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.