Monday, March 19, 2018

List Revisions Come Early OUTdoors

Well, I WAS going to begin my OUTdoor Previews today with a Schedule of Meets, Road Races, and the like!
And yes, that will be the first of my 2018 OUTdoor Previews!
Later today.
But you see, folks, T&F has a nasty habit of throwing surprises in your face when you least expect them!
In the week or more before the "REAL" start of this OUTdoor season in the United States---i.e. the Texas Relays---several List-revising marks popped up that made me revise---er, my schedule of Previews!!
Records and Marks DO take priority here!!

And the most shocking--and according to some people on the T&FN Message Board--maybe the most questionable also---came from South Africa!
(BTW, when I say the OUTdoor season begins in late March, I'm not ignoring the fact that the OUTdoor season actually begins on January 1st--and goes straight through to December 31st!  But most of the news those first 3 months comes from the "Down Under" countries of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa!!)

Clarence Munyai WAS a 20.2-type sprinter who turned 20 on February 20th!
Now, he's a 19.69 South Africa National Record holder in the 200, beating down one Wayde Van Niekerk's old mark!!
And this was in a HEAT!!!
With a wind of 0.5 AGAINST him!!

Whatever the conclusions of the T&FN crowd, it SEEMS legit!!
This makes him 10th A-T World!!
And it cuts OFF my World list a true legend of the sport---Tommie Smith's 19.83 from 1968!!

BTW, he didn't run the Final--due to a reported injury!!

Then comes news that the "semi-retired" Jenn Suhr is suddenly leading the World in her initial OUTdoor PV!!
She Vaulted just 3 times---with 1st time clearances all!---her end result being 15-9.75!
The 1st two bars were 14-11.50 & 15-5.75!
She gets the Age 36 Record---just as she did INdoors!!

(NOTE:  Eliza McCartney cleared a bar set at 4.90, or 16-0.75!  But it was in an exhibition, NOT a legit meet, so does NOT count for any Records!  Even McCartney noted that she won't count it as a PR!  But it DOES show that she could be the next 16 footer---maybe at the Commonwealth Games!!)

Oh, forgot to mention that Mr Record Machine---aka Mondo Duplantis---got another Class Record!
His recent 18-6 PV got rid of Chris Nilsen's 18-4.75 Senior Class Record!!

But before we continue with this OUTdoor report, I have a couple of INdoor marks worth a mention!!
Like WORLD Records!!!
Yes, I speak of those INdoor Marathons the Armory holds every year!!
Malcolm Richards's WR is 2:19:01, while Lindsey Scherf's is 2:40:55!!
In case you forgot, that entails 211 circuits of the track---minus 5 meters!

OK, back to the Sunshine (or fog & rain??).

Briana Williams is a Jamaican attending a US High School (in Florida) who ran 11.30 last year in the 100!
Now she's a Soph whose 11.13 (1.7) broke the Age 15 Record held by Marion Jones!!
It also ranks her 4th A-T HS, tied with 2 others!

This was in the Bob Hayes meet!
Also starring there was Tamari Davis!
Her 200 time of 23.06 ties the Frosh Class Record!!
While she missed the A-T HS list by 0.06 seconds, I have a feeling that will be taken care of soon!!

Another Age Record goes to Juan Echevarria of Cuba, who surprised in the WC Long Jump!!
His 27-6.75 nets him the Age 19 Record!
But it's 4 inches from the A-T World list!

Brooke Andersen opened her OUTdoor season with a HT of 232-10!!
This big PR moves her from 16th A-T Collegiate to 6th!!
She also  becomes 12th A-T US!!

Alyssa Olin is another who smashed her old PR--this time in the Javelin Throw!
Her 191-6 makes her 14th A-T Collegiate!
And she's even higher on the US list--13th, tied with 1 other!

Sindri Gudmundsson also Spear-chucked his way onto the Collegiate list!
His 264-1 makes him 16th A-T Collegiate!!

Other solid OUTdoor openers included---
Fred Kerley's 200 of 20.41 (0.6)
LSU's 42.65 in the 4 X 100 Relay, which might be the earliest sub-43 ever!!
Denzel Comenentia's HT of 238-3
Sage Watson's 400 in 51.62 (Also a 400H in 56.52)
Jamal Walton's 400 in 45.42!
Keep in mind he ran 44.99 in 2017 as a HS Junior!!
Jacory Patterson ran 20.65 in the 200!
He's a HS Senior.

Tarasue Barnett, a 24 year old Collegiate from Jamaica, threw the Discus 192-10.
Haley Crouser had her best JT since 2012--when she set the then-HSR of 181-2!
Her 2018 opener sailed 177-0!

In a race in Australia, Matthew Centrowitz cruised to victory in the 1500--time of 3:37.96.
Carina Horn ran the 100 in 11.03 for the National Record of South Africa!

The NYC Half-Marathon had strong headwinds and starting temps of 29 degrees hindering any chance at fast times!
But Ben True's 62:39 was enough to beat Dathan Ritzenhein's 62:42.
This was True's initial Half!

In the Women's race, Buze Diriba let Emily Sisson lead most of the way before nipping her at the line, 72:23 to 72:24!

In the much-ballyhooed (by Mile Split!!) Texas Distance Festival, London Culbreath and Carter Cheeseman won the 5000's in respective times of 16:43 and 14:36.
No list-making marks they!!

Stick around!
I'll do the Schedule next!!

See you soon!

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