London & a Mixture

Om a weekend when the 125th Penn Relays--and the 110th Drake Relays--were held, it was staid olde London Town that captured the Hurrahs and Well done's of the World's Athletics fans!
Yes, that 26.2 mile trek through the English city--seen by millions either via livestream or behind fences & ropes lining the circuitous route this venerable Marathon takes won our hearts and minds--while awful weather in Iowa & a weekend with just too MANY Relay meets--left us to behold the magnificence of Eliud Kipchoge, and the fanciful leap forth by the Ladies after a sluggish first half!!

For the 10th time, Eliud Kipchoge won the race he entered, even if 2 or 3 wannabe's held to his coat's buttons through 40K, leaving us to wonder if the GOAT still had it at age 34!

Yes, he did.
Yes, he does!
Never bet against him!

It took a stroll over 2 hours 2 minutes & 37 seconds for Kipchoge to reach the finish,while Mesenet Geremew took just 18 seconds longer!
Unlike the Women, it was an evenly paced race, with the stolid jaw of Kipchoge barely working!
No sweat for the King!

He gets the Course Record, the Age 34 Record,, and the 2nd fastest time ever run--behind only his own World Record!

Geremew gets the best 2nd Place mark, the Age 27 Record, and is now 2nd A-T World!
Third placer Mule (Yes, his name is MULE!!) Wanihun ran 2:03:16 for the best 3rd Place mark, and ranks 9th A-T World!!

Mo Farah--in a race where he said he was "prepared"--faded to a 2:05:39 finish in 5th place, after passing 35K at 2:03+ pace!!

As noted, the Women's race was run entirely differently!
A large group--led surprisingly by a 42 year old Australian named Sinead Diver (!!)--ran at just under 2:23 pace for the first 13.1 miles!!

The usual African contingent, plus super Americans Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson--let the old gal have her fun in the sun--not quite!  fun in the slightly windy, cold London fog!!

Diver actually looked pretty good--easy fluid motion, relaxed face, looking like she might last awhile!
She did--through the Half or a bit past!
That's when Gladys Cherono, Mary Kitaany, Vivian Cheruiyot--and Brigid Kosgei decided to lay the hammer down!
Chugging through a couple of sub-5 miles, they soon put Diver back on the board (so to speak!), and began to race!

Keitany maybe showed a bit of her 37 years (Tell that to the Aussie, who didn't let 5 more years than Keitany bother her much!!!).
\Before long, it was down to Cheruiyot and Kosgei.
Then Kosgei made a slight break, the gap only widening as the finish approached!

Her 2:18:20 was run with a spectacular negative split of 71:38 & 66:42---the fastest 2nd Half ever un in a full marathon!!
She gets the Age 25 Record, and moves from 9th A-T World to 7th!

Cheruiyot's 2:20:14 led a few under 2:21--Roza Dereje's 2:20:51, Gladys Cherono's 2:20:52, and Keitany's 2:20:56!!
The latter gets the Age 37 Record, and is the oldest to run a sub-2:21!!

She wasn't close to the Veteran at the end, but Emily Sisson closed as the fastest American, her 2:23:08 being run with a slight negative split!
This makes her 7th A-T US, and is the 2nd fastest debut Marathon for an American Woman!!
Molly Huddle had a bad day, yet ran 2:26 and change!!
But there's hope for the 34 year old Huddle!
The 42 year old Ms Diver ended in 2:24:11--a PR by over a minute!!

A few athletes showed they're ready for whatever comes next!!

Shaunae Miller-Uibo beat Shakima Wimbley's 51.32 by 2.27 seconds, her 49.05 the fastest run prior to June!!
This was at Florida's Tom Jones meet!!

Sandi Morris returned from injury & surgery in a big way--beating Jenn Suhr at Drake with a solid rust-buster of 15-7.25!!
And Mondo Duplantis finally got his act together, as his 19-5.75 at the LSU meet gave him the Age 19 Record and the Frosh Class Record!!
This makes him 2nd A-T Collegiate!!

Drake's Men's PV was forced inside by VERY bad weather conditions!
Thus, Chris Nilsen's 19-2.25 winner moves him from 6th A-T Collegiate INdoors, tued with 3 others, to 4th!
He also moves from 17th A-T US INdoors, tied with ELEVEN others, to 9th, tied with a measly 5 others!!
Sam Kendricks cleared 19-0.25 in 2nd!

Keturah Orji came within 1.50 inches of her Rio PR, TJ'ing 48-1.75 in a Georgia meet!!

There was some solid Long Jumping this past weekend--
Jeff Henderson went 27-4.50!

Chantel Malone leapt 22-7.25 in Georgia, beating the 22-2.25 by Ailiyah Whisby, who did a pretty good Pentathlon this past INdoor season!

Kate Hall got off a jump of 21-11.75!
And Tara Davis made a good return to action with a LJ of 21-5.25!

Tori Bowie LJ'ed 22-3 in her first meet of the year!!

Earlier, there was lots of talk about HS'er Matthew Boling!
It begam because of his sprinting, then turned some heads because of a 26-3.50 LJ!!

Boling ran a 100 in 9.98--aided greatly by a  slight breeze of 4.2--which probably means he ran 10.15 or 10.20--or slower!!

However, we may have a NEW name in Men's HS Long Jumping!!
Tony Martin (Does he sing also??  LOL) landed in the sand 26-6 from the bpard!!
This makes him 6th A-T HS!!
I spoke of a possible 27 footer from Boling in a previous post!
Could we see TWO of those babies this year??

Penn and Drake had its usual assortment of speedy Relays- mostly in their "USA vs the World" set-up!
The times were in the usual range of mid-42's and sub-3:05'sm but nothing really worth reporting!

But Penn always has great sprint Relays for HS'ers!

The Edwin Allen Women's team from Jamaica ran 43.62, the fastest ever by a HS tesm from anywhere in the World!
I heard they had a 14 year old on the team, with the oldest being 17!!

But a Women's US team from Desoto in Texas (the race being run IN Texas!!) broke the American HSR with their 44.44!!

A Women's team from USC ran 42.77, the Collegiate leader!
Houston's Men ran a 4X400 in 3:02.61 at Penn!

Grant Holloway sped the 110H in 13.25!
Janeek Brown ran the 100H in 12.57, the Collegiate leader!
This ties the Soph Class Record, and makes her 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!

Kenny Bednarek ran 20.30 INdoors this year, the best by a Division 2 athlete!
He bettered that with his 20.29 OUTdoors this past weekend!

In possibly her 1st meet as a newbie Professional, Tia Jones sped the 100H in 12.88!!
She's still a Senior in High School!
So she set the HS PRO Record for the 100H, as well as the HS PRO Senior Class Record!!
She'll have until August 31st to improve those Records!!

Jenna Prandini had a solid double--tying the World leader with her 11.10 in the Century, adding a 200 in 22.53!!

Abderrahman Samba ran the fastest 400H with his 47.51.
And Brianna Williams had a solid double, running the 100 & 200 in respective times of 11.25 and 22.89!

Some field events saw good action, including a "new" name or two!!

Darrell Hill threw the SP 71-3.25!
The Drake weather was terrible at the time when Ryan Crouser was meeting Payton Otterdahl!
They couldn't handle the slippery ring (and wet ball!!),neither clearing the 70 foot line, but with Crouser edging the Collegiate!

Shadae Lawrence had a DT of 209-7!
That's the National Record of Jamaica!!

Arianna Ince threw the Javelin 195-2!
BTW, I believe she's now married--I'll try to get her new name!!

Janee Kassanavoid added 6 inches to her recent PR in the HT, her 239-6 moving her from 11th A-T US to 10th!!

One of those new names--at least to your friendly blogger!--is one Portius Warren!
She got off a Shot Put of 61-0.75, which makes her 9th A-T Collegiate!!
Greg Thompson got off a big DT of 215-1,  which makes him 12th A-T Collegiate!

Remember Skylar Ciccolini?/
She was a top-rated JT'er in HS last year!
Well, she's now a HS Senior, and gets that Class Record with her spear chuck of 184-2!!
She moves from 5th A-T HS to 2nd!!

We have yet another HS Woman over 14 feet in the PV!!
Layla Kieffer's 14-1 makes her the 15th Woman to clear 14-0 or higher OUTdoors!
And it makes her 7th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
She's from Seattle!

While I'm on the PV, I need to make a correction from a previous post!!
I said that Annie Johnigan had cleared a new PR of 15-5!
Sorry, but her mark was "just" 15-3!!
This makes her 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others!

A DMR team from Penn had the fastest time at the (sic!) Penn Relays, their 10:59.44 making them 13th A-T School!!

Ajee Wilson ran an early season 1500 in Princeston!
Her 4:06.38 actually leads the World!!

Another incredible World Leader was run at Penn!
In the HIGH SCHOOL Women's Mlei race!!
Yes, Victoria Starcher's speedy 4:38.19 (with a final lap of 64!!) not only broke Mary Cain's iconic Meet Record (Remember her 4:39.28 run there as a Soph, with a 62.5 lsst 440??), but really does make the precocious Starcher the WORLD Leader in the Women's Mile!!
She said she'll be gning against Professionals in the Camel City meet later this spring!!
Marlee Starliper was 4 seconds behind in 2nd!
BTW, this makes Ms Starcher 7th A-T HS!!

The upcoming weekend will see the first of the DL's--in the WC city of Doha!!
Also this weekend will be the Distance Carnival at the Payton Jordan meet!!
But they'll have to go pretty fast to top that fantastic 10000 run by Emily Sisson and Molly Huddle at the earlier Stanford Invite!!

And remember, the Prefontaine Classic will also be at Stanford this year, but not on it's usual late May date!
It will be held on June 30th!!

My apologies for this late post--I had other things going on!!

See you soon!

BANG! BOOM! POW! 2019 is NOW!

As my title indicates (in no uncertain terms!), the 2019 OUTdoor season is here--now!--even before the Penn-Drake weekend, or the first Diamond League meet!!
And all it took was a handful of athletes to run, jump. and throw things better than any athlete has ever done prior to May!

Ryan Crouser propelled his 16 pound Shot Put toward the World Record line, hitting the ground at 74-7.25!!
He even had another within a inch of that!!
Rust-buster?
How about rust destroyer?!!!

This gave him the Age 26 Record!
(And no doubt the Long Beach Invite Meet Record, but I don't keep records for that meet!!)
He moves from 4th A-T US to 3rd!
And from 8th A-T World to 6th!

While Crouser ended way ahead of his opponents, a couple of them provided some good marks!
Payton Otterdahl finally passed 70 feet OUTdoors, hitting 70-1.50!
He moves from 19th A-T Collegiate to 15th!
And in 4th came Tripp Piperi's 68-11.25, which makes him 23rd A-T Collegiate!

Want speed?
Then watch Michael Norman sprint one lap of the track in 43.45 seconds!!
In April!
(And saying afterwards his goal for 2019 is to "run in the 42's"!!
The forecasters were imagining a duel between Norman and Rai Benjamin!
And they got it---until the final 40 or 50 meters!!
That's when Norman added a little edge to his sprint, nailing Benjamin to the track at 44.31!
He gets the Mt SAC Meet Record and the Age 21 Record!
His Combined Events total for the 100-200-400 is now 1:13.56 (10.27, 19.84, 43.45), and moves him from 4th A-T World to 3rd!
But he remains 2nd A-T on the US C-E list!

On my US DDD, he moves from 5th A-T to 3rd, tied with 1 other!
And he moves from 6th A-T World to 4th, tied with 1 other!
As for Benjamin, his C-E total for the 400 & 400H is now 1:31.33, and moves him from 4rd to 2nd on the World C-E list!
However, having only recently become eligible for US Records & Lists, he misses out on the US C-E list, because his 400H best was run as an Antiguan!!

But that wasn't the only spectacular sprint mark this past weekend!
Maybe you heard of the runs by Divine Oduduru!!
He sprinted the Metric century in 9.94 first!
Then--within an hour!!--he added a 200 in 19.76!!

The shorter distance ranks him 11th A-T Collegiate!
The half-lapper nets him 2nd place on the A-T Collegiate list!!
It also gets him the National Record of Nigeria!
As well as 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
This was at the MJ/JJK meet, which makes it even better, because his entrance to the Collegiate list axed FROM that list one Michael Johnson, who ran 20.07 in 1988!!
A DIVINE meet, you might say!
LOL

That's the good news!
If you knew that the ONLY predictions made about Mondo Duplamtis's first Collegiate OUTdoor meet was how close to the CR he would get--NOT if hr would wind up a measly 4th (or worse??) on this weekend's survey of Collegiate PV'ers!!

Leading the way was Chris Nilsen's 19-1 at the Beach Invite!
Next in line was Zach Bradford, who cleared the Kansas Relays bar set at 18-11!
This was pretty significant, because this gave him the Frosh Class Record--before Mondo could claim it--if he does!!
It also makes him 11tth A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
He misses the US list by just 1.75 inches--something Mondo isn't eligible for!

Then came KC Lightfoot and Jake Wooten, whose 18-8.75 marks apparently tied them in 1st at the MJ/JJK meet!
Their marks tied them at 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, including each other!!

As for Duplantis, he cleared 18-2.50 at the LSU Alumnai meet!
This event is definitely one to watch!!

The Women weren't too bad at this body twisting event either!!

Jenn Suhr did her standard acrobatics, taking the MJ/JJK meet Vault with 15-7!

The Mt SAC meet saw Annie Rhodes Johmigan PR at 15-5!
It's the Mt SAC Meet Record!
She moves from 12th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 8th, tied with 4 others!!
Olivia Gruver didn't break her Collegiate Record, but she still Vaulted a solid 15-3.50 in Long Beach!
And the Virginia Tech meet unleashed another Woman to the Collegiate elite field--name of Maddie Gardner!
While I'd never heard of her, her 14-8 was impressive, and makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

Omar Craddock emerged victorious in a TJ battle with Christian Taylor at the Beach meet!
His 58-0.25 beat Taylor's 56 and change!!
Craddock moves from 11th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 9th!

At a different meet, Jordan Scott TJ'ed 56-0, making him 18th A-T Collegiate!

The Throws had some solid entries to the weekend's festivities!
Alyssa Wilson returned full force to her Shot Put, nailing a foot long PR of 59-1.50!
(And Laulauga Tausaga got the same exact mark!!)
But both of them missed the A-T Collegiate list by less then 3 inches!!
Tausaga added a DT heave of 204-4 at the Beach meet (same meet as the SP!), which moves her from 17tth A-T Collegiate to 14th!!

Danielle Thomas-Dodd continued her good series of meets by breaking her own National Record of Jamaica with her 63-11 toss!!

More Throws marks--
I'll lead off with an "oldie"--meaning a week ago or so!
Who else but Trey Knight could set a new record with the Pro-weight Hammer?/
His 213-6 nets him the Junior Class Record!!
An earlier post reported his almost 20 foot PR with the HS weight implement--that being 254-0!
I'm sure there's lots more to come from this phenom!!

Brooke Anderson got the Mt SAC Meet Record with her HT of 246-3!!
She moves from 5th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 4th!!
Janeah Stewart threw 234-1 in 2nd!

Marcel Lomnicky took the Men's event with his 253-1!
Denzel Comenentia was a close 2nd, his 252-3 breaking his own National Record of the Netherlands!
Sam Donnelly took third with his 251-6!!
However, Donnelly also threw at the Beach Invite, and PR'ed there with his mark of 253-3!!
This made him 9th A-T US!!

Mason Finley broke his own Kansas Relays Meet Record in the DT, measuring 220-5!!
Daniel Haugh reached 245-4 with his Hammer , making him 16th A-T Collegiate, and 23rd A-T US!!

A good set of marks came in the DT, with Brian Williams's 213-5 edging Reggie Jagers's 213-4!
In 3rd was Payton Otterdahl's 205-6!
And at the LSU meet, Janee Kassanavoid hit 233-6 in the HT, but it's not a PR!!

Other good marks--
Isaac Kimeli led 9 Men ar 13:37 or faster in the Brian Clay 5000, his winning time being 13:33.47!
Among the others were Joe Klecker Rory Linkletter, and Gil Kigen!
Grant Fisher ran even faster at the Cardinal Invite, his winner timing 13:29.52!
Weini Kelatti took the Women's race in a non-PR of 15:23.46!
Second went to Alva Cohen's 15:31.01!

Charlotte Prouse ran the 5000 in 15:16.42, making her 7th A-T Collegiate!

Oliver Hoere won a mass finish 1500, his :3:37.20 edging Carlos Villerreal's 3:37.22!
A total of 11 runners went under 3:40!!
Hoere's mark made him 24th A-T Collegiate!

Hanna Green surprisingly took over the WORLD lead with her 1500 win in 4:09.33!!
Sage Hurta's 4:09.43 took the Silver, while Alexa Efraimson began her OUTdoor campaign in 3rd, time of 4:09.88!!

At Mt SAC, Kendra Harrison's 12.66 took the 100H race!
In another meet, Tonea Marshall took a 100H in 12.81!

Delilah Muhammed's 51.62 beat Kendell Ellis's 51.75 in the flat 400!
Vashti Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5.50!
Wil London took the 400 at the MJ/JJK meet in 44.93!

It's not her best--and in fact it's fairly slow--but I want to add the 53.95 one lapper run by Kaylin Whitney in Florida!
She hasn't done much of note lately, but she won this race!!

Travis (??) Stewart took a 400 in 44.54. ,making him 21st A-T Collegite!!
Even more noteworthy was the exit FROM my Collegiate DDD of one Mr Butch Reynolds his 44.58 dating back to 1981!!

I don't normally mention either wind-aided times or relay leg times, but the following are pretty significant--
Aleia Hobbs used a 3.8 wind to push her to a 10.83 Century!!
And Sydney McLaughlin seems to be limiting herself to speedy 400 legs in Relays!
She first did 49.83 in a mixed-sex race, running third leg!
Then she ran on a Women's All-Star team, her lead-off leg taking all of 50.1!!
Is she ready for a  HOT 2019--or what!!!

And in the Multi's at the Brian Clay meet--
Ayden Owens took the Men's Decathlon with his 8130 PR!
He's a USC Frosh!!
Harrison Williams also PR'ed in 2nd with his 8112!
And taking 3rd was the 8056 of Tim Ehrhardt!

The Women's event was taken by Canadian Pro Georgia Ellenwood, with 6138 points!
Kendell Gustafson was second with her score of 6078!

Now for "other" news--
I saw some great photos of the MIA Mary Cain on Instagram!
One was with her dog, another with her boyfriend, and another doing some sort of stretching exercise!
No word on future running goals or intentions, however!!

That American Record I reported for Stan Kebenai in the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile has been erased!!
The course was found to be 80 yards short!
Obviously, all times were erased from the record book!

Okay, my friends, time for a HUGE serving of bragadoccio by yours truly!!
My loyal readers know I've singled out Caster Semenya, Margaraet Wambui, and Francine Niyonsaba as being NOT eligible to run in all-WOMEN's events--due to their suspected high-testosterone counts---although Semenya's was more than just suspected!!

Anyway, in a major reveal, Niyonsaba finally admitted to having a higher than normal testosterone level!!
Yes, SHE said it!!

Thus, your friendly blogger was proven CORRECT!!

All medals etc taken by these three should be confiscated, and distributed to their RIGHTFUL owners---ASAP!!

Until then, those events where they run are an embarrassing farce!!

Next week are the Penn and Drake Relays!!
Also--the London Marathon, from which Tirunesh Dibaba has dropped!!
Hang on to your hats!!

See you soon!!

Boston (& some Track & Field)

The 123rd Boston Marathon was far different from the 2018 race!
No monsoons or tornado winds!
And Sarah Sellers ran over 7 minutes faster, but ended just 15th!
Given this good weather, the races themselves took center stage!

The Women's race was a runaway for Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia!
Taking the lead at around 5K, she extended it to three minutes at the end of the Newton Hills!
But 39 year old Edna Kiplagat broke away from a group of 3 and began a relentless attack on Degefa!
Picking up almost 30 seconds per mile, she just started her run too late!
From 3 minutes to 42 seconds, Degefa beat Kiplagat, 2:23:41 to 2:24:13!!

Fighting for the 3rd podium spot were Meskeret Assefa and comebacking Jordan Hasay!
The California-born child-woman prevailed, Hasay running 2:25:20 to Assefa's 2:25:40!
Des Linden--the 2018 Champion--ended 5th in 2:27:00, but won everyone's hearts by devoting her race to cancer suffering Gabe Grunewald!
Almost in tears in her post-race interview, she spoke poignantly of Grunewald, urging women to run "brave like Gabe"!!

Lindsay Flanagan (NOT Shalane, who apparently may need knee surgery!!), ended 9th in a PR of 2:30:07!
Sellers, the shock 2nd placer in that storm last year, ran 2:36:42 in 15th!
Another American ahead of her was Kate Landau, who ran 2:31:56!
Betsy Saina ran 2:30:42 in 10th!

The Men's race was completely different, as it took a mad dash sprint down Boylston Street to decide the outcome!
The popular Lelisa Desisa tried to out-kick Lawrence Cherono--the fastest entrant--, but couldn't quite get there, as Cherono's 2:07:57 edged Desisa's 2:07:59!!
I watched the race, and let me tell you--there's no way there was a two second gap between the two!!
More like two-tenths of a second!

Kenneth Kipkemoi took 3rd in 2:08:06,but the big story for the US was that TWO Americans ran under 2:10:00!!

Leading for a few miles was Scott Fauble, while Jared Ward led also for awhile!
But they ended in 11th and 12th, respectively!!

Fauble's 2:09:10 rates him 11th A-T US, as I include Boston as a "legal" course, while everyone else calls it an "aided" course!!
While it's a point to point race, with an elevation net drop, I knew some guys who ran the course back in the 70's, and both said it's a really tough course!
Thus my position on its "legality" for Records & Marks purposes!!

Ward ended in 2:09:25, making him 12th A-T US!!
The favored American--Dathan Ritzenhein--faded badly, and ended just 16th!
Removed FROM the US list were two significant names!
Luke Puskedra's 2:10:24 from 2015, and Garry Bjorklund's 2:10:20 dating from way back in 1980!!

Manuela Schar beat many-time Champion Tatyana McFadden in the Women's Wheelchair division!

As for those guys & gals who run, jump, and throw things, several of them made indentures into my Record Book on a relatively quiet weekend!!

Because there's no one mark that truly stands apart, I'll do this by event--or event group!

The Sprints
Quincy Hall took over the World lead in the 400 with his 44.52 at the Gamecock meet!
This makes him 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
Halfway around the world, 400H'er supreme Abderrahman Samba cut 0.02 off his flat 400 PR, his 44.60 being added to his 46.98 over the 400H adds to 1:31.58 on my Combined Events list, but doesn't change his 2nd place standing!

Derrick Kemp ran 10.03 in the 100, also at the Gamecock meet!
Evonne Britton ran the 100H in 12.81 in Grenada, while Amber Hughes ran 12.85 at the Gamecock affair!

Jordan Lavender and Wadeline Jonathas had a good 400 duel, with Lavender prevailing, 51.53 to 51.56!
Jonathas is a Junior at South Carolina!

The Grenada meet had other fast times--
Bralon Taplin took the 400 in 44.92.
Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce made a comeback of sorts, sprinting the 100 in 11.20!
Miguel Francis won the 200 in 20.16, but the BIG story was the 20.20 given to Andre DeGrasse!!
This was his fastest race past a series of injuries!!

But Justin Gatlin pulled up during the race, although he finished--in 22.18!!

Steven Gardiner ran the 200 in 20.04 in Miami!

Gabby Thomas ran a 100 PR of 11.10 at Gamecock!

But maybe the most interesting result was a time that will NEVER make my Record Book, despite its brilliance!!
Syd the Kid--aka Sydney McLaughlin--ran in a MEN's 4X400 Relay--as the ANCHOR!!
Don't know who else was on her team, or their time, but McL was ahead of the last place guy coming into the last curve!
By the top of the straight, he'd passed her--barely!!
In a dead sprint the last 90 meters, McLaughlin only lost 3 to 5 meters!
Her recorded split was a quick 49.83!!
Not bad for a "rust-buster"!!

Distances
Yes, the venerable Boston Marathon was NOT the only Distance event to be worthy of mention!
In fact, there were other Boston races to report!
The BAA 5000--a Road race--was won by Hagos Gebrhiwet and Moresaah (sp?) Ngugi!
Gebrhiwet's 13:42 beat Ben True's 13:44!
Ngugi's time was 15:15 beating Violah Lagat's 15:29!
Kim Conley ended 4th in 15:36!

The Instanbul Half was fast!
--for the Women!
Ruth Chepngetich ran 65:30, making her 10th A-T World!

The Paris Marathon was taken by Abda Milaw (sp?) in 2:07:04, while Gelete Burka took the Women's race in 2:22:55.

France's Clemence Calvin broke her National Record in 2nd, time of 2:23:41!

This MIGHT change, as I've read that she deliberately missed a drug test recently!!
But she went to court to delay or prevent a ban!!
More on that in a future post!

If you're wondering if there were any distance races on a TRACK to report--well, there are!!
From INdoors!
The annual INdoor Marathon was held again at the Armory!
CJ Albertson broke the World Record with his 2:17:59 run over the 211 laps of the 200 meter track!!
His wife--Chelsea--had cramping problems over the final kilometers, but still ran 2:54:26!
But it was Stephanie Pezzillo's 2:42:11 that won that division!
The Women's WR for this torture test is Lindsey Scherf's 2:40:55!


Hammer Throw
Trey Knight walloped his HT best by almost 20 feet, hitting 254-0!!
This moves him way up the HS A-T list--from 19th to 4th!!

Alyssa Wilson originally made her name in the Shot Put, but she may have more to offer in the Hammer Throw!!
She got an 8 foot PR at the RJ/JJK meet!
Her 231-6 moves her from 24th A-T Colllegiate to 9th!!
She also makes the A-T US list--in 19th!!
Her other throws were okay--the DT in 185-0, and her "specialty" in 56-7.50!

Also, Beatrice Llanos hit an okay 225-5 with the ball and chain!!

Discus Throw & Shot Put
These events had some good marks also!
Jordan Geist finally topped his INdoor best, hitting 70-10 in a San Diego meet!
But this is OUTdoors, so the marks are totally different!!
He moves from 18th A-T Collegiate to 10th!
He misses the US list by 4.25 inches!!
However, he does claim the Soph Class Record!!

Another to hit a big PR was Valerie Allman!
Her 220-3 in the DT moves her from 12th A-T US to 5th!
Kelsey Card came close to her PR with her 2nd place mark of 207-9!
This was at the Chula Vista Throwers meet!

The Men's event was taken by Ehsan Hadadi's 220-5!
This beat Sam Mattis's 213-4!
BTW, Allman later threw 211-5 in San Diego!

Jamaica's Danielle Thomas-Dodd threw the SP 62-4, for one of her better throws of late!
At the RJ/JJK meet, Dotun Ogundeji had a SP mark of 69-0.50!
This makes him 21st A-T Collegiate!
But Josh Autolundi was the winner with his 69-4!
And Reggie Jager got a DT of 218-8!

Javelin Throw and the Multi's
Only one Heptathlon score to report--Michelle Atherley's 5966!

Liu Huihui took down the National Record of China with her JT mark of 222-3!
But she remains 11th A-T World!

Remember Madison Wiltrout!
She's the HSR holder at 185-8 from a few years back, who then got injured and had to have surgery!!
She threw one of her better marks--landing the spear at 181-4!
Can we expect a PR from her soon??

All the Jumps
The Arkansas meet---Where else??--produced some good PV marks!
Andrew Irwin went over 19-0.25, while Tori Hoggard took the Women's event with a modest 14-6.25!
For Irwin, his OUTdoor PR misses the US list by just one half inch!!

Even better, Alyssa Jones's 6-0.75 HJ ties the Frosh Class Record!!
But she misses the HS DDD by that same one half inch!!

And Erica Bougard--best known for her Heptathlon exploits, went over the HJ bar set at 6-2.25!!

Okay, now for some corrections and additions to previous posts!!

Remember I said I'd research whether Chloe Cunliffe was the only person to hold both HSR's in the PV--INdoors and OUTdoors--at the same time!!
Well, she isn't!

A friend reminded me of the obvious other person to hold both--MONDO!!
Duplantis's HSR's both came in 2018!

I used 14-0 and 18-0 as my starting points!
That made Tori Anthony the earliest to hold both Women's HSR's!
She did 14-2.50 INdoors, and 14-1.25 OUTdoors--both in 2007!
Desiree Freier was next, her 14-2.75 INdoors and 14-7.25 OUTdoors coming in 2014!
BTW, as you might recall, she had an INdoor 14-6 mark negated by some HS federation rule!
Then came Cunliffe's marks this year!

I suppose I should give a Special Mention to the former Weeks twins!!
AS Weeks girls, they held both HSR's in 2015!!
BUT--not by the same Ms Weeks!!
Tori got the INdoor mark with her 14-4, while sister Lexi took the OUTdoor mark with her 14-7.50!!
BTW, Mondo's marks are 19-3.50 INdoors, and 19-10.25 OUTdoors!

I reported that Markus Rooth took the Arcadia Decathlon at 7248!
But I didn't know he's from Norway!!

My readers know how I'm always urging meet directors to get enroute times in some distance races--giving athletes chances at TWO Records or List makers instead of one!!

I had to ask for these times, as the Arcadia meet results page didn't have them!
But Cole Sprout and Nico Young both made my A-T HS list in the 3000--enroute to their 3200 race finishes!

Sprout was ahead of Young at that point, so his 8:10.75 nets him 18th A-T HS!
Young hit 8:11.02 at 3000, making him 19th A-T HS!!

Please, Meet Directors--when you expect great marks in distance races, time them at the 1500 or 3000 points also!!
Then you can  brag TWICE for the same athlete!!

Upcoming is the Mt SAC Relays, beginning this Thursday!!
Then follows the Penn and Drake Relays, and I believe another Stanford meet (Cardinal Invite?), and the World Relays!

Also, on the 28th, is the London Marathon!
Eliud Kipchoge headlines the Men's entrants, while Emily Sisson will be in the Women's race!!

See you soon!

Track, Roads, and Chloe C Double Dips

What an interesting set of marks to report from the past few days!
They cover practically the entire world of our sport---track, roads, and even field!!
And that's yours truly being picky as usual!!

Before I get to all that, I need to correct some errors from previous posts!!
(Yes, I'm NOT perfect!!)
LOL

First is the worst, I'm embarrassed to say!
Remember me saying that Sally Pearson had said she's "abandoning" the 100H to become a Heptathlete for Tokyo's Olympics?
Not quite!
You see, at the time I wrote that, it was March 31st here in Bellingham!
BUT--it was already April 1st Down Under!!
Yes, Good Old Sally was making an April Fools joke on us---Okay, on ME!!
My humblest apologies!
(BTW, Sally ran 12.99 in the heats in her race in Australia this weekend.
But she didn't run the final!!)

I reported that Stephanie Bruce finished 53rd in the World XC race with her time of 39:09!
Nope, she was 33rd!!
Sorry, Steph!!

Finally, I said that Olivia Gruver's 15-6.25 PV broke the Collegiate Record held by Lexi Jacobus!
Wrong again!
It was Sandi Morris who held the old mark of 15-5.75!!
(Sandi, keep those snakes away from me!!)

That last error provides a good segue to the HSR of 14-8 set by Chloe Cunliffe at the Arcadia meet!!
Yes, as my title says, Chloe C is a double dipper--meaning she now holds BOTH High School Records--the INdoor and OUTdoor marks!!
Is she the first to do so--male or female??
(I'll do some research and report on my findings next time!)

I watched the meet's livestream, and they did NOT show her HSR Vault!
No, they were too busy aiming their camera at the boys 300H'ers getting into their blocks!!
(But I later saw that jump, and she had room to spare!)
She missed 3 times at 15-0--but I feel it's only a matter of time!

Cunliffe also gets the Arcadia Meet Record and the Senior Class Record!
She moves from 6th A-T HS, tied with 7 others, to the Top!!

Bonnie Draxler PR'ed in the PV  reaching 14-9.50 at the Bush meet in late March!
She becomes 16th A-T Collegiate!

Chase Ealey is the real deal, folks!
She shot (Sic!) her way to a two foot PR at the Sun Angel meet, tossing the ball out 64-6.50, and taking over the World lead!!
She gets the Meet Record, and moves from 16th A-T US all the way to 6th!!
BTW, she had another Put measuring 64-2.50!!

Another Thrower to make major advancements in her PR was Janee Kassanavoid!!
At the Battle On the Bayou meet, she threw the Hammer 239-0!
She becomes 11th A-T US!
She's a 24 year old American!
But it was Gwen Berry (in another meet!) who took over the World lead in that event, reaching 250-1!

I have several more Throws marks worthy of reportage---
Maggie Ewen opened her season with a HT of 237-10 at Sun Angel!
Jordan Geist threw the SP 69-9.50 at Sun Angel, making him 18th A-T Collegiate!
Remember Chuk Enekwechi?
He's back in action with a SP mark near Geist's (but in separate meets)--69-9!!
But Tom Walsh topped all the SP'ers, reaching 71-10.50 in an Australian meet!

Payton Otterdahl might become as good a DT'er as he is a Shot Putter!
He PR'ed for the 3rd time this season, topping out at 206-6!
Another Meet Record fell at Sun Angel--by Laulauga Tausaga!
Her DT of 202-6 took care of that one!
It also makes her 17th A-T Collegiate!

Jillian Shippee was a very good Hammer Thrower in HS a few short years ago!
She reached 221-3 this weekend!
She's a Sophomore now at North Carolina!!
Turner Washington had a SP mark of 68-1!
And Gleb Dudarev threw the Hammer out 241-0!

Not super fast, or at least not until you know his name!
Devin Dixon--who ran the 800 INdoors in 1:45.27--won a 400 race in 45.87!1

Another INdoor stud--Tyrell Richard--now is the World Leader in the 400 after his 44.81!

The Multi's at the Jim Glick meet provided some decent marks--
Karl Saluri went over 8000 points in the Decathlon--8060 to be exact!
That's a PR for him!
Second was Johannes Erm's 7913!

I don't have Records for the HS Decathlon--meaning the one that uses HS weighted implements and 39 inch hurdles!
My list is for the Pro Dec for HS'ers!
But Marcus Rooth's 7248 with the HS tools must be quite high on that list!
Watch for him in the future!

Other good track & field stuff--
Chanel Brissett's 12.87 in the 100H takes over the World lead!!
At the Spec Towns Invite, Keturah Orji won the LJ with a solid 21-11.50!
Chanice Porter took 2nd with 21-10.25!
And Kendell Williams was a close 3rd with her 21-8!!

While Chloe Cunliffe's great HSR led the way at Arcadia, that meet had its usual accumulation of fast times in the Distances!!

The Men's 3200 (YUK!!!) had a wild battle down the final straight, with Nico Young beating the favored Cole Sprout in a fast 8:40.00!!
Sprout finished in 8:40.73!
But what a  waste of time---in every sense of that word!
For example, if the meet organizers had let them run an additional 18.688 meters (to bring them to the full Two Miles!!), they would have challenged the marks of Steve Prefontaine (8:41.5 HSR in 1969!) and Matthew Centrowitz's 8:41.55 for 5th & 6th place on the A-T HS list!
Again, a humongous waste of time!!
But all credit to the pair for an exciting race!!

Katelynn Hart was going for Katelyn Tuohy's "HSR" of 9:47.88 run at last year's Arcadia meet!
But after a first lap of 68 seconds (!!), she slowed to 4:53 at 1600, before tacking on a second 1600 of 5:06 to run 9:59.57 for an easy win!!
She's run faster at that aberrational distance!

There are a variety of Road results to report!
The Rotterdam Marathon saw Celiphine Tuliamuk improve by about 6 minutes--down to 2:26:48--taking an overall 3rd place!!
This makes her 15th A-T US!!
(The leading Woman ran 2:22:55!)

The winner of the Men's race was Marius Kipserem of Kenya!
His 2:04:10 makes this 30 year old 19th A-T World!

The Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in the Nation's Capital saw some Records fall!
The Course Record for the Men went to the 45:36 of Jamal Yimer!
For those lost in the metric world, that's a 10K of about 28:21, with 3.8 miles at the same pace added on!!

The American Record for the distance went to the 3rd placer,Stan Kebenai, who ran 46:00!
The old Record was Greg Meyer's--dating from 1983!!

The Women's Course Record was broken by winner Rosemary Wangiru's 50:42!
That's a 10000 in about 31:25, with the same 3.8 miles added on at the same pace!

Emma Bates was the first American!
Her 52:18 took 6th place overall!
That's about 32:22 for 10K, with the added 3.8 miles attached at the end!

Sifan Hassan was talking World Record before the Prague Half!
But she had to settle for the win in 65:45--not a PR!

Finally, there's the venerable Carlsbad 5000, now owned (!) by Men Keflizhigi!!
He didn't run it  but Ed Cheserek did!
And his 13:29 was 25 seconds ahead of 2nd place!

Also winning easily was newbie Pro Sharon Lokedi!
She won her first Pro race with a modest time of 15:48!
However, she won by 12 seconds, taking the lead after the first mile!

In other news, Lynna Irby announced she was leaving Georgia to become a Pro!
But she has yet to announce an agent, a new location, or a shoe deal!!
Georgia seems to be losing several top stars, almost as quickly as Oregon has in recent years!

Alexa Efraimson was on the entry list for the Sun Angel 1500 to open her season, but she was a DNS for unknown reasons!

\Well, friends, that's it for the first week of April!
And a super congrats to Chloe C on her latest HSR!!

See you soon!!

2019 Records Predictions

This Preview is more a set of personal predictions by your friendly blogger than the same done by Vegas-style wagers!
My predictions--and the odds given--are more a "wish list" than anything else!
(Thus my saying that certain Distance Records might fall, given the nature of the beast---i.e. strategic racing vs time trials!)

Some guidelines---
These are MY predictions!
Relays are NOT covered!
I will list the event, give odds, and provide a bit of commentary here and there!!

I'm doing these in inverse order---with HS going first, then the Collegiates, then the US, and lastly, the World!
As always, Men will be listed first in each group!

HIGH SCHOOL--MEN
Disappointed to say, but this year's Men's fields are pretty weak in most events!

Thus, I see no events where I can give even 80-20 odds!

The best event should be the Hammer Throw, where Trey Knight rules supreme!

But I see the Pro weighted HT having a better chance to fall than the HS weighted event!

75-25 for the Pro implement, and 30-70 for the HS Hammer!
Matthew Boling gets 60-40 odds to become the first 27 footer in the LJ!
Getting 20-80 odds are the 400, 800, 3000, Two Mile, 5000, 110H, and the Pro Decathlon!

Cole Sprout might get the HSR in the Two Mile, but I'm wary of giving greater odds--even for him!

With ZERO---or near zero--odds are the 100, 200, 1500, Mile, 10000, 3000SC, 110H, 300H, 400H, HJ, TJ, PV, SP, DT, and JT!!

HIGH SCHOOL--WOMEN
We're on another planet with the Women!!

There are so many GREAT Distancers here!

IF they go for them, practically ALL the HSR's from the Mile through the 10K can go down!

Katelyn Tuohy, Katelynn Hart, London Culbreth, Claudia Lane, Kelsey Chmiel, Taylor Ewert, and,,,,::

But give the 800 HSR to Athing Mu!
That's Mary Cain's 1:59.51!
Sort out the Mile, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, and even the 10000 among the above named!
The SC gets "only" 80-20 0dds!!

As does the HJ and HT!!
Jasmine Moore gets 60-40 odds in the TJ!
Given 20-80 odds are the 100, 200 (Despite the presence of Brianna Williams and Tamari Davis!!).
Also given those odds are the 1500 and JT!
Given ZERO or near zero odds are the 400, 100H, 300H, 400H, LJ, SP, and DT!

COLLEGIATE--MEN
Mondo Duplamtis and Payton Otterdahl get 100-0 odds to cut down the PV and SP Records, respectively!!
Anderson Peters gets 70-30 odds to nab the JT Record!
While the 3000 is almost non-existent on the Collegiate circuit, I'm still giving it 40-60 odds, thinking maybe Grant Fisher and Morgan MccDonald might enter an open race somewhere!!
Other events given the same odds include the 1500, Mile, and DT!
The 800, 110H, and the HT get just 20-80 odds, despite having Grant Holloway in the Hurdles race!
With ZERO or near zero odds are the 100, 200, 400, 5000, 10000, 3000SC, 400H, HJ, LJ, TJ, and the Decathlon!

COLLEGIATE--WOMEN
Here again, the Women are stronger in the Distances!!
Give the Mile, 5000, and the SC 90-10 odds!
As noted in an earlier post, Olivia Gruver has already broken the CR for the PV!
This prediction is for her---or someone else!!--to do it AGAIN!!
Odds are also 90-10 for a repeat there!
Given 70-30  odds are the 3000, SP, and HT!
Give 40-60 odds for the 800, 10000, and the JT!
The Heptathlon gets 20-80 odds!

Getting ZAPPED are the 100, 200, 400, 1500, 100H, 400H, HJ, LJ, TJ, and DT!

UNITED STATES--MEN
Yes, I believe Johnny Gray's venerable 800 mark will fall, just as his INdoor mark did!!
Give it 90-10 odds!

Also in danger are the 100, , 1000, 3000SC, 400H, and the PV!
I included the 400H there--which is the WR!!--solely because Rai Benjamin is now eligible to compete for the US!!

The Two Mile gets 40-60, based mostly on the lack of available races!!
The 200, 5000, 10000, and the TJ get just 20-80 odds!
That TJ Record WAS a strong candidate for falling, but Christian Taylor and Will Claye haven't been as sharp of late!!
Getting ZERO odds are the 400, 1500, Mile, 3000, Marathon, 110H, HJ, LJ,, SP, DT, JT, HT, and the Decathlon!!

UNITED STATES--WOMEN
Forget the 100 and 200!!
Unless Flojo's "records" are erased, as they should be!!
The HJ, LJ, SP, DT, and the Heptathlon also get ZERO odds!!
With slightly better odds (15-85)are the 400 and 100H!
The 10000 gets 40-60 odds, as does the JT!
With 80-20 odds are the 800, 1000, Half and Full Marathon!
The battle between Ajee Wilson and Athing Mu could be a classic!!
The US Women have an abundance of Distance talent!
So give 90-10 odds--or better!!--to the 1500, Mile, 3000, Two  Mile, 5000, 3000SC, 400H, TJ, PV, and the HT!

WORLD--MEN
Despite the infinite talents of Selemon Barega, Sam Tefera, and Yomif Kejelcha, I see NO Distance Records falling!!
Give the 400H, LJ, and the Decathlon 80-20 odds!
Keep in mind that Juan Echevarria had a LJ of 29-3,albeit with a 3.3 wind!!
29-6 is a possibility!!
The 1500, Mile, the Half, and the PV marks get 40-60 odds!
Given SOME chance are the 800, 1000, 2 Mile, 5000, Marathon, TJ, and the 3000SC!
With NO chance are the 100, 200, 400, 3000, 10000, 110H, HJ, SP, DT, JT, and the HT!

WORLD--WOMEN!
Sydney McLaughlin is given the strongest odds for not only breaking the WR in the 400H, but taking it into another universe!!
The Mile and the Half Records get 80-20 odds!
And it might NOT be Genzebe Dibaba who gets that Mile mark!!

The 5000, HJ, PV, and the HT get 40-60 odds!

With 20-80 or thereabouts are  the 800,, 1500, Two Mile, 3000SC, Marathon, 100H, and the JT!
With NO chance arre the 100, 200, 400, 3000, 10000, LJ, TJ, SP, DT, and the Heptathlon!!

I look forward to the Shockers!!
Those are the ones who break a Record given less than 50-50 odds!!
Do it, People!!

Onward to what this blog does best--provide complete and detailed results!!

See you soon!