Sunday, March 13, 2022

Small Meets & Lots of Road (& a Eulogy)

 A brief reminder--
The last few posts (and the next several) are filling in the blanks brought on by my "vacation" from blogging since last summer's Prefontaine Classic!
I COULD ignore all this--assuming you already know everything that happened--but my blog has always existed to bring you as many Records and Marks (in a somewhat entertaining fashion!) as possible without being just a long list of names and numbers!
Thus this set of posts reporting on the latter portion of the 2021 OUTdoor seasson--and eventually (SOON!!) the ENTIRE 2021-2022 INdoor season!!
Enjoy reading, and learning (??), and remembering!!

Berlin's ISTAF meet is always a good one!
Sam Kendricks and Chris Nilsen both cleared 19-4.75 in the PV, with Kendricks getting the Win!
Marvin Bracy continued his solid year, taking the 100 in 9.95.

Johannes Vetter had a Javelin Throw of 291-2.
Kate Grace PR'ed in her winning 1500, her 4:01.23 making her 16th A-T US!
And Valerie Allman also PR'ed, her Discus Throw of 233-5 giving her the American and Meet Records!
She is 18th A-T World!

The Zagreb meet was even better!
Marvin Bracy sped the 100 in 9.86, beating the 9.97 of Ronnie Baker!
Kirani James got the Zagreb Meet Record with his 400 of 44.46!
Catalin Tecucescu won the 800 in 1:44.93, breaking his own National Record of Romania!!

Another taking down his own MR was Ryan Crouser, thanks to his SP of 74-11.25!
Tom Walsh was a strong 2nd, his mark being 73-5.50!
Joe Kovacs was 3rd with 71-2.50!

Shaneika Ricketts also nabbed the MR with her Triple Jump of 48-5.50!
Shericka Jackson sped the half lap in 22.30, also taking over MR territory!

Other Zagreb marks--
Devon Allen dipped out of the 13's, his 12.99 in the 110H making him 12th A-T US, tied with 1 other, and 21st A-T World, tied with 1 other!!
KC Lightfoot's 19-3 PV also serves as a new Meet Record!
Getnet Wale took the 3000SC in 8:12.01.

The 2000 is rarely run anymore, but a quick time of 5:25.86 was had by Freywangie Gebreezibeher (sp??).
Dawit Seyaum was 2nd in 5:32.40!
Tobi Amusan continued her good season with a 100H win of 12.61.
Daniel Stahl and Valerie Allman took the Discus Throws, marks of 222-5 and 228-5.
Sandra Perkovic again lost to the American, her best reaching 218-1.

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce sped a Century in 10.78 in Switzerland.
Home Girl Mujinga Kambundji ran 10.99, but added a 200 of 22.36!
The same meet saw Natoya Goule win the 800 in 1:58.20.
Nadine Visser and Femke Bol took care of the 100H and the 400H, respectively, times of 12.57 and 54.01.
Also, Tina Sutej PV'ed 15-5!!

In an altitude site in Kenya, some fast sprint times--
Trayvon Bromell just edged Kenyan Ferdinand Omwurwa in the 100!
Bromell's 9.76 makes him 3rd A-T US, tied with 1 other, and 6th A-T World, also tied with 1 other!
Omwurwa got the Kenya National Record with his 9.77, making him 8th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
At twice the distance, Fred Kerley ran 19.76.
This makes him 14th A-T US, and 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other!
In the C-E world, Kerley's mark, added to his 9.86 and 43.64, comes to 1:13.26.
He is 4th A-T World, and 3rd A-T US!

Another distance rarely run is the 300--at least OUTdoors!
That made it easy for Karsten Warholm, his 32.49 becoming Norway's NR!

In Russia, Ilya Shkurenyov scored 8429 points in the Decathlon!
And in Austria, EJ Obiena PV'ed 19-5.50, breaking his own National Record of the Philippines!

On to the ROADS!!
There was so much happening last year that I can't fit it all in one post!
So, following are results from Road Races shorter than the Marathon!!
I'll bring you those in another post!

The Cherry Blossom 10 Mile is always solid, and the 2021 version stayed the course, so to speak!
Edwin Kimutai took the Men's race in 45:45.
A bit of an upset in the Women's race saw Nell Rojas run 52:13, leaving Jenny Simpson in her shadow at 52:16.
I believe this was Jenny's longest race ever!!

The Berlin Half Marathon was won by Felix Kipkoech's 58:57.
That misses my World list by just 4 seconds!
Joyciline Jepkosgei took the Women's division in 65:16, beating the 65:21 of Nancy Rotich!
Ms Rotich is now 17th A-T World!

Races in Germany produced some solid results!
Jacob Kirop won a 5000 in 13:06.
Rhonex Kipruto took a 10K in 26:43, defeating the 26:56 by Tadese Worku.
And in a Half, Abel Kipchumba won in 58:48, making him 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others!

The Great North Half saw Marc Scott win in 61:22.
Big names took 2nd and 3rd--Ed Cheserek was 2nd in 61:31, while Galen Rupp was 3rd in 61:52.
Helen Obiri took the Women's race in 67:42 over the 67:48 of Elish McColgan!

The Copenhagen Half was taken by AmdewerkWalelegn in 59:10, while the Women's winner was T Gemuha (sp??), her time of 65:08 making her 11th A-T World.

The Fifth Avenue Mile "traditionally" ends the US Road season, other than the fall Marathons!
Jake Wightman took the 2021 version by a hair, his 3:50 nipping the 3:51's of (in finish order) Ollie Hoare, Jake Heyward, Sam Prakel, and Vincent Chattel.
The Women's race was close also, but not quite AS close as the Men.
Jemma Reekie won it in 4:22, with Nikki Hiltz 2nd in 4:23.
Shannon Osika nipped Kate Van Buskirk for 3rd, both running 4:24's.
Dani Jones was another second back in 5th!

In Women Only races, Senbere Teferi won the 5000 in World Record time of 14:29.
In the 10000, the athletic world saw the last of the magnificent talent of Agnes Tirop!!

Her 30:01 was also a World Record, and it beat the 30:17 by Sheila Kiprotich by a good margin!

And then her husband murdered her!

About a month after that race, Agnes Tirop is now running with the Angels!
Brutally killed by someone who was supposed to love her!

Since this horrible tragedy, the world has mourned her early death at Age 25!
Many people--elite athletes from around the world, as well as decent people who abhor the prevalence of violence against women--have donated to causes and groups organized to fight back against crimes like this.
Mary Ngugi has been at the forefront of this response!

But now the world of Athletics is missing the beautiful and gentle and loving and, yes, fierce presence of Agnes Tirop!

Why?
Such a simple question, with no good answers!

May you Rest in Peace, Agnes!
We miss you!


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