The NCAA Championships

 It's late!
We're in the two day break in the Olympic Trials, and 10 days removed from the end of the NCAA Championships, held in Hayward Field!
Because of the lateness, I'm going to combine the Men's and Women's sections of the meet!

Athing Mu was the Star among Stars, if media space & time for her is an indication of  stardom!
Her breaking her own Collegiate Record in the 400, then helping Texas A&M to another CR in the long Relay was enough to make all Mu fans delirious!
She ran 49.57 for the CR, the Meet Record, and the Frosh Class Record!
It was no contest!
She ranks 9th A-T US!

Camryn Rogers broke Maggie Ewen's CR in the Hammer Throw wwith a fabulous 247-9!
She gets the MR and the Junior Class Record!
Shay Taiwo took 2nd with a solid 233-10, making her 10th A-T Collegiate.
And Jillian Shippee was 3rd with 227-9, making her 21st A-T Collegiate!

The Women's 3000SC was incredibly deep, with many list revisions from both the semi and the final!
I'll do this in order, as many women improved from heat to final!
Courtney Wayment won the semi with 9:32.52.
Aneta Konieczek was 2nd with 9:34.37, making her 7th A-T Collegiate.
Joyce Kimeli was 3rd in 9:35.57, making her 8th A-T Collegiate!
Katie Rainsberger took 4th, her 9:36.71 making her 9th A-T Collegiatee.
Charlotte Prouse was next, her 9:37.05 making her 10th A-T Collegiate!
Summer Allen followed in 6th, her 9:37.48 making her 11th A-T Collegiate.
In 7th came Mahala Norris, her 9:37.53 making her 12th A-T Collegiate!
Gabrielle Jennings took 8th with her 9:38.88, making her 18th A-T Collegiate!
Ceili McCabe was 9th, her 9:39.27 making her 19th A-T Collegiate!
Two more took spots 23rd & 24th A-T Collegiate, but they were soon eliminated!

The final changed a few things!
Mahala Norris won it in 9:31.79, making her 6th A-T Collegiate!
Kimeli took 2nd with her 9:31.84, making her 7th A-T Collegiate!
Rainsberger is now 8th A-T Collegiate, thanks to her 9:32.12!
Wayment's 9:32.52 finished 4th.
Prouse PR'ed at 9:34.25 in 5th, making herr 10th A-T Collegiate!
McCabe's 9:37.39 ranks her 11th A-T Collegiate!
Jennings improved to 9:38.24, making her 17th A-T Collegiate!

Both Men's 400's (hurdles or flat) brought good marks.
Sean Burrell chopped about one full second off his previous best, sstunning the skeptics with his W in 47.85!
This gave him the Frosh Class Record.
He's now 4th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
And he ranks 16th A-T US!!
Isaiah Levingston improved to 48.49, making him 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

In the 400 flat, Randolph Ross became the first sub-44 guy of 2021 with his 43.85!
He made all 3 lists, ranking 3rd A-T Collegiate, 9th A-T US, and 13th A-T World!!
Bryce Deadmon improved a bit to 44.44, ranking him 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

Surprisingly, all the Men's Distances saw fast races!
I say "surprisingly" because Championship meet distance races are often strategic, not time trials!
In the 800, we saw a great battle between Brandon Miller and Isaiah Jewett, with the latter prevailing in 1:44.68!
This makes him 7th A-T Collegiate!
Miller finished in 1:44.97, making him 21st A-T Collegiate!

After a sluggish first 800 of 2:00 plus, Cole Hocker started his heralded kick, winning in a near-MR of 3:35.35!
This got him the Frosh Class Record, and ranks him 4th A-T Collegiate!
He outkicked Yared Nuguse, who ended in 3:35.60!

The old MR in the Men's 10000 dated from 40 years ago!
It got destroyed, with 7 runners timed under 27:48!!
The new shoes were blamed, but I see it more as just the men deciding to NOT make it strategic!
Simple!!
Pat Dever shocked a few by winning in 27:41.87!
He was on no one's formchart!
It's the MR, and makes him 18th A-T Collegiate!
Conner Mantz took 2nd with 27:42.16!
Abdi Nur's 27:42.73 was 3rd, making him 19th A-T Collegiate!
Robert Brandt was next, his time being 27:43.47.
Eric Hamer's 27:44.87 makes him 20th A-T Collegiate!
Alex Masai ended 6th, his 27:45.19 ranking him 21st A-T Collegiate!
Charles Hicks timed 27:47.63, making him 24th A-T Collegiate!

Then there was the 5000!
The CR was a bit out of range (but just 4 seconds!), but Cooper Teare tore through a 52 second final 400 to win in 13:12.27, for the Meet Record!
He broke his own Junior Class Record!
He ranks 2nd A-T Collegiate!
Luis Grijalva took a close 2nd in 13:13.14.
He ranks 3rd A-T Collegiate!
A shocker in 3rd was Athanus Kioko, his 13:13.47 ranking him suddenly 4th A-T Collegiate!

Cole Hocker was returning less than an hour after the 1500, so can be forgiven for ending 4th!
His 13:18.45 ranks him 14th A-T Collegiate!
Robert Brandt's 13:19.11 in 5th ranks him 15th A-T Collegiate!
Dever's 13:19.85 in 6th ranks him 17th A-T Collegiate!
And Thomas Ratcliffe's 13:20.88 in 7th ranks him 24th A-T Collegiate!

The Sprints were all great, albeit with a windy Women's 100 final!
Cambrea Sturgis had been shining since at least the Conferences!
So her winning wasn't too shocking.
But then we saw the time--10.74!
And then we heard it was with a 2.2 wind!
So close to legal!!
Nonetheless, a memorable race, time, and runner!
Twanisha Terry was 2nd in 10.79, with Tamara Clark running 10.88, and Kemba Nelson ending 4th in 10.90--wind-aided all!

The wind was legal when Sturgis won the 200 in 22.12!
This makes her 4th A-T Collegiate!
Clark finished in 22.17!

LSU's Terrance Laird wanted a double, but had to settle for the 100 win in 10.05!
Huge lumbering Joseph Fahnbullah charged hard at the line in the 200, edging by him in 19.91.
This ranks him 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Laird was close in 19.94!

Because of space limitations, the other events will be offered by event group!
Track--MEN
LSU took the 4X100 Relay in 38.48 over Georgia's 38.54!
This makes Georgia 13th A-T School, tied with 1 other!
Florida State and North Carolina A&T both were timed in 38.60, with Florida State getting the nod for 3rd!

Kigen Chemadi took the 3000SC in 8:28.20 over Alu Bastien's 8:29.03!
Robert Dunning dominated the 110H with his 13.25!
North Carolina A&T's 4X400 squad couldn't match their fantastic Prelims time of 2:59.21, but they won it anyway in 3:00.92!
Stephen F Austin surprised in 2nd with their 3:01.52.
This makes them 19th A-T School, tied with 1 other!
Texas A&M took 3rd in 3:01.64!

Track--WOMEN
Sage Hurta made others hurt by taking the 1500 semis in 4:08.88!
Anna Camp (now Anna Camp-Bennett??) was 2nd in 4:09.32, making her 15th A-T Collegiate!
Micaela Degenero ran 4:09.38 in 3rd, ranking her 17th A-T Collegiate!

But Camp came through in the final, her 4:08.53 making her 12th A-T Collegiate!
Hurta took 2nd with 4:09.42, with Ella Donaghu 3rd in 4:09.66!

The 100H Semis saw Tonea Marshall win in 12.48.
Anna Cockrell took 2nd with 12.54, making her 8th A-T Collegiate!
Cockrell took the final in 12.58 when Marshall scratched because of a slight twinge!

The UCLA runner also took the 400H, her time of 54.68 making her 21st A-T Collegiate!
Carmela Diaz, one of the Home Girls, won the 10000 in a steady 32:16.13 over Mercy Chelangat's 32:22.11.

The semis of the 4X100's went to USC's 42.63!
The Ducks ran 42.86, while LSU was 3rd in 43.03!
And the Trojans took the final as well, this time in 42.82 to LSU's 42.84!
The Ducks were DQ'ed!!

The 800 final was quick, but fell just short of breaking two minutes!
Michaela Meyer won it in 2:00.28, making her 9th A-T Collegiate!
Laurie Barton's 2:00.65 makes her 14th A-T Collegiate, tied witth 1 other!
And Elly Henes followed in Mom Laurie's footsteps 30 years later, taking the 5000 in 15:28.05!
But she had to dig, as Katie Wasserman timed 15:28.63 in 2nd!

Field--MEN
Thomas Mardal won the Hammer Throw with a PR whirl of 251-9!
He ranks 10th A-T Collegiate!
Gleb Dudarev was 2nd with 244-6!
Branson Ellis won the PV by clearing 18-8.25!

JuVaughn Harrison and Turner Washington both doubled!
Harrison took the LJ with 27-1.75, while HJ'ing 7-7.75!
He tried 7-10 three times!
Washington took the SP with 69-2.75!
This makes him 23rd A-T Collegiate!
Tripp Piperi was 2nd with 67-11.50!
Turner's DT was 204-1.

Emmanuel Ikeniyi won the TJ with 56-2.75!
He ranks 13th A-T Collegiate!
Second came J-N Perinchief, his 55-11.50 ranking him 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

Karel Tilga won the Decathlon with 8261 points.
Second was Ayden Owens with 8114 points!

Field--WOMEN
Marie Obst had a JT of 195-10, winning over A Minard's 190-0!
That ranks Minard 20th A-T Collegiate!

Tara Davis was a pre-meet LOCK, but she barely edged 2 of her rivals, her 21-11.75 way below her CR!
Tyra Gittens was 2nd  with 21-11. while Jasmine Moore took 3rd with 21-10!
Gittens won the Heptathlon with 6285 points over Michelle Atherrley's 6067!
And Moore barely lost to Ruth Usoro's 46-6.75 in the TJ, reaching 46-4.75!
Michelle Fokam was 3rd with 46-0.75, making her 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

Adelaide Aquilla won the Shot Put, throwing 62-3.25!
Josie Schaefer's 60-0.25 took 2nd, making her 20th A-T Collegiate!
Rachel Glenn HJ'ed 6-4, making her 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
L Distin cleared 6-2.75 to take Silver!

And Jorinde van Klinken ended a great Collegiate season by taking the DT with a Meet Record 213-3!
Laulauga Tausauga was 2nd with 208-5!

I'll close this report with the Women's 4X400 Relay!
It was quite special, as it was Athing Mu's final race as a Collegiate athlete!!
She turned Pro days later, though no agent or shoe company has been named yet!

A&M were behind after the 3rd leg!
That's when Mu took the baton!
That baton must have been on fire, because she clocked a mere 48.84 before she tossed it after crossing the line!!
That's right--48.84 seconds!!
Texas A&M got other quick legs, including a sub-50 from Cherokee Young (2nd), to finish in a Collegiate Record time of 3:22.34!
It's obviously also the MR!

USC took 2nd in a speedy 3:24.54, making them 4th A-T School!
UCLA was 3rd in 3:25.01, making them 6th A-T School!

The rest of the field, though not running PR's, were also fast!
Florida was 4th in 3:26.31, with Texas 5th in 3:26.72.
South Carolina was 6th in 3:26.73, while Duke finished 7th with 3:28.27!
Kentucky followed in 3:28.68, with Arkansas ending 8th in 3:28.78!

More to come soon!

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Everyone's Guilty! No one's Guilty!

 Two time American Record holder (1500 & 5000) Shelby Houlihan has been banned for 4 years for ingesting nandrolone from a food truck burrito she ate last December!
No World Championships, No Olympics in 2021 or 2024, no USATF Championships, nothing!
The Track and Field community is in utter shock!

First notice of something bad concerning Houlihan came from Let's Run!
(Want a good laugh...or cry?  Read the first several pages of L-R Forum comments about it!)
I then began a thread about her on the Track and Field News MB.
While not totally shocked, I was dismayed by the tenor of the comments there as well.

They seemed to be saying she MUST be guilty!
I mean, she suddenly improved so much, and produced such a devastating kick at the end of fast races, she must be taking PED's!!
Yet one comment by Becca (aka PoleVaultPower) stated that nandrolone wouldn't ordinarily be taken by female distance runners,, because it "masculinized" them!
They'd take something to enhance their performance, and nandrolone wasn't it!
Someone on Twitter said the trace amount found in Houlihan was equal to "one-fiftieth" of a grain of salt--meaning it didn't deserve a ban, let alone a ban of four years!!

Are drugs the major reason--or even A reason--athletes improve so much?
In Houlihan's case, the "tainted burrito" was eaten at a time when she was in training, with no apparent races on the horizen!
Did she eat some before her American Records?

And if she IS guilty, then what about all the others who suddenly run much faster than they ever had?
Her Bowerman Track Club teammates Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer are classic examples!
Cranny had never run a 10000, yet ran 30:47.42, even outkicking Schweizer, whose previous best was more than a minute slower than her 30:47.99!
And how could Schweizer beat Houlihan--the far better kicker--at the end of an INdoor AR of 8:25 in the 3000?
And improve from a Collegiate best 5000 of over 15:20 to 14:26 in just over one year?

Then there's the latest WR setters--Joshua Cheptegei, Sifan Hassan, and Letesenbet Gidey, and not forgetting Almaz Ayana!!
When Genzebe Dibaba was setting all those WR's a few years ago, cynics immediately said her being linked to her coach who'd been caught with 100's of hypodermic needles in his hotel room meant SHE was loaded on the stuff!!

And then there's Nike Oregon Project, whose coach Alberto Salazar actually WAS convicted of drug abuse--and banned for four years!
Did that mean all of his athletes--Galen Rupp, Jordan Hasay, Mo Farah, Shannon Rowbury, Mary Cain, and all the rest are similarly guilty, and should be banned!
(Luckily, Cain was brave enough to reveal the truth about Salazar, as was Kara Goucher!)

But this tragedy has an affect that extends far beyond Shelby Houlihan!
We'll notice this when Houlihan doesn't appear on the starting line, and NBC's announcers will have to explain why!!
We'll notice this when the medal count for the United States is missing a couple!
And what about her heartbroken--and totally supportive--BTC teammates, especially the ones with serious chances to make the team?
Will they be so depressed they won't be able to perform as they normally would?
Will other athletes--also believing Houlihan is more a victim than a drug-eating monster--be able to perform when it counts/

Will anyone be courageous enough to speak out (especially on TV!), or to form some sort of demonstration to protest Houlihan's absence?
Black armbands, "Shelby" written on their bibs, a fist raised, kneeling during their medal ceremony?

And there's more!
Shalane Flanagan--retired runner, but now Houlihan's coach--said she might leave the sport because of this!
She was in tears as she said this!

Will serious fans of the sport believe that EVERYONE is guilty of drug abuse, and thus lose their love for and devotion to the sport?
Or will they feel that no one is guilty, and drug use is just standard in T&F, and to be overlooked?

I am depressed, saddened, dismayed!
I'm not Houlihan's biggest fan, but I've always liked her personality, and her appeal to my wild side!
And she's a great athlete!
Who ate a burrito from a neighborhood food truck.
Who is ordered to sit out the next 4 years--in the prime of her career!
Whose future is built on the reputation she develops throughout her career--and her life!

Shelby Houlihan must be vindicated!
She WILL be!!
Be strong, Shelby, we love you!!

`

Only Field Events!

 As promised, here's all the Field event action that took place before the NCAA's!

And who else but Mondo Duplantis should be the headliner??
He topped the bar set at 20-0 in the Hengelo meet!
This gets him the Meet Record, and the Age 21 Record!
He's literally raised the bar in the Pole Vault, and seems ready to continue to do so!!

Let's continue with the PV!
Sondre Guttormsen (Remember him?) broke his own National Record of Norway with his clearance of 19-0.75!
Katie Nageotte's been hot lately!
She went over 15-11 in Tennessee!
Olivia Gruver took a PV in Chula Vista with 15-3.50!

In 5th place, however, Amanda Moll broke the Soph Class Record with 14-7.25!
She ranks 5th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Amanda also had a clearance (in another meet!) of 14-1.25!
I used her first name there for a good reason!
Her sister Hana Moll also cleared 14-1.25, making her 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!

Holly Bradshaw cleared 15-9.75, getting Great Britain's OUTdoor National Record!
This makes her 15th A-T World, tied with 5 others!
Roberta Bruni was 2nd with a height of 15-2.75!

Anzhelika Sidorova went over 16-1.25 at the Golden Gala meet!
No MR, as Yelena Isinbayeva has that mark set at 16-6!!
Iryna Zhuk took 2nd with a good 15-5.50!
Renaud Lavillenie showed he isn't done yet, clearing 19-0.25 in his Home nation!
Ekaterina Stefanidi topped 15-7 in a recent meet!

Other Jumps
Sha Keela Saunders LJ'ed 22-7.75 in Chula Vista!
Hughes Zango (I've seen him referred to as Fabrice also!) TJ'ed a World Leader of 57-11.75!
He gets the Burkina Faso NR!
But he misses my World DDD by 3.25 inches!
(For those new to my blog, "DDD" stands for Double Dandy Dozen, aka my Top 24 All-Time Performers list!!)

Edgar Rivera got Mexico's NR in the HJ, clearing 7-7!
In Chula Vista's Women's LJ, Jazmine Sawyers leapt 22-7.75!
She beat the 22-5.75 of Quanesha Burks!
Three Men HJ'ed 7-7.75 at the Golden Gala meet.
The winner was Ilya Ivanyuk, who beat Brandon Stone and Gianmarco Tamberi, in that order!
Mutaz Barshim could clear just 7-6.50!

Malaika Mihambo is still a threat, as she went 22-4.50 in the LJ!
Senni Salminen TJ'ed 47-7.25 for Finland's National Record!
Miltiadis Tenteglou was thought to have LJ'ed 28-2.75 a bit ago!
But most observers think that mark was vastly mismeasured!
They concluded it was maybe 8.20 metric!
Well, Tentaglou now HAS LJ'ed 8.48 (or 27-10), and there is no question about that one!!

Throws
Reggie Jagers hurled the Discus 217-0 awhile back!
Then he improved that to 222-6 in Chula Vista!
Payton Otterdahl had a SP mark of 70-0.25!

Yaime Perez got the Hengelo MR in the DT with her 216-3!
She beat Sandra Perkovic's 215-10!
Perky (My nickname for this A-T Great!!) won one in France, it measuring 216-10!
But it was the Golden Gala meet where she looked more like her old self!
Her 224-1 beat Yaime Perez's 219-3!

Alex Rose had a good DT in Florida, his 220-2  beating Fedric Dacres's 216-7!
Chuk Enechwechi had a SP win in Texas measuring 70-7.75!
Tom Walsh hit 72-2.25 in the SP in Tennessee!
Danielle Thomas-Dodd won the Women's SP there with 63-2.25!
Jessica Ramsey took 2nd with 61-7.50, while Raven Saunders was 3rd with 60-8.50!

Valerie Allman launched her DT out 222-3 at the USATF Showcase meet!
A meet in Belarus saw Abdelrahman Mahmoud hit 67-10.50 in the SP, getting Bahrain's National Record!
Auriol Dongmo broke her own NR of Portugal with her SP of 64-9.75!
That was in Spain!
In Austria, Lukas Weidheldinger had a DT of 222-4!

The Men's SP at the Golden Gala saw Leonardo Fabbrio win with 71-2.75!
Tom Walsh finished in 3rd with 70-5.25!
Daniel Stahl stayed steady, throwing the Discus 223-5 in Finland.
This meet also had Wojcieck Nowicki winning the HT with 265-0!
France's Quentin Bigot was 2nd with 261-6, a PR!
And Marcin Krukowski bettered his own National Record of Poland with his JT of 293-9!
He ranks 21st A-T World!

Malwina Kapron won the HT with 247-9!
Back in 3rd was the WR holder Anita Wlodarczyk, who could throw just 237-7!
Filip Mihaljevic had a SP of 71-11.75 in Croatia!
This broke his own Croatia NR!

In Georgia, Kord Ferguson PR'ed in the DT with 217-2!
Finally, we have a mark for my HS Heptathlon list!
Ariel Pedigo (Related to Tzuriel??) scored 5323 points, making her 16th A-T HS!

Next posts will cover the NCAA Championships--separate posts for Men & Women!
See you soon!

Before Eugene--A Distance Storm

 The NCAA Championships just ended in Eugene, and the US Olympic Trials begin in a few days!
But oh my, what transpired around the World BEFORE Eugene--especially in the Distances--was absolutely amazing!
I have TONS of material for you, so let's get started!

It began at the Hengelo meet in the Netherlands.
Sifan Hassan shattered the World Record in the 10000 by almost 12 seconds, her 29:06.82 also taking down the Age 28 Record, the Netherlands NR, and of course the Hengelo Meet Record!
She also now ranks first in a pair of Combined events lists!
In the 5000 & 10000, her 14:22.34 and 29:06.82 adds to 43:29.16.
Add her 3000 time of 8:18.49, and that C-E adds to 51:47.65!

She was by herself at the end, 2nd going to Irene Kimaris's (sp?) 30:37.24.
Right behind her came the 30:37.31 of Daisy Cherotich!
Rose Davies ended 4th in 30:54.89!
Dominique Scott-Efurd PR'ed in 8th with 31:19.89!

Hengelo is suddenly HOT for WR breaking!
Just two days later, Hassan's WR was broken by Letesenbet Gidey's amazing 29:01.03!!
Her splits were a phenomenal 14:42 and 14:19!!
It's also the Ethiopia NR, and the Age 23 Record!
And there goes those C-E records Hassan just set!!
In the 5K & 10K, her times add to 43:07.65!
Add her 8:20.27 in the 3000, and her time of 51:27.92 also ranks 1st A-T World!!

T Gebreselama (sp?) ran a great 30:06.01, but was 65 seconds back!!
She ranks 15th A-T World!
Tsehay Gemechu (sp?) took 3rd in 30:19.29!
Yelenzerf Yehuaslaw (sp?) was 4th in 30:20.77!

Both 5000's were fast also!
Gudaf Tsegay won it in 14:13.32.
She's 5th A-T World!
Her times of 3:54.38 and this 5K adds to 18:07.70--which makes her 2nd A-T World!
E Taye was close in 2nd with 14:14.09!
It's the Age 21 (!!) Record, the best 2nd Place mark, and ranks her 6th A-T World!
Senbere Teferi was 3rd in 14:15.24, for the best 3rd Place mark!
She gets the Age 26 Record, and ranks 7th A-T World!
Fantu Worku was far removed from the top trio, but her 14:29.63 in 4th was still nice!
Rachel Daniel ran 14:55.56 to get Eritrea's NR--formerly held by Weini Kelati!

Getnet Wale won the Men's race in 12:53.28.
N Melak ran 12:54.22 in 2nd!
The 10000 was even better!
Selemon Barega won it in 26:49.51!
Yamif Kejelcha was 2nd in 26:49.73!
Berihu Arigawi took 3rd in 26:50.37.
Hagos Gebrhewet followed in 26:57.16.
In 5th came Tadese Worku's 26:58.30!

It wasn't noted in the eTN, but the 1:56.67 it took for Werkwuha Getachew to win the 800 serves as Ethiopia's new National Record!
Habitam Alemu ended 2nd in 1:58.16, to be followed by Werknesh Mesili's 1:58.71.
A World Leader in the 1500 came from F Hailu's 3:57.33.
Diriba Walteja (sp?) was 2nd in 3:58.93!

I'm afraid the rest of the Distances--and all my other results--will have to be grouped by event!
There's just too much good stuff!!

Distances
In Kenya, Elias Ngeny won the 800 in a World Leading time of 1:43.84!
Hillary Biwott was 2nd in 1:44.80!
In France, Renelle Lamiti (sp?) won a two lapper in 1:58.65!
Beatrice Chebet took a close 5000 from Kalkidan Gezahegne--14:52.06 to 14:52.92!

In the 50000 meter Walk, Margarita Nikiforova (sp?) of Russia timed 4:03:07 for tthe World Leader!

At Portland's Stumptown Twilight meet, Josh Kerr blasted a 1500 in 3:31.55--the fastest time ever run in the United States OUTdoors!!
Rob Napolitano got Puerto Rico's NR with his 2nd place time of 3:35.63!
Quite a solo run by Kerr!
Eric Jenkins took the 5000 there in 13:20.18!
At the Hoka Festival of Miles meet in St Louis, Amanda Eccleston ran a World Leader of 4:30.06.
The Mile is not getting the attention it deserves in this Olympic year!!

Alex Wilson won the 800 in Prairie View TX in 1:59.92!
Jenny Simpson finished 2nd to Dani Aragon in a Tennessee 1500--4:06.18 to Aragon's 4:05.46!
In Huelva, Spain, Irene Van Der Ruijken's 3000SC time of 9:27.36 took down the Netherlands NR!
She finished 3rd!

Some quick High School times need mentioning!
John Lester toured two laps in 1:47.65, ranking him 6th A-T HS!
Gary Martin ran the Mile in 4:03.53!
But Nathan Green was faster (in a different meet!), his 4:00.97 ranking him 16th A-T HS!
Juliette Whittaker ran an 800 in 2:01.15, ranking her 7th A-T HS!
She's not yet in HS, but 8th Grader Sadie Engelhardt ran a Mile in 4:44.40!!

The Golden Gala DL, normally held in Rome, was moved to Florence this year!
Jakob Ingebrigtsen outsprinted his older opponents, his 12:48.45 smashing his own NR of Norway by about 14 seconds!
He's ranks 13th A-T World!
His times of 3:28.68 and 12:48.45 adds to 16:17.13, ranking him 6th A-T World on that Combined Events list!
Hagos Gebrehiwet was 2nd in 12:49.02!
Mo Ahmed won the Battle of the Canadians, his 12:50.12 in 3rd beating Justyn Knight's 12:51.92 in 5th!
In 4th came Mohamad Katir's 12:50.79, the new NR of Spain!!

Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3000SC in 8:08.54!
Consesius Kipruto DNF'ed!!
Just 4 days after her (then-) WR over 10K, Sifan Hassan roared to a 1500 win in Florence, time of 3:53.63!
It breaks her own Golden Gala MR!
In 2nd came Faith Kipyegon, her 3:53.91 breaking her own Kenya National Record!
It's also the best 2nd Place mark, the Age 27 Record, and ranks her 9th A-T World!
Laura Muir's 3:55.59 was only good enough for 3rd!!

Back to those Ethiopian Trials in Hengelo for a bit--
Taddese Lemi won the Men's 1500 in 3:31.90!
S Abate was 2nd in 3:32.80, with Sam Teferi next in 3:33.06!
T Tadese took the 3000SC in 8:09.27 over Abraham Semi's (sp?) 8:12.11.
The Women's race was won by Mekidas Demewuz in 9:13.63.
Second went to the 9:14.03 of L Tefera!

An 800 in France was won by Collins Kipruto in 1:43.95!
Abel Kipsang took the 1500 in 3:32.68!
In 2nd came Elliott Giles's 3:33.80!
Jemma Reekie took the Women's 800 in 1:58.41.
Mo Farah failed to run the 27:28 needed to make GB's team, his time being 27:50.64 back in 8th!
He'll apparently be allowed to try again in a few days!
But Eilish McColgan and Jessica Judd both Q'ed, their respective times being 31:19.35 and 31:20.96!

This is going to be too long for one post, so I'm going to do the rest of the running events here, then do all the Field events in my next post!!

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce became the 2nd fastest Woman of All Time in the 100 meters, running 10.63 in Jamaica!
It breaks her own National Record, and gets the Age 34 Record as well.
It ranks her 2nd A-T World!
Natasha Morrison didn't embarrass herself in 2nd, sprinting a good 10.95!

Trayvon Bromell got a good sized PR with his 9.77 in Florida!
This ranks him 4th A-T US, and 7th A-T World!
Marvin Bracy--out of the picture awhile--came roaring back, timing 9.85 in 2nd!
This ranks him 6th A-T US, tied with 2 others, and 14th A-T World, tied with 3 others!

In the same meet, Elaine Thompson-Herah won her race in 10.87!
(She also took the 200 in 22.54!)
Recently published memoirist Tiana Bartoletta was 2nd in a solid 10.96, edging young Brianna Williams, who ran 10.97!
BTW, Tianna's book is titled "Survive & Advance"!
I've got my autographed copy arriving soon!
It's gotten rave reviews so far!!

Delilah Muhammed won the 400H in 54.50!
In Clermont FL, Isaiah Young sprinted the 100 in 9.89!
This makes him 15th A-T US, tied with 2 others!
The guy he beat was one Noah Lyles, who could run just 10.05!
In 3rd, young Jaylen Slade tied his PR of 10.09!

Also in Florida, Ronnie Baker ran a 100 in 9.99!
But it was the 200 where the headlines were made!
Erriyon Knighton's 20.11 was said to break the U18 record of Usain Bolt!
But Bolt's 20.13 was run in 2003, after he'd just turned 17.
Bolt ran 19.93 in 2004, prior to turning 18!

But because he would turn 18 that year, his time didn't count as an U18 mark--even though he WAS UNDER 18 at the time!!
Thus, Knighton's time does NOT break Bolt's age 17 Record of 19.93!
And since this blog doesn't give a shit about U18 designations, Bolt remains the Age 17 Record holder!
Knighton won't turn 18 until next January, so still can chase that Record!!
Confused??

BTW, Knighton gets the HS PRO and the HS PRO Soph Class Records.
AND he beat someone named Trayvon Bromell, who ran 20.20 in 2nd!
(See above!)

Michael Cherry won a 400 in 44.74.
Grant Holloway took the 110H in 13.10!
Brianna Williams won the 100 in 10.98!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn  took a 100H race in 12.50!
She later ran 12.44!

Brittany Anderson PR'ed with 12.58 in the 100H, and added a 12.59!
Shamier Little ran the (then-) World Leader in the 400H, her time being 53.12!

Allyson Felix is getting ready for another Olympics run!
Her 50.66 over one lap is promising!
She beat Gabby Thomas's PR of 51.15!
Christine Mboma PR'ed in the 200 with 22.73.
She did it again with a 22.67 in Japan!
She also ran the 400 in 50.10!
Maraleidy Paulino took a 400 in 50.66
However, it was 2nd placer Cynthis Mbongo's 50.75 that got the National Record of Belgium!
But then--in another meet (in Spain), Paulino sped a lap in 49.99, breaking her own NR of the Dominican Republic!
She beat Cafir Azevedo's 50.59, but Azevedo gets Portugal's NR!!

Some good marks at the Hengelo meet!
Fred Kerley won the 400 in 44.74.
Omar McLeod won the 110H in 13.06, getting the Meet Record!
Dina Asher-Smith also got the Hengelo MR with her Century time of 10.92.

Sydney McLaughlin used a Tennessee meet to make her 2021 debut in the 400H!
Her 52.83 gets her the Age 21 Record, and the World Leader!
That's her 5th consecutive Age Record in this event!
Ages 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21!

Some good times from the youngsters--
Justin Braun won a 400 in 46.14.
He's an Ohio HS'er!
Sheri Jackson ran a 400 in 52.93.
Nothing special, you say, even for a High Schooler?
Well, what if I told you this girl is in the SIXTH GRADE??
I have no idea what that Grade's record is, but I have a feeling this mark is VERY special!!

Anthony Zambrano took the Golden Gala 400 in 44.76!
Omar McLeod bettered his Hengelo mark (See above!), running 13.01 for the Golden Gala MR!
And Dina Asher-Smith got a GG Meet Record with her 200 blaster of 22.06!
Add another fast one for JCQ (See above also!!)!
She won the Golden Gala in 12.38, getting the MR in the process!

Femke Bol continues to roll!
She broke her own National Record of the Netherlands in Florence's DL!
Her time of 53.44 beat the 54.19 by Anna Ryzhakova (sp?).
And Ryoto Yamagata got Japan's NR in the 100 with 9.95!

That's all the Running results I have for you today!
But another post with nothing but Field events will follow soon!!

NCAA Championships Preview--WOMEN

 Shoot me!
I was so involved this morning that I forgot this Preview.
The Hammer Throw is done, and some other events have begun, but I promise you this Preview is being done BEFORE I check out the results!!
(Except for the HT, but even there, I'll tell you what I WAS going to say before I knew the outcome!)
Here we go, with the same guidelines as for the Men--I'll name some key names, and say whether I think the Meet Record will fall!

Hammer Throw
We all know the Meet AND Collegiate Record fell to Camryn Rogers.
And yes, I would have said she''d win, with a  60% chance for the MR to fall!
The only person I would have been wrong about was Alyssa Wilson, who ended 10th!!

Pole Vault
Lisa Gunnarsson should win, but she's inconsistent, so her competition has a good chance to upset!
Rachel Baxter, Sydney Horn, Lauren Martinez, and Kayla Smith will be Lisa's key challengers!
The MR is safe!

Javelin Throw
Maria Obst has been steady all season, and is picked to win.
Kaylee Carter and Skyler Ciccolini are ones to watch!
No MR here either!

Long Jump
Tara Davis is one of the LOCKS of the meet, and can get the MR in the process!
I'll give her 80% chance for the MR!
But watch for Tyra Gittens, Deborah Acquah, and Jasmine Moore!

Shot Put
This is a toss-up, witth some new names to key on!
Adelaide Aquilla, Khayla Dawson, and Latavia Maines are relatively new to the Collegiate Elite circle.
Also watch for Laulaga Tausaga and Samantha Noennig.
Give the MR a 25% cchance of falling!

10000
The Men's MR was crushed yesterday, so let's knock this one down too, even though it's just 3 years old!
I'll give Mercy Chelangat and company even odds of taking it down.
That "company" includes Grace Forbes, Katy Izzo, Clare O'Brien, Haley Herberg, Abby Nichols, and Poppy Tank!
Then there's the Home Girl--Carmela Baez--who might be inspired by the fans to move with Chelangat!

Heptathlon
The key question here is how high a score Tyra Gittens gets!
I'm giving her a 75% chance of getting the MR--which is also the Collegiate Record!!
Michelle Atherleey will top 6000, but be maybe 500 points behind Gittens!
Lauren Taubert, Kaylee Hinton, Kristina Blazevica, and Erin Marsh are others to watch!

High Jump
Didn't I just mention Tyra Gittens??
Yes, in my LJ and Hept previews!
Well, put this busy woman here also!
Even give her 60% chance for a new MR!
But Rachel Glenn is chosen by T&FN to win, so give her serious attention!
Add Anna Hall, Lillian Lowe, and Abigail O'Donoghue!

Discus Throw
Is Jorinde van Klinken for real?
Was her 230 CR wind-blown?
YES!!
So give her 100% chance of destroying the MR!!
But watch for Lagi Tausauga, Shanice Love, and Alexandra Emilianov!

4X100 Relay
NO on the MR!
But LSU, USC, and Oregon should battle for the Gold!
Watch for North Carolina A&T and Florida!

1500
This could be THE event of the meet--at least depthwise!
The MR of 4:06.19 is given 60% chance of going down--but that's based on whether it turns strategic or not!
There's no super favorite here, so ALL of the following are ones to watch!
Krissy Gear, Amaris Tyynismaa, Sage Hurta, Julia Heymach, Ella Donaghu, , Whittni Orton, and Christina Aragon!

Triple Jump
The MR of Keturah Orji is given 40% chance of going down.
Give Jasmine Moore, Ruth Usoro,  Deborah Acquah, and Ruta Lasmane a shot at the podium!

3000SC
The MR is also the Collegiate Record, so let's give these women a 40% shot at it!
Courtney Wayment looks like the frontrunner here, but it could be a real fight with Joyce Kimeli, Gabe Jennings, Hannah Steelman, Aneta Konieckczyk, Katie Rainsberger, and Charlotte Prouse!

100H
The biggest question here is whether Tonea Marshall takes down the Collegiate Record!
She's just 0.05 seconds away, and she's been improving all season!!
But Ackera Nugent, Jasmine Jones, Grace Stark, and Anna Cockrell could upset if Marshall falters!

100
This is another tight event!
TT (Twanisha Terry) should be the winner, based on experience and power!
But Tamara Clark, Kemba Nelson, Symone Mason, and season shocker Cambrea Sturgis will strongly challenge!!

400
Her last name is pronounced as MO, not MU!!
Athing MU is given 99% chance of taking out the Meet Record, and similar odds of getting her own Collegiate Record!!
Her teammate Cherokee Young could be within a second of her!(That's NOT close!!)
Also watch for Kaelin Roberts, Stacey Ann Williams, Nastassha McDonald, and Talitha Diggs!

800
This event is also wide open!
But let's give it to Aaliyah Miller!
NOT the MR, just the race!
Watch for Laurie Barton, Michaela Meyer, and Gabrielle Wilkinson!

400H
Give Anna Cockrell the edge for the W.
Absolutely ZERO chance to even come close to the MR!
Brittley Humphrey and Anjanette Knight are two others to key on!

200
Some of the same names as in the 100, but give Cambrea Sturgis the edge this time!
Close--maybe VERY close--should be TT Terry, Brianna Bethel, Tamara Clark, Kynnedy Flannel, Tiana Wilson, Ang Annalus, Anavia Battle, and Favour Ofili!

5000
Mercy Chelangat and Whittni Orton have already run fast times this season!
If they repeat, the MR is in mortal danger!
Give them 60% odds of taking it down!
(I know, I'm reckless with distance predictions!  LOL)
Others to watch for are Elly Henes, Joyce Kimeli, Ella Donaghu, Julia Heymach, and Haley Herberg!

4X400 Relay
Ending the meet will be our maybe last chance to see Athing Mu as a Collegiate athlete!
(I'm thinking going Pro will happen before the Trials, but after she runs the anchor leg here!)
Her 48.5 to 49.5 anchor, however, might not be enough to top USC, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Floida, UCLA, South Carolina, Duke, or Kentucky!

Enjoy the meet, and again, many apologies for this being so late!
I promise you that, aside from the Hammer Throw, I do NOT know what's happened so far!!

See you in a few days!

NCAA Championships Preview--MEN

The first OUTdoor NCAA Championships since 2019 are upon us!
The MEN are featured today and Friday, the WOMEN tomorrow and Saturday!
Except for the Multi's--the Decathlon starts today & ends tomorrow--the Heptathlon begins Friday, and ends Saturday!
Following is a brief preview, giving some key names, and the chances the Meet Record might be broken.
I'll list the events by the order of the Finals!
Only one running final today--the 10000!
And here we go!
(My Women's Preview will follow sometime tonight or early tomorrow!)

Hammer Throw

Thomas Mardal has been the most consistant, but Gleb Dudarev is always around 240!  
Watch for Nate Bultman and Israel Oloyede.
ZERO chance for a Meet Record!

Pole Vault
Zach will win!  You choose whether it's McWhorter or Bradford!
Watch for H Al Hizam and Branson Ellis!
The MR of 19-4.75 gets 20% odds of falling!

Javelin Throw
NO Meet Record, but the winner looks to be Sondri Gudmundsson.
DJ Jonsson has a chance!

Long Jump
This should be the first of 2 Golds for JuVaughn Harrison!
The 28-0 MR has 40-60 odds of going!
Corey McLeod, Steffin McCarter, and Rayvon Allen have a slim chance for an upset!

Shot Put
This mightt be the first of 2 Wins also--for Turner Washington!
Matt Katnik, Jordan Geist, and Tripp Piperi have a bit of a shot (Sic!)!
No Meet Record!

10000
Will Wesley Kiptoo take it out in his usual insane manner?
Is Conner Mantz too hot to beat?
Abdi Nur and Edwin Kurgat also should be in the mix!
The 1979 (!!) MR of 28:01.3 CAN fall--unless it's a strategic race!
Even then, it should go--especially with Kiptoo in the race!

Decathlon
The venerable Ashton Eaton's MR is 8457--or 27 points less than Karel Tilga's recent 8484!!
But can he do it again, just weeks later?
I'll give him an 80% chance!
Ayden Owens and Markus Ballinger are good for 8000 points!

High Jump
Harrison should get this one--but the MR of 7-9.75 is far less certain!
Give him 25% odds!
Tejaswin Shankar and Darryl Sullivan might get closer than we think!

Discus Throw
The MR is 215-8, and has a GREAT chance at going down!
The man to do it is Turner Washington!
But 2 guys have recent marks (from the Prelims) which should scare Washington!
They are Francais Prinsloo and Claudio Romero!

4 X 100 Relay
People are already handing the Gold to North Carolina A&T!
But don't take your eyes off LSU, Texas A&M, Houston, Georgia, or Florida State!
Also keep an eye on that damn baton--that's the key!!

1500
Oh man!
This could be the best RACE of the meet!!
You have TWO men who have run SOLO times that are either the Collegiate Record (Yared Nuguse). or come close (Eliud Kipsang).
Then you have the best KICKER in Cole Hocker!
Add Kaleed Suliman and James West, and the race is ON!
The Meet Record of 3:35.30 is 40 years old!!

Triple Jump
This event is pretty much open-ended!
Toss a coin between Cheng Mapaya, O'Brien Wasome, Jordan Scott (a slight favorite!) and Emmanuel Ikemeje!
ZERO chance for a MR!

3000SC
No real favorites here either!

This event has the oldest MR--Henry Rono's 8:12.4 from 1978!
Probably will be here 40 years from now!!
Fitsum Seyoum MIGHT get the nod, but not really!
Watch for Ahmed Jaziri and Ryan Daunton!

110H
Jack Dunning is a virtual lock!
But Daniel Roberts's 13.06 MR is safe!
Eric Edwards, Jaylan McConnico, and Damian Thomas will challenge.

100
Another event to challenge for Best of the Meet!
Joseph Fahnbullah, Matthew Boling, Micah Williams, and Terrance Laird could require a photo to see who wins!
Hope the wind is legal.
If it is, Christian Coleman's MR of 9.82 is in danger!
Add JuVaughn Martin and Shaun Maswanganiyi, and you've got yourself a roaring salad!

400
Randolph Ross, Noah Williams, Bryce Deadmon, and Trevor Stewart are considered the favorites.
The MR of 43.61 gets 5% chance of going down!
Watch for Johnnie Blockburger as a possible surprise!
Add Jacory Patterson and Dwight St Hillaire to your watchlist!

800.
The MR should be safe!
Track & Field News picks Isaiah Jewett to win!
But I'm going with Brandon Miller.
He's PR'ed a few times this season, and has been a star since he was a HS Frosh!
Kameron Jones and Festus Lagat are ones to watch!
Devin Dixon SHOULD be a favorite for the podium, but he's been out of the picture for a couple of years!

400H
Why don't "experts" see Sean Burrell as the overwhelming favorite here?
Most say it's his technique--or lack thereof!
Yet he's fast over the flat 400--especially in Relays!
(Rai Benjamin's MR is VERY safe!!)
M Mpoke and Isaiah Levingston are the ones to chase Burrell, and maybe beat him!

200
It would be very easy for me to tell you to "See the 100 Preview above!", and let it go at that!
Because it's very likely we'll see the front line being Laird, Boling, Fahnbullah, and Maswanyaniyi again!
Add Lance Lang to the mix!
Who will come off the curve in front--and can "he" stay there??
Give the 19.73 MR even odds of falling!
And watch the wind gauge!

5000
Strategic vs Time Trial--which will it be?
Cooper Teare and Duck teammate Cole Hocker CAN get the MR of 13:18.36!!
And even in that strategic race, it could still happen!
They are that good!
If they won't lead, look for the "rabbit" to be Wesley Kiptoo!
Pat Dever, Luis Grijalva, and maybe Casey Clinger are ones to keep half an eye on!!

4 X 400 Relay
As it SHOULD, the meet (for the Men!) could end with a Meet AND Collegiate Record!!
(They're the same!)
North Carolina A&T came within 0.21 seconds of tying the CR recently!
The Usual Suspects--LSU, USC, Texas A&M, Texas, and Kenticky could challenge--for the lower rungs of the podium!

As noted at the onset, my Women's Preview will be posted before their meet starts tomorrow!

Enjoy the meet, and see you soon!

NCAA: Are Regionals Necessary?

My title asks a question many serious T&F fans have been asking since their inception.
All they do is save the NCAA Championships viewers and attendees from sitting through early rounds of races, and qualifying flights of field events!
While some great marks come from them, it means fans in Eugene will be deprived of seeing these early marks!
But this blog is here to report all quality records and marks, no matter which meet they come from!
I'll divide this report by sex, not by region!
Also divided by event!

MEN--100, 200, 400
Trevor Stewart ran the 400 in 44.55, with an earlier 44.59.
After a 44.86, Randolph Ross ran his 400 in 44.63!
Micah Williams sped the 100 in 10.00.
Bryce Deadmon ran his one lap in 44.57!

WOMEN--100, 200, 400
Athing Mu showed she's Olympic 400 material by breaking the Collegiate Record with her 2nd round 49.68!
She also gets the Frosh Class Record, and is ranked 16th A-T US!
This was after a 1st round 50.07!

Twanisha Terry sped a Century in 10.89, making her 4th A-T Collegiate!
Her earlier round was a 10.99.
Kemba Nelson ran 10.98, making her 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others!
Cambrea Sturgis was a bit of a surprise, running 10.92--after an 11.01 first round!
The 10.92 gives her the Soph Class Record, and ranks her 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Tamara Clark ran 10.98!

Clark also ran the 200 in 22.13, making her 4th A-T Collegiate!
Sturgis added a 200 in 22.26, making her 14th A-T collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Anavia Battle's 22.28 makes her 16th A-T Collegiate!
Favour Ofili's 22.30 makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!!
TT Terry added a 200 of 22.54!

Stacey Williams was the fastest 400 runner after Mu, her 50.34 making her 11th A-T Collegiate!
Other good 400 times were the 51.03 of Natassha McDonald, and the 51.04 of Talitha Diggs!

MEN--110H and 400H
Robert Dunning sped the 110H in 13.24, making him 12th A-T Collegiate!
Sean Burrell did the one lap with hurdles in 48.86!
But Isaiah Levingston was faster, his best being 48.58!

WOMEN--100H
Tonea Marshall is an LSU athlete.
Her latest PR was 12.44, just 0.01 off the venerable school record of Lolo Jones!
It's also the Senior Class Record!
She's 4th A-T Collegiate, and 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Achera Nugent surprised with her 12.76!

BTW, there were no 400H times worth reporting on the Women's side!!
Ditto with the 5000's, 10000's, and 3000SC's for both sexes--with one exception!

MEN--4X100 and 4X400 Relays
North Carolina A&T ran 38.54, with Georgia close behind in 38.57!
This makes the Bulldogs 14th A-T School!
Florida State ran 38.67, and LSU finished in 38.85!

NC A&T scared the Collegiate Record with their 2:59.21!
They'll have another shot at it in Eugene!!
It makes them 3rd A-T School!
LSU ran 3:02.14.
USC's time was 3:02.85, while Texas A&M ran 3:03.12!

WOMEN--4X100 and 4X400 Relays
LSU's 42.63 led the way in the short Relay.
They beat NC A&T's 42.92.
The latter becomes 12th A-T School!
Alabama added a time of 42.97, while Florida State ran 42.99!

USC ran 42.88, while the Oregon Ducks hit the line in 42.94.
With Athing Mu anchoring in 50.07, Texas A&M's Women led the longer relay with 3:25.84!
USC ran 3:26.37.
Arkansas hit 3:27.58!
UCLA was timed in 3:28.70, while Texas ran 3:29.49!

Florida ran 3:27.51.
Alabama ran 3:28.23!
South Carolina ran 3:29.15, but it was Duke's 3:29.19 which made them 23rd A-T School!
Add in LSU's 3:28.84!!

MEN--800, 1500
The new Collegiate Record holder in the 1500--Yared Nuguse--ran 3:36.85 to reserve a spot in Eugene.
But Eliud Kipsang--after a 3:37.17 first round, sped his 1500 in 3:35.49!
This breaks his own Frosh Class Record, and makes him 4th A-T Collegiate!

Brandon Miller keeps improving over 800 meters!
He was fastest of all with a 1:45.57!
Isaiah Jewett was close with1:45.66!
Cole Hocker cruised & kicked to a 1500 in 3:38.29!

WOMEN--800 and 1500
Michaela Meyer PR'ed in the 800 in 2:00.40, making her 9th A-T Collegiate!
Amaris Tyynismaa ran 4:09.48 over 1500 meters!
She ranks 17th A-T Collegiate!
She opened in 4:11.45!

Julia Heymach almost matched the former Middle School star with her 4:09.89!
She barely beat Krissy Gear's 4:10.09 and Whittni Orton's 4:10.18!

That one longer distance exception I mentioned earlier was Gabrielle Jennings's 3000SC time of 9:40.53.
This makes her 17th A-T Collegiate!

MEN--Field Events
Despite this being just the Q round, a good Discus Throw battle was had on the Men's side!
Francois Prinsloo shocked with 216-0, giving him the Frosh Class Record.
He beat another Frosh--Claudio Romero, who hit 215-10!
Prinsloo ranks 11th A-T Collegiate, while Romero ranks 12th A-T Collegiate!

Sindri Gudmundsson threw his Javelin 261-3.
Turner Washington had a solid SP & DT double, hitting 68-0.50 and 212-10!
Emmanuel Ikemele TJ'ed 55-8.50!

WOMEN--Field Events
Jorinde Van Klinken was nowhere near her new Collegiate Record in the Discus of 230-4!
But she didn't need to be, so her 211-5 isn't anything to worry about!
That made Lagi Tausaga's PR of 207-7 look a bit better!
It makes her 9th A-T Collegiate, and 14th A-T US, tied with 1 other!

Camryn Rogers hit 236-9 in the HT!
Alyssa Wilson's best was 227-4!
Adelaide Aquilla threw the Shot 60-11.50.
Shanice Love had a DT of 200-10!
And Autavia Fluker's HT measured 229-9, which made her 14th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!

The missing events, or the ones with small amounts of marks, scream that the idea of having Regionals is wrong, and unfair to HJ'ers, PV'ers, and others with no opportunity or reason to fully display their talents!!

Well, onward to the Big Show in just over 130 hours!!
See you soon!

Doha DL Return to Form

 The return to the 2019 World Championships city was all the medicine it took to bring the wounded Diamond League system back to form!

Rai Benjamin toured a lap with hurdles in 47.38, getting the Meet Record.
Brazil's National Record was broken again by Alison Dos Santos, who is proving a consistent giant of the event!
His 47.57 makes him 22nd A-T World.
Kyron McMaster was 3rd in 47.82!

In the absence of Sha'Carri Richardson (a DNS), Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce took control, and took just 10.84 to cross the finish line!
Blessing Okagbare was 2nd in 10.90!
Tim Cheruiyot brought the 1500 World Lead down to 3:30.48!
Stew McGregor (3:31.57) and Soufiane El Bakkali (3:31.95) followed!

Katie Nageotte and Sandi Morris both cleared 15-10.50 in the PV, with Nageotte getting the W.
Both claimed ties of the Meet Record!
Holly Bradshaw, Tina Sutej, Kat Stefanidi, and Iryna Zhuk all went over 15-6.50, placing in that order!
Zhuk gets the Belarus NR also!
Anzhelika Sidorova was 7th with 15-2.75!

Yulimar Rojas TJ'ed 49-8.50, beating Shaneika Ricketts (49-1.75), and Kim Williams (48-2.50).
In 5th came Keturah Orji's 47-1.75!
Michael Norman won the 400 in 44.27.
Anthony Zambrano ran 44.57 to beat 3rd placer Fred Kerley, who ended in 44.60.
Kenny Bednarek edged Andre De Grasse, 19.88 to 19.89!
Justin Gatlin's 20.49 only gave him 5th, but that time makes him the Age 39 Record holder!!

The Women's 3000SC saw Norah Tanui winning in 9:00.67.
Makalis Demewez (sp??) got Ethiopia's NR with her 9:02.52.
She's 9th A-T World!
Winfred Yavi was 3rd with 9:02.64.
She's 10th A-T World!
Hyvin Kiyeng fell over the final water jump, ending 4th in 9:07.58!
Emma Coburn opened her Steeple season with 9:08.22 in 5th.
M Mismas-Zrimsek was 6th in Slovenia's NR time of 9:16.82!

Beatrice Chebet (8:27.49), Margaret Kipkemboi (8:28.27), and Lillian Rengeruk (8:28.96) took the podium spots in the flat 3K!
Wycliffe Kinyamel won the 800 in 1:43.91.
The Women's race went to Faith Kipyegon in 1:58.26.
Natoya Goule was 2nd in 1:59.70.
Femi Ogunode won a 100 race there in 10.00.

Armin Sinancevic took the SP with his 71-9.50.
Tom Walsh threw just 70-11.75 in 2nd!
I won't explain what the WA did with the throws--it's too bizarre!!
Suffice to say, it was Valerie Allman who won the DT with her 215-1!
And the Home Hero--Mutaz Barshim--HJ'ed 7-6.50, but lost to the 7-7.75 of Ilya Ivanyuk!

The Women broke all but 1 of the Distance Meet Records at the Portland Track Festival!
But the Men had the flashiest result!

High School Senior Hobbs Kessler destroyed the HSR in the 1500 meters with his amazing 3:34.36.
The fact he ended in 5th place merely reminds me I was there when Alan Webb set the Mile and 1500 HSR's in 2001 at the Pre Classic, but ended in 5th also!!
Craig Engels PR'ed in 3:33.64 to take the win.
This makes him 17th A-T US!
A pair of Brits were next--Charlie Grice in 3:33.91, and Jake Heyward in 3:33.99!
Henry Wynne also PR'ed--time of 3:34.08.

Then, at the end of a blazing last 400, Kessler crossed the line to instant fame and adulation!
He gets the HSR, the Senior Class Record, but misses the US list by 0.25 seconds!
Lots of speculation in the past few days about his chances to go to Tokyo in a few weeks!

The deepest field goes to the Women's 800, where two women went sub-2:00 for the first time!
Canada's Gabby Stafford won it in 1:58.70.
Sabrina Southerland ran 1:58.82 in 2nd.
Kate Grace and Chanelle Price followed in 1:59.04 and 1:59.12.
Cory McGee followed in 1:59.17.
Then came Raevyn Rogers in 1:59.72.
Ms's Southerland and McGee, Welcome to the 1:59 club!!

MR's also went to Courtney Frerichs, Elise Cranny, and Jessica Hull!
Frerichs's time in the 3000SC was 9:21.13.
Val Constien was 2nd in a fine 9:25.53, making her 10th A-T US!
Great Britain's Lizzie Bird was 3rd in 9:26.73.
Veteran Mel Lawrence was 4th in 9:27.34, making her 11th A-T US!
Sara Vaughn PR'ed with her 5th place time of 9:38.52!

Cranny's 4:02.62 makes her 20th A-T US!
Dani Jones PR'ed with her 4:04.26 in 2nd!
Hull's 14:57.00 won the 5000, but not by much!
Andrea Seccefien was next in 14:57.07, with fellow Canadian Julie Ann Staehli timing 14:57.50!
Karissa Schweizer--she of 14:26.34 fame--could end only 4th in 15:00.44!
The only Men's Meet Record fell to Suguru Osako's 27:56.44!
In fourth came Galen Rupp in 28:00.37!
No MR in the Women's 10K, however, as Caroline Kipkirui won it in 31:44.06!
Molly Seidel took 3rd in a PR of 32:02.19.
She's on the Marathon team for Tokyo!

More from PTF--
Donovan Brazier won the 800 in 1:45.09!
Matthew Centrowitz was 5th in 1:46.23!
Mason Ferlic kept steady with his 3000SC win in 8:18.79!
Bernard Keter took 2nd in 8:20.46, followed by neophyte Sean McGorty in 8:22.75!
Grant Fisher took the fast heat of the 5000 in 13:19.52.
Woody Kincaid was a few seconds back in 13:24.65!
Lopez Lomong was slower--13:26.11--but he won his section!

Chula Vista was the site of the USATF Field Festival!
Jeff Henderson took the LJ with 27-6.50!
Marquis Dendy and Corey Crawford both reached 27-2.50, with Dendy taking 2nd!
Esa Brume got Nigeria's National Record with her 23-6.25!
She ranks 22nd A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Brittney Reese's best measured 23-3.50, but it was wind aided!
Her best legal effort was 22-5.
Chantel Malone's best was 23-2.50!
Rudy Winkler led some solid HT'ers with his 258-5!
Alex Young's PR of 256-11 makes him 11th A-T US!
Sean Donnelly threw 252-7!

But check this out, Field fans--
Vashti Cunningham took over the World Lead in the HJ, clearing 6-7.50 (2.02).
She is ranked 4th A-T US!
And she's just one half inch off the World list!!
Jelena Rowe was 2nd with 6-4!

And then there's Maggie Malone!!
On fire all season, she blasted the spear out 219-3, an American Record by 7 inches!
Liz Gleadle was far back with a good 207-9!

The venerable Gotzis Multi's saw Damian Warner take a very serious shot at 9000 points, missing only because his JT was a bit sub-par!
But his 8995 final score won the meet by 461 points over the 8534 of fellow Canadian Pierce LePage!!
Warner got the Age 31 Record, as well as breaking his own NR by 200 points!
He leapt 27-2 in his LJ, taking over another Canada NR!!
Thomas Van der Plaetzen's 8430 took 3rd!
Vitali Zhuk scored 8331 in 4th!

The Heptathlon went to Xenia Krizsan's 6651, the new National Record of Hungary!
It broke her own mark!
Anouk Vetter took 2nd with 6536 points.
Kendell Williams was 3rd with 6383!
Erica Bougard was a DNF!!

Other Records & Marks--
Johannes Vetter blew his Javelin 315-11 across the field!
This breaks his own Germany NR (broken earlier in his series with a 309-2), and is of course the World Leader!
Pawel Fajdek got off a solid HT, his 272-3 leading the World!
Christina Hussong threw 227-0, making her 8th A-T World!

Daniel Stahl threw his Discus 226-9, but he lost to Simon Pettersen's 227-11.
But he made up for that by winning another meet with 228-8!
It was during this series that he fouled a throw measuring 242-2, or 73.83!
The WR is 74.08, or 243-0!
No one--not even Stahl--has come so close to this mark in this century!!
How bad was the foul?
The video shows he stepped outside the ring by maybe 6 to 8 inches!
Think of a LJ measuring, say, 29-3, in which the Jumper steps maybe 6 inches over the plasticine!
Or a Women's 10.60 in the 100, but with a wind of 2.2!
Can he get the World Record?
That foul says--maybe!

In Cuba, L Povea TJ'ed 48-11.75, less than 3 inches removed from my World list!
She  went 48-10 in another meet!
Teen Leyanis Perez reached 47-6.25 in 2nd!
Jordan Diaz TJ'ed 57-3.50!
Andy Diaz went out 56-4.75!
Yaime Perez's DT sailed 226-4!
In Georgia, Katie Nageotte took over the World Lead in the PV, clearing 16-2!
She gets the Age 29 Record.
She ranks 5th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
She ranks 2nd A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Roberta Bruni PV'ed 15-5, getting Italy's NR!

The PV had to be moved INdoors because of bad weather, so make sure you note Chris Nilsen's 19-4.25 is an INdoor mark!
So is Kyle Pater's 2nd place mark of 19-0.25!

Rachel McCoy HJ'ed 6-5, making her 14th A-T US, tied with 4 others!
Maykal Masso LJ'ed 27-6.50.
Daniel Jasinski threw the Discus 221-4 in Germany!
Fanny Roos broke her own National Record of Sweden in the SP with 63-4!
Remember Jarrion Lawson?
Looks like he's back, as measured by his 27-0.75 LJ in Georgia!

Femke Bol continues to rock and roll!
She broke the Netherlands NR in the 400 with her 50.56!
Purity Rionoripu won the Prague Marathon in 2:20:14!
In Botswana, Isaac Makwala took the double, his 200 and 400 wins coming in 20.15 and 44.65!
Gift Leotlefa won a South Africa 100 in 9.94!

Emily Sisson cruised a 5000 in Massachusetts in 14:59.12.
But what happened to Molly Huddle, who was far back in 5th with 15:24.12??

Finally, on the HS front--besides Hobbs Kessler's HSR!!--
Paige Sommers broke her own HSR in the Pole Vault by clearing 14-9, adding half an inch to her OUTdoor best!

Logan Coles threw the Hammer 235-0, ranking him 19th A-T HS!
And then there's Jaylen Slade, who gets the Junior Class Record with his 10.09.
This ranks him 4th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!

I'll try to have my report on the NCAA Regionals up in a few hours!
Until then...!!