The Conferences (& that All-Star Perche!)

Oh My God!
That's the declaration most had when they either saw the races on TV, or saw the results!
But the same could be said for what happened in a small (though popular) meet in France!

It was there that maybe the greatest Men's INdoor Pole Vault exhibition took place---the meet called the All-Star Perche!

(And the Women's wasn't too shabby either!!)

No less than SEVEN Vaulters soared over bars set at 5.88, or 19-3.50--with 2 of them going even higher!

Vaulter after Vaulter---the group containing the INdoor WR holder, the best American, and a young kid who just keeps amazing everyone!
I don't keep Place Records for INdoors, but if I did, those Records would have fallen all over the place--pun intended!!

In the end, Sam Kendricks beat Renaud Lavillenie on fewer misses--both reaching 19-5.50!

For Military Sam, he moves from 6th A-T US to 3rd, tied with 2 others!

On the World list, he moves from 21st A-T, tied with 10 others, to 13th, tied with 3 others!

The next 5 all got over 19-3.50!

Pawel Wojcieckowski was 3rd, with Frenchman Axel Chappelle in 4th!

Then followed Mr Armand "Mondo" Duplantis!

His 19-3.50 broke several of his own Records--his HSR, his Senior Class Record, his Age 18 Record, and his own National Record of Sweden!!

He missed the World list by a mere 0.75 inches!!

But we're not done!!
Piotr Lisek--maybe the most dominant European Vaulter of 2018--was 6th, with another French local--Kevin Menaldo--the 7th over 5.88!!

(Is France now the main clearinghouse for 19 foot PV'ers??)

Shawn Barber??

Becca Peter said his shot at 19-3.50 was good--but he ended with "just" 19-0.75!!
In EIGHTH Place!!!

Has recent USATF Champion (and new 16 footer) Katie Nageotte--who just signed with Nike!!--now become the WORLD's best Female PV'er??
She presents some definitive evidence!!
As Garry Hill pointed out, she's lost to Ekaterina Stefanidi 22 straight times!!
(I'm assuming he meant IN & OUT!!)

But who is it leads the World this INdoor season?
And who had the higher height on this day--albeit in separate meets??

Whatever case is to be made on the Kat vs Katie issue, Ms Nageotte DID prevail at the All-Star Perche!!
Her 15-11.25 clearance (which served as her SECOND PR of the day in Albuquerque--after a tie--and before her THIRD new best mark!) beat Russian Anzhelika Sidorova, who also reached 15-11.25!

In 3rd came French Lady Ninon Guillon-Ronarin, her mark being 15-5.75

This became the new National Record of France!

And it makes her 20th A-T World, tied with 2 others!!

As with the Men, there was depth!

Because FIVE other Women cleared 4.62--or 15-1.75---a decent height!

In order of Place, they were---Alysha Newman, Maryna Kylypko of Ukraine, Lisa Ryzih, Irina Zhuk of Belarus, and Australian Nina Kennedy!!

I'll have more PV news later, but Ladies & Gents, it's time for---The Sydney & Lynna Show!!
These two Fresh-Ladies (aka College Frosh!) basically MADE the SEC meet!!

It began in the 400 heats!

That's where Georgia's Lynna Irby ran 51.75!
And that's also where Sydney McLaughlin of Kentucky did a one-up with her 50.97!!
This made her 11th A-T Collegiate.

And moved her from 24th A-T US to 11th!
For Irby, she soon ran her 200 heat--in 22.92!

The 400 final was a---RACE!!
With Irby in lane 6, and McLaughlin in 5, they went out hard, with Syd making the break in front.

Barely.
It appeared as if McL was going to "run away" with this--as a Woman with Olympic credentials should!
But on the last straight, Irby was coming on--FAST!!
About 5-7 meters back at the top of the straight, she was a single meter back at the line!

Another 10 meters....!!!

But there has to be a Winner in every race--and Ms McLaughlin holds that title here!
Her 50.52 gives her the Age 18 Record, the SEC Meet Record, and the Frosh Class Record!!
(The latter by just 0.10 seconds!!)
This moves her from 11th to 2nd on both the Collegiate and US lists!
And she becomes 18th A-T World!!

For Irby, her 50.62 gets the Age 19 Record (They're both "true Frosh", but Irby is older!)

She moves from 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
On the A-T US list, she moves from 22nd to 4th!
And she takes the caboose position on my World DDD!!

For Sharika Barnett, her 51.81 gave her a far back 3rd!!
This Show wasn't over, however!
Irby came back not much later, and won the 200 in a PR of 22.66!!
She becomes 18th A-T Collegiate, and 17th A-T US!
She beat Mikiah Brisco's 22.81 and Kayella Clarke's 22.83!!

McLaughlin ran out of miracles, however, as her 51.70 split in the 4X400 Relay gave Kentucky 3rd--time of 3:31.96--behind LSU's 3:30.85 winner!

Oh yes, Irby's 200 kicked OFF a true icon of the sport from the Collegiate list!
GONE iis the inimitable Merlene Ottey--her 22.79 dating from 1982!
BTW, she was the LAST survivor on this list from the 20th Century!!

The Conferences gave us so much more, but let's take a look at some other goodies first!!
Like, how about a WORLD Record??
And an American Record!
And a High School Record!!
A meet at Boston University became the housing for ALL of these Records!!

The NJ/NY TC (courtesy of Hoka) won a tight 3-way race to the line--and for the World Record!!--in the last event of the meet--the 4X800 Relay!
The 4-some of Joe McAsey, Kyle Merber, Chris Geisting, and Joe Garn combined for a 7:11.30--cutting 1.81 seconds off the previous best!
Merber's 1:47.11 was the Winner's fastest leg!
But the Atlanta TC's Edward Kemboi had the fastest overall split--a 1:45.55.
The slowest?
Would you believe the DC TC's Matthew Centrowitz--whose 1:48.98 anchor essentially "lost" the race for his team!
Atlanta ran 7:11.84, while DC timed out in 7:12.25--ALL under the old mark!!
(But the winners were the only ALL-American team, so they get the US Record, in addition to the WR!)

As for the HSR, ever hear of Josh Hoey?
Ever predict HE would SHATTER the HSR for 800 meters--bypassing entirely the 1:48's??
Of course not!!
But that's exactly what he did--finishing 2nd to Pro  Christian Harrison's 1:46.83!
His time of 1:47.67 took 1.54 seconds off Robbie Andrews's 1:49.21--dating from 2009!!
Hoey also gets the Senior Class Record, moving all the way from 22nd A-T HS to the Top!!

OK, folks!!
Time to move into my standard "By Event Group" mode--hoping to save SOME space!!
The following covers it all--the Conferences, the IAAF World Tour's 6th stop in Glasgow--and more!!
But let's begin with the Pole Vault!
You already have the All-Star Perche results,but there was more--lots more!!

Pole Vault
The SEC had another great Women's PV!
As per the norm, it came down to the former Weeks twins--and the newest Collegiate leader, Olivia Gruver!
Lexi Jacobus was first to exit (among this trio!)--after making 14-4.50!
Then it was left to twin Tori Hoggard to do battle with Gruver!!
But she couldn't get past her make at 14-7.50!
So Gruver--after winning--then made 15-3.75--adding 0.75 inches to her former best!
It's the SEC Meet Record--removing one Sandi Morris from that position!!
She moves from 3rd to 2nd on the A-T Collegiate list!
From 8th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 8th, but with no ties!
She took 3 shots at a new CR height of 15-7.25!

Glasgow saw Kat Stefanidi winning--at 15-7!
Comebacking Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou reached 15-3 in 2nd.

Other Jumps (HJ, LJ, TJ)
The Sun Belt Conference saw Chelsie Decoud clear 6-2 in the HJ!
She's a Texas State Senior!
Nicole Greene also cleared that height---again!
Trey Culver's 7-7 tied the Big 12 Meet Record!
Vernon Turner and Tejadwin Shankar (!!) got over 7-5.75!
The SEC meet saw two clear 7-4.25--Shelby McEwen and Darius Corbin!
Logan Boss took the SEC's Women's HJ with a new Meet Record of 6-3.25!

Ivana Spanovic LJ'ed 22-9!
Kate Hall matched her 21-9.50 PR to take the SEC meet!
Keturah Orji---who won the TJ with 46-6.25--LJ'ed 21-5.25!

Glasgow saw Khaddi Sagnia win the LJ with her 22-8.50, which tied the National Record of Sweden!
Second & 3rd went to Sostheni Moguenara's 22-5, and Spanovic's 22-4.25!!

As mentioned, Ms Orji took the SEC TJ, but a strong 2nd--and even a threat to Keturah's "average" day--was Yanis David!
Her PR of 46-3.50 moves her from 12th A-T Collegiate to 7th!!
Marie Josee Ebwen-Bile was 3rd with her 45-7.75--which makes her 13th A-T Collegiate!!

The Throws
Alton Clay's WT of 75-5.25 misses the Collegiate DDD by 2.75 inches!
Josh Davis improved to 78-2.25, giving him the ACC Meet Record!!
He moves from 21st A-T Collegiate to 8th!
And he enters the US list in 16th, and the World list in 19th!
Also in the ACC, Emmonnie Henderson's SP of 59-6.25 makes her 13th A-T Collegiate!
But she misses my US list by 4.25 inches!

The Mountain Pacific Conference may have been held in Seattle's OT venue, but that didn't affect Maggie Ewen!!
Her SP of 62-3.25 gave her the Meet Record!
She added a 2nd title with her WT of 71-3.25!

The SEC's WT went to Denzel Comenentia--his 77-9.50 making him 12th A-T Collegiate, and 22nd A-T World!!
The Big 10 was also held in a venue with an Oversize Track (the SPIRE), but again, no harm to Field Event people!!
Joseph Ellis's WT of 77-6.75 moves him from 21st A-T Collegiate to 14th, tied with 1 other!
Second went to David Lucas's 76-5.75!
This makes him 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!

But the Big 10's Women's event was even better!!
Kaitlyn Long added over 5 FEET to her PR--her 79-11,50 giving her the Meet Record!
It also moved her from 13th A-T Collegiate to 3rd!!
From 17th A-T US to 6th!
And from 22nd A-T World to 6th!!
A strong 2nd went to Sade Olatoya's 78-2.75!
She moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 7th!
On the World list, she moves from 21st, tied with 1 other, to 14th!!

Janeah Stewart's 75-8 took the SEC Weight Throw!
The Men's SEC Shot Put went to Josh Olatunde!
His massive 6th round toss of 69-11.75 gives him the Meet Record, and makes him 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
One question, however!
His IAAF profile lists him as being Nigerian!
But the T&FN lists have him as an American!!
So while his mark has no problem making the Collegiate list, I'm going to wait before I add him to my US list!!
I'll research this a bit, and let you know what I find!
(He WOULD make my US list--if he is indeed an American!!)

Knocked OFF my Collegiate DDD were two venerables of the event---Neal Steinhauer and Fred DeBernardi!
DeBernardi's 67-10 dated from 1972, while Steinhauer's was from 1967!!

Distances are next!!
With Karissa Schweizer taking the Conference honors!
Moving when she pleased, she destroyed the SEC 3000 field with a 2:47 final kilometer!!
Her 9:00.56 gave her the Meet Record!
Far back at 9:11.01, nonetheless Jessica Drop demonstrated some Georgia Track strength to go with their Field firepower!!
Schweizer later took the reins in the DMR with her squad 11 seconds down at the hand-off!
She then proceeded to knock off her 1600 in---oh, 4:25.56!!!---to give her team the W---by 6 seconds!

I'll return to the Track Distances in a minute, but I'd be remiss if I didn't relate what happened in the Tokyo Marathon!!
Amy Cragg crashed through SIX minute time zones---moving her twice-run PR of 2:27:03 all the way down to 2:21:42---taking 3rd in a field of Ethiopians!!
Hitting Halfway in 1:10:20--with Birhane Dibaba, Ruti Aga, and Shure Demise for company--Cragg stayed with that lead group for a long time!!
It wasn't until about 35K when she started to lose ground!
But not much!!
Determined to run a FAST time---FINALLY!!--she smashed through her 2nd Half in 1:11:22--her 2:21:42 moving her from 12th to 5th on the A-T US list!!
Dibaba rushed to a 2:19:51 W, making her 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Aga ran 2:21:19 in 2nd, but Demise's 2:22:07 wasn't enough to catch Cragg!!

The Men's race went to Dickson Chumba's 2:05:29, but it was Japan's Yuta Shitara's 2:06:10--giving him the National Record of Japan---and a Million Yen--or $936,000 in USD's!!--that made all the headlines!!
One Wilson Kipsang DNF'ed at about 17K with stomach problems!

Back to the Track!
Katelyn Tuohy had a fever and other ills a couple of weeks ago!
So she ran just 1 race at her NY Regionals.
But her 1500 in 4:23.91 took away Mary Cain's Soph Class Record!!
She moves from 13th A-T HS to 9th!

Virginia Tech took both DMR's at the ACC meet!
It was the Women's 10:57.60 that makes VT 11th A-T School!!
Clemson's 10:58.83 was close, and makes them 15th A-T School!!
Notre Dame--without the advantage of their OT--took 3rd in 11:02.01.
The Men's winning time was 9:38.31!

Neil Gourley's 1:47.04 gave him the ACC Meet Record in the 800.
Cameron Griffith's time wasn't all that great, but his 3000 in 7:54.19 gave him the SEC Meet Record!
(That Conference ain't really known for their Distance stuff!!)
In a Penn State meet, Marlee Starliper moved up the ranks of HS Milers!
Her 4:43.49 moves her from 23rd A-T HS to 16th!

Glasgow had a strange finish to its Men's 3000 race!
Paul Chelimo chose the wrong time to do an over-his-shoulder check--thus losing to Justus Kiplagat's 7:39.09--by 0.01 seconds!!
Yomif Kejelcha's 7:39.36 took 3rd!

Beatrice Chepkoech again broke the Kenya National Record for 1500--her time being 4:02.21.
It makes her 17th A-T World!!

That BU meet had other good Distance marks---
Ce'Aira Brown improved to 2:00.86 in the 800, moving her from 23rd to 21st on the A-T US list!!
Cecilia Barowski took 2nd in 2:01.61.
Nicole Tully's Mile time of 4:30.98 defeated Rebecca Addison's 4:31.09.
Brodey Hasty went for the Sub-4 again, but ran just 4:04.98--in 10th place!
Winner was Izaic Yorks's speedy 3:53.40!!
This makes him 13th A-T US!
Henry Wynne and Peter Callahan both ran in the 3:55's!
Emily Sisson time trialed a 5000 in 15:13.76!

At George Mason, Claudia Saunders ran a 1000 in 2:41.16.
Arkansas won the SEC DMR in 9:37.01--giving them the Meet Record!
Or did it??
I'll explain, of course!!
You see, 2017's SEC was held on Vanderbilt's OT---so the 9:32+ run there---while LISTED on the results page as the MR---is NOT!!
You know the drill!!
So YES, the Razorback's SLOWER time does indeed become the new Meet Record!!
Ole Miss ran 9:37.08 in 2nd!

Sprints
Lucky for all my tired fans, there isn't much to report here---other than what Syd & Lynna did--already reported!!
Lea Sprunger got another National Record of Switzerland--her 200 of 22.88!
The ACC Men's 400 heats gave the fastest time of the meet!
Steven Solomon's 45.44 blazer gives him the Meet Record, as well as the National Record of Australia!!
It makes him 20th A-T Collegiate!
(He actually lost the final!!)
The American Conference saw Kahmari Montgomery's 45.53 make him 23rd A-T Collegiate!

Ka'Tia Seymour sped the 200 in 22.85 for the ACC Meet Record!
But she misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.06 seconds!!
Clemson's 3:32.84 in the 4X400 Relay is the new ACC Meet Record!
Dior Hall won the 60H in Seattle with a non-PR of 7.99.
While Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took the SEC 60H final in 7.98, it was Tara Davis's big PR of 8.03 in the heats that was the big story there!
(JCQ's heat time was 8.05!)

Glasgow's sprint races went to---
Bingtian Su's 6.50 in the 60, with Dina Asher-Smith taking the Women's race in 7.08.
Fred Kerley won the 400 in 45.86.
Ronald Levy's 7.49 won the 60H in his first-ever INdoor race!!
Christina Manning beat Sharika Nelvis in the 60H--7.79 to 7.84!

The SEC 60H went to Grant Holloway's 7.53,
Mikiah Brisco's 7.10 beat Aleia Hobbs's 7.14 in the 60!
Akeem Bloomfield won the 400 in 45.22, beating Nathan Strother's 45.59!
Mustaqeem Williams took the SEC 200 in 20.55.
And Texas A&M won a great SEC 4X400 Relay race!
Their 3:02.35 breaks their own Meet Record!
But, while a PR, they remain 3rd A-T School!!
Florida was 2nd in 3:02,65!

Multi's
Holly Hankenson took ACC's Pentathlon, score of 4175 beating Michelle Atherley's 4159.
SEC's Pent went to Taliyah Brooks's 4422.
In 2nd came Georgia Soph Louisa Grauvogel--score of 4312!
This misses my Collegiate DDD by 27 points!

I'll close with some Miscellaneous stuff!
Tom Bosworth broke the World Record in the 3000 meter Walk in Glasgow--his time a phenomenal 10:30.28!!
In an OUTdoor meet in Jamaica, Zharnel Hughes sped the 100 in 10.01, beating Yohan Blake's 10.05!
Wind was 0.8!

A few OT marks--too good to NOT report---despite being WASTED EFFORTS!!
Elise Cranny won the Mountain Pacific Mile in 4:31.29, beating UO's Jessica Hull, who ran 4:31.76!
That was in Seattle!
In the Big 10, Jahnaya Mitchell ran the 600 meters in 1:26.65, edging Tatania Markland's 1:26.75!
(IF run on a LEGAL track...!!!)

FINALLY!!!---
Remember me reporting that Anna Belokobylokaya had run a "World leading" 5000 of 14:56.22 in Russia's Championships??
Well, I made a tiny mistake!
(Or the initial Results page did!!)
You see, she actually ran 15:56.22--a full minute slower---and finished 5th!!

NEXT!!!
My World Championship Preview posts--one for each gender!!
I'll have them out either on the 28th, or early on March 1st---BEFORE the meet begins!!

See you soon!!

Global Preps for World's

The fantastic Records & Marks didn't start & end in Albuquerque!

The only reason I didn't incorporate what's below into my report on the USATF meet was space--or lack thereof!
So much good stuff happened in NM that I chose not to try to cram all the other stuff I had into one post!

So hang on, folks,  because you won't believe what went on globally in the preparation for Birmingham England's World Championships--now just 10 days away!!

First, some additional info on a couple of already-reported marks!
Meref Bahta's 8:42.44 over 3000 meters in Madrid breaks her own National Record of Sweden!

And Beatrice Chepkoech's 4:04.21 in the Dusseldorf 3000 is the National Record of Kenya!!

Genzebe Dibaba ran a quick 3K in Spain--8:31.23!

But she'd wanted to go faster!!

Sticking to the Distances--
Ayanleh Suleiman beat Abdelaati Iguider in a 1500--3:35.39 to 3:35.79!

Silimon Baraga took the 3000 in 7:36.64!

Habitam Alemu ran the 800 in 1:59.69, tying the World leader!

In the Russian Championships, Anna Belokobylakaya ran the fastest 5000 of the year--14:56.22.
This makes her 15th A-T World!

On the short end of the distance spectrum, Josh Hoey ran 1:51.49 over 800 meters in a Penn State meet, making him 22nd A-T HS!

In a JDL flat track race, Elly Henes ran 15:43.84 over 5000 meters!
She's a North Carolina State Soph!!

But maybe the most promising distance mark came from the German lady I refer to as KK--aka Konstanze Klosterhalfen!!
On her 21st birthday, she pretty much solo'ed a 3000 in 8:36.01--matching the time run recently by Shelby Houlihan!!
She broke the 30 year old (!!) National Record of Germany!!

It makes her 22nd A-T World, tied with--Houlihan!!

The 5th stop (of 6!) on the IAAF's World INdoor Tour took place in Torun, Poland!!
Most marks were of a "Blah!" nature--relatively speaking--but don't tell that to Konrad Bukowiecki!!
This massive SP phenom sent the 16 pound ball out 72-2.25!!
It's the Age 20 Record!
He broke his own National Record of Poland!
But he remains 11th A-T World!!
Tomas Stanek threw a good 71-7.50 in 2nd!

Lea Sprunger continues as the "find" of 400 meter running in Europe--whether over hurdles or on the flat!
Her 51.28 in Torun is the National Record of Switzerland--and before USATF, was the World leader!!

In 2nd came Justyna Swiety's 51.78, which takes over as the National Record of Poland!

Helen Obiri came into the 1500 saying she wanted a sub-4 time!

But as distance races often happen, it became a tactical race!
It was Rabebe Arafi's 4:04.76 which took the W, with Obiri's 4:05.04 just 3rd behind Meref Bahta's 4:04.89!

Mariya Lasitskene kept her winning streak alive--her top height being 6-6.75!
Pam Dutkiewicz won the 60H in 7.85.
Anzhelika Cichocka took the 800 in 2:00.76.

Marie Josee Ta Lou won the 60 in 7.11, with Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith 2nd in 7.14!

But maybe the best mark out of Torun came from Piotr Lisek!
His 19-4.75 easily took the PV!!

The Women's sprints were top-heavy with speedy marks--from various National Championships!!

It began in Switzerland, where the athlete with one of my A-T favorite names--Mujinga Kambundji--finally reached the promise she first showed at the 2014 OUTdoor European Championships!
Her 7.03 at the Swiss Champs broke her own Switzerland National Record--and for a moment, made her the World leader!!
She is now 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!

The German Championships saw Tatjana Pinto win in 7.06!
Then Dafne Schippers followed suit at the Netherlands Champs--but with a time of "only" 7.09!!

Other track times included---

Rai Benjamin's 20.55 in an Arkansas 200!

In my USATF report, I spoke of Emily Sloan's 8.07 becoming the 2nd fastest HS time ever!

But before that, Grace Stark sent her time down from a previous 8.22 all the way to 8.12!!
This gave her the Junior Class Record!

It moved her from 12th A-T HS to 3rd!
And the girl she beat?
Just one Tia Jones, the OUTdoor 100H HSR holder!!
Jones finished in 8.23!

At the Simplot Games, there was a good Women's 400!

Arria Minor improved to 53.47, moving her from 20th A-T HS to 15th!

She beat Meghan Hunter, whose 53.92 makes her 21st A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!

Also at Simplot, Lexi Ellis TJ'ed 42-7.75, moving her from 14th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 9th!
And Sondre Guttormsen PV'ed 17-8.50!!
BTW, this was on the same day KC Lightfoot PV'ed 17-7.75 at the USATF meet (See earlier post!)!
And would you believe that Mondo Duplantis Vaulted 18-8.25--also on that day--making it the best day ever for male HS PV'ers!!

Speaking of the PV, Chris Nilsen finally reached 19 feet---actually 19-0.25!!

This moves him from 10th A-T Collegiate to 5th, tied with 3 others!
He also becomes 14th A-T US, but tied with ELEVEN others!!

In Russia, Anzhelika Sidorova soared over the bar set at 15-11.75!!

This moves her from 7th A-T World to 6th, tied with 1 other!
The Men's event was taken by Tomas Morgunov's 19-2.25!

Keeping with the Russia--and PV'ing theme--I'm happy to report that Yelena Isinbayeva gave birth to her 2nd child on February 13th--a boy!

Back to the active Vaulters--
Kat Stefanidi cleared 15-10 in a recent meet!

Finally, Anicka Newell--who's having a solid year--reached 14-8.75 at an LSU meet!

Ja Mari Ward LJ'ed 26-1.75!
Trey Knight continued producing 80 foot-plus marks in the WT--his latest being "just" 80-5.50!

But maybe the best move upward in the WT was from Annette Echikunwoke!
She threw 81-3.75, which made giant strides up on 3 A-T lists!!
She moves from 7th A-T Collegiate to 2nd!!
From 10th A-T US to 3rd, tied with 1 other!
And from 13th A-T World to 3rd, also tied with 1 other!!

Thea LaFond TJ'ed 46-2.50, becoming the National Record holder of Domenica!!

A couple of OUTdoor marks of note--
Sally Pearson ran the 100H in 12.73.

And Fedric Dacres heaved the Discus out 228-10, breaking his own National Record of Jamaica!
He also gets the Age 23 Record!
But he misses the World DDD by 10 inches!!

So, after that HOT meet in Albuquerque, and all the other great marks from around the world--How is this season going so far??

Well, I'm not sure!
Meaning, I don't have counts made at the same time last INdoor season, so direct comparisons to 2017 can't be made!!

However, I just did a tally of the Records broken this season, as well as the number of marks on my various DDD's dated as 2018!!

We have 3 Men's WR's, and 2 Women's!

There are 2 US Men's Records, and 5 by US Women!

Collegiately, we have 3 Men's and 2 Women's CR's!

For the younger set, there are just 2 HSR's for the Men so far, while the Women number 6!

On my Top 24 Performer's lists, the numbers are---
The Women's HS count is 31, with the Men having 20.
Female Collegiates have 36 marks, while the Men number 25!

On the US lists, The Women clearly are dominant--with 52 marks to the Men's 23!!
But on my World DDD's, the Men outdo the Ladies, 24 to 21!

The Grand Totals are 92 for the Men, and 140 for the Women!

Bottom line total is 232.

If you recall, I counted a whopping 465 such marks for the 2017 INdoor season!
But keep this in mind--
BIG numbers are expected from the Collegiate Conferences and the NCAA's!
For the HS set, the NBIN ALWAYS produces a humongous number of list-worthy marks!

Hopefully, 2018's version will match previous years!

And with the WC's yet to happen (Plus the 6th IAAF World INdoor Tour meet next week!), we can expect several more marks for the World--and maybe the US!

In 2017--as mentioned in another post--many marks came from the "new" events--the 300 and 600!
"New" in the sense that I'd just begun lists for those events, and 2017 was a GREAT year for those events--the combination making for a huge growth in my DDD numbers!!

That's not happening this season!!

Well, that does it for this weekend!

See you soon!

USATF Surprises Many

Can you wait a minute--while I eat my words?
In my Preview, I spoke a LOT about those athlete No-Shows (or MIA's!), seeming to think this would lessen the meet's quality!
Well, if you insist, it DID!
But then again, maybe who DID show up made up for those "losses".

Can't think of anyone who could have made the Men's 60 any better!
After all, when you smash your own World Record--and do so with only a fair start & 1st half of the race--well, the numbers speak for themselves!

Christian Coleman--less than 1 year out from Usain Bolt's retirement--has permission to wear a shirt that says "Usain WHO?" on its front!
His 6.34 either smashed Mo Greene's 6.39 WR---or Coleman's own (but debated) 6.37!
I choose the latter!
After a 6.42 semi--where he let up before the tape--Coleman survived a false start recall--then did what he does best--MOVE HIS ASS!!

Besides the World and American Records, he broke his own Age 21 record, and Greene's Meet Record!!
He of course remains 1st A-T World and US!

But Ronnie Baker wasn't standing still!
In fact, it was only in the last 20 meters where Coleman pulled ahead--narrowly!!
Baker's 6.40 snags the Age 24 Record!
He moves from 5th A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 3rd!
And on the World list, he moves from 8th, tied with 6 others, to 3rd!!
Add Mike Rodgers's 3rd place time of 6.50--which gave him the Age 32 Record---and you had yourself an A+ race!!

At 5000+ feet of altitude, you might expect fast sprint times!
And yes, ALL of them produced!

Jarret Eaton--who post-race proved he should be on Dancing with the Stars--took care of a quality field with ease!
After a heat in 7.53, it was Devon Allen's 7.52 which took Fastest Semi title!
But the final was all Eaton!
His 7.43 continued a string of fast 2018 times!
It moves him from 18th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 11th, tied with 1 other.
He's now 20th A-T World, tied with 4 others!

Second went to Aries Merritt, whose 7.46 is his best post-kidney transplant!!
He had to be that quick, as Devon Allen sped to a 7.49, which makes him 22nd A-T US!!
Knocked OFF the World DDD were two hurdle icons--
Greg Foster's and Mark McKoy's 7.44's, both of which came in 1991.

The Women's 60H was even better!
The talk pre-race was about if Kendra Harrison might threaten the World Record of 7.68!
After all, she'd already tied the American Record of 7.72--and that wasn't at altitude!

The heats went to Christina Manning's 7.84, with Harrison next at 7.87.
Sharika Nelvis ran 7.91.
(I'll report on the 9th place finisher later!!)
Things sped up a bit in the semi's--led by Harrison's 7.77, with Manning at 7.80, and Nelvis running 7.83!

Then came the final--which sent Lolo Jones into a little frenetic tizzy!!
With Harrison taking a cautious start, she fell behind Nelvis, who blasted from the blocks!
But as the meters wore down, it became a battle!
At the tape, the time of 7.70 flashed for all to see!
Nelvis had just sent Ms Jones into the realm of FORMER American Record holder!
(BTW, the little kerfuffle was about Jones's tweet, saying that SHE was the REAL AR holder, as Nelvis's time was Altitude-aided!!  Oh, come on, Lolo!!  LOL)

Anyway, her time is the new Age 27 Record, as well as the USATF Meet Record, and of course (Get a life, Lolo!!) the American Record!
She moves from 7th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to the Top!
And she moves from 19th A-T World, tied with 4 others, to 2nd!!

Harrison equaled her 7.72 PR in 2nd!
However, Nelvis's advance led to Harrison actually FALLING a spot!
She moves from 2nd A-T US, tied with Jones, to 3rd, where she's again tied with Jones!
Manning--another who's having a great 2018 season--got a PR by 0.04 seconds---to 7.73!
She moves from 6th to 4th on the A-T US list!
She moves from 14th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 2 others!

Queen Harrison finally got into the 7's--her 7.91 taking 5th!

The other sprint race--the Women's 60--at first lamented the DNS by Tori Bowie--who was thought to be America's best hope for Birmingham's WC's!
So after her DNS--(Don't know the reason!!)--the commentator's said it was anybody's race!
Maybe they didn't pay much attention when Javianne Oliver sped to a 7.11 heat--winning by several meters!!
This made her 20th A-T US, tied with 5 others!
But only temporarily!!

In the final, she led from the gun, and there was no looking back!
Her tremendous 7.02 smashed her PR of hours earlier by 0.09 seconds!!
She moves from 20th A-T US, tied with 5 others, to 6th, tied with 3 others!
And she enters the World list as well--at 17th A-T, tied with 6 others!
She won by 0.17 seconds!!

Think the Field Events were left behind?
Think again--especially if your eyes were turned to the Pole Vault---BOTH of them!!

The Men's was supposed to go to Sam Kendricks--despite his having lost a few to some European stars!!
But here, no one else was present who had cleared the 19 foot barrier!

That is, until Scott Houston got over the bar set at 19-1.50!!
He'd already PR'ed at the 18-11.50 bar, which both Kendricks and Mike Arnold also cleared!
Houston, who is 27 years old, is now 13th A-T US!!
He took a pair of tries at 19-3.50, missing both!

KC Lightfoot, a HS'er going against the Pro's, cleared the opening height (for everyone!!) of 17-7.75!
He didn't get over any others, but this one moves him from 14th A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 8th!

But it was the Women's event which set the arena on FIRE!!
(Figuratively speaking, that is!!  LOL)

And it was left to the "3rd best American of 2018" to take the Top of the Podium!
After Meagann LeLeux went out after her 15-1.50 PR clearance, it was left to Sandi Morris, Jenn Suhr, and Katie Nageotte to finish the race to the Top!
LeLeux's mark moves her from 23rd A-T US to 13th, tied with 1 other!

Suhr waited until 15-1.50 to open!
Getting that, she passed to 15-5.50, which she missed once!
She then made 15-7.25 & 15-9.25 on 1st tries.
She took 1 shot at 15-11.25, then missed twice more at 16-1.25!
She took 3rd!
But as a consolation prize, she SMASHED Stacy Dragila's Age 36 Record by almost 2 whole FEET!!

Morris, coming in off a back ache problem, seemed 100% healthy here!!
She missed once at 15-1.50, but then cleared all before 2 misses at 15-11.25!
One of those might be blamed on her late call to officials to pass--which was rejected because of its tardiness!!
She then got over on her 3rd try, before missing her trio at 16-1.25!

Then there's Ms Nageotte--who No-Heighted her previous meet!
(See earlier post!)
She, um, sort of turned things around in Albuquerque!!

Perfect through 14-5.25, 14-9.50, 15-1.50, she then passed (as all 3 leaders did!!) 15-3.50--before continuing on her "No Hitter"!!
After another 1st time clearance at 15-5.50, she moved into PR territory!!
At 15-7.25, equaling her PR, she stood at 5th A-T US, and 16th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Her next bar--15-9.25--moved her from 5th US to 4th, tied with 1 other!
On the World DDD, she moved from 16th, tied with 1 other, to 11th, tied with 2 others!

After clearing 15-11.25 (on 1st try!!), she'd moved from 4th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th, but with no ties!
Finally, with the bar set at 16-1.25, she took her pole, sprinted down the runway--having already won the meet--and fish-tailed over---on her first attempt!!
THREE PR's---plus a tie at 15-7.25!!
What can one say??

BTW, this final clearance gave her 3rd A-T US, and 4th A-T World!!
You might say Nageotte is THE rising (sic!) star of 2018's PV!!

Other USATF events were good---either with solid marks or with great battles!
A summary follows--

The Women's Pentathlon lived up to its pre-meet hype!
But even though Kendell Williams's 4508 fell far short of her best, her new training partner--Erica Bougard--kept things hopping!
Starting with an INdoor Pentathlon record of 7.98 in the 60H, she followed with a 1.89 HJ, a SP of 12.76, only to fall off American Record pace with a 6.20 LJ!
(If she'd matched her PR of 6.44, she might have gotten it!!)
Her 800 in 2:13.77 left her the winner with 4760 points!!
She moves from 7th A-T US to 2nd!!
She missed the World list by just 15 points!!
Alex Gochenour took 3rd with her 4405, while the "mysterious" (See earlier post!) Emilyn Dearman scored 4260 points in 4th!
She misses the US list by 41 points!

The Men's Heptathlon came down to the 1000, as Jeremy Taiwo, Devon Williams, and Wolf Mahler were VERY close after 6 events!
It was Taiwo's fast K that gave him the win with 5935 points, over Mahler's 5923, and Williams's 5842!

The WT's went to Conor McCullough and DeAnna Price!
McCullough's 78-2.75 was enough to turn back Alex Young's 77-1.75, and Sean Donnelly's 76-11.75!
Ms Price PR'ed, her 80-5 giving her the Age 24 Record!
But she remains 5th A-T on both the US and World lists!!
Second went to Jeneva Stevens's 79-6--just one-half inch off her PR!
The WR & AR holder--Gwen Berry--ended 3rd with 78-6.25!
But in 4th came a relative unknown (At least to me!!)--Tiffany Okieme!!
She's 24 years old, and has an OUTdoor HT best of just 190-7!!
But her 76-10 here makes her 13th A-T US, and 17th A-T World!!
(Will her HT improve as much??)

Brittney Reese took the LJ with a couple of 22-7 jumps--in rounds 3 & 5!
Second went to Quanesha Burks's 21-10.
The Men's LJ went to Jarrion Lawson's 5th round 27-6!
Marquis Dendy was Silver with his 26-11.75!

The Men's TJ saw a good fight between Will Claye and Chris Carter!
Claye's 56-8.50 prevailed over Carter's PR of 56-5.25!
This moves him from 16th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 14th!
The Women's event went to Tori Franklin--as expected!
But maybe NOT expected was this Oiselle athlete's PR of 46-5.25!!
This moves her from 12th A-T US to 5th!!
Andrea Geubelle was 2nd with her 45-2.25!

The 800's were solid--at least up front!!
In fact, the Women's best mark came in the HEATS!!
Raevyn Rogers took it out in 57.44, edging into AR possibilities--but then eased off with a 62.55!
But her 1:59.99 (!!) moves her from 20th A-T US to 13th!!
Ce'aira Brown's 2:01.43 PR took 2nd!
This makes her 23rd A-T US!
Kaela Edwards also made the US list (In the heats!!), her 2:01.49 becoming my US DDD's caboose!
Charlene Lipsey and Ajee Wilson also dipped under 2:02!!

In the final, they slugged it (as in Banana Slug!!) at 62.30 for the first 2 laps!
Despite a 28.04 last go-round, Rogers was unable to catch Wilson--with Ajee's 2:01.60 beating Rogers's 2:01.79!

Donavan Brazier's race was against the clock!!
Leaving everyone behind, he again JUST missed Johnny Gray's venerable 1:45.00 AR--his 1:45.10 taking one tick of the watch off his previous best!
His 1:45.10 smashed the USATF Meet Record, but he remains 2nd A-T US, and 18th A-T World!
Drew Windle took 2nd with 1:46.29!
Clay Murphy had failed to make the final!

The Walks went to Nick Christie and Maria Michta-Coffey, respective 3K times of 12:09.96 and 13:00.53!
MMC won by 33 seconds.
Back in 6th came HS'er Lauren Harris, whose 14:32.37 came nowhere near Taylor Ewart's earlier reported time of 13:45.0!
(See previous post!)

The rest---
The Distance races were Double Dippers for Shelby Houlihan and Paul Chelimo!
Houlihan's times of 9:00.08 and 4:13.07---using a strong last lap in both--were enough to hold off all challengers!
Katie Mackey's 9:01.68 sends her to England---and after making her 1st TeamUSA---she said (in a post-race interview--loudly!!) "It's about FUCKING time!!"
(Shades of Shalane Flanagan in NYC!)
Emma Coburn was 3rd in 9:01.85!
Sara Vaughn, the popular 3-time Mom & full-time Realtor, tried to steal the show in the 1500!
Charging from well back to take the lead with 400 to go, she wound up a drained 4th in 4:13.96!
Colleen Quigley and Shannon Osika took spots 2 & 3!

Chelimo's 7:57.88 kept Shadrack Kipchirchir's 7:58.42, and Ryan Hill's 7:58.69 in tow!
He did it with a last 200 of 26.04!!
Then he jogged the 1500 in 3:42.91 for his 2nd title!
No WC Q's here!!

Fred Kerley got knocked out of rhythm on the 2nd lap's 1st curve, and could finish just 5th!
Michael Cherry won, time of 45.53!
He misses the US list by 0.09 seconds!!
Kerley had run the fastest heat time--45.18!
HS'er Brian Herron was a DNS for unknown reasons!
The Women's 400 was a tight battle--run over 2 separate time trial heats!
In the first, Phyllis Francis led with her 51.19!!
But in the 2nd, Courtney Okolo's 51.16 was just enough to nail the W!
Shakima Wimbley's 51.17 took 2nd, while Georganne Moline's 51.39 took 4th!
Quanera Hayes was 5th, time of 51.46, while Super Vet Natasha  Hastings's 52.20 handed her 7th place!

The SP's were taken by Ryan Whiting and a Miss Danielle Hill!
The marks--67-9 for Whiting, and 59-4.75 were nothing to brag about!
But Ms Hill's winning was a bit of a shock--to me!!
In my Preview post, I completely ignored her!
You see, I had no idea that she was the former Dani BUNCH!!
Erin Farmer PR'ed with 59-0 in 2nd, with Jeneva Stevens taking the Bronze!

Erik Kynard was solid in the HJ--winning at 7-6.50, then trying 3 times at 7-7.75!
Vashti Cunningham left Inika McPherson and Nicole Greene behind, winning at 6-5.50--then missing 3 times at 6-7!!

Earlier, I referred to the 9th place finisher in the heats of the Women's 60H!
That was Emily Sloan, the HS'er who had run a time of 8.21 a week ago!
(See previous post!)
Well, she improved to 8.07 here!
This moves her from 12th A-T HS all the way to 2nd!!
But her 8.15 in the semi's left her out of the final!

And THAT, dear readers, is a WRAP---at least for the USATF meet!!
This is already WAY too long for me to even BEGIN to report all the rest of the stuff I've gathered!
So, stay tuned for a SECOND post---hopefully within a few hours!!

See you soon!!

USATF Preview (MEN & WOMEN)

With a heavy-hearted reluctance, I decided to do a Preview of the World Championships Trials for the United States, aka the USATF meet!
I'm sad for a few reasons!
One, that horrible shooting spree at a Florida HS!
Schools (& homes & churches & stores & streets!!) need to be safe havens!
But they're not!
And I'm sad for a much less somber reason---the number of Top Americans who, for one reason or several, decided to forego a chance to represent TeamUSA in the biggest meet of the year (For the US, that is!!), the WC's!

So this Preview will be a bit different than previous ones.
I'll still place the events in order of the Finals!
But instead of listing EVERY Meet Record, I'll list only those I see as having a strong chance of being broken!
I'll also tell you---Call it my SHAME list!---who is NOT here---for whatever reason!
(There ARE a few events with GREAT fields---but the key word is "few"!!)
Onward!

Friday Finals

Pentathlon--Women
We have the best here, so no complaints!
It's Kendell Williams vs Erica Bougard!
The altitude in Albuquerque COULD allow for some sensational marks, but I see the 4805 MR as safe!
Watch for Alex Gochenour and Emilyn Dearman, who is listed as having an OUTdoor Heptathlon score of 5924!
But I've never heard of her!!

Saturday Finals

WT--Men
Conor McCullough and Colin Dunbar should duke it out!
And that's all she wrote, folks!

TJ--Women
Keturah Orji is MIA!!
Yes, she's a Collegiate, but the WC's ends 5 days before the NCAA's begin!
In the World Leader's absence, expect Tori Franklin to have it easy.
Andrea Geubelle is in for the Silver!

Heptathlon--Men
Devon Williams and Jeremy Taiwo should be the Top 2 at the end of the 1000!
Yawn.
(BTW, Taiwo has the Meet Record at 6273 points--from 2015!)

PV--Men
Aaah!
We have Sam Kendricks!
He might have some serious challengers in Birmingham, but not here!
Devin King, Scott Houston, and Andrew Irwin will be trying for 19 feet (if they get that far!).
MIA is the best Collegiate--Chris Nilsen!

LJ--Men
Even though Jarrion Lawson leads the Men here, this is a weak event!
Marquis Dendy and Jarvis Gotch--if they're in shape--could reach 8 meters!

SP--Women
The headline here are the MIA's--plural!!
Shot Diva Michelle Carter--who apparently is off somewhere Diva'ing!!
Dani Bunch, who's been MIA all season!
Raven Saunders, who has a damn good excuse--She's dealing with some big personal problems!
Let her be!
But then there's Maggie Ewen--yet another World Leader---not here!
Another Collegiate who feels it's better to prepare for her Conference meet than to travel to England to wave the American Flag after she Podiums!!
BTW, Jeneva Stevens and Felicia Johnson are the best bets here!

HJ--Men
The 2 best will be either partying in their dorms, or studying for a test!
They're NOT here!!
The pair of Collegiates--who lead the US list this year!--are Trey Culver and Vernon Turner!
Erik Kynard will try to imitate Erik Kynard.
Watch for Brad Adkins and Jeron Robinson!

3000--Women
I'll give this group a B+ for being MOST of America's best!
Yes, there's no Jenny Simpson or Molly Huddle or Emily Infeld, but that's OK.
We have someone who just MIGHT be the best---Simpson & Co notwithstanding!
Shelby Houlihan's splits (4:23 & 4:13, estimated) in her 8:36.01 last week (See previous post!) were outstanding!!
And she won the 2 Mile here last year--albeit in a Slug vs Snail "race"!!
There's also Emma Coburn, Marielle Hall, Lauren Paquette, and Katie Mackey!

3000--Men
Paul Chelimo, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and Emmanuel Bor should be the last 3 standing!
Ryan Hill might tap on their shoulders!
No serious names are missing, since Bernard Lagat is On the Road(s) at Age 43!!

Sunday Finals

WT--Women
The WR holder--Gwen Berry--is here!
And she's been on FIRE in 2018!!
A WR, MR, AR??
Could be, could be!!
Felicia Johnson, Jeneva Stevens, and Jessica Ramsey  are the other goodies!
MIA is the best Collegiate--who's ALSO been HOT this year!--Jeneah Stewart!!

LJ--Women
Brittney Reese will be all alone at the Top---assuming she hits the board!!
Sha'keela Saunders, Quanesha Burks, and maybe Jasmine Todd could get in the 22's!!
Tianna Bartoletta and Collegiate Kate Hall aren't here!

3000 Walk--Men
Nick Christie and Emmanuel Korvera could have a good little tussle!
Teen Cameron Haught isn't here!
(Haven't seen him all season!!)

PV--Women
What should I say?
Sandi Morris is present--but might be hurting!
Jenn Suhr is LISTED as an entrant!
We'll see if she wants to rack up another USATF title at Age 36!!
Katie Nageotte had a recent No-Height--but doesn't seem worried!
Then there's Kristin Hixson, Megan Clark, Morgann LeLeux, Annie Johnigan, and Kristin Brown!
But NO Demi Payne!!
(Where in the World is Waldo??)
Also MIA are the 2 best Collegiates--Olivia Gruver and Lexi Jacobus!!
THEY could have made things REALLY interesting!!

HJ--Women
Is Chaunte Lowe retired?
Anyway, not to worry--Vashti's here!!
Ms Cunningham--who might medal in Birmingham!--should have a siesta!!
But Inika McPherson and Nicole Greene are good--with the latter PR'ing this year!!
Where is Brigetta Barrett?

SP--Men
This tank is EMPTY!!
The JUST-engaged Joe Kovacs ain't here!
Neither is Ryan Crouser!
Or Collegiate Frosh sensation Jordan Geist!
Darrell Hill--at least on paper--seems the best here!
Ryan Whiting and Jon Jones will be happy to reach 20 meters!

3000 Walk--Women
The Biggies are present--Maria Michta-Coffey and Miranda Melville!
50K Heroine Katie Burnett is also here, but can she sprint??
HS'er Lauren Harris is entered too!
But why not Taylor Ewart, the HSR holder in the 1500, Mile, and 3000 Walks??

TJ--Men
Will Claye and Omar Craddock should make the runway burn a little!
Chris Carter, Chris Benard, and Don Scott are also here!
MIA is the best--Christian Taylor!

400--Men
Is Fred Kerley in shape?
I haven't seen his name in any results this year---or at least nothing that would make me go WOW!
If he's in trouble, watch for Michael's Cherry & Berry!
But also watch Marqueze Washington, who just ran 45.24 (See earlier post!).
Brian Herron, one of the Twin Terrors of HS sprinting, is here!
So why also isn't Herron's TT, Tyrese Cooper??
Michael Norman--who just happens to have the 2nd best time in the World in 2018!!--ain't here either!
Neither is Lashawn Merritt--but that might not matter as much as in earlier years!!

800--Women
Ajee Wilson, the AR holder, vs Raevyn Rogers, the CR holder!!
(Though the latter is a Pro now!!)
Kaela Edwards--also listed for the 1500!--might challenge!
Watch for Hanna Green.
Samantha Watson isn't here!
Can Ajee (Or Raevyn??) get Maria Mutola's MR of 1:58.41--dating from 1995??

800--Men
Boris Berian scratched!
Maybe because of his DYING in his recent "duel" with Donavan Brazier (See previous post!)??
Brazier IS here--and with Albuquerque's altitude, could finally nail Johnny Gray's AR of 1:45.00.
(The Meet Record is an easy 1:46.60!!)
Erik Sowinski and Casimir Loxsom might challenge!
What will Drew Windle and Clay Murphy run?

1500--Women
Shelby Houlihan will be doubling??
She'll need her fierce kick to control Kate Grace, Colleen Quigley, and Alexa Efraimson!
Also doubling are Kaela Edwards and Katie Mackey!
Ms Simpson and Brenda Martinez are the key MIA's!
IF the pace is fast, Mary Slaney's 2000 Meet Record of 4:03.08 might go down!

400--Women
This is one WILD line-up!!
Even though Collegiates Kendell Ellis, Sydney McLaughlin, and Lynna Irby aren't present, they'll hardly be missed!!
Here's the list---
Shakima Wimbly, Georganne Moline, Phyllis Francis, Quanera Hayes, Natasha Hastings, Courtney Okolo, and Jaide Stepter!!
WHEW!!
(Too bad there won't be 7 lanes!  They'll have to run two time "heats"!!)
Sanya Richard-Ross's MR of 50.71 could--and likely will--fall!!

1500--Men
No Matthew Centrowitz, who isn't doing INdoors this year!
WIMP!!
Will Leer ain't here--and that rhymes!!)
Expect Kyle Merber to do battle with Craig Engels and Paul Chelimo---who is doubling back from the 3K!
Ben Blankenship and Shadrack Kipchirchir might keep the fires stoked!
The MR is a measly 3:40.80!
With the WC Q time being over a second faster, will they try for it??

60H--Women
When you have altitude--and the WR holder in the OUTdoor 100H--as well as the Co-AR holder in the 60H--in Kendra Harrison, who needs Collegiate Dior Hall??
If she doesn't crush a hurdle or 2, the WORLD Record could be in dire jeopardy!!
That 7.68 needs to GO!!
But she better keep an eye out for consistent Christina Manning--no slouch at lucky (??) 7.77!!
The Usual Suspects (minus Lolo Jones, Nia Ali, and Dawn Harper-Nelson) are here!
Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, Jasmine Stowers, and Queen Harrison--the latter of whom has been struggling to dip into the 7's!!
The MR is "just" 7.74!

60H--Men
MIA is the FASTEST American of 2018--and 2nd fastest in the WORLD---Grant Holloway!!
WHY??
Jarrett Eaton is fast, however, as are Aries Merritt, Devon Allen, and Aleec Harris!

60--Women
Tori Bowie is the Star here!
She should have NO trouble winning--barring some disaster!!
Behind her should come Teahna Daniels, Javianne Oliver, Felicia Brown, and Dezerea Bryant!
MIA's include Ms Bartoletta, as well as English Gardner!
But why isn't newbie Pro (& College Drop-Out!!) Hannah Cunliffe here?
Or the fastest Collegiate of 2018--Mikiah Brisco??

60--Men
Finishing the meet COULD be a Meet, American, and WORLD Record!!
(Ironically, one of Mo Greene's 6.39's is the MR here!!)
Will Christian Coleman use ALL 5000+ feet of Albuquerque's altitude to his advantage??
He shouldn't have anyone close at the tape!
But expect Noah Lyles to PR again!
Ronnie Baker has had some fast times too--relatively speaking, that is!
THIS is Mr Coleman's Show!!

Enjoy the meet!
Will have the results--as well as all the weekend's marks--soon after it's finished!
Late Sunday??

See you soon!

IAAF World Tour---3 Stops

After the first four stops on the IAAF's World INdoor Tour---Karlsruhe, Dusseldorf, Madrid, and Boston---I believe I have enough evidence to say that this concoction is intrusive and even stifling on the health and welfare of elite Track & Field!

Like any elixir devised to stimulate interest, it brings with it a combination of curatives---and poisons!
I happen to see both!

(It's like candy & cookies vs the health of your teeth and stomach!  Lots of good & lots of bad!!)

The problem with the IAAF World Tour is almost a mirror image of the problems with the OUTdoor Diamond League!

There is little or no experimentation---but a reliance on same old same old formulas---when experimentation is exactly what the Doctor ordered---and what the Patient needs!!

Athletes do the same events stop after stop---because that's all they have to choose from!

And those points---and that cash!!
Magical cures promised to these elite Men & Women---with only one thing asked for---WIN!!
Doesn't matter if they win big---or win small---smash a Record---or jog & kick---just WIN!!

Stop after stop after stop after......!!!

OK, enough!

You want to know what DID happen in Dusseldorf, Madrid, and Boston!
Whether it cures our sport's ills---or murders them---no matter to you, those TAFNUTS who read my blog!!
Onward then!!

Dusseldorf

Bingtian Su is fast becoming (pun intended!) a sprinter the world need fear!
Only new WR holder Christian Coleman is faster this INdoor season!!

Breaking his own National Record of China, Su's 6.43 also gets him the Age 28 record!

He moves from 19th A-T World, tied with 7 others, to 5th, where he's tied with just 1 other!

Speed was also front & center in the Women's 60H!

Continuing her quick series of times, Christina Manning timed at 7.77 at the tape, beating an eclectic Worldwide gang of foes!
She moves from 8th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 5th!
And she moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 13th, also tied with 1 other!

In 2nd came Sharika Nelvis, her 7.80 tying her PR!
Three others ran under 7.90---Pam Dutkiewicz (7.83), Cindy Roleder (7.85), and Alina Talay (7.89).

Ivana Spanovic got back on track---er, on the board!!---winning the LJ with 22-2.50!!
She was still fouling too much--but less so--and seemed happier with her progress!

Tomas Stanek is also becoming more dangerous to the World's SP'ers!

His latest PR was 72-9!!

This is the National Record of the Czech Republic!
He moves from 23rd A-T World all the way into 6th!!
And his competition was no slouch!

Stipe Zunic's 69-4 got him the National Record of Croatia!

Piotr Lisek handed Sam Kendricks a rare defeat in the PV---19-2.75 to 18-11.50!
In 3rd, with the same height as the American, came Konstadinos Filippidis!!

In other Dusseldorf events---

Yomif Kejelcha's 7:40.55 edged Bethwell Birgen's 7:40.90 in the 3000!

Beatrice Chepkoech won the 1500 in 4:04.21, but back in 5th, Anita Hinriksdottir's 4:09.54 got her the National Record of Iceland!

Asha Philip took the 60 in 7.17.
In the Men's 800, Erik Sowinski's 3rd place time of 1:46.57 moves him from 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 19th!

Madrid
On maybe the Tour's weakest link, the best of the worst award probably goes to Spain's own Yunier Perez, who never even made it to the final of the 60!!

He ran 6.58 in his heat, but suffered an injury, and DNS'ed the final!
He might be out for the season--and the year!

Mariya Lasitskene got 3 X's at 6-9.50 in the HJ, but she did win at a steady 6-6.75!

Genzebe Dibaba wasn't in Record-chasing mode--as is the prototype for these affairs!
But her domination of the 1500 continued---her 4:02.43 beating the 4:04.72 of Konstanze Klosterhalfen!

Meraf Bahta's 8:42.46 beat Fantu Worku's 8:42.69 in the 3000!

The Men's TJ saw a good battle!

Almin dos Santos's 56-11.25 came out on top of Nelson Evora's 56-9.25!
But it was Evora who got the Age 33 record!!

The PV saw Konstadinos Filippidis go over 19-2.25, thus defeating the 19-0.25 of Piotr Lisek!

Tomas Stanek won again--his SP measuring 71-2.

And Lea Sprunger won the 400 with her 51.61.

Then there was Boston!!

Go back and read again the story of Ed Cheserek's 3:49.44 Mile!!

That was the day before the New Balance meet!

Keeping his promise, he returned less than 24 hours later in Boston's 3000--where he was to face the much faster Hagos Gebrhiwet and Dejen Gebrmeskel!!
Could Ches stay with them---at least through halfway??

He did!
King Ches did in fact WIN!!
Using his standard-brand final 400 kick (57.5 here!), Ches also PR'ed--in 7:38.74!

Gebrhiwet ended 2nd in 7:41.79, with Gebrmeskel's time being 7:42.78!
Could it be that the King is now the Best in the World??

Well, maybe on the Men's side!
But in the Women's 3000, Jenny Simpson's much-ballyhooed romp against teammate, training partner, and friend Emma Coburn turned into a runaway victory!

With Sarah Brown providing excellent pacing for the first 2000, the Colorado 2-some were content to follow!

When Brown stepped off, it was Simpson who stretched out the field!
But it wasn't Coburn at her heels!
It was 19 year old Fotyen Tsefay--who would turn 20 just a few days later!

This youngster challenged the 31 year old American, forcing her to dig deeper!!

Her 8:40.31 won the race, and finally got her a PR---after  her 8:42.03 former Collegiate Record from 2009!!
Simpson moves from 10th A-T US to 5th!
Tsefay's time was 8:41.08.
Coburn gave chase also, but her legs didn't hold out over the final laps.
Still, her 8:43.57 was a good time!

Timed at 2000, the rabbit Brown's 5:48.70 gives her 6th A-T US in that "event"!
Simpson's 5:49.03 moves her from 18th A-T US to 7th!!

Donavan Brazier came THIS close to matching Johnny Gray's venerable American Record of 1:45.00 in the 800!
Doing battle with the returning Boris Berian---it was all Brazier, as the tatted & hair-bun'd former McDonald's burger flipper faded to last on the final go-round!
His 1:45.11 disappointed him when he found out how close he was to the Record!!
While remaining 2nd A-T US, he moves from 24th A-T World into 18th!!

The NBC crew--Ato Boldon up front--were talking World Record for Christian Coleman in the 60!
Selling points---P.R. (See my previous post!!)---but not to be!
Still, his 6.46 took the measure of the PR by Noah Lyles--a 6.57.
Coleman was seen to ease up before the tape!
Some said it might have been a 6.41 if he'd run through!

(Hmmm---maybe 6.43??)

The Women's 1500 saw a couple of National Records go down!!
The winner--Dawit Seyaum--wasn't one of them!
Her 4:04.38 defeated the 4:04.95 of Aisha Praught-Leer---who is having quite the season!
Praught-Leer's time is the National Record of Jamaica.

In 4th was Dominique Scott-Erfurd, her 4:07.25 adding to her National Record quota for South Africa!

(Not picked yet for SA's team for the Commonwealth Games, this and her other NR's has created a crusade of sorts to get her on the team!!)

The Women's 800 was to be Raevyn Rogers's intro to Pro INdoor racing (in an individual event, as she was part of the USA's WR 4X800 Relay team recently!!).
But the former UO Duck was upset by Jenna Westaway's run away strategy!!
Moving out to a 10 meter lead on the 3rd lap, Westaway was thought to be catchable!

But Rogers---who has a 49.77 OUTdoor Relay leg to her credit!!--moved too late!!
The Canadian's 2:01.22 beat Rogers's 2:01.73!

Another good battle came in the 60H---where Sharika Nelvis and Christina Manning photo-finished their 7.89's---with Nelvis nipping Manning!!

In the Men's 300, Jereem Richards took control early---and control is a necessity in INdoor races!!
His steaming 32.10 is the Boston Meet Record.
It's also the National Record of Trinidad & Tobago!
And it gets him 7th A-T World!!

Other Boston events---

Shakima Wimbley took the 400 in 51.82.
Chris O'Hare loves America---he keeps winning here!!
His 3:37.03 in the 1500 is his latest!
Erika Kinsey took the HJ with her 6-3.25!
And in the Girls HS Mile, Kelsey Chmiel defeated the Millrose HS winner--Gabrielle Wilkinson!
 Chmiel's time was a non-PR of 4:44.84.

I do have a few late-breaking marks to report!

The very latest is the duel between Rio PV winner Thiago Braz, and the INdoor WR holder Renaud Lavillenie!
Both cleared 19-4.25, with it being called a tie!!

Luvo Manyonga improved his INdoor LJ best to 27-6.75!!

It breaks his own South Africa National Record!
He moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 15th, tied with 1 other!

Emmanouil Karalis PV'ed 18-11.50---in what he called the World Junior Record!
But he might be forgetting the 19-1.50 by Mondo Duplantis recently!!
Still, a great mark for the 18 year old Greek!

Marie Josee Ta Lou is ready for the WC's---if that's her intention!

Her 7.07 took over the World lead, and defeated the 7.09 by Carina Horn!
But Horn's time gives her South Africa's National Record!!

A couple of US youngsters did good!
Grace Stark sped 8.22 over the 60H, moving her from 16th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 12th!

And the Ping sisters did pretty good too!
But it was 7th Grader Lauren who WON her 1600 (!!) race against older HS'ers!

Her time was 5:06.26.

Sister Grace ran 4:55 in another race, but lost---by 5 seconds!!

And that--together with my earlier post--wraps this weekend up in a pretty knot!!

Don't expect a Preview post for the USATF meet---as it appears it's going to be yet another gathering of only SOME of America's greats!!

Sure, it should be a great meet anyway, but I just can't condone the No-Shows by so many of our nation's elites!!
No excuses!!

See you soon!!

HOT Lead-In to Final Weeks

We are now 4 weeks from the end of 2018 INdoors!
But OH those 28 days!!
We begin soon with the USATF meet, which stands as the Trials for the World Championships!
Then come the Collegiate Conferences--with most of the best being on LEGAL tracks, thank you!
The World INdoor Championships in Birmingham, England cover the first 4 days of March!
Finally, we have the wild pair of Nationals--the NCAA and the NBIN--where Records galore are sure to happen!!
But heh, THIS weekend wasn't half bad!!

I'll be doing TWO posts!!
This one has all the results (and some news items!) that happened OUTSIDE the trio of IAAF World Tour meets---Dusseldorf, Madrid, and Boston---which I will cover in my second post!!

There might not have been a DEEPER pair of fields for a Half Marathon than was found at the RAK Half in the United Arab Emirates!
The results speak for themselves!

While falling 2 seconds shy of tying the World Record of Joyciline Jepkosgei, Fancy Chemutai's 64:53 took care of a class field of Women with dispatch!
Out-kicking the legendary Mary Keitany in an all-out "last lap" battle, Chemutai nailed the Age 22 record.
She moves from 6th A-T World to 2nd!!
Keitany's 64:55 made her the Age 36 record holder!
She moves from 5th to 3rd on the World DDD!
She also started a long string of new Place bests, getting the 2nd Place record!

Caroline Kipkirui's 65:07 is the best 3rd Place mark, and gives her 5th A-T World!
Joan Chelimo Melly ran 65:37 for the best 4th Place mark!
She moves from 19th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 8th!

Following (in order) are these best Place marks---
Joyciline Jepkosgei (66:46) in 5th Place
Degitu Azimiraw Asires (66:47) in 6th Place
Brigid Kosgei (66:49) in 7th Place
Gladys Cherono (67:13) for the best 8th Place mark
Helen Tola Bekele (67:47) in 9th Place
Naom Jebet (68:22) in 10th Place
and Eunice Chumba (also 68:22) in 11th Place!!

The Men weren't as deep, but the winner was FAST!!
Bedan Karoki broke away from a large pack, and cruised (speedily!) to a 58:42 finish!!
This makes him 5th A-T World, as well as the Age 22 record holder!!

Jemal Yimer, in his first-ever Half, was 2nd in 59:00!
This makes him 20th A-T World!
Alex Kibet was 3rd in 59:06.
Jorum Okumbo and Morris Gachaga were each timed in 59:36, with Okumbo getting the pick for 4th!
In 6th came Wilfred Kimitai's 59:40.
The other sub-hour Man was Edwin Kiptoo's 59:54 in 7th!

Cut OFF my World DDD was one Paul Tergat, his 59:06 dating from 2000!!
BTW, his was the oldest mark on my list!!

But it was on the INdoor Tracks & Fields of America and the World where some "CLASS" acts performed at their best!!
(I quotation-marked CLASS for a reason!!  See below!)

Grant Holloway faced Omar McLeod in the Clemson meet's 60H!
The Jamaican took the heat in 7.46, with Holloway running a tenth back!
But the circle came full around in the final!
And how!!

Holloway, the HSR holder for the 39 inch hurdles, grabbed the Collegiate Record (at 42 inches) with his astounding win in 7.42, fulfilling a potential seen since his career's inception!!
And this erased McLeod's CR, ironically enough!!

Besides the CR, he also gets the Soph Class record.
He moves from 3rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to the Top!
On the A-T US list, he moves from 21st to 10th!
And he becomes 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
McLeod ended 2nd in 7.52!!
The Jamaican also ran the 200, time of 20.76!

Another "CLASS" act was Ms Tamari Davis!
If you recall, she set the OUTdoor Age 14 record for the 200 last year, time of 23.21.
At the Dunamis meet in Atlanta, Davis was---um---busy!!

She first broke the Frosh Class record in the 60, time of 7.30!
She then got the 200 Frosh Class record, time of 23.54!
That was in the heats!!
In the final, she merely broke her own record--this time at 23.42!!
THREE Frosh Class records!!
BTW, the 23.54 made her 13th A-T HS!
The 23.42 moved her from 13th to 7th!
Her 60 time makes her 15th A-T HS, tied with 6 others!
All in her 9th Grade year!!

That Clemson meet was a hair-raiser!!
(Maybe only half-jokingly, someone on Twitter suggested moving the USATF meet from Albuquerque to Clemson!!)

Kendra Harrison, the World Record holder at the OUTdoor 100H, is now tied for the American Record (with the inimitable Lolo Jones!!) at the INdoor 60H, as she destroyed a quality field with her time of 7.72!
She moves from 2nd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 1st, where she's tied with Jones!
On the World list, she moves from 5th A-T, tied with 3 others, to 2nd, where Jones is her partner again!
"Keni" had run 7.81 in her heat!

Behind her in the final came 2 Collegiates!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn's 7.95 took 2nd, and makes her 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
Anna Cockrell's 7.96 in 3rd moves her from 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 21st!!

The Clemson track was friendly to 400 meter runners too!
In his very first INdoor race, USC's Michael Norman sprinted to a 45.00, putting him on 3 DDD's!
He is 5th A-T Collegiate, 5th A-T US, and 7th A-T World!!
Akeem Bloomfield took 2nd in 45.02, giving him the National Record of Jamaica!!
He gets 6th A-T Collegiate, and is 8th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
In 3rd came Nathan Strother, whose 45.56 makes him 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!

The Mile took center stage at BU's Terrier meet!
Former Duck Ed Cheserek showed what he can do when team points and NCAA wins aren't first on his mind!
With 2 rabbits (another "competitor" was a DNS!), the King ran a fairly even pace (58, 57, 58) before soloing to a time of 3:49.44!
He moves from 12th A-T World to 2nd--behind only WR holder Hicham El Guerrouj, whose 3:48.45 dates from 1997!!
He also gets the Age 24 record, and breaks his own National Record of Kenya!
Enroute, his 1500 time of 3:33.76 makes him 10th A-T World!!

In the Women's race, New Hampshire's Eleanor Purrier continues to make us forget she's a damn good Steepler!!
(Shades of Jenny Simpson??)
Speaking of the former Ms Barringer, Purrier's 4:26.55 ended just 0.64 shy of tying Jenny's Collegiate Record of 2009!!
She moves from 9th A-T Collegiate to 2nd!
And she's now 13th A-T US!
Her 1500 time of 4:10.21 moves her from 10th A-T Collegiate to 3rd!!

Canada's Gabriella Stafford followed in 4:27.44, with Marta Freitas's 4:29.65 ending ahead of Nicole Sifuentes's 4:30.03.
But in 5th was Millie Paladino, whose 4:31.98 makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!
Her enroute 1500 time of 4:14.31 makes her 15th A-T Collegiate!

Moving to Event Group collections, we go first to the---

Sprints & Hurdles
The Tyson meet saw Aleia Hobbs's 7.12 beat Jonielle Smith's 7.18 in the flat 60!
Tyson also produced a solid Men's 400!
Marqueze Washington's 45.24 makes him 11th A-T US.
He is also 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Second was Obi Igbokwe, his 45.38 making him 19th A-T US!

Quanera Hayes also ran fast at Tyson, her 400 timed at 51.82.
But Georganne Moline was faster in the Texas Tech meet, running 51.39.
This makes her 19th A-T US!
She added a 200 in 23.23, but she was beaten by Gabrielle Thomas's 22.95!

In the Dunamis meet, Tia Jones improved her 60H time to 8.15!
This gets her the Junior Class record!
She moves from 17th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 6th!
Emily Sloan was 2nd in 8.21, which makes her 11th A-T HS!

In her initial 2018 outing, Dafne Schippers ran her 60 heat in 7.17.
But she then false started the final!

Arria Minor is a versatile sprinter.
Her 53.80 over 400 meters makes her 20th A-T HS!

At Clemson, Sydney McLaughlin ran her only race, a 200, as her expected 4X400 relay leg never happened, as Kentucky was a DNS!
Her 22.95 took 2nd behind Deanna Hill's 22.82!
Kendell Ellis's 22.99 took 3rd just ahead of JCQ's 23.00!!
Ellis also took the 400 in 51.57!

Elijah Hall sped 200 meters in 20.52 at Tyson!
At the Don Kirby meet in NM's altitude, Makenzie Dunmore sprinted the 60 in 7.18, beating Ashley Henderson's 7.19.
Dentarius Wright ran the 400 in 45.50, also in NM!

While it was on Seattle's Oversize Track, it's interesting to note that Nijel Amos ran the 400 in 46.73, though it only got him 2nd!

The Relays
I'll need to go back in time to explain why some people call USC's 3:01.98 in the 4X400 at Clemson the "World Record"!
Almost exactly 12 years ago (Feb 11, 2006, in Arkansas), a US All-Star team ran 3:01.96, setting what was considered the WR!
But certain drug tests weren't taken, so it wasn't ratified as a WR!
But my TAFWA INdoor list book from 2011 lists it as the fastest time on record!
And I believe some consider it the American Record!
Well, I accept it as both the US and World Record!!

Now we come to the little joke in all this!
USC's team included Rai Benjamin, who runs for Antigua--thus obviating the team's eligibility for the US record--as well as the WR, since a team must consist of ALL runners being of the same nationality!!
And they say T&F is simple!!

Anyway, it DOES get them the Collegiate Record!!
And it moves them from 18th A-T School to 1st!!
This was one speedy race!
In 2nd came Florida, their time being 3:02.23!
It moves them from 3rd A-T School to 2nd!
Texas A&M was 3rd in 3:02.95, which isn't a PR, as they were the former CR holder's at 3:02.52!!

Southern Cal has fast Women too---and PLEASE don't read anything into that that isn't there!!
LOL
Anyway, their 4-some ran 3:27.56, easily beating Florida's 3:32.05!!
Tyson had fast Relays!
Houston's 3:04.18 makes them 7th A-T School!!
And Purdue's 3:31.63 moves them up a notch, from 19th A-T School to 18th!
At Don Kirby, UO ran 3:30.18 for the win!

At Texas Tech, the home school was beaten by TCU!
Their 3:04.25 moves them from 12th A-T School to 7th, tied with 1 other!
TX Tech's 3:05.18 moves them from 19th A-T School to 17th!

Distances
Valentin Smirnov's 3:56.06 Mile won the Russian Winter meet, and set the Meet Record!

I should mention here that Justyn Knight's 7:45.86 in the 3000 at Millrose makes him 9th A-T Collegiate!!

The BU meet found Olga Kosichenko busy!
She won the 500 and 800, respective times of 1:09.72 and 2:02.92!
Sam Ellison took the BU 800 in 1:46.49!
Sammy Watson returned to action in the Clemson 800, easily winning in 2:03.42.
Alex Riba and Ben Young both ran in the 3:59's in the Clemson Mile!

Alexa Efraimson took the Don Kirby 800 in 2:03.87!
Craig Engles ran a fast Mile at BU---in a separate race from Cheserek's (See above!)---time of 3:53.93!
This makes him 15th A-T US!
Julian Oakley was 2nd in 3:55.10!

Texas Tech had a couple of good 600's!
Charles Jones's 1:16.94 makes him 14th A-T Collegiate.
And Karolina Pahlitzsch's 1:29.23 makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate!

Regrettably, I must report some of the best times were run on those dang OT's!!
And yes, NONE of the following times are eligible for Record or List purposes!!
(WHY waste your time, folks---pun intended!!--??)

Anyway, proving she's quite versatile, former Triathlete-turned-Marathoner Gwen Jorgensen almost caught Emily Infeld in the Seattle 5000!!
Her 15:15.64 was her first track race in many years!!
Infeld won in 15:15.52!
Erin Clark was well back in 15:37.64!

Mike Tate took the Men's 5K in Seattle, time of 13:37.33.
He's a Southern Utah student!
At Iowa State--also an OT--Justyn Knight won in 13:39.59!
The top 7 Men were 13:41.33 or faster!!
Georgia's Jessica Drop took the IA 5000 in 15:43.28!
Andy Trouard beat Grant Fisher in the Iowa 3000, both running in the 7:48's!
Sharon Lokedi dipped under 9 minutes, her 8:59.69 winning in Ames!

Seattle had a very deep Women's 3000, with FIVE of them in the high 8:50''s--between 8:57 & 8:59.
In order, they were Ednah Kurgat, Jessica Hull and Lilli Burdon of UO, Vanessa Fraser, and Allie Ostrander!
A quartet of Duck Men ran sub-4 Miles on Seattle's 307 meter OT!
Sam Prakel was the winner, beating Reed Brown and 2 others.
Evan Jager finished 7th--in 3:58.27!

Field Events (including the Multi's)
Ivona Dadic scored 4692 in the Pentathlon.
It wasn't a PR for the Austrian.
Nina Schultz erupted to a Pentathlon score of 4502.
This moves her from 23rd A-T Collegiate to 7th!!

Kevin Mayer may threaten Ashton Eaton's Decathlon WR--using the Pole Vault as maybe his most lethal weapon!
He suddenly jumped up 20 centimeters--from 5.40 to 5.60--or 18-4.50 in English measure!

Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-3.75, getting the National Record of South Africa!
He is 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!

The Tyson LJ was won by Taliyah Brooks's 21-6.75, while Kate Hall's 21-8.75 won the Clemson event!
Zack Basile of Ohio State LJ'ed 26-8.25!
A special note---
That's the exact distance Jesse Owens hit--in a 1935 OUTdoor meet--setting a record that would last for decades!!
Owens was also an Ohio Stater!!

Jasmine Moore TJ'ed 42-6.25, but it wasn't a PR.
In 2nd was Alonie Sutton, her 42-0 making her 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!!
Jhonny Luque TJ'ed 44-0 in Iowa!
Thea Lafond of Domenica TJ'ed 45-6.25 at Clemson!
Tyson saw Omar Craddock get off a solid INdoor TJ mark---his 56-4.50 making him 15th A-T US!!

Vernon Turner soared up to 7-7.75 in the HJ!!
This breaks his own Frosh Class record!
He moves from 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 11 (ELEVEN!!) others, to 4th, where he's tied with just 3 others!
He's also 12th A-T US, tied with 4 others!

Jeanelle Scheper reached 6-2.
Randall Cunningham's 7-5 took the Clemson HJ!
Shelby McEwen was 2nd with 7-3.75!
Zarrica Wiltir (sp?), a Texas Tech Junior, HJ'ed 6-2.25 at---Texas Tech!
Jeron Robinson HJ'ed 7-4.50!
Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas HJ'ed 7-7!

The other "vertical" saw a lot of action!
At the Russian Winter meet, Anzhelika Sidorova PV'ed 15-11.25, getting her the Meet Record!
She moves from 12th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 7th!!
Tamir Mangunov took the Men's event, reaching 19-1.50!

Mondo Duplantis couldn't get over 19 feet, but his 18-9.50 beat some Collegiates!
Matthew Ludwig's 18-5.50 took 2nd!
Mondo missed his 3 tries at a HSR height of 19-2!

Kristin Hixson cleared 14-8!
Morgann LeLeux went over 14-7.25---somewhere!

The Tyson PV saw Alysha Newman take care of the Collegiates, her 15-3.50 breaking her own National Record of Canada!!
Lexi Jacobus was 2nd with 14-9.50.
(Lexi passed all the way to 15-5.50--after Newman's clearance--and progression to 15-5.50---where both failed all attempts!)
Lisa Gunnarsson and Tori Hoggard both reached 14-5.50!

Jake Wooten went over 18-4.50.
Lakan Taylor cleared 14-3.25!
At the Don Kirby meet, Anicka Newell continued her solid Vaulting, clearing 15-1.
In the Seattle PV, HS'er Ellie Talius's 13-7 PR took the measure of some Collegiates,  including 2nd placer Lauren Martinez of Colorado, who also got over 13-7.
Talius moves from 22nd A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 19th, where she's tied with 2 others also!

Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou has returned!!
Her 15-1.50 took Silver to Kat Stefanidi's 15-9.25, but the veteran Greek is BACK!!
And OUTdoors--in Australia--Nina Kennedy got over 15-5.50!

The Throws
Maggie Ewen is RED HOT!!
(In her "other" event???)
After PR'ing in the SP with 61-3 (See earlier post!), she added 21 inches to that mark--her 63-0 taking the Don Kirby event!
She moves from 5th A-T Collegiate to 3rd!
She moves from 15th A-T US to 7th!
Her WT got out to 73-0.50--another PR!

While far behind, Ashlie Blake and Alyssa Wilson both got solid marks--Blake's being 56-11.50, and Wilson's being a Collegiate PR of 56-9.25!

Danniel Thomas-Dodd improved to 62-6, breaking her own National Record of Jamaica!
BTW, Thomas-Dodd's mark led the World---until Ewen threw her 63-0!!

Tyson Jones threw 69-7.50, making him 11th A-T HS in the SP.
In 2nd, Joshua Sobota's 67-3.25 missed my HS list by just 0.75 inches!!
This was in Atlanta!
Tripp Piperi reached 64-5.25.
At Clemson, Denzel Comenentia's 67-0.75 beat Josh Awotundi's 66-10.50!
Lena Giger reached 58-4.

In the WT, Gianna Rao improved to 63-2 a few days ago!
She moves from 9th A-T HS to 4th!

Janeah Stewart might not have any boundaries!!
Her latest PR sailed out 79-1.75!!
She moves from 4th A-T Collegiate to 3rd!
From 9th A-T US to 8th!
And from 11th A-T World to 9th!!

Another Woman who's popping this year is Gwen Berry, the WR holder at 84-0!!
Her recent 82-11 breaks her own Age 28 record!!

Joe Ellis reached 76-5.50, making him 19th A-T Collegiate!!
Clemson saw a good Men's WT fight--with Josh Davis's 74-8.50 edging Daniel Haugh's 74-4.25!

Finally--at least with non-World Tour results!!--we have a new Australia National Record in the Javelin Throw!!
(OUTdoors, of course!)
Prepping for the Commonwealth Games, Kathryn Mitchell's spear flew out 221-9!!
Besides the NR, she nabs the age 35 record!!
And it makes her 11th A-T World, tied with 1 other!!

I have 3 news items for you---

Raven Saunders suddenly dropped out of school at Ole Miss--citing "personal & health" issues!
She later suggested that her problems were more mental than physical, citing college life as a key factor!
This was a shocking revelation---at least to me---as her tweets sounded fairly upbeat--although in recent tweets, she'd complained of the expense of college life!

Saunders had not competed this season--and now we know why!
She said her mother raised her to be a fighter, and that she would eventually return to school to finish her degree!
(She was due to graduate this year!!)
She also suggested that going Pro would be her next step, athletically speaking--though she didn't put any date to that!
Thus, the greatest Collegiate Shot Putter of All-Time (on the Women's side!) has ended her MEGA-successful Collegiate career!!
May the Gods be with her!!
Raven, return soon---in full health and power!!

On a much happier note, Shannon Rowbury is with child!!
Her baby is due this summer!

And Hannah Cunliffe--who just left UO to go Pro--has signed with Adidas!!

Now you can understand why I've chosen to do TWO posts!!
My report on the 3 world tour stops should follow in a few hours!

See you soon.

P.R. (Responsibilities & Obligations)

This is what the "P.R." in my title does NOT stand for---
Puerto Rico
Personal Records

No, I'm referring to Public Relations, that nebulous offshoot of journalistic communications that are SUPPOSED to take place between an organization or an individual and the public!
It's also seen as the professional maintenance of a favorable public image by an organization or famous person.
The above paraphrased definitions come from Wikipedia and similar sources!

But here, on this blog, I'll try to connect P.R. to the sport of Track & Field--especially the elite elements!
Let's start with how I collect all the results you read about in the blog!

For the most part, I scan the results (many times DURING a meet!!) provided by a meet.
I also use TFRSS--but they despoil their offerings by errors (the most egregious being the Champagnie LJ of 6.56)--as well as merge Oversize Track marks with legal ones--and they convert some times using altitude & track make-up formulas!
Third, I study my Twitter page, where I find marks made in European or Australian or Asian meets that I don't see elsewhere!!

I must DEPEND on those sources---if I want to be the FIRST to present those scattered results in a collective setting--my "results" blog posts!
(I'm often ahead of even T&FN's eTN!!)

But what happens when a meet (and/or the timing company they hire) fails to provide ongoing results of their meet?
Or if the "results page" just isn't working?
Isn't THAT---providing ongoing results (as in series jumps or throws, or times per lap)--what those businesses are supposed to do?

Another problem often encountered is that different meets use different timing services--with their differing methods!
Some--as the ones used by Boston University and Arkansas--are easy to follow!
Others require multiple steps just to find one result from one event of one gender!
UGH!

P.R. also means getting news before their target audience---in our case, the T&F fan!
The bigger meets (IAAF meets, big domestic meets--both INdoors & OUT) do this in a few ways.
Weeks before their meet, they will "reveal" some Olympian or 2 or 3 who "will" be appearing!
They might even say a certain athlete will be attempting to break a World Record!
Week by week--day by day--new names will be announced!
Sometimes, the athletes themselves will assist--by tweeting about their upcoming entry in XYZ meet!

This is good--it builds excitement & anticipation for what's to come!!

Then Meet Day arrives!
That Olympian--or Record Holder--or just "Famous Name"---that made you A) buy a ticket for the meet--B) sign on with Flotrack or some such organization because you REALLY want to see THAT athlete---or C) make you spend HOURS following a meet's results online so you can see what this athlete does----THAT athlete winds up being a very last minute DNS!!
Yes, he or she DOES NOT START!!

Even though WEEKS of announcements & urgent news stories--and other promotional elements are used to BLAST that name into your brain---so your anticipation is at orgasmic heights!!
And then----DNS!!

Let's be honest!
The ONLY valid excuses for DNS'ing ON THE DAY of the meet are---
Death
Injury or Illness
Other Emergency

Not showing for ANY other reason is just---well, poor Public Relations!!
This hurts the meet, the city, the meet organizers--AND the athlete!!
It helps---NO ONE!!

We must ask WHO is responsible for having an athlete show up?
Should an athlete feel an obligation to be there?
Is it the Meet Director?
The Coach of the athlete?
Or the athlete??

Where does a "contract"---whether verbal or written--make it an OBLIGATION for the athlete to fulfill said contract?
And it's not just about the athlete "showing up"!
What about when an athlete says they will be attempting a World Record (or just a VERY fast time) in a meet?
They ask for--and are provided--professional "rabbits" to lead them through at least half the distance at an arranged pace--arranged by and asked for BY the athlete!!!

So ABC race begins!
The rabbit sets off at exactly the asked for pace!!
"Perfect" pacing!!
BUT---the athlete---even after ONE lap (of an INdoor track--so 200 meters!)--is now 3 to 5 meters behind!
In a perfectly paced race, it's normal for the athlete to "ride the shoulders" of his or her rabbit!!
They're almost touching!!
WHY would that athlete lag several meters behind his or her ASKED FOR & HIRED pacer??
What can possibly be their excuses?
(See above for the list!)

This connection between the fan and the athlete--or between the athlete and the Meet Director--must entail a sense of RESPONSIBILITY and OBLIGATION!!
When that connectedness is broken--so too is the vital link between the fan and the SPORT!!

What can---or should--the athlete do to build this connection?
Things have demonstrably changed since the last century and this one!
We now communicate almost entirely via the computer or other technological "toys"!
Twitter, InstaGram, Facebook--and who knows what else!!

Many athletes---and MEETS (and Universities & even High Schools!!)--have their own Twitter or FB pages or sites!
Several athletes "blog"---or use You Tube---or have created "Vlogs"---which I believe can be defined as "video'ed blogs"---such as Natasha Hastings's "Tea Time" sessions---or the amusing & informational ones by Emma Abrahamson of Oregon!
Lolo Jones does a LOT of this!!
Several people do "podcasts"--long audio interviews with popular athletes!
Carrie Tollefson is known for this!

But what about those athletes who stand aside from Social Media"?
I speak mainly of Professional athletes---not those attending a College or HS!!
You really can't demand (or even politely ask!) a 15 year old (Katelyn Tuohy??) to provide frequent (or even occasional) tweets about their lives---even their athletic lives!

But what about the Pro?
What CAN we ask of them?
And what should THEY feel a responsibility and obligation to provide??

Their daily or weekly training grind--with photos or videos?
News of injuries--or pregnancy--or anything (travel troubles--sudden food poisoning) which might force them to be a "DNS"?
Some really personal (and even intimate!) insight into their lives---such as Lolo being a virgin at 35--or someone dating so-and-so--or someone "outing" themselves as Gay or Lesbian?
(Think Alysia Montano during her pregnancies!  Or Shawn Barber saying he's gay!  Or the almost daily photos & love messages between Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis!!)

I hesitate to bring up Mary Cain, but her situation provides a good example!
After 2 "bad" years (2015-2016), she "disappeared"!
Until about October of 2017!
Then a "one liner" from her agent (POOR P.R.!!) saying she'd been injured, and was back training for a return in 2018!
I think I used more words in the above sentence than her agent used!!

Then, suddenly, Let's Run puts up a good Q & A interview with Mary---in which she provides some detail of her situation!
(She was also shown in a video presenting Ms Tuohy with the 2017 XC Athlete of the Year trophy! Tuohy was also interviewed--briefly.)
So it took L-R's initiative to get Cain to talk!!

Not her agent!
Not her shoe sponsor!
Not her coach!
Not even HER!!

It took Let's Run---that often vilified website--to provide "P.R." for Ms Cain!!

Usain Bolt has been "DA MAN"---nay, the FACE!!--of Track & Field for almost a decade!!
He's now "retired"!
But in his last few years, his appearances were few and far between!
He was Big Money for the sport!!
He "made" a meet---even if he ran a poor (for him!!) race!!

And he made it his RESPONSIBILITY & OBLIGATION to make good on whatever "contract" he and the Meet Director had formulated!!
He SAID he'd be there!!
And he CAME!!
Whether through "contract" or a "gentleman's word"---he was THERE!!

But this "P.R." doesn't just fulfill a contract!
It makes a real intimate connection between an athlete and his or her fans!
(Think of your youth---when you went to a baseball game, and your "hero" stopped to sign a baseball for you--or pose for a photo!)
This happens in our sport too!
Jenny Simpson is well known for this!
Prefontaine had HIS people!!
Christian Taylor (and many other jumpers) get THEIR fans to "rhythmic clap" before a jump!!
On their victory laps, many Gold medal winners--wrapped in their country's flag--will "high five" the crowd along their route!!

THIS is GREAT Public Relations!!
We need more of that!!
MUCH more!!

Whether in person (at a meet), or online (through the various Social Media outlets listed above)--the Professional athlete should feel an obligation---born through an unspoken responsibility--to provide honest & informational insights into their profession---whether it's running, jumping, or throwing (or Walking!!)--and even their LIFE!!

This P.R. we speak of is for the "famous person" I mentioned in my Wiki'ized introduction!
It's NOT for other Professionals--think those Pro's who do NOT meet the public on a daily basis--or have 1000's, or even millions, of fans!!
This is for the Professional who HAS that public fan base---or wants one!!

Who ARE our heroes?
Who ARE these "famous names" whose Marks & Records we can quote verbatim?
When you read about these people in my blog, do you feel a connection to them---or are they just a series of numbers on a page?

What is their hair color--or style?
Are they married, dating, single, a shy recluse?
When is that baby due?
Will they be at that meet they SAID they'd be at??
Will they REALLY try for that Record they PROMISED they would?
What do they eat?
What are their favorite Netflix shows or movies?

It's all Public Relations---whether through responsibility or obligation---or just plain "liking their fans"!!
It's P.R.!!

And I don't mean Personal Records or Puerto Rico!!

See you soon!

Millrose & Karlsruhe Lead Record(s) Onslaught

I wish I had room for a longer title!
Because Record Book revisions took place in venues far removed from Germany or New York--making for another weekend of Historic progress in our sport!

The 111th edition of the Millrose Games saw TWO World Records--in events not normally run at Millrose--or anywhere else!

Shaunae Miller-Uibo was already ahead after the first turn, and she kept powering forward to the finish of the 300 meters--her time of 35.45 TYING the WR set by Irina Privalova a quarter century ago!!
She broke her own Millrose Meet Record, as well as the Age 23 Record!
She also breaks her own National Record of the Bahamas!
She moved from 3rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to the Top, where she's of course tied with Privalova!!
Sage Watson took 2nd in 37.08.
Jaide Stepter, though 3rd, ran 37.23 to make her 23rd A-T US!

The other WR--a promised attack by a US team on the Russian Record of 8:06.24 for the 4X800 Relay--almost was defeated after the 1st leg!
Chrishuna Williams opened too slow--2:05--forcing the others to dig deep!
Raevyn Rogers paved a 2-flat to bring the team back to point!
Charlene Lipsey ran about 2:02, but Ajee Wilson was the anchor!
Enough said!!
Her 1:58.37 gave the team a new WR of 8:05.89!

WR's are nice, but fast times run in exciting races are even better!
And that's what we saw in the Women's 3000!
Training partners Aisha Praught-Leer and Emma Coburn worked together--trading the lead--while keeping the pace hopping!
They wanted a sub-8:50---and almost got down into the 8:30's!

With some maybe unexpected help!
Two Collegiate distance stalwarts--one former, one current--tried to steal the race from their two older brethren!
Karissa Schweizer and Dominique Scott-Erfurd played the game well, never allowing their elders to get away!
At one point--with 800 to go--Schweizer in fact took the lead!
But she dropped back, looking for a better spot to kick!
When it came to the final 200, it was an all-out spread of bodies across the track--with the Jamaican finally getting control--and the win---barely!

Her 8:41.10 is her National Record, as well as the Millrose Meet Record!
Coburn sprinted hard, but ended 2nd in 8:41.16, with the South African (and former Razorback) ALMOST nailing her at the line!
The WC Steeple Champ is 4th A-T US!
Scott-Erfurd gets the National Record of South Africa!

But it was the 4th placer--Schweizer--whose prize had size!
Her mad-dash finish led to a new Collegiate Record--breaking the 9 year old record of the iconic Jenny (Barringer) Simpson!!
Her 8:42.03 former CR was considered one of the toughest CR's--Men or Women!
But when Schweizer ran that 15:17 5000 in December, then a 4:27 Mile more recently, she was thought to have all the necessary tools!
Her 8:41.60 is also the Senior Class Record, and made her 6th A-T US---at least for awhile!
(See below!)

This was a DEEP race!
In 5th came Katie Mackey's 8:43.15.
She is 10th A-T US.
Lauren Paquette PR'ed in 8:47.81, making her 15th A-T US!
Kate Van Buskirk was next--in 8:49.02--but the US parade continued!
Mel Lawrence's 8:50.96 makes her 20th A-T US.
Emily Lipari's 8:51.07 places her 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other!

As well, they were timed at 2K, making for additions to THAT US list!!
Schweizer's 5:52.65 makes her 12th A-T US.
Mackey's 5:52.89 makes her 14th.
Paquette's 5:53.28 leaves her 15th A-T US!
And Lipari's 5:53.71 makes her 16th!

Then news came in of a race at Boston University!!
Would you believe Shelby Houlihan merely ran the 2nd fastest 3000 by an American Woman, and that Marielle Hall wasn't too far behind??
Shock of shocks--though I'd believed Houlihan capable of running that fast--her 8:36.01 not only is 2nd A-T US, but 22nd A-T World too!
Hall's 8:40.20 is now 4th A-T US!
So Coburn falls to 6th, while Schweizer is now 8th!!
BTW, I heard Houlihan's last 1600 was in 4:31, with her final lap sub-29!!

Let's look at some Mile races!
The Wanamaker's were won by Colleen Quigley and Chris O'Hare!
Times weren't much--4:30.05 for Quigley, and 3:54.14 for O'Hare!
The Steepler just nipped Kate Grace's 4:30.08, while Alexa Efraimson returned to action with a 7th place time of 4:32.73.
Nikki Hiltz's enroute 1500 time of 4:15.40 makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!
O'Hare beat Josh Kerr's 3:54.72, which makes him 5th A-T Collegiate!
Kerr's enroute 1500 of 3:39.58 makes him 10th on that Collegiate list!
The favored--but a bit ill--Nick Willis ended in 7th, time of 3:57.72.

Katelyn Tuohy not only lost the HS Mile, but finished just 4th!!
Fading BAD over the last lap--her last 109 meters took 22.26 seconds!!--Tuohy probably was tired after all her recent racing!
She'll be back!
The winner was Gabrielle Wilkinson--time of 4:42.94.
That makes her 13th A-T HS!
Her 4:24.34 at 1500 makes her 10th A-T HS!
Second came Kelsey Chmiel's 4:44.55, which makes her 20th A-T HS!
Her 4:25.45 enroute makes her 19th A-T HS!
Marlee Starliper finished 3rd in 4:44.97.
She's 23rd A-T HS, while her 1500 time of 4:25.20 makes her 17th A-T HS!
Tuohy's 1500 was actually faster--her 4:24.84 moving her from 17th to 13th A-T HS!!

Brodey Hasty could TASTE Sub-4!!
His 4:00.05 JUST missed making him the 3rd HS'er to break 4 INdoors!!
(He might try again, he said!)
Eric Avila won that race, his 3:57.45 beating Pat Casey's 3:57.73.
Hasty was 5th!
He moves from 6th to 3rd on the A-T HS list, and his enroute 1500 of 3:43.74 also moves him from 6th to 3rd!

In the Men's HS Mile, Josh Hoey's 4:07.42 makes him 20th A-T HS!
His 3:52.09 at 1500 makes him 22nd!

In the JDL Mile, Ed Cheserek sped the 2nd fastest flat-track Mile ever--a 3:53.85!
And Paul Chelimo got his first sub-4--3:58.59--far behind King Ches!

The best Karlsruhe event was the Women's 1500--where Genzebe Dibaba did her thing--running away from a good field--ending in 3:57.45!
She broke her own Age 26 Record!
(She turns 27 in 5 days!!)
Konstanze Klosterhalfen was 2nd, time of 4:04.00!

Well, friends, we've come to that point again!
The point at which I switch to by-event-group reportage!
There's just too much GREAT stuff to give EVERY solid mark its own paragraph!!
But hang on tight--there's some really incredible stuff to follow!!

Walks
Yes, I'm beginning with the Walks!!
Why?
Well, would you believe TWO High School Records broken in the Millrose Women's Mile??
Taylor Ewart finished 3rd--behind the iconic Maria Michta-Coffey--but she was the REAL winner here!
She smashed Lauren Harris's HSR by about 7 seconds, and took care of Harris's 1500 along the way--but by 0.29 seconds!
The new HSR's are 6:45.68 and 6:17.30!!
MMC won the race in 6:35.77.
Harris was 4th in a good 6:52.55!!
Nick Christie took the Men's race in 6:00.37.

Sprints
Murielle Ahoure took the World lead last week--time of 7.07 in a Houston race!
She took the Millrose race over Tori Bowie--7.11 to 7.14.
But in a real shocker--Mikiah Brisco used Albuquerque's altitude to time 7.08, which ties the Collegiate Senior Class Record!!
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate, tied with 6 others, to 2nd, tied with 1 other!
She's also now 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!

Bingtian Su took the Karlsruhe 60--his time of 6.47 breaking his own National Record of China!!
He is 19th A-T World, tied with 7 others!
Tatjana Pinto keeps on winning, her 7.10 taking Karlsruhe!

Want yet another shocker??
How about Mr Divine Oduduru doubling in the Texas Tech meet--with his 200 time of 20.18 making him 3rd A-T Collegiate, and 4th A-T World!!
He's a 21 year old Frosh from Nigeria!
And he gets his National Record--as well as the Frosh Class Record!
(Yes, I know he's "old" to be a Frosh!!)
Andrew Hudson ran 20.42 in 2nd, making him 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Oduduru also won the 60--in 6.58!

Ronnie Baker took the Millrose 60 in 6.48.
He beat Noah Lyles's slight PR of 6.59!
Jereem Richards won the NM 200 in a good 20.52.
Elijah Hall--a Houston Senior--took a 200 in 20.51.
While I'm on the 200's, let me tell you that Payton Chadwick--who ran 22.99 a week ago--is the former Payton Stumbaugh--perhaps better known as a Multi's person!!
Don't know when she got married!

Phyllis Francis beat Shamier Little in a 300--36.85 to 36.98.
Little's time makes her 22nd A-T US!
Bailey Lear--a Texas HS'er, sped a 400 in 53.20--winning the race against Collegians!!
It makes her 7th A-T HS!!
Bralon Taplin ran 44.88 in the 400, moving him from 14th A-T World to 5th!!
He doesn't get Kirani James's National Record of Grenada, however!
On an Oversize Track, Sydney McLaughlin ran the 400 in 51.44!
Too bad it counts for NOTHING!!

Hurdles
The Karlsruhe 60H was dynamite!!
Sharika Nelvis took over the World lead with her 7.80!
She moves from 11th A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 6th, tied with 1 other!
And she's 18th A-T World, tied with 4 others!
Christina Manning was 2nd in 7.81.
She moves from 9th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 8th, tied with 1 other!
On the A-T World list, Manning moves from 24th A-T, tied with 7 others, to 23rd, where she's tied with 1 other!!

Jarrett Eaton sped 60H in 7.47.
He moves from 20th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 17th, tied with 1 other!
The Millrose races were won by Tobi Amusan and Devon Allen!
Amusan's 7.90 beat a class field--which found the great Dawn Harper-Nelson back in 6th, time a slow 8.18!!
But behind her--in 7th--came the "comebacking" Lolo Jones!!
Yes, she's BACK---sort of!
Sluggish and calling herself an "idiot" for even entering the race, her 8.37 allowed her to come to a full stop--before reaching the padded wall!!
Allen's 7.50 looked sharp, as he beat Aries Merritt--who says he's fully healthy!!

Distances--from 500 on up
In Glasgow, Laura Muir dipped under 2 minutes in the 800, her 1:59.69 giving her the National Record of Scotland--but not the UK!
Samuel Tefera ran a 1500 in 3:36.05.
He gets the Age 18 Record!!
Gabrielle Wilkinson--who won the Millrose HS Mile (See above!)--ran a 1000 in 2:47.22, making her 10th A-T HS!!

Millrose gave us a spectacular Men's 800!!
Emmanuel Korir used an even pace to win in 1:44.21, but he was just 3rd when he began kicking!
It's the Millrose Meet Record, the National Record of Kenya, and the Age 22 Record!!
He's now 3rd A-T World!!
Donavan Brazier finished 2nd, his 1:45.35 making him 24th A-T World!
But more importantly, he moves from 7th to 2nd on the A-T US list!!
Drew Windle PR'ed in 1:45.53, making him 3rd A-T US!!
Clay Murphy's 1:46.61 in 5th--while a PR--keeps him 19th A-T US!

Hanna Green took the JDL 800 in 2:02.58.
Rachel Schneider doubled in the Mile and 3000--times of 4:31.74 and 9:02.64!
The races were less than an hour apart!!
In the BU meet, Sam Ellison won the 500 in 1:00.92!

Shadrack Kipchirchir edged Justyn Knight in the Millrose 3000--7:45.49 to 7:45.86.
The Karlsruhe race was faster, and also close!
Hagos Gebrhiwet's 7:37.91 beat Yomif Kejelcha's 7:38.67!

In the Power 5 meet on Michigan's new 200 meter oval, Stanford took the Women's DMR in 10:58.93.
Indiana won the Men's race in 9:31.64!
Proving you don't need OT's to run fast DMR's!!

The USATF Senior XC races were close--with some surprises!
Emily Infeld outkicked Molly Seidel--33:18 to 33:22--over a 10000 meter course!
Stephanie Bruce finished 3rd in 33:34!
But WC Silver medalist in the 3000SC Courtney Frerichs faded over the last 2 or 3K--ending 4th in 33:55!!
Those 4 were a tight group over the first half!
The Men's race went to US Army's Len Korir, who grabbed the lead from Galen Rupp toward the end!
His 29:16 beat Rupp by less than a second!
In a fierce battle for 3rd, Stan Kebenai edged Evan Jager, their times both 29:31.

Some related news items--
Melissa Bishop and Faith Kipyegon will both miss the 2018 season--as both are pregnant!!

Pole Vault
Lots of good stuff here!
As noted in a previous post, it's looking like 2018 might be a repeat of the 2015-2016 Collegiate battles between Demi Payne and Sandi Morris--as written about in the great book "18 Months Raising the Bar"!
But with new names!

In the Texas Tech meet, Lexi Jacobus PR'ed!
At 15-2.75, she was THEN still 3rd A-T Collegiate!
She broke her own Junior Class Record!
And she moved from 11th A-T US to 10th, tied with 1 other!
(See below for why this resembles "18 Months"!!  LOL)
In 2nd came twin sister Tori Hoggard, as she cleared 14-10.75.
In one of her best Collegiate performances, Desiree Freier took 3rd with 14-4.75!

But then just hours (or minutes??) later, Olivia Gruver PR'ed also!!
Her improvement from 15-1 to 15-3 moved her AHEAD of Jacobus--by a quarter inch!!
So Gruver is now 3rd A-T Collegiate, moving Jacobus to 4th!!
On the US list, Gruver moves from 13th, tied with 6 others, up to 8th, tied with 2 others!
Jacobus, meanwhile, moves BACK to 11th (See above!!), where she's tied with 1 other!
Got all that??

In OTHER Pole Vault news---
The Millrose meet lost Sandi Morris--to an aching back!!
(She said if that had been the WC, she would have competed--pain and all!!)
So Kat Stefanidi should have had it easy!
But Katie Nageotte got over 15-5.50 also, with Stef winning with fewer misses!
Alysha Newman cleared 15-1.50 in 3rd.
The Karlsruhe Men's event saw Raphael Holzdeppe PR'ing at 19-3.50--and beating Renaud Lavillenie's 19-1.50!
Both looked very good!
At Notre Dame, Kristin Hixson got over 15-1.75--not a PR.
Canadian Anicka Newell cleared 15-0.
Morgann LeLeux reached 14-10.
Lucy Bryan's 14-8 clearance makes her 17th A-T Collegiate!
Devin King went over 18-7.50.
Scott Houston went over 18-8.25.
Sondre Guttormsen reached a non-PR of 17-8.50!

Other Field Events
Mutaz Barshim is getting high(er)!!
While not a PR, his 7-9.75 is the World leader!
Logan Boss HJ'ed 6-3.50!
She's 16th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others.
And she's 21st A-T US, tied with 4 others.
Vashti Cunningham won Millrose--at 6-5.
Inika McPherson was 2nd with 6-2.75.
Vashti tried once at 6-6.75, but missed!
The Karlsruhe HJ went to Mirela Demireva's 6-4.75!
Shelby McEwen--an Alabama Soph--cleared 7-4.25.
Erik Kynard got over 7-7!

Ivana Spanovic had problems in Karlsruhe!
Fouling her first 4 attempts, she finally got a legal LJ, but still finished just 3rd!
Worse, Tianna Bartoletta ended in 8th!!
Brittney Reese won a meet with her 21-2 leap.
Jarrion Lawson LJ'ed 26-1.75.
Tori Franklin TJ'ed 45-6.50.
She moves from 13th to 12th on the A-T US list!

In the Throws---
Jeneva Stevens won the Millrose WT with her 79-2.75!
She beat DeAnna Price's 74-2.25.
Conor McCullough won the Men's event with 75-8.25.
Gianna Rao's non-PR of 59-9 took the HS event!
David Lucas reached 74-5.

Janeah Stewart is HOT this year!
Her latest is 78-2.25!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 4th!
From 12th A-T US to 9th!
And from 16th A-T World to 11th!!
Trey Knight is also HOT!
His 83-0.25 continues his streak of great marks!
Shelby Moran hit 59-6.25 on the Women's side!
Colin Dunbar's 77-4 also wasn't a PR.
Darrell Hill reached 68-4.25 in the SP.
Maggie Ewen doubled--reaching 59-9.50 in the SP and 72-11 in the WT.
Zach Ziemak scored 6043 points in a Heptathlon.

Two end-piece News items--
Sara Kolak will be out all of 2018 after elbow surgery!
And in a sudden move, Hannah Cunliffe left the University of Oregon--the team AND classes--and has turned Pro!!
No information on who she's signing with!

Thanks, everyone, for sticking with me through this LENGTHY post!
But ain't it wonderful having all these great Records & Marks to read about??

See you soon!