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!!