800 in 2:26, then the first K in 3:03, she was still on 15:15 pace!
(If you remember, in her HSR 5000 at the NBIN in 2016, Weini Kelati had also gone out in 3:03!!)
She hit 1600 in 4:54.
Apparently, no times were taken at the One & Two Mile points!!
She reached 2000 in 6:08!
(Her pace was now that needed for 15:20!!)
At 3000 meters, her time of 9:16 was just 11 seconds off her earlier run--something only an extremely courageous--and supremely confident--athlete would venture to undertake!!
Katelyn Tuohy IS such an athlete!!
Not even the Beast that WAS Mary Cain didn't take those kinds of chances!
Her Coach--Alberto Salazar--wouldn't allow it!
His leash kept Cain from even greater HSR's!!
But Tuohy had no such inhibitors working against her!
She just had the fearlessness of a hearty 15 year old Girl--and the iron & steel strength of a Woman 10 years older!!
She hit 3200 in 9:54.
IF she'd been timed at Two Miles, her probable time of 9:57 would have put her VERY close to 4th A-T HS--with almost 9 full laps left to run!!
She did slow--to a 4th K of 3:11 (12:27).
But she picked it up--just a bit--to a 3:10 final kilometer--and an end time of 15:37.12!!
It's the HSR (by 18 seconds), the Soph Class Record (by over one full minute!!), and the World Age 15 Record!!
She even makes the All-Time US list--in 23rd place!!
(She is currently 4th on the 2017-2018 INdoor list--for the WORLD!!!)
She said she wants to break 4:40 in her next race--the Millrose HS Mile!
(Suffice to say, IF she ran in the Wanamaker Mile instead, she could challenge Cain's HSR's of 4:11.72 and 4:28.25! And what, if anything, will she run at NBIN? Also, will she take on the OUTdoor 10000 HSR of 32:52.5, dating from 1979??)
Do you think that's all I have??
Think again!!
Wanting to tell you as much about the above Records as I could, I didn't leave room for all the OTHER Records & Marks that came to me in a tsunamic wave as I tried to keep up!!
Check back in a few hours for Part Two!!
I guarantee--you will NOT be disappointed!!
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
A Bit of This, A Bit of That
As often happens--regrettably--my "complete" reports of results are often NOT so complete!
Not only that, but marks I DO report sometimes turn out to be erroneous!!
So I'll begin this collection of "a bit of this, a bit of that" with some corrections & additions to my previous post!
At the Kentucky meet where Olivia Gruver PV'ed her 15-1 PR, Kendra Harrison rocked the 60H in a blazing 7.82--after a 7.98 heat!
She's gone faster!!
Also, Javianne Oliver sped the 60 flat in 7.20!
Omar McLeod ran a World-leading 60H of 7.53!
Shannon Osika's 2nd place Mile time of 4:28.30 at the Michigan meet makes her 23rd A-T US!!
Devin King is redshirting this INdoor season!
Thus, his 18-11.50 PV in Reno does NOT make the Collegiate list!!
Still, a significant PR!
Katelyn Tuohy's 9:05.26 3000 gets better!!
Her enroute time at 2000 meters (5:57.46) SMASHES an ancient (& admittedly totally obscure!!) HSR!!
Jack Shepard's HS Track book lists the INdoor 2K record as Debbie Quatier's 6:15.6 from 1974!!
(It happened in Moscow, Russia---then the Soviet Union!!!)
So give Ms Tuohy yet another accolade for her bravado run!!
Kaitlyn Long's WT of 74-7.25 is a mark I missed in my last report!
But this smallish PR doesn't change her various List status's!
She remains 12th A-T Collegiate, 15th A-T US, and 19th A-T World!
The Houston meet had some fast 60's!
Murielle Ahoure's 7.11 took the World lead!
And Michelle Lee-Ahye ran 7.18 in 2nd!
In the Houston Half, Guye Adola finished 2nd Man, time of 60:15.
If you remember, Adola finished 2nd in Berlin with his rookie 2:03:46 Marathon!!
Finally, some marks from Russia!
Danyil Lysenko HJ'ed 7-8.50, missing my World DDD by one-half inch!
In a 2000 meters race INdoors, a pair of Russians made my INdoor list!
Yelena Korobkina won, time of 5:41.10.
She is 19th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Aleksandra Gulyayeva took 2nd with her 5:42.12, making her 23rd A-T World!!
One more!
In my last post, I remarked that I thought the 21-6.25 LJ mark attached to "Ayesha Champagne"'s name was "EXTREMELY" dubious!!
Well, first of all, her name is Champagnie, NOT Champagne!
She is 21 years old, from Jamaica, and competes for the University of Minnesota!
Tilastopaia, a highly respected source of marks Worldwide, includes her 21-6.25 on their lists!
And the latest eTN also includes it--with no added asterisk or comment!
But I still have STRONG doubts about its veracity!!
Why?
Because all my research has shown that her previous best was about ONE METER short of that 6.56 metric mark!!
Her previous best this year was in early December--a 5.31 jump!!!
Her A-T best is about 5.50!!
So, did she PR by about THREE FEET last weekend??
She's a Multi's performer, so she's also an experienced LJ'er!
But I can NOT find any LJ marks for her coming anywhere NEAR her alleged 21-6.25!
Yet the Meet Results, Tilastopaia, and eTN all contradict this conclusion!!
As they say, stay tuned!!
Following are a wide variety of subjects, with no good umbrella title!!
Will the retirements of Ashton Eaton (& to a lesser extent, his wife Brianne), Mo Farah (from Track racing), and especially Usain Bolt--lessen the importance & popularity of our favorite sport??
NO!!
For one thing, we have their athletic records in our History & Record books!
Until many decades have gone by, I suspect their marks will still remain as the incredible feats they were!
We should look back at OTHER true icons of T&F!
Ron Clarke was WAY ahead of his time--e.g. breaking his 28:14 WR in the 10000 by 35 seconds in one race!!
While his 27:39.4 WR didn't survive even one more decade, it was truly revolutionary at the time!
And Clarke's name lives on as the A-T great he was!
So I expect Bolt's 9.58 & 19.19 WR's to survive awhile!
And Farah's many OG & WC Golds, and Mr Eaton's WR's!!
(Though Kevin Mayer is said to be aiming for the latter--maybe this year!!)
Even if their records go, THEY won't!!
Their charismatic dynamism & unique personalities won't allow it!
Whatever they're doing, or will do in their retired years won't take whatever powers of celebrity they possess away from them---or us!
Bolt may be trying soccer or "Cool Runnings" bobsledding!
The Eaton's may be skydiving or Globe-trotting, or mountain climbing--but their human connections to their many fans-and their sport--will remain!!
It's not a loss!
It's a series of gains!!
Speaking of "loss", it seems Lolo Jones is ITCHING to lose her virginity!!
Losing out on making her final Olympic team (in bobsledding), she might be about to lose something more precious!!
In a tweet (Where else, for this Social Media Grande Dame??), Lolo said (to the NBA's Jimmy Butler--star of the Minnesota Timberwolves team) "Welp there goes my virginity", with a laughing face emoji!
Butler's response---
Lolo Jones messing with me--things come and go quickly--pun intended--haaaa"!!
Sooooo, will she or won't she---at Age 35--FINALLY give "it" up??
But maybe the real question should be---HOW will it be done??
NO, I do NOT mean the sexual performance!!
I'm talking about the logistics, the "before & after"---the PUBLICITY---for which "Lolo Jones" is fairly synonymous!!
Will she milk it for all it's worth?
Appear (before the act!) on all the morning shows--perhaps create a "reality" show of her own??
Be written up in all the papers & mags?
Sign a "tell all" multi-million dollar book contract??
Gosh, let's hope so!!
Stay tuned!!
OK, on to more serious stuff!!
(As if Lolo's sex life isn't serious!! LOL)
Don't get me wrong--I LOVE Track and Field News--its website, the magazine, and its statistically-focused eTN (Track Newsletter)!!
But as my readers know, I find a few "flaws" therein!
In the newest T&FN (December's AOY issue), there were a couple of errors.
In the Table of Contents, the centerfold photo is listed as being Kori Carter!
But the photo is of Ajee Wilson!
You see, Ms Carter was the photo subject in the November issue!!
Then, in a "Last Lap" article, Brianne Theisen-Eaton is called Brianne THOMPSON-Eaton!!
Oops!!
The eTN often has marks that turn out to be false!
Probably can't be blamed on T&FN.
They report what the coaches and media contacts give to them!
But better research might prevent some of these errors!
(I should talk!! See above! LOL)
Then we come to their website's Message Board!
For about a week, I've been boycotting them!!
I've not written any comments there for several days!
Why not?
As is my habit, I got "enthusiastic" about Katelyn's Tuohy's 3K on January 6th!
At one point, I compared Tuohy's recent record to Mary Cain's historic 2013 season!
(With Tuohy basically emerging the "winner"!)
But it was in the Cain thread (about her return to racing in 2018) where the disconnect happened!!
After her agent's one-liner (in October) about her being ready to return to racing in 2018, several of us used the MB to speculate on said return!
After 2017 turned to 2018--with still no details clarifying her agent's comment forthcoming--I for one remained curious!
So I said--ending a longer sentence--"WTF is she??".
Normally--in Twitterese--"WTF" stands for "WHAT the fuck!"--an exclamation of amazement or shock!
But I meant the "W" to stand for "WHERE"---giving my comment new context & meaning!!
After months of waiting for new information---and becoming ever more doubtful we'll see Mary race again--I said "But WHERE the fuck is she"??
It was basically a request--to Ms Cain or her agent--to put up or shut up!!
Nothing more, nothing less!!
But I was then attacked & smeared & insulted & accused of being "obsessive"---by a few people on the MB!
This had happened before--especially during her 2013 season!!
It was the feather that toppled the bridge!!
ENOUGH!!
For the indefinite future, these hypocrites can do withOUT my knowledge & expertise!!
(I still read the MB, and have seen several places where my experience would have answered their questions--or filled in the gaps in THEIR comments & questions!!)
Their loss!
Speaking of Ms Cain---WHERE the fuck IS she??
But I can ask the very same question about--
Raven Saunders--yet to appear in action this INdoor season for Ole Miss!
Demi Payne--MIA at recent PV events--yet said to be in training!!
(She's also said to be caring for her sick mother---which would be a totally valid excuse!!)
How does my theory of "slow-down rates" work in predicting the potential of distance runners?
(Or any runners!)
For 100 & 200 people, I believe you can double their 100 times to predict their 200 potential!
It works--for Usain Bolt!
His 9.58--when doubled--comes to a 200 time of 19.16!
His WR is--19.19!!
For 5000 & 10000 specialists, the "slow-down rate" is generally from 30 to 40 seconds per 5000---for the most elite runners, male or female!
Some examples--
Ken Bekele has 12:37 & 26:17 times.
That's about 31 seconds slow down per 5K!
Same for Haile Gebresilassie's 12:39 & 26:22.
32 seconds S-D rate!
Tirunesh Dibaba has PR's of 14:11 & 29:42.
Close to 40 seconds S-D rate!
There are other slow-down rates you can use---
20 to 30 seconds between the flat 3000 and the 3000SC!
Three minutes (or from 2:30 to 3:30) slow-down between the Half and Full Marathon!!
5 to 7 seconds between the 400 and 800!
10 to 12 seconds between an 800 and Mile!
12 to 15 seconds between a Mile and Two Mile!!
But while these figures might seem arbitrary, they're not!
They're drawn from decades of study and observation--and from personal experience, during my running years.
My times were MUCH slower than the elites run, yet I had a slow-down rate theory that worked for my own needs!!
To make these predictions work, however, an athlete needs to---
be in top shape!
want to PR at several different distances!
be willing to RACE---not "jog & kick"!!
The ultimate ingredient drawn from this exercise is CONFIDENCE!!
If you can run a Mile in 4:00, and want to run a Two Mile in 8:30, it's easier if you have the knowledge & experience of having RUN a 4 minute Mile!!
Then, going out in 4:12 or 4:15 would be seen (& felt!) as "cruising"---or in more modern lingo, feeling like a "tempo run"!
Thus, the 2nd half would have that added confidence in your head as you cruise through another 4:15!!
Ditto with someone who's run--say--a 5000 in 15:00!
Slowing down 30 to 40 seconds for each 5K would give you the potential for a 10K in 31:00 to 31:20!!
(Even when your current 10000 best is "only" 32:07!!)
THAT is how i come to some of my predictions for POTENTIAL times run by XYZ athlete!!
Just a reminder of where the research for and inspiration for this blog began!
My 50+ year old Track & Field Record Book!
A "sketchbook" list of what it includes---
Miscellaneous (Place & Class Records, generic listing of WR's, CR's, and HSR's! My "Combined Events" records! The Place & CE's are for OUTdoor only!!)
Age Records (Individual Year Age Records for Ages 17 to 40!)
Meet Records (All the major Meets are covered--though not EVERY MR is included!!)
National Records (Many Nations are included, but only the "major" nations have ALL their NR's listed!! The US is included in this section!!)
DDD's (DDD stands for "Double Dandy Dozen", or my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists!! They began as Top 30's, were reduced to Top 25--and finally, to Top 24---thus the DDD acronym!! These include most events (No Walks or INdoor 500, among other exclusions!), and have separate DDD's for INdoors & OUTdoors, and of course for Men and Women!
My blog is different in other ways too!
I include the Boston Marathon in my Marathon lists!
I do NOT include any marks by Caster Semenya, Margaret Wambui, or Francine Nyonsaba!
I IGNORED the USATF's non-ratification of Gwen Berry's 250-4 HT, Emma Coburn's 9:11.42 AR, and Ajee Wilson's INdoor 1:58.27 AR!!
I totally separate INdoors from OUTdoors!
I do not honor marks made on Oversize Tracks!
Also, the 1600 & 3200 (or times converted from them) are NOT included in my Record Book or blog!
There are going to be 6 IAAF World Tour meets this INdoor season!
(See my posted schedule!)
Only one of these--Boston--is in the US!
The USATF meet--basically the WC Trials--is scheduled for February 16-18--AFTER the World Tour meets are done!!
Question---
How many Americans will travel 1000's of miles to & from Europe for the IAAF meets??
Won't they be peaking for the USATF meet--at least those intending to compete in the World Championships??
There's Boston, plus Millrose, Camel City, and other domestic meets where the elites can expect World Tour-type competition!!
Who needs to traipse all the way to Europe??
I've noted many announcements of scheduled appearances by many Olympic-level athletes (Renaud Lavillenie & Genzebe Dibaba, among many others) for those "overseas" World Tour meets!
They won't be lacking "star power"!
Just not (most) US star power!!
Hope I'm wrong!!
Secondary question--
Since the WC's is scheduled for a whole week or more before the NCAA's, might we see some Collegiates vying for spots on WC teams---especially TeamUSA??
Why not??
Major Collegiate stars (Keturah Orji, Raven Saunders, Trey Culver, etc etc) should be allowed to go to the USATF meet (scheduled BEFORE most Conferences!!) to qualify for the WC's!!
And their competing at the WC's will give them several days to recover for the NCAA!!
Please Coaches, let them have BOTH!!
Finally, let's talk of Rivalries!!
One in particular!
In HS last year, Shot Putters Tripp Piperi and Jordan Geist battled week after week for SP supremacy!!
And here, in the early stages of the 2018 INdoor season, they're at it again!!
But this time for Collegiate Freshman dominance!
Both have solid opening marks of just under 64 feet!!
Will Geist come close to his HSR of 68-4?
Can Piperi reach that level--and beyond?
Watch their great rivalry--with respect & awe!!
See you soon!
Not only that, but marks I DO report sometimes turn out to be erroneous!!
So I'll begin this collection of "a bit of this, a bit of that" with some corrections & additions to my previous post!
At the Kentucky meet where Olivia Gruver PV'ed her 15-1 PR, Kendra Harrison rocked the 60H in a blazing 7.82--after a 7.98 heat!
She's gone faster!!
Also, Javianne Oliver sped the 60 flat in 7.20!
Omar McLeod ran a World-leading 60H of 7.53!
Shannon Osika's 2nd place Mile time of 4:28.30 at the Michigan meet makes her 23rd A-T US!!
Devin King is redshirting this INdoor season!
Thus, his 18-11.50 PV in Reno does NOT make the Collegiate list!!
Still, a significant PR!
Katelyn Tuohy's 9:05.26 3000 gets better!!
Her enroute time at 2000 meters (5:57.46) SMASHES an ancient (& admittedly totally obscure!!) HSR!!
Jack Shepard's HS Track book lists the INdoor 2K record as Debbie Quatier's 6:15.6 from 1974!!
(It happened in Moscow, Russia---then the Soviet Union!!!)
So give Ms Tuohy yet another accolade for her bravado run!!
Kaitlyn Long's WT of 74-7.25 is a mark I missed in my last report!
But this smallish PR doesn't change her various List status's!
She remains 12th A-T Collegiate, 15th A-T US, and 19th A-T World!
The Houston meet had some fast 60's!
Murielle Ahoure's 7.11 took the World lead!
And Michelle Lee-Ahye ran 7.18 in 2nd!
In the Houston Half, Guye Adola finished 2nd Man, time of 60:15.
If you remember, Adola finished 2nd in Berlin with his rookie 2:03:46 Marathon!!
Finally, some marks from Russia!
Danyil Lysenko HJ'ed 7-8.50, missing my World DDD by one-half inch!
In a 2000 meters race INdoors, a pair of Russians made my INdoor list!
Yelena Korobkina won, time of 5:41.10.
She is 19th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Aleksandra Gulyayeva took 2nd with her 5:42.12, making her 23rd A-T World!!
One more!
In my last post, I remarked that I thought the 21-6.25 LJ mark attached to "Ayesha Champagne"'s name was "EXTREMELY" dubious!!
Well, first of all, her name is Champagnie, NOT Champagne!
She is 21 years old, from Jamaica, and competes for the University of Minnesota!
Tilastopaia, a highly respected source of marks Worldwide, includes her 21-6.25 on their lists!
And the latest eTN also includes it--with no added asterisk or comment!
But I still have STRONG doubts about its veracity!!
Why?
Because all my research has shown that her previous best was about ONE METER short of that 6.56 metric mark!!
Her previous best this year was in early December--a 5.31 jump!!!
Her A-T best is about 5.50!!
So, did she PR by about THREE FEET last weekend??
She's a Multi's performer, so she's also an experienced LJ'er!
But I can NOT find any LJ marks for her coming anywhere NEAR her alleged 21-6.25!
Yet the Meet Results, Tilastopaia, and eTN all contradict this conclusion!!
As they say, stay tuned!!
Following are a wide variety of subjects, with no good umbrella title!!
Will the retirements of Ashton Eaton (& to a lesser extent, his wife Brianne), Mo Farah (from Track racing), and especially Usain Bolt--lessen the importance & popularity of our favorite sport??
NO!!
For one thing, we have their athletic records in our History & Record books!
Until many decades have gone by, I suspect their marks will still remain as the incredible feats they were!
We should look back at OTHER true icons of T&F!
Ron Clarke was WAY ahead of his time--e.g. breaking his 28:14 WR in the 10000 by 35 seconds in one race!!
While his 27:39.4 WR didn't survive even one more decade, it was truly revolutionary at the time!
And Clarke's name lives on as the A-T great he was!
So I expect Bolt's 9.58 & 19.19 WR's to survive awhile!
And Farah's many OG & WC Golds, and Mr Eaton's WR's!!
(Though Kevin Mayer is said to be aiming for the latter--maybe this year!!)
Even if their records go, THEY won't!!
Their charismatic dynamism & unique personalities won't allow it!
Whatever they're doing, or will do in their retired years won't take whatever powers of celebrity they possess away from them---or us!
Bolt may be trying soccer or "Cool Runnings" bobsledding!
The Eaton's may be skydiving or Globe-trotting, or mountain climbing--but their human connections to their many fans-and their sport--will remain!!
It's not a loss!
It's a series of gains!!
Speaking of "loss", it seems Lolo Jones is ITCHING to lose her virginity!!
Losing out on making her final Olympic team (in bobsledding), she might be about to lose something more precious!!
In a tweet (Where else, for this Social Media Grande Dame??), Lolo said (to the NBA's Jimmy Butler--star of the Minnesota Timberwolves team) "Welp there goes my virginity", with a laughing face emoji!
Butler's response---
Lolo Jones messing with me--things come and go quickly--pun intended--haaaa"!!
Sooooo, will she or won't she---at Age 35--FINALLY give "it" up??
But maybe the real question should be---HOW will it be done??
NO, I do NOT mean the sexual performance!!
I'm talking about the logistics, the "before & after"---the PUBLICITY---for which "Lolo Jones" is fairly synonymous!!
Will she milk it for all it's worth?
Appear (before the act!) on all the morning shows--perhaps create a "reality" show of her own??
Be written up in all the papers & mags?
Sign a "tell all" multi-million dollar book contract??
Gosh, let's hope so!!
Stay tuned!!
OK, on to more serious stuff!!
(As if Lolo's sex life isn't serious!! LOL)
Don't get me wrong--I LOVE Track and Field News--its website, the magazine, and its statistically-focused eTN (Track Newsletter)!!
But as my readers know, I find a few "flaws" therein!
In the newest T&FN (December's AOY issue), there were a couple of errors.
In the Table of Contents, the centerfold photo is listed as being Kori Carter!
But the photo is of Ajee Wilson!
You see, Ms Carter was the photo subject in the November issue!!
Then, in a "Last Lap" article, Brianne Theisen-Eaton is called Brianne THOMPSON-Eaton!!
Oops!!
The eTN often has marks that turn out to be false!
Probably can't be blamed on T&FN.
They report what the coaches and media contacts give to them!
But better research might prevent some of these errors!
(I should talk!! See above! LOL)
Then we come to their website's Message Board!
For about a week, I've been boycotting them!!
I've not written any comments there for several days!
Why not?
As is my habit, I got "enthusiastic" about Katelyn's Tuohy's 3K on January 6th!
At one point, I compared Tuohy's recent record to Mary Cain's historic 2013 season!
(With Tuohy basically emerging the "winner"!)
But it was in the Cain thread (about her return to racing in 2018) where the disconnect happened!!
After her agent's one-liner (in October) about her being ready to return to racing in 2018, several of us used the MB to speculate on said return!
After 2017 turned to 2018--with still no details clarifying her agent's comment forthcoming--I for one remained curious!
So I said--ending a longer sentence--"WTF is she??".
Normally--in Twitterese--"WTF" stands for "WHAT the fuck!"--an exclamation of amazement or shock!
But I meant the "W" to stand for "WHERE"---giving my comment new context & meaning!!
After months of waiting for new information---and becoming ever more doubtful we'll see Mary race again--I said "But WHERE the fuck is she"??
It was basically a request--to Ms Cain or her agent--to put up or shut up!!
Nothing more, nothing less!!
But I was then attacked & smeared & insulted & accused of being "obsessive"---by a few people on the MB!
This had happened before--especially during her 2013 season!!
It was the feather that toppled the bridge!!
ENOUGH!!
For the indefinite future, these hypocrites can do withOUT my knowledge & expertise!!
(I still read the MB, and have seen several places where my experience would have answered their questions--or filled in the gaps in THEIR comments & questions!!)
Their loss!
Speaking of Ms Cain---WHERE the fuck IS she??
But I can ask the very same question about--
Raven Saunders--yet to appear in action this INdoor season for Ole Miss!
Demi Payne--MIA at recent PV events--yet said to be in training!!
(She's also said to be caring for her sick mother---which would be a totally valid excuse!!)
How does my theory of "slow-down rates" work in predicting the potential of distance runners?
(Or any runners!)
For 100 & 200 people, I believe you can double their 100 times to predict their 200 potential!
It works--for Usain Bolt!
His 9.58--when doubled--comes to a 200 time of 19.16!
His WR is--19.19!!
For 5000 & 10000 specialists, the "slow-down rate" is generally from 30 to 40 seconds per 5000---for the most elite runners, male or female!
Some examples--
Ken Bekele has 12:37 & 26:17 times.
That's about 31 seconds slow down per 5K!
Same for Haile Gebresilassie's 12:39 & 26:22.
32 seconds S-D rate!
Tirunesh Dibaba has PR's of 14:11 & 29:42.
Close to 40 seconds S-D rate!
There are other slow-down rates you can use---
20 to 30 seconds between the flat 3000 and the 3000SC!
Three minutes (or from 2:30 to 3:30) slow-down between the Half and Full Marathon!!
5 to 7 seconds between the 400 and 800!
10 to 12 seconds between an 800 and Mile!
12 to 15 seconds between a Mile and Two Mile!!
But while these figures might seem arbitrary, they're not!
They're drawn from decades of study and observation--and from personal experience, during my running years.
My times were MUCH slower than the elites run, yet I had a slow-down rate theory that worked for my own needs!!
To make these predictions work, however, an athlete needs to---
be in top shape!
want to PR at several different distances!
be willing to RACE---not "jog & kick"!!
The ultimate ingredient drawn from this exercise is CONFIDENCE!!
If you can run a Mile in 4:00, and want to run a Two Mile in 8:30, it's easier if you have the knowledge & experience of having RUN a 4 minute Mile!!
Then, going out in 4:12 or 4:15 would be seen (& felt!) as "cruising"---or in more modern lingo, feeling like a "tempo run"!
Thus, the 2nd half would have that added confidence in your head as you cruise through another 4:15!!
Ditto with someone who's run--say--a 5000 in 15:00!
Slowing down 30 to 40 seconds for each 5K would give you the potential for a 10K in 31:00 to 31:20!!
(Even when your current 10000 best is "only" 32:07!!)
THAT is how i come to some of my predictions for POTENTIAL times run by XYZ athlete!!
Just a reminder of where the research for and inspiration for this blog began!
My 50+ year old Track & Field Record Book!
A "sketchbook" list of what it includes---
Miscellaneous (Place & Class Records, generic listing of WR's, CR's, and HSR's! My "Combined Events" records! The Place & CE's are for OUTdoor only!!)
Age Records (Individual Year Age Records for Ages 17 to 40!)
Meet Records (All the major Meets are covered--though not EVERY MR is included!!)
National Records (Many Nations are included, but only the "major" nations have ALL their NR's listed!! The US is included in this section!!)
DDD's (DDD stands for "Double Dandy Dozen", or my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists!! They began as Top 30's, were reduced to Top 25--and finally, to Top 24---thus the DDD acronym!! These include most events (No Walks or INdoor 500, among other exclusions!), and have separate DDD's for INdoors & OUTdoors, and of course for Men and Women!
My blog is different in other ways too!
I include the Boston Marathon in my Marathon lists!
I do NOT include any marks by Caster Semenya, Margaret Wambui, or Francine Nyonsaba!
I IGNORED the USATF's non-ratification of Gwen Berry's 250-4 HT, Emma Coburn's 9:11.42 AR, and Ajee Wilson's INdoor 1:58.27 AR!!
I totally separate INdoors from OUTdoors!
I do not honor marks made on Oversize Tracks!
Also, the 1600 & 3200 (or times converted from them) are NOT included in my Record Book or blog!
There are going to be 6 IAAF World Tour meets this INdoor season!
(See my posted schedule!)
Only one of these--Boston--is in the US!
The USATF meet--basically the WC Trials--is scheduled for February 16-18--AFTER the World Tour meets are done!!
Question---
How many Americans will travel 1000's of miles to & from Europe for the IAAF meets??
Won't they be peaking for the USATF meet--at least those intending to compete in the World Championships??
There's Boston, plus Millrose, Camel City, and other domestic meets where the elites can expect World Tour-type competition!!
Who needs to traipse all the way to Europe??
I've noted many announcements of scheduled appearances by many Olympic-level athletes (Renaud Lavillenie & Genzebe Dibaba, among many others) for those "overseas" World Tour meets!
They won't be lacking "star power"!
Just not (most) US star power!!
Hope I'm wrong!!
Secondary question--
Since the WC's is scheduled for a whole week or more before the NCAA's, might we see some Collegiates vying for spots on WC teams---especially TeamUSA??
Why not??
Major Collegiate stars (Keturah Orji, Raven Saunders, Trey Culver, etc etc) should be allowed to go to the USATF meet (scheduled BEFORE most Conferences!!) to qualify for the WC's!!
And their competing at the WC's will give them several days to recover for the NCAA!!
Please Coaches, let them have BOTH!!
Finally, let's talk of Rivalries!!
One in particular!
In HS last year, Shot Putters Tripp Piperi and Jordan Geist battled week after week for SP supremacy!!
And here, in the early stages of the 2018 INdoor season, they're at it again!!
But this time for Collegiate Freshman dominance!
Both have solid opening marks of just under 64 feet!!
Will Geist come close to his HSR of 68-4?
Can Piperi reach that level--and beyond?
Watch their great rivalry--with respect & awe!!
See you soon!
Monday, January 15, 2018
Verticals Strong---Again!
Seems the years since this blog began (December 9, 2013) have been dominated by the Verticals!
While most of the other events have seen incredible Records & Marks, and frequent Record Book revisions, it's been the Pole Vault and High Jump that have most often been joined in title by "Year of....."--both INdoors & OUTdoors!!
And for the Indoor-loving crowd, December & January have seen athletes soaring over high bars earlier than other events have seen their athletes do the same!
If what's taken place this 2nd week of January is any indication, we may be seeing the birthing of yet another "Year of..."!!
The INdoor World Record holder for the Men--Renaud Lavillenie--began his year with his best opener in years---a 19-0.75 jump in Tignes.
(More on the Monsieur in a moment!)
The Reno Summit raised the bar--so to speak!
First, it was Sandi Morris who opened her 2018 with a 16-0.75 mark---not her PR, but not bad for a rust-buster!
Katie Nageotte had a good run too--hitting 15-1.50--before missing her tries at 15-7.25!
Annie Rhodes and Morgann LeLeux both reached 14-9.50 before X'ing out!
But the Reno meet was far from over!
Mondo did it again!!
19-1.50!!
Breaking his own High School Record.
Getting the Senior Class record!
Becoming the 1st athlete in awhile (Since Amy Acuff in the 90's??) to hold all four Class Records for either HS or College!
Breaking the Age 18 record!
Getting his own National Record of Sweden!
He remains 1st A-T HS!
He then tried 19-5, but using a bigger pole, wasn't able to get it---this time!!
In second came Devin King with a PR of his own--18-11.50!!
Scott Houston was 3rd with 18-7.50!
The HS portion of the meet (Mondo was in the elite section, NOT the HS!!) saw a very interesting story develop!
Ever hear of Sondre Guttormsen?
Neither had I!
He was born in Davis CA in 1999 when his father was attending grad school---or something!
But soon after, they moved back to Norway, their home.
They would return again, then leave.
After a 7 year absence, Sondre came back, and is now a HS Senior, with UCLA apparently set as his College of choice for next year!
There was some question of his eligibility, because of CA HS rules!
But this was apparently resolved in December, and he became eligible to compete for his Senior year here!
A former European Junior medalist, he soared over 18-0 in the Reno HS Vault!!
And suddenly, he is 2nd A-T HS--and after Mondo, only the 2nd HS'er to reach 18 feet INdoors!!
Zach Bradford had a good day also, clearing 17-8.
This makes him 7th A-T HS!
KC Lightfoot reached 17-4--not a PR!
The HS Women saw Morgann LeLeux's sister--Reagann--clear 13-10!
This makes her 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
It also gives her the family record for the INdoor event, as Morgann's best was 13-8.25!
Ellie Talius was 2nd with 13-6.
She's 22nd A-T HS, tied with 2 others!
Now back to Renaud!!
In a meet a couple of days later, he cleared 19-2.75, re-taking the World lead from Mr Duplantis!!
And while we're on those Verticals, let's clear the slate!!
Trey Culver is suddenly a 7-7.75 HJ'er!!
After making 7-5.25, 7-6.50 and his new PR on 1st tries, he then took 3 shots at 7-8.75!
His 2.33 leap makes him 4th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!!
And 12th A-T US, tied with 3 others!!
Bradley Atkins got over 7-4.25!
Other "Vertical" goodies--
Olivia Gruver broke the Junior Class record with her 15-1 PV--thus erasing the last of the Collegiate Class Records of sub-15 feet!
That was Tina Sutej's 14-11.50 from 2011.
She moves from 16th A-T Collegiate to 4th, tied with 2 others!
And she's now 13th A-T US, tied with 6 others!!
Robbie Grabarz HJ'ed 7-6.50.
Yuliya Yevchenko got over 6-5.50--her INdoor PR!
In Houston, Jeron Robinson reached 7-6.50, while Frosh Vernon Turner cleared 7-3.75!
Also in Houston, Andrew Irwin PV'ed 18-7.25.
Tori (Weeks) Hoggard won the Arkansas PV with 14-0.75, then missed her tries at 14-2.25!
Sister Lexi (Jacobus) was a DNS, as was Desiree Freier!
Chris Nilsen got over 18-4.50.
Virginia Tech's Dynamic Duo--Lisa Gunnarsson & Rachel Baxter--went 1-2 in the PV--Lisa clearing 14-6, Rachel 14-0!
Madison Heath got over 14-1.75.
Nicole Greene reached 6-2 in the HJ--which I believe is a PR!!
Before returning to INdoor T&F, let's cover a series of Half-Marathons where Americans did quite well!!
Leading off with the Doha race, Mo Farah was a DNS!!
The featured entrant, he claimed Achilles problems as his excuse!
But nothing stopped NYC heroine Allie Kieffer!!
Following her 5th in the Big Apple's 26.2 (See previous post!), she WON this Doha race with a PR of 1:10:40!
(If you recall, she negative split the NY race, her 2nd Half being a low 1:13!! Thus, she slashed her unofficial PR by over two minutes!!)
This makes her 18th A-T US!!
She beat a couple of good ones--Gemma Steel and Faith Chepkoech--both of whom ended about 2 minutes behind!!
Emma Bates took 4th with 1:12:52.
BTW, Alex Kibet's 61:53 took the Men's race--in Mo's absence!!
Eilish McColgan won the Doha 10K in 31:50!
Houston's Half was billed as a "race" for the American Record--with Molly Huddle and Jordan Hasay being the key figures!
No contest!!
Huddle's 67:25 broke Deena Kastor's "official" AR of 67:34!
BUT---Kara Goucher ran 66:57 on the Great Shields slightly (33 meters drop) downhill course, and is "unofficially" the AR holder--just as Ryan Hall's 2:04:58 in Boston is the "unofficial" AR for the Marathon!!
I have Goucher's time on my list, and as the AR holder!!
But Huddle's performance was great, nonetheless!!
Enroute, she is said to have broken 2 other US records---10 Miles in 50:52, and 20K in 63:48!!
(I don't have Kara's splits, but she probably ran faster at those 2 points than did Molly!!)
Oh, and Huddle whomped on Hasay, the latter's time of 68:38 not a PR!
Huddle won the US division, but the overall winner was Ruti Aga's 66:39!
She misses the World list by just 10 seconds!
Caroline Chepkoech (66:48), Mary Wacera & Buze Diriba (both 66:50), and Eunice Chumba (67:18) all ended ahead of 7th placer Huddle.
Hasay was overall 8th!
Becky Wade ran 71:15, missing my US list by 14 seconds!
Zane Robertson won the Men's Half--his 60:01 tying his PR!!
(Oh so close!!)
Sam Chelanga PR'ed with 60:37, moving him from 19th A-T US to 7th!
Haron Lagat ran 61:01, which makes him 11th A-T US!
I've heard that Bernard Lagat (No relation to Haron??) ran 62:00--at Age 43!!
In the Phoenix Rock & Roll Half, the Women's winner was Stephanie Bruce, time of 72:32.
She nipped Elias (?) Kibet by one second!
In the Great Edinburgh XC races, the results showed---
Len Korir won the Men's race in 24:32, with Kaan Ozbilen 2nd in 24:35.
Garrett Heath finished 6th in 25:03.
The Women's Senior race was won by Yasmin Can, her 20:58 beating Emilia Gorecka by 2 seconds.
In 3rd came Molly Seidel's 21:04!!
Chelsea Blaase and Natosha Rogers finished 12th & 13th, close to 40 seconds back of Seidel!
The Junior Women's race was taken by Kelsey Chmiel!!
Her 14:10 took the measure of the field, including 7th placer Claudia Lane, who ended in 14:30.
The Junior Men's race was won by Simen Haugen's 19:13.
In 4th came American Danny Kilrea's 19:24!
Now let's finish off my INdoor results--by group!!
Sprints
The Arkansas Invite saw a good Men's 200, with Marqueze Washington's 20.64 beating Fred Kerley's 20.68.
Steven Gardiner (Spelled "Gardner" in the results, but I'm fairly certain it's the Bahaman flash!!) sprinted a 300 in 32.51.
This makes him 15th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
That meet was in Birmingham AL!
Jessica Beard ran a non-PR 37.35 over the same distance!
Christina Manning did the 60H in 8.02.
(In an OUTdoor race in Australia, Sally Pearson sped the 100H in 12.73, wind of 1.4!)
In Seattle, a pair of Super-Vets performed well!
Aries Merritt won the 60H in 7.65.
And Brittney Reese took the 60 flat in 7.31.
At Texas Tech, Mike Rodgers sped a 60 in 6.60!
Mikiah Brisco ran her 60 in 7.15.
She moves from 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 13th, tied with 6 others!!
Aleia Hobbs ran 7.21.
Distances (600 on up!)
In a mixed race in Glasgow, Laura Muir opened her season with a solid 3000 in 8:37.21.
It's not a PR!
Katelyn Tuohy followed up her spectacular 3K of 9:05.26 (See previous post!) with a Mile of 4:43.62.
This was a cruiser, as she just wanted to qualify for the Millrose HS Mile!
While basically a tempo run, it did make her 15th A-T HS!!
She missed the Soph Class record by 0.39 seconds!!
Her enroute 1500 time of 4:25.42 moves her from 18th to 16th on the A-T HS list!
All this in a---jogfest!! LOL
Next week comes her HSR attempt over 5000 meters!!
BTW, she doesn't turn 16 until March 18th!!
Karissa Schweizer also cruised---a 1000 in 2:44.12.
Samantha (Almost called her Sammy!!!) Watson anchored her A&M DMR team to a school record time of 11:12.0--her 1600 split being 4:42.97.
At the Arkansas meet, Chrishuna Williams sped a 600 in 1:26.99.
This makes her 10th A-T US!!
Alena Brooks took 2nd in 1:27.56.
Nick Willis inaugurated the new Michigan INdoor 200 meter track with a Mile win in 3:57.99.
He beat Hamish Carson's 3:58.68, and Mason Ferlic's 4:00.31.
Nicole Sifuentes won the Women's Mile in a solid 4:27.69.
Shannon Osika was 2nd in 4:28.30, while Erin Finn got the Collegiate leader with her 4:40.17!
In the Ocean Breeze facility, Ajee Wilson and Charlene Lipsey went longer than normal, their Mile times being 4:36.83 and 4:38.30, respectively!
Does Vanderbilt have an Oversize Track?
If so, then Michael Saruni's 800 of 1:45.92 counts for nothing!!
If it's legal-size, then he claims the World lead!!
(Will let you know in my next post!)
Field Events (other than the PV & HJ---see above!)---
Jordan Geist has a SP mark of 63-9.75!
(Let's not forget he threw a HSR of 68-4 a year ago!!)
Maggie Ewen exploded out to 60-6 in the SP!!
Better known as a Hammer Thrower, this moves her from 12th A-T Collegiate to 9th!
(Yes, she's still a Collegiate!!)
It also makes her 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other.
She threw the WT 68-2.25!
Janeah Stewart had a WT of 74-3.50--not a PR!
Daniel Haugh's WT measured 71-10!
Adrian "Tripp" Piperi's SP flew out a good 63-11.75!
Chuk Enechwechi's SP was 66-3.
Stamatia Scarvelis had a WT of 73-0.75!
She misses the Collegiate DDD by 1.75 inches!
The Horizontals saw the following marks--
Chris Carter TJ'ed 54-11.25 in Houston!
Charles Brown LJ'ed 26-4.25!
In Michigan, Donald Scott TJ'ed 55-11.75!
And Jasmine Moore TJ'ed 41-8.75.
She's in the 11th Grade!
I have one of those EXTREMELY questionable marks that our old friend TFRSS sometimes produces!
(I'm sure you recall me mentioning some of them before!)
The latest is a "21-6.25" LJ by one Ayesha Champagne!!
Well, don't break out the bubbly just yet!! LOL
Her previous best is listed as being in the 18's---as in 18 feet!!
Unless she literally SOARED to a new (Beamonesque!) PR of over 3 feet, this mark probably (Certainly??) is FALSE!!
Will let you know!!
That Seattle meet gave up a few good times---NONE of which are legal!!-- on its 307 meter OT---
Olivia Baker ran 600 meters in 1:28.72.
And in the Women's 3000--
Shalane Flanagan won in 8:55.11.
Mel Lawrence was 2nd in 8:57.03.
Amy Eloise-Neale was 3rd in 9:01.96.
In OTHER news---
Allie Kieffer is a Oiselle-sponsored athlete now!!
And Cam Levins--late of Nike's NOP--now runs for Hoka One One!!
See you all soon!!!
While most of the other events have seen incredible Records & Marks, and frequent Record Book revisions, it's been the Pole Vault and High Jump that have most often been joined in title by "Year of....."--both INdoors & OUTdoors!!
And for the Indoor-loving crowd, December & January have seen athletes soaring over high bars earlier than other events have seen their athletes do the same!
If what's taken place this 2nd week of January is any indication, we may be seeing the birthing of yet another "Year of..."!!
The INdoor World Record holder for the Men--Renaud Lavillenie--began his year with his best opener in years---a 19-0.75 jump in Tignes.
(More on the Monsieur in a moment!)
The Reno Summit raised the bar--so to speak!
First, it was Sandi Morris who opened her 2018 with a 16-0.75 mark---not her PR, but not bad for a rust-buster!
Katie Nageotte had a good run too--hitting 15-1.50--before missing her tries at 15-7.25!
Annie Rhodes and Morgann LeLeux both reached 14-9.50 before X'ing out!
But the Reno meet was far from over!
Mondo did it again!!
19-1.50!!
Breaking his own High School Record.
Getting the Senior Class record!
Becoming the 1st athlete in awhile (Since Amy Acuff in the 90's??) to hold all four Class Records for either HS or College!
Breaking the Age 18 record!
Getting his own National Record of Sweden!
He remains 1st A-T HS!
He then tried 19-5, but using a bigger pole, wasn't able to get it---this time!!
In second came Devin King with a PR of his own--18-11.50!!
Scott Houston was 3rd with 18-7.50!
The HS portion of the meet (Mondo was in the elite section, NOT the HS!!) saw a very interesting story develop!
Ever hear of Sondre Guttormsen?
Neither had I!
He was born in Davis CA in 1999 when his father was attending grad school---or something!
But soon after, they moved back to Norway, their home.
They would return again, then leave.
After a 7 year absence, Sondre came back, and is now a HS Senior, with UCLA apparently set as his College of choice for next year!
There was some question of his eligibility, because of CA HS rules!
But this was apparently resolved in December, and he became eligible to compete for his Senior year here!
A former European Junior medalist, he soared over 18-0 in the Reno HS Vault!!
And suddenly, he is 2nd A-T HS--and after Mondo, only the 2nd HS'er to reach 18 feet INdoors!!
Zach Bradford had a good day also, clearing 17-8.
This makes him 7th A-T HS!
KC Lightfoot reached 17-4--not a PR!
The HS Women saw Morgann LeLeux's sister--Reagann--clear 13-10!
This makes her 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
It also gives her the family record for the INdoor event, as Morgann's best was 13-8.25!
Ellie Talius was 2nd with 13-6.
She's 22nd A-T HS, tied with 2 others!
Now back to Renaud!!
In a meet a couple of days later, he cleared 19-2.75, re-taking the World lead from Mr Duplantis!!
And while we're on those Verticals, let's clear the slate!!
Trey Culver is suddenly a 7-7.75 HJ'er!!
After making 7-5.25, 7-6.50 and his new PR on 1st tries, he then took 3 shots at 7-8.75!
His 2.33 leap makes him 4th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!!
And 12th A-T US, tied with 3 others!!
Bradley Atkins got over 7-4.25!
Other "Vertical" goodies--
Olivia Gruver broke the Junior Class record with her 15-1 PV--thus erasing the last of the Collegiate Class Records of sub-15 feet!
That was Tina Sutej's 14-11.50 from 2011.
She moves from 16th A-T Collegiate to 4th, tied with 2 others!
And she's now 13th A-T US, tied with 6 others!!
Robbie Grabarz HJ'ed 7-6.50.
Yuliya Yevchenko got over 6-5.50--her INdoor PR!
In Houston, Jeron Robinson reached 7-6.50, while Frosh Vernon Turner cleared 7-3.75!
Also in Houston, Andrew Irwin PV'ed 18-7.25.
Tori (Weeks) Hoggard won the Arkansas PV with 14-0.75, then missed her tries at 14-2.25!
Sister Lexi (Jacobus) was a DNS, as was Desiree Freier!
Chris Nilsen got over 18-4.50.
Virginia Tech's Dynamic Duo--Lisa Gunnarsson & Rachel Baxter--went 1-2 in the PV--Lisa clearing 14-6, Rachel 14-0!
Madison Heath got over 14-1.75.
Nicole Greene reached 6-2 in the HJ--which I believe is a PR!!
Before returning to INdoor T&F, let's cover a series of Half-Marathons where Americans did quite well!!
Leading off with the Doha race, Mo Farah was a DNS!!
The featured entrant, he claimed Achilles problems as his excuse!
But nothing stopped NYC heroine Allie Kieffer!!
Following her 5th in the Big Apple's 26.2 (See previous post!), she WON this Doha race with a PR of 1:10:40!
(If you recall, she negative split the NY race, her 2nd Half being a low 1:13!! Thus, she slashed her unofficial PR by over two minutes!!)
This makes her 18th A-T US!!
She beat a couple of good ones--Gemma Steel and Faith Chepkoech--both of whom ended about 2 minutes behind!!
Emma Bates took 4th with 1:12:52.
BTW, Alex Kibet's 61:53 took the Men's race--in Mo's absence!!
Eilish McColgan won the Doha 10K in 31:50!
Houston's Half was billed as a "race" for the American Record--with Molly Huddle and Jordan Hasay being the key figures!
No contest!!
Huddle's 67:25 broke Deena Kastor's "official" AR of 67:34!
BUT---Kara Goucher ran 66:57 on the Great Shields slightly (33 meters drop) downhill course, and is "unofficially" the AR holder--just as Ryan Hall's 2:04:58 in Boston is the "unofficial" AR for the Marathon!!
I have Goucher's time on my list, and as the AR holder!!
But Huddle's performance was great, nonetheless!!
Enroute, she is said to have broken 2 other US records---10 Miles in 50:52, and 20K in 63:48!!
(I don't have Kara's splits, but she probably ran faster at those 2 points than did Molly!!)
Oh, and Huddle whomped on Hasay, the latter's time of 68:38 not a PR!
Huddle won the US division, but the overall winner was Ruti Aga's 66:39!
She misses the World list by just 10 seconds!
Caroline Chepkoech (66:48), Mary Wacera & Buze Diriba (both 66:50), and Eunice Chumba (67:18) all ended ahead of 7th placer Huddle.
Hasay was overall 8th!
Becky Wade ran 71:15, missing my US list by 14 seconds!
Zane Robertson won the Men's Half--his 60:01 tying his PR!!
(Oh so close!!)
Sam Chelanga PR'ed with 60:37, moving him from 19th A-T US to 7th!
Haron Lagat ran 61:01, which makes him 11th A-T US!
I've heard that Bernard Lagat (No relation to Haron??) ran 62:00--at Age 43!!
In the Phoenix Rock & Roll Half, the Women's winner was Stephanie Bruce, time of 72:32.
She nipped Elias (?) Kibet by one second!
In the Great Edinburgh XC races, the results showed---
Len Korir won the Men's race in 24:32, with Kaan Ozbilen 2nd in 24:35.
Garrett Heath finished 6th in 25:03.
The Women's Senior race was won by Yasmin Can, her 20:58 beating Emilia Gorecka by 2 seconds.
In 3rd came Molly Seidel's 21:04!!
Chelsea Blaase and Natosha Rogers finished 12th & 13th, close to 40 seconds back of Seidel!
The Junior Women's race was taken by Kelsey Chmiel!!
Her 14:10 took the measure of the field, including 7th placer Claudia Lane, who ended in 14:30.
The Junior Men's race was won by Simen Haugen's 19:13.
In 4th came American Danny Kilrea's 19:24!
Now let's finish off my INdoor results--by group!!
Sprints
The Arkansas Invite saw a good Men's 200, with Marqueze Washington's 20.64 beating Fred Kerley's 20.68.
Steven Gardiner (Spelled "Gardner" in the results, but I'm fairly certain it's the Bahaman flash!!) sprinted a 300 in 32.51.
This makes him 15th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
That meet was in Birmingham AL!
Jessica Beard ran a non-PR 37.35 over the same distance!
Christina Manning did the 60H in 8.02.
(In an OUTdoor race in Australia, Sally Pearson sped the 100H in 12.73, wind of 1.4!)
In Seattle, a pair of Super-Vets performed well!
Aries Merritt won the 60H in 7.65.
And Brittney Reese took the 60 flat in 7.31.
At Texas Tech, Mike Rodgers sped a 60 in 6.60!
Mikiah Brisco ran her 60 in 7.15.
She moves from 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 13th, tied with 6 others!!
Aleia Hobbs ran 7.21.
Distances (600 on up!)
In a mixed race in Glasgow, Laura Muir opened her season with a solid 3000 in 8:37.21.
It's not a PR!
Katelyn Tuohy followed up her spectacular 3K of 9:05.26 (See previous post!) with a Mile of 4:43.62.
This was a cruiser, as she just wanted to qualify for the Millrose HS Mile!
While basically a tempo run, it did make her 15th A-T HS!!
She missed the Soph Class record by 0.39 seconds!!
Her enroute 1500 time of 4:25.42 moves her from 18th to 16th on the A-T HS list!
All this in a---jogfest!! LOL
Next week comes her HSR attempt over 5000 meters!!
BTW, she doesn't turn 16 until March 18th!!
Karissa Schweizer also cruised---a 1000 in 2:44.12.
Samantha (Almost called her Sammy!!!) Watson anchored her A&M DMR team to a school record time of 11:12.0--her 1600 split being 4:42.97.
At the Arkansas meet, Chrishuna Williams sped a 600 in 1:26.99.
This makes her 10th A-T US!!
Alena Brooks took 2nd in 1:27.56.
Nick Willis inaugurated the new Michigan INdoor 200 meter track with a Mile win in 3:57.99.
He beat Hamish Carson's 3:58.68, and Mason Ferlic's 4:00.31.
Nicole Sifuentes won the Women's Mile in a solid 4:27.69.
Shannon Osika was 2nd in 4:28.30, while Erin Finn got the Collegiate leader with her 4:40.17!
In the Ocean Breeze facility, Ajee Wilson and Charlene Lipsey went longer than normal, their Mile times being 4:36.83 and 4:38.30, respectively!
Does Vanderbilt have an Oversize Track?
If so, then Michael Saruni's 800 of 1:45.92 counts for nothing!!
If it's legal-size, then he claims the World lead!!
(Will let you know in my next post!)
Field Events (other than the PV & HJ---see above!)---
Jordan Geist has a SP mark of 63-9.75!
(Let's not forget he threw a HSR of 68-4 a year ago!!)
Maggie Ewen exploded out to 60-6 in the SP!!
Better known as a Hammer Thrower, this moves her from 12th A-T Collegiate to 9th!
(Yes, she's still a Collegiate!!)
It also makes her 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other.
She threw the WT 68-2.25!
Janeah Stewart had a WT of 74-3.50--not a PR!
Daniel Haugh's WT measured 71-10!
Adrian "Tripp" Piperi's SP flew out a good 63-11.75!
Chuk Enechwechi's SP was 66-3.
Stamatia Scarvelis had a WT of 73-0.75!
She misses the Collegiate DDD by 1.75 inches!
The Horizontals saw the following marks--
Chris Carter TJ'ed 54-11.25 in Houston!
Charles Brown LJ'ed 26-4.25!
In Michigan, Donald Scott TJ'ed 55-11.75!
And Jasmine Moore TJ'ed 41-8.75.
She's in the 11th Grade!
I have one of those EXTREMELY questionable marks that our old friend TFRSS sometimes produces!
(I'm sure you recall me mentioning some of them before!)
The latest is a "21-6.25" LJ by one Ayesha Champagne!!
Well, don't break out the bubbly just yet!! LOL
Her previous best is listed as being in the 18's---as in 18 feet!!
Unless she literally SOARED to a new (Beamonesque!) PR of over 3 feet, this mark probably (Certainly??) is FALSE!!
Will let you know!!
That Seattle meet gave up a few good times---NONE of which are legal!!-- on its 307 meter OT---
Olivia Baker ran 600 meters in 1:28.72.
And in the Women's 3000--
Shalane Flanagan won in 8:55.11.
Mel Lawrence was 2nd in 8:57.03.
Amy Eloise-Neale was 3rd in 9:01.96.
In OTHER news---
Allie Kieffer is a Oiselle-sponsored athlete now!!
And Cam Levins--late of Nike's NOP--now runs for Hoka One One!!
See you all soon!!!
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Class Records Lead 2018's First Week
Four of them!
Add the 2 from December, and this INdoor season---with 10 solid weeks to go---already has seen SIX Class Records broken!
I can't recall such an early season attack on Class Records since beginning my blog!
No one can match what Katelyn Tuohy did on the Ocean Breeze oval in what amounted to a solo time trial!
Her 3000 meter time of 9:05.26 stands second only to Mary Cain's 9:04.51 on the A-T HS list!!
(NOT counting, of course, Cain's 9:02.10, or Alexa Efraimson's 9:00.16--both run on Seattle's Oversize Track!!)
Attacking from the gun, Tuohy's first 1000 was a 2:57--merely 8:51 pace!!
She passed 1600 meters in 4:45.32, a time not yet run this season by any HS'er!!
She reached 2000 in 5:57, just under 8:56 pace!
Slowing to 38's for 2 laps over the last K, her pick-up on the last go-round wasn't enough to get Cain's HSR!
But compare these 2 phenoms!
Cain was a Junior in 2013.
Tuohy is a 10th Grader!
Cain's run was against World Class Professionals.
Tuohy's beat her feeble HS "competition" by a whopping 93 seconds!!
Coming into INdoors, Cain LOST her last XC race of 2012.
Tuohy was coming off a season where she smashed Course Records in almost every race!!
I can't wait until the Virginia Showcase meet on January 20th, where she's expected to chase Brie Oakley's HSR over 5000 meters!!
Don't be shocked if she runs in the 15:20's!!
Trey Knight OWNS the Weight Throw this season!!
I came upon these marks late, but in the last days of December, Knight added over 5 feet to the Soph Class Record--in 2 meets.
He first nipped the old mark by a few inches, his 75-6.50 becoming his 2nd Class Record, as he also has the Frosh Class Record!!
This mark missed my DDD by 9 inches!
But a meet on December 30th kicked him past 80 feet!!
I don't have his series, but apparently he broke his own mark a few times in this meet!
His final distance was 80-7.25.
It makes him 11th A-T HS!!
(Remember me saying that Conor McCullough's 93-3.25 HSR might last into the 22nd Century??
Um, let me revise that remark!! LOL)
The other Class Record goes to the Rick & Jenn Suhr-mentored Pole Vaulter--Erica Ellis!
With just a 13-2.25 INdoor PR (& a 13-3 OUTdoor best) from 2017, Ellis became only the 7th High School Woman to go over a bar set at 14 feet or higher INdoors!!
Her 14-1.25 gives her the Junior Class Record!
It makes her 6th A-T HS!!
Not totally certain, but I believe this is the EARLIEST 14 footer by a HS girl--ever!!
BTW, the tweet announcing this mark listed it as 14-1.50.
But it said the metric measurement was 4.30.
So I checked my Big Gold Book--and found NO metric equivalent for 14-1.50!
The Book said 4.30 was 14-1.25, and 4.31 was 14-1.75!
Since the results indicated her mark WAS 4.30, I'm listing it as 14-1.25!
This was at the Akron PV meet!
The Elite sections were taken by Matt Ludwig (at 17-6.50, in a Jump-Off against Shawn Barber) and Katie Nageotte!
Nageotte did just 3 heights---her winner of 14-11.50 coming in the middle--followed by 3 misses at 15-7.25!!
Suhr was a DNS!!
Class Records weren't the only highlights of 2018's first week!
Lynna Irby opened her Collegiate career with a solid 300 of 36.73---beating one Kyra Jefferson, who finished over a second behind the Georgia Frosh!!
Irby is now 6th A-T Collegiate!
She is 16th A-T US!
And she misses the World list by just 0.09 seconds!!
Jefferson's time was 37.74, while Taylor Manson's 37.92 in 3rd makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate!!
The Clemson meet also saw a fast Men's 300!
Ben Vedel won in 32.80, beating Kenle Fasasi's 33.22, not a PR!
Vedel is 4th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
He missed the World DDD by 0.08 seconds!!
Georgia's trio of LJ'ers took the 1st 3 places at the Clemson meet.
Kate Hall's 21-9.50 topped the podium.
This makes her 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
Keturah Orji was 2nd with 21-2, while Super Frosh Tara Davis took 3rd with a leap of 21-1.25!
Hall won the 60 also--in 7.32.
Davis was 3rd in the 60H, time of 8.28!
Other good marks include---
Javon Joyner's WT of 60-5.25, making her 14th A-T HS!
Shelby Moran's WT of 60-3.75, moving her from 20th A-T HS to 15th!
Devin King PV'ing 18-4.50.
Anicka Newell going over 14-3.25, while Morgann LeLeux No-Heighted!!
Tonea Marshall sprinting the 60H in 8.14.
Aleia Hobbs speeding a 7.27 heat in the 60, then doing the final in 7.24!
Brian Herron continued his great season!
He ran his 200 heat (in the A&M meet) in 21.05.
This was 0.10 seconds slower than his 20.95 in December!
(See my earlier post!)
He didn't run the final!
He ran a relay leg of 45.61--but his team was DQ'ed!!
Besides Ms Tuohy, another who had a solid XC season--Jacqueline Gaughan--ran a good distance time!
Gaughan did the Two Mile (NOT 3200!!) in 10:20.77.
She missed the HS list by 4.02 seconds!
Tevin Hester did a 60 in 6.59.
Natoya Goule didn't PR, but her 600 of 1:28.20 won easily!
As did Jeff Green's 1:18.07.
That one missed the Collegiate DDD by 0.24 seconds!
HS'er Mayson Connor HJ'ed 7-0.25.
Zach Bradford PV'ed 17-0, missing my HS list by 2 inches!
Another Georgia athlete--Keenon Laine--HJ'ed 7-5.25!
OUTdoors--in Australia--Kurtis Marschall PV'ed 18-8.25!
Finally, in the NYRR 4 Mile--run at midnight of New Year's Eve/Day--Molly Seidel won in 21:24!
Sarah Pagano took 2nd in 21:32, while Stephanie Bruce was 3rd in 21:39.
The Men's race was won by Reid Buchanan's 19:08!!
In OTHER news---
Demi Payne did NOT compete in the December 30th PV meet in Belton TX!!
I was told that she MIGHT compete there (She was listed as an entrant!!)--IF she could train enough while caring for her sick mother!
Chris Brown--a busy person in the Age Records Department--is returning to INdoor Track!!
Thus, the Age 39 Record is HIS!!
(What will it be??)
Andrew Wheating--that tall & lanky former Duck (& TrackTown movie star!!) has retired!!
If you get a chance, read his funny (& lengthy!) announcement--posted on Facebook!!
Abbey D---aka Abbey D'Agostino--is getting hitched!!
She said the wedding will take place on July 6th!!
Gabe Grunewald (My World & US Personality of the Year---See my earlier post!) happily announced that her cancer treatments seem to be working---as her tumors are getting smaller!!
This ever-smiling inspiration continues to amaze!!
On a sad note, however, news came in that the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner in the 3000SC---Horace Ashenfelter--has died at Age 94---just 17 days before turning 95!!
His time of 8:45 was a World Record when run!!
He was also excellent in the Two Mile and other distances!
One of the All-Time Greats of American Track & Field, Mr Ashenfelter is greatly missed!!
See you soon!
Add the 2 from December, and this INdoor season---with 10 solid weeks to go---already has seen SIX Class Records broken!
I can't recall such an early season attack on Class Records since beginning my blog!
No one can match what Katelyn Tuohy did on the Ocean Breeze oval in what amounted to a solo time trial!
Her 3000 meter time of 9:05.26 stands second only to Mary Cain's 9:04.51 on the A-T HS list!!
(NOT counting, of course, Cain's 9:02.10, or Alexa Efraimson's 9:00.16--both run on Seattle's Oversize Track!!)
Attacking from the gun, Tuohy's first 1000 was a 2:57--merely 8:51 pace!!
She passed 1600 meters in 4:45.32, a time not yet run this season by any HS'er!!
She reached 2000 in 5:57, just under 8:56 pace!
Slowing to 38's for 2 laps over the last K, her pick-up on the last go-round wasn't enough to get Cain's HSR!
But compare these 2 phenoms!
Cain was a Junior in 2013.
Tuohy is a 10th Grader!
Cain's run was against World Class Professionals.
Tuohy's beat her feeble HS "competition" by a whopping 93 seconds!!
Coming into INdoors, Cain LOST her last XC race of 2012.
Tuohy was coming off a season where she smashed Course Records in almost every race!!
I can't wait until the Virginia Showcase meet on January 20th, where she's expected to chase Brie Oakley's HSR over 5000 meters!!
Don't be shocked if she runs in the 15:20's!!
Trey Knight OWNS the Weight Throw this season!!
I came upon these marks late, but in the last days of December, Knight added over 5 feet to the Soph Class Record--in 2 meets.
He first nipped the old mark by a few inches, his 75-6.50 becoming his 2nd Class Record, as he also has the Frosh Class Record!!
This mark missed my DDD by 9 inches!
But a meet on December 30th kicked him past 80 feet!!
I don't have his series, but apparently he broke his own mark a few times in this meet!
His final distance was 80-7.25.
It makes him 11th A-T HS!!
(Remember me saying that Conor McCullough's 93-3.25 HSR might last into the 22nd Century??
Um, let me revise that remark!! LOL)
The other Class Record goes to the Rick & Jenn Suhr-mentored Pole Vaulter--Erica Ellis!
With just a 13-2.25 INdoor PR (& a 13-3 OUTdoor best) from 2017, Ellis became only the 7th High School Woman to go over a bar set at 14 feet or higher INdoors!!
Her 14-1.25 gives her the Junior Class Record!
It makes her 6th A-T HS!!
Not totally certain, but I believe this is the EARLIEST 14 footer by a HS girl--ever!!
BTW, the tweet announcing this mark listed it as 14-1.50.
But it said the metric measurement was 4.30.
So I checked my Big Gold Book--and found NO metric equivalent for 14-1.50!
The Book said 4.30 was 14-1.25, and 4.31 was 14-1.75!
Since the results indicated her mark WAS 4.30, I'm listing it as 14-1.25!
This was at the Akron PV meet!
The Elite sections were taken by Matt Ludwig (at 17-6.50, in a Jump-Off against Shawn Barber) and Katie Nageotte!
Nageotte did just 3 heights---her winner of 14-11.50 coming in the middle--followed by 3 misses at 15-7.25!!
Suhr was a DNS!!
Class Records weren't the only highlights of 2018's first week!
Lynna Irby opened her Collegiate career with a solid 300 of 36.73---beating one Kyra Jefferson, who finished over a second behind the Georgia Frosh!!
Irby is now 6th A-T Collegiate!
She is 16th A-T US!
And she misses the World list by just 0.09 seconds!!
Jefferson's time was 37.74, while Taylor Manson's 37.92 in 3rd makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate!!
The Clemson meet also saw a fast Men's 300!
Ben Vedel won in 32.80, beating Kenle Fasasi's 33.22, not a PR!
Vedel is 4th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
He missed the World DDD by 0.08 seconds!!
Georgia's trio of LJ'ers took the 1st 3 places at the Clemson meet.
Kate Hall's 21-9.50 topped the podium.
This makes her 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
Keturah Orji was 2nd with 21-2, while Super Frosh Tara Davis took 3rd with a leap of 21-1.25!
Hall won the 60 also--in 7.32.
Davis was 3rd in the 60H, time of 8.28!
Other good marks include---
Javon Joyner's WT of 60-5.25, making her 14th A-T HS!
Shelby Moran's WT of 60-3.75, moving her from 20th A-T HS to 15th!
Devin King PV'ing 18-4.50.
Anicka Newell going over 14-3.25, while Morgann LeLeux No-Heighted!!
Tonea Marshall sprinting the 60H in 8.14.
Aleia Hobbs speeding a 7.27 heat in the 60, then doing the final in 7.24!
Brian Herron continued his great season!
He ran his 200 heat (in the A&M meet) in 21.05.
This was 0.10 seconds slower than his 20.95 in December!
(See my earlier post!)
He didn't run the final!
He ran a relay leg of 45.61--but his team was DQ'ed!!
Besides Ms Tuohy, another who had a solid XC season--Jacqueline Gaughan--ran a good distance time!
Gaughan did the Two Mile (NOT 3200!!) in 10:20.77.
She missed the HS list by 4.02 seconds!
Tevin Hester did a 60 in 6.59.
Natoya Goule didn't PR, but her 600 of 1:28.20 won easily!
As did Jeff Green's 1:18.07.
That one missed the Collegiate DDD by 0.24 seconds!
HS'er Mayson Connor HJ'ed 7-0.25.
Zach Bradford PV'ed 17-0, missing my HS list by 2 inches!
Another Georgia athlete--Keenon Laine--HJ'ed 7-5.25!
OUTdoors--in Australia--Kurtis Marschall PV'ed 18-8.25!
Finally, in the NYRR 4 Mile--run at midnight of New Year's Eve/Day--Molly Seidel won in 21:24!
Sarah Pagano took 2nd in 21:32, while Stephanie Bruce was 3rd in 21:39.
The Men's race was won by Reid Buchanan's 19:08!!
In OTHER news---
Demi Payne did NOT compete in the December 30th PV meet in Belton TX!!
I was told that she MIGHT compete there (She was listed as an entrant!!)--IF she could train enough while caring for her sick mother!
Chris Brown--a busy person in the Age Records Department--is returning to INdoor Track!!
Thus, the Age 39 Record is HIS!!
(What will it be??)
Andrew Wheating--that tall & lanky former Duck (& TrackTown movie star!!) has retired!!
If you get a chance, read his funny (& lengthy!) announcement--posted on Facebook!!
Abbey D---aka Abbey D'Agostino--is getting hitched!!
She said the wedding will take place on July 6th!!
Gabe Grunewald (My World & US Personality of the Year---See my earlier post!) happily announced that her cancer treatments seem to be working---as her tumors are getting smaller!!
This ever-smiling inspiration continues to amaze!!
On a sad note, however, news came in that the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winner in the 3000SC---Horace Ashenfelter--has died at Age 94---just 17 days before turning 95!!
His time of 8:45 was a World Record when run!!
He was also excellent in the Two Mile and other distances!
One of the All-Time Greats of American Track & Field, Mr Ashenfelter is greatly missed!!
See you soon!
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