"Ever" is a frightening word!
So is "best".
So judgmental, so definitive!
Then shall we just compare 2017 against 2016?
Well, there is NO comparison!
Not because 2017 was missing a World Championships, or that 2016 didn't have a European Championships!
Nor that a somewhat differing set of athletes competed in my 4 core groups!
(For example, some HS'ers became Collegiates, while some Collegiates graduated, or turned Pro!)
Therefore, it's best we stick with facts, numbers, stuff we KNOW don't lie!
In that case, it's no contest--2017 was BY FAR the better year!!
Let's take a look.
In 2016, there were 4 World Records broken, 2 for each gender!
Three American Records were broken, all by the Women!
Six Collegiate Records went down, 2 by Men, and 4 by Women!
The HS set saw 13 HSR's fall, 7 by the Men, and 6 by the Women!
The Totals were 11 by the Men, and 15 by the Women, for a Grand Total of 26!
Not a bad showing, you say??
HA!
In the season just ended, 7 WR's fell, 4 by Men, and 3 by Women!
Eight American Records changed hands, 3 for the Men, 5 for the Women!
Fourteen Collegiate Records fell, 6 for the guys, while the girls broke 8!
The HS'ers?
They broke HSR's 32 times, 14 for the Men, and 18 going to the Women!!
Totals for 2017 were 27 Records by the Men, while the Women broke 34!
Grand Total was a whopping 61!!
Now, you could say that ONE athlete broke the same event record several times!
Mondo Duplantis, for example, broke the PV HSR (his own!) SIX times!
Okay, so let's give just ONE record to each event, if broken by the same person!
So Mondo's 6 becomes one!
Sammy Watson's 2 HSR's in the 600 becomes just 1.
Here's the changed numbers--for 2017!
World-------Remains at 7, as no one athlete (or team, in the case of Relays!) broke an event record twice or more!
US----------Nine AR's were broken, with no one repeating!
Collegiate--14 CR's fell, with no one getting more than 1 in any event!
(Ed Cheserek got 2 CR's, but in different events--the 1500 and Mile!)
HS---------Here's where we LOSE some records, as there were some repeat breakings by the same person, as noted above!!
The 14 HSR's broken by Men is reduced to 6--as Duplantis, Tyrese Cooper, and Trey Cunningham all had multiple breakings of records in the same event!
The Women did somewhat better, as their total of 18 (which, BTW, includes the 4 HS PRO records Candace Hill got!!) is reduced to 15, so they lose just 3 marks!!
With those reductions, our totals now are---
WR-----------7
US------------9
CR-----------14
HS-----------21
Grand Total is now 51, a loss of 10 from the previous total of 61.
Still significantly better than 2016!!
Now let's look at my Top 24 Performers lists numbers, my so called DDD's!
In 2016, the Men got on the 4 lists 148 times!
The Women got 224 listings.
The Grand Total was 372!
(That was down 1 from 2015's total of 373!!)
In 2017?
We have 441 DDD listings with the year of 2017 as the date!
(As you know, if an INdoor mark for a certain season---say, 2017---happens in December, that mark is counted in the previous year's totals, since, in the example I gave, December of 2016 is still 2016, even if the season is the "2016-2017" INdoor season!!)
Anyway, that total of 441 is divided as follows---
188 for the Men
253 for the Women
From 373 to 441--even though there wasn't a WC's!!
Are you convinced yet?
Comparatively, 2016 SUCKED, while 2017 RULED!!
Sticking to my DDD lists, let's break it down by event!
(I did this a bit in my AOY posts, when I rated the "Event of the Year"! BTW, I found some additional 2017 marks--mostly in the HS realm--by going over the yearly lists on the T&FN website! Just a handful or so--nothing spectacular!!)
World Men
The 600 led with 8.
The 5000 got 7.
The 300 nabbed 6.
The 2 Mile got 4.
The 200 has 3.
The 60, 400, Mile, WT, and the Heptathlon all got 2.
The 60H, TJ, PV, and SP have 1 apiece.
Striking out were the 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, HJ, LJ, and the 4X400 Relay!
World Women
The WT led with 8.
The 300 got 6.
The 600 has 5.
The 200, Mile, 3000, and the 60H have 3.
The 800, 1000, 5000, and HJ get 2 each.
The 60, 1500, 2000, LJ, TJ, PV, and the Pentathlon have 1 each!
The 400, 2 Mile, SP, and the 4X400 Relay get none!
US Men
The 600 leads with 9.
The 300 has 8.
The 1500, Mile, and 2 Mile have 5 apiece!
The 5000 got 4.
The WT and Heptathlon have 3 each.
The 60, 200, and 800 have 2 each.
The 400, 1000, 3000, and TJ have 1 apiece.
Getting ZERO were the 2000, 60H, HJ, LJ, PV, SP, and the 4X400 Relay!
US Women
The 600 got a whopping 11 to lead!!
The 300 has 9.
The WT has 6.
The 1000 and PV get 5 each.
The 200, 800, and Mile have 4 each.
The 60, 400, 2000, 5000, 60H, and LJ get 3 apiece!
The 1500, 3000, TJ, and the Pentathlon have 2 each.
The HJ and SP get 1 apiece.
Striking out was the 2 Mile---sad to say!!
Collegiate Men
The 600 leads with 8.
The Heptathlon and the 4X400 Relay have 6 apiece.
The WT has 5.
The 200 gets 3.
The 60, 400, and PV have 2 each.
The 300, 1000, 1500, Mile, 60H, LJ, TJ, and the SP have 1 apiece.
With NONE are the 800, 3000, 5000, HJ, and the DMR!
(Remember, NO Oversize Track marks make my lists!!)
Collegiate Women
The 4X400 Relay leads with 7!!
The 800 and 60H have 5 each.
The 60, 200, 600, PV, and SP have 4 apiece.
The Mile, TJ, WT, and the DMR have 3 each.
The 400, 1500, 5000, LJ, and the Pentathlon have 2 apiece.
The 300, 1000, and the HJ have 1 each!
With NONE is the 3000!!
(It should be noted that my 300 lists for both Collegiate Men and Women are NOT 24 deep, but remain about half filled!!)
HS Men
The 1500 and Mile have 6 apiece.
The 3000 has 5.
The 200, 2 Mile, and 60H have 4 each.
The 300, 400, 600, and the PV have 3 each.
The SP, WT, and the Pentathlon have 2 apiece.
The 1000 and 5000 have 1 apiece.
With ZERO are the 60, HJ, LJ, and TJ!!
HS Women
The 3000 and LJ each have 7.
The PV and WT have 6 each.
The 300 and 400 get 5 apiece.
The 200, 1000, 2 Mile, 60H, and TJ have 4 each.
The 600, 800, 1500, 5000, and SP have a pair each.
The 60, HJ, and the Pentathlon get 1 apiece.
Only the Mile has ZERO!!
I'll end this post by listing--in chronological order of their breaking (as near as I can determine!!)--ALL of the SIXTY ONE Records we saw getting broken this INdoor season!
Won't give actual dates, just their name, the mark, and which record(s) they broke!
That's the best way--IMO--to SEE how incredible this season has been!
The first one was December 22, 2016!
Jordan Geist (68-4, HSR)
Ty Cooper (33.03, HSR)
Candace Hill (7.30 & 36.86, HS PRO & HS PRO)
Mondo Duplantis (18-2 & 18-5, HSR & HSR)
Quanera Hayes (35.71, AR)
Kaela Edwards (2:40.79, CR)
Lake Braddock (VA) (11:34.54, HSR)
Emmanuel Korir (1:14.97, WR & CR)
Sammy Watson (1:28.67, HSR)
UO (10:48.77, CR)
Casimir Loxsom (1:14.91 (WR & AR)
Isaiah Harris (1:14.96, CR)
Texas A&M (3:02.52, CR)
USA-NB (10:40.31, WR & AR)
Trey Cunningham (7.49, HSR)
Ty Cooper (32.87, HSR)
Sage Watson (1:08.40, CR)
Sammy Watson (1:27.13, HSR)
Mondo Duplantis (18-6.50 & 18-9.25, HSR & HSR)
Genzebe Dibaba (5:23.75, WR)
Lauren Harris (6:17.59, HSR)
Hannah Cunliffe (7.07, CR)
Courtney Okolo (1:07.34, AR)
Ajee Wilson (1:58.27, AR)
Sammy Watson (2:01.78, HSR)
Tara Davis (21-11, HSR)
Jazmine Fray (2:00.69, CR)
Mondo Duplantis (18-10.25, HSR)
Candace Hill (53.05, HS PRO)
Sydney McLaughlin (36.82, HSR)
NJ/NY TC (16:12.81, WR & AR)
Keturah Orji (46-11.75, AR & CR)
Ed Cheserek (3:52.01 & 3:37.01, CR & CR)
Gwen Berry (84-0, WR & AR)
Candace Hill (36.56, HS PRO)
USC (3:27.03, CR)
Noah Lyles (31.87, WR & AR)
Sammy Watson (2:43.18 & 2:40.72, HSR & HSR)
Raven Saunders (64-2.25, CR)
Brie Oakley (15:55.75, HSR)
Christian Coleman (6.45, CR)
Mondo Duplantis (19-1, HSR)
East Orange (NJ) (28.62, HSR)
Western Branch (VA) (30.60, HSR)
Sydney McLaughlin (51.61, HSR)
Carlisle TC (PA) (9:56.18, HSR)
Trey Cunningham (7.45 & 7.40, HSR & HSR)
Lauren Harris (6:53.44, HSR)
Refer to any of my posts for full details on ALL of these amazing records!!
But you know why this season (and every season!!) is even MORE awesome than seeing how many WR's, AR's, CR's, and HSR's got broken?
Because this blog goes way beyond those 4 core groups of records!
I report ALL of the following also--
National Records (besides the USA)
Meet Records
Age Records
Place Records
Class Records
Plus I have those Combined Events lists!!
PLUS---EVERY mark that makes (or comes close to!!) my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists!!
(I even list names of historic athletes who are bumped OFF those lists!!)
All those reasons---and more---why you should read my blog, and recommend it to other fans of T&F records & marks!!
And now---Trumpets please!!--it's onwards to---
OUTdoors!!
First of my OUTdoor Previews coming SOON!!
(And hopefully, some early results!! That is, other than the ones already reported DURING the INdoor campaign!!)
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
INdoors 2017--Collegiate & HS AOY's
And here's the 2nd half of my Awards Banquet!!
Too little space to cover all 4 of my core groups, I had to split them into 2 posts!
In this, you'll find my AOY's, POY's EOY's, and Personalities of the Year for the College and High School crowds!
Please refer to my World & US post for all the usual Rules & Regs!!
Onward!!
Athlete of the Year--Collegiate Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
A VERY simple choice--and probably not surprising to you at all--especially if you've read my World & US post already!!
Two wins at NCAA's, two fantastic World & US-leading times--two incredibly strong races--both against top Collegiate competition!!
Honorable Mentions
This list is long!
What a year this was for Records broken & great marks making my DDD's!
So I must give honorifics to everyone deserving of them!
We'll start with Fred Kerley, whose legendary season in the 400 has already been described!
But I need to once again say I was most impressed with his Lead-Off Relay leg of 44.96!
Don't believe I've ever heard of a LEAD-OFF leg in a Collegiate Relay being sub-45 seconds!!
It being the 1st leg, it's easier to believe this was his REAL time---not one aided by a running start!
How about the TWO Collegiate Record breakers in the 600--Emmanuel Korir, then Isaiah Harris?!
(Korir's was the WORLD Record---for one week!!)
Then we have the inimitable (& legendary!) Mr Edward Cheserek!!
He of the CR in the Mile--then a week later, FINALLY being revealed as breaking the CR in the 1500 enroute!!--in a race against Pro's!!
Weird that he actually LOST his mile race at the NCAA's!!
Chris Nilsen finally jumped (or I should say Vaulted!!) ahead of his HS PR--as a Collegiate Frosh!
He's now the leading Collegiate PV'er!
Mustafa Hassan suddenly added 3 feet or so to his PR in the SP, almost hitting the 70 foot mark in a fairly weak year for the event--the World round!!
KeAndre Bates won the NCAA Long Jump--yet his specialty is the TJ--where he was 2nd!
Still, consistent in his production of top marks all season!
Performance of the Year--Collegiate Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN!!
That good ol' 200 again!!
Honorable Mentions
Sorry for repeating myself, but top athletes produce the leading marks--normally!
So kudos--AGAIN!--to Fred Kerley for his Relay leg & his 44.85 World-leading 400!
To Mr's Korir & Harris--for their fantastic 600 times--Korir's being the 1st under 1:15!!
To King Ches, for his TWO Collegiate Records!!
To Mr Hassan, for his "shot" up the ranks of Collegiate (& World) Shot Putters!
To KeAndre Bates, for possibly becoming the next great American Horizontal Jumps Master!!
To Chris Nilsen, for a solid steady year of top PV marks!
Finally, to a pair of Heptathletes, who produced a real dog-fight in the most important Collegiate meet of the season!
Tim Duckworth was well ahead of Devon Williams leading into the 1000!
But while the British National Record holder jogged his race (Well, maybe HE didn't think he was jogging!! LOL), Devon raced his!
The result?
A win by the Georgia ace--by 12 points--both getting solid PR's--and for Duckworth, a new NR!!
Event of the Year--Collegiate Men
The 600--of course!
Eight Men added their names to my DDD list with 2017 marks!
The Heptathlon and the Relays added 6 apiece to their lists!
BTW, all 6 Relay marks came in the 4X400!
The DMR struck out this season!!
Personality of the Year
ED CHESEREK
I've often been critical of King Ches's tactics in a race--a younger clone of Sir MoBot's methods!!
But, as he proved with his CR's in the Mile & 1500 against Professional runners, when he WANTS & NEEDS to run fast, he CAN!!
He gets this award NOT solely for those great marks, but for being the core focus of his opponents daily nightmares!!
They seemingly GIVE him the race--knowing always he'll come whizzing by on his way to 10 more points for his beloved Oregon Ducks!
On top of his athletic ability, he's a crowd pleaser!
He PERFORMS---in the way a certain Mr Prefontaine once did!
The crowd just eats it up!
And he's a really NICE dude!!
Can't wait for his US citizenship papers to come through!
Athlete of the Year--Collegiate Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS
Forget the fact that Valerie Adams & Christina Schwanitz were missing this season!
Forget the fact that the American Record holder was almost so!
When a COLLEGIATE athlete leads the WORLD, you forget that she did so in a weakened event!!
By any measurement, that's an impressive place to be for one so young--especially in an event known to be most welcoming to athletes in their late 20's or 30's!!
She's 10 years ahead of her time!!
She led the World most of the year--until Anita Marton (No slouch!!) skipped ahead of her!
Then, just days later, Raven answered the challenge!
With a sixth round effort, she punched the ball out 64-2.25--saying "Take THAT, World!!"!
And that, as they say, was that!
Honorable Mentions!
Again, so many!!
Keturah Orji probably deserves EQUAL billing with Ms Saunders---and I almost gave them BOTH the top prize!!--but in the end, Orji's standing against the World didn't quite match Saunders's!
Jazmin Fray shocked many with her 2:43.15 1000 early in the season!
But the real shocker came a bit later, when she broke the CR in the 800!!
Hannah Cunliffe put down her selfie camera, and took up some HARD training--the result being the CR in the 60, and a solid season of top 60 & 200 times!
Karissa Schweizer also shocked many--maybe including herself!!--with her NCAA Cross Country victory!
She then opened up INdoors with a fast December 5000!
She ended it with a fast 5000 (5th A-T) in the Championship final!!
In a year when the HJ generally took a back seat to most other events, Madaline Fagan jumped 6-4 to win the NCAA's!
No one saw that coming!!
Sha'Keela Saunders LJ'ed 22-7.75--just one-quarter inch away from nabbing the title of "Co-CR holder"!!
And this was a GREAT year for Women in the Collegiate LJ!!
Kendell Williams & Taliyah Brooks put on a good battle for top honors in the Pentathlon!
While Williams won, both deserve HM's!!
Finally, ONE of the Weeks twins had a FANTASTIC year in the Pole Vault---and it wasn't the Rio Olympian!!
Sister Tori took over the event--temporarily???--from Sister Lexi--becoming the latest Collegian to clear 15 feet!!
Performance of the Year--Collegiate Women
KETURAH ORJI & RAVEN SAUNDERS
One broke her own American and Collegiate Records.
The other broke her own Collegiate Record--and led the WORLD!
BOTH get my top prize in this category!!
There was no way I could think to separate them, so I didn't!
(BTW, the Collegiate Coaches Association ALSO gave both their award--but for AOY!!)
Honorable Mentions
Ms's Cunliffe, Fray, Schweizer, Williams, and Tori Weeks get listed here--for reasons stated above!
But add Sha'Keela Saunders for her ALMOST getting the LJ CR!!
Special Mention
Deajah Stevens was DQ'ed in her 200 race at NCAA's!
She didn't win, she didn't place, she didn't get the Collegiate Record!
Yet she accomplished all three---UNTIL videos showed her blatantly running out of her lane--several times!
But her time--even if not legal--of 22.28 was so phenomenal--It would have shattered the CR by 0.12 seconds!!--that I can't NOT make mention of it here!
If only!
Another Special Mention goes out to the UO Women's DMR time of 10:48.77, as well as USC's 4X400 Relay time of 3:27.03--both of which get the title of Collegiate Record holders!!
Event of the Year--Collegiate Women
The Relays!!
While the 4X400 has 7 Schools with 2017 times, while the DMR has 3, BOTH get the prize for EOY!
But the 800 and 60H got 5 each!
Top field events were the PV and SP, with 4 apiece!
Personality of the Year--Collegiate Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS & HANNAH CUNLIFFE
Both are great athletes, as noted above!
But both have personalities to die for!
Saunders just EXUDES a dynamic that EXPLODES in your face!!
Yet her smile & energy & genuine humanity tell you she's been a WINNER all her life, and will continue to be!!
As for Cunliffe, I first became aware of her MOSTLY through her ubiquitous presence on Twitter during her last year of High School!
She would post these glamorous selfies--all showing an exotic brunette who thought so much of herself, she couldn't stop sending all these photos of herself out to the world!
Nothing "bad"---but definitely at least PG-13 rated!
Segue to College, where she suddenly leaves Oklahoma to go to Oregon, erupting into this still-glamorous--but now HUGELY talented Woman ready for MAJOR advances in her running career!
She might still LOVE the camera, but now that side of herself has emerged into a crowd-pleasing attitude that just screams "I'm the BEST, and that's why you LOVE me!"!!
She just might be the next Lolo Jones-Maggie Vessey-Michelle Jenneke combined!!
Athlete of the Year--High School Men
ARMAND "MONDO" DUPLANTIS
Just one friggin' word--INCREDIBLE!!
What more need be said about a guy who's been breaking PV records since he was a lad in knickers--and who has broken Age & Class & HS (and now National!!) Records with endless rapidity!
Even though short in stature, he's the fastest rising (pun intended!!) PV'er EVER!!
From 16-1 as a Frosh--just 2 short years ago--to 19-1--as a Junior in HS, this son of former elite Vaulter Dad Greg, has simply rewritten the Record Book!!
Where will it end?
Representing Sweden (through his Mom being Swedish!), he wants to MEDAL in the London World Championships this summer!
Don't doubt him!!
Honorable Mentions
What a year it's been for HS'ers!!
While most of the HSR's went to the Women, the Men did quite well too, thank you!
Besides the 6 produced by our AOY, Trey Cunningham took care of 3 of them--two in the NBIN alone!
(He also got some 55H records, but I don't have those in my Record Book!!)
Then there's Tyrese Cooper!
Breaking records since Age 14 at least, he's been improving ever since!
Just this year, he got Soph Class records in the 200 and 400--the latter just 0.09 seconds shy of the HSR!!
At age 16!!
Then there's Jordan Geist!
While he didn't quite reach Ryan Crouser's INdoor HSR with the 12 pound SP, he DID sort of "nip" Mr Crouser's HSR with the 16!!
Like maybe by FOUR FEET FIVE INCHES!!!
At one time, that made him WORLD LEADER!!
And he's still one of the best--despite throwing that weighted ball in just ONE meet--back in December!!
Others worthy of mention include--
Tripp Piperi, who was shadowed only by Geist in the SP!
DJ Principe, who ran a Mile in 4:00.97, and had a good steady year!
Jacob Wickey, who powered the WT out to the high-70's all season--and beat Geist in a great NBIN showdown!
Kyle Garland, who shocked with a 4150 score in the NBIN Pentathlon!
Brodey Hasty--he of the wild flowing hair (echoes of Evan Jager??)--who took the NBIN Deuce!
Cameron Cooper, who beat a heavy fave in the 800 at The Armory in the number 2 time INdoors in history!
Performance of the Year--High School Men
MONDO DUPLANTIS & JORDAN GEIST
For the 19-1 and the 68-4!
No contest--and no way to break the tie!
Honorable Mentions
To BOTH Cooper's (Ty & Cameron)!
To Principe & Hasty!
To Garland & to Cunningham!!
All incredible, and all who--in most other years--might have been number one!
Special Mentions go to the DMR HSR of 9:56.18 by the Carlisle TC of Pennsylvania, and to the East Orange (NJ) team that shattered the Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR!!
Event of the Year--High School Men
The 1500 and Mile share the top spot with 6 apiece!
The 3000 had 5--in a year when, obviously, the distances took top billing for the Men!
Best field event was the PV--with 3.
Personality of the Year--High School Men
MONDO DUPLANTIS
This is NOT given for his athletic exploits!
But for what happened AFTER his latest HSR!
He bounced up from the Vault pad, raised his arms in victory--the crowd going apeshit!!--then ran over to Dad Greg, sitting in the stands, and hugged him!!
THAT--to me--spoke volumes!
Such a humble, popular, and loving person!!
Beyond his Vaulting, he'll be a STAR for life!!
Athlete of the Year--High School Women
SAMANTHA "SAMMY" WATSON
Who else?
Beginning by nipping 0.20 off the HSR in the 600, that was the first of FIVE High School Records she destroyed this season!!
Against Professionals, she smashed that 600 mark by 1.54 seconds!
Then, also against Pro's, she first broke Sarah Bowman Brown's HSR in the 1000, then got THAT record by another 2.46 seconds in the final!!
But hold on!
Remember a certain Mary Decker Slaney?
Well, Sammy took care of a record Ms Decker first set 43 years earlier--the 800--by just 0.02 seconds!!
She ran the Mile at NBIN, but decided to just jog it!
Honorable Mentions
Like the Men, LOADED with great athletes!
Sydney McLaughlin breaking her own HSR in the 400, while also getting the amateur HSR in the 300.
Alyssa Wilson, who happened to smash the HSR of Raven Saunders, who had, in turn, smashed the HSR of Michelle Carter!
Where does that place Wilson??
Brie Oakley, the first HS'er to go sub-16:00 in the INdoor 5000, while becoming the SEVENTH consecutive women to break the NBIN Meet Record!!
She added a 9:56.06 Two Mile as icing on the cake!
Lauren Harris, HS's best Walker--EVER!!
Jill Shippee, who invaded Shelby Ashe territory in the WT!
Tara Davis & Chanel Brissett, the season's two best 60H'ers!
But Tara deserves Special Mention, as she broke the HSR in the LJ, and won 2 of 3 events at NBIN--all against top competition!!
Performance of the Year--High School Women
SAMMY WATSON
So much to choose from, but when you crack a HSR set in 1974--and it's 2017!--well, you get the picture!!
Honorable Mentions
Watson's---well, ALL of them!!
Sydney's pair!
Oakley's double dip!
Tara's duo!
And Ms Shippee's explosion forward in the WT--after Gianna Rao had been the dominant force in that event all season!!
Special Mention goes to Western Branch's (of VA) crushing of the Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR---by 0.59 seconds!!
Event of the Year--High School Women
The 3000!!
Surprised?
So many ran fast in the NBIN Two Mile--and all got enroute times at 3000!
So THAT helped make this event the winner here, with 7 marks!
The 300 & 400, as well as the WT and PV, each got 5 spots on my DDD's!
Personality of the Year--High School Women
SAMMY WATSON
Breaker of 5 HSR's, this shy-appearing, beautifully-dimpled powerhouse made fans root for her by her humble and ever-ready smile, while hiding in the guise of a fearsome animal once she stepped on the track!
What I most love about her is that she WANTS to break records, so doesn't seem the type who will sit & kick---even in future Professional races!
And don't count her out as a potential London TeamUSA member this summer!!
Before I close---FINALLY!!--I need to speak of my HS PRO Division!!
This year, it consisted of just ONE member--Candace Hill!
So--obviously, she wins ALL the awards in this category!!
But let me state her credentials!
In her final year of HS--amateur or Pro--Hill ran some of the fastest 300 times by HS girls!
Of course, none of them can count as HSR's!
That's why I created my HS PRO division!!
Anyway, her time of 36.56 came in a race against--sic!--Professionals!
That broke her earlier best of 36.86!
She added a 400 of 53.05 and a 60 of 7.30, the latter of which broke her own HS PRO record from 2016!!
She'll still be a HS PRO OUTdoors, but when she graduates in June, will anyone fill in the gap??
Friends, that is IT!!
But this INdoor season series of Wrap-Ups aren't done yet!
I have one more coming!!
And I'm calling it an "extra" post--as it will detail the numbers behind me saying this was maybe the GREATEST EVER INdoor season for Record Smashing!!
Look for that one in a day or two!!
Then I'll begin my series of OUTdoor Previews!!
Yep, the SUNSHINE Season is UPON us!!
See you soon!
Too little space to cover all 4 of my core groups, I had to split them into 2 posts!
In this, you'll find my AOY's, POY's EOY's, and Personalities of the Year for the College and High School crowds!
Please refer to my World & US post for all the usual Rules & Regs!!
Onward!!
Athlete of the Year--Collegiate Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
A VERY simple choice--and probably not surprising to you at all--especially if you've read my World & US post already!!
Two wins at NCAA's, two fantastic World & US-leading times--two incredibly strong races--both against top Collegiate competition!!
Honorable Mentions
This list is long!
What a year this was for Records broken & great marks making my DDD's!
So I must give honorifics to everyone deserving of them!
We'll start with Fred Kerley, whose legendary season in the 400 has already been described!
But I need to once again say I was most impressed with his Lead-Off Relay leg of 44.96!
Don't believe I've ever heard of a LEAD-OFF leg in a Collegiate Relay being sub-45 seconds!!
It being the 1st leg, it's easier to believe this was his REAL time---not one aided by a running start!
How about the TWO Collegiate Record breakers in the 600--Emmanuel Korir, then Isaiah Harris?!
(Korir's was the WORLD Record---for one week!!)
Then we have the inimitable (& legendary!) Mr Edward Cheserek!!
He of the CR in the Mile--then a week later, FINALLY being revealed as breaking the CR in the 1500 enroute!!--in a race against Pro's!!
Weird that he actually LOST his mile race at the NCAA's!!
Chris Nilsen finally jumped (or I should say Vaulted!!) ahead of his HS PR--as a Collegiate Frosh!
He's now the leading Collegiate PV'er!
Mustafa Hassan suddenly added 3 feet or so to his PR in the SP, almost hitting the 70 foot mark in a fairly weak year for the event--the World round!!
KeAndre Bates won the NCAA Long Jump--yet his specialty is the TJ--where he was 2nd!
Still, consistent in his production of top marks all season!
Performance of the Year--Collegiate Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN!!
That good ol' 200 again!!
Honorable Mentions
Sorry for repeating myself, but top athletes produce the leading marks--normally!
So kudos--AGAIN!--to Fred Kerley for his Relay leg & his 44.85 World-leading 400!
To Mr's Korir & Harris--for their fantastic 600 times--Korir's being the 1st under 1:15!!
To King Ches, for his TWO Collegiate Records!!
To Mr Hassan, for his "shot" up the ranks of Collegiate (& World) Shot Putters!
To KeAndre Bates, for possibly becoming the next great American Horizontal Jumps Master!!
To Chris Nilsen, for a solid steady year of top PV marks!
Finally, to a pair of Heptathletes, who produced a real dog-fight in the most important Collegiate meet of the season!
Tim Duckworth was well ahead of Devon Williams leading into the 1000!
But while the British National Record holder jogged his race (Well, maybe HE didn't think he was jogging!! LOL), Devon raced his!
The result?
A win by the Georgia ace--by 12 points--both getting solid PR's--and for Duckworth, a new NR!!
Event of the Year--Collegiate Men
The 600--of course!
Eight Men added their names to my DDD list with 2017 marks!
The Heptathlon and the Relays added 6 apiece to their lists!
BTW, all 6 Relay marks came in the 4X400!
The DMR struck out this season!!
Personality of the Year
ED CHESEREK
I've often been critical of King Ches's tactics in a race--a younger clone of Sir MoBot's methods!!
But, as he proved with his CR's in the Mile & 1500 against Professional runners, when he WANTS & NEEDS to run fast, he CAN!!
He gets this award NOT solely for those great marks, but for being the core focus of his opponents daily nightmares!!
They seemingly GIVE him the race--knowing always he'll come whizzing by on his way to 10 more points for his beloved Oregon Ducks!
On top of his athletic ability, he's a crowd pleaser!
He PERFORMS---in the way a certain Mr Prefontaine once did!
The crowd just eats it up!
And he's a really NICE dude!!
Can't wait for his US citizenship papers to come through!
Athlete of the Year--Collegiate Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS
Forget the fact that Valerie Adams & Christina Schwanitz were missing this season!
Forget the fact that the American Record holder was almost so!
When a COLLEGIATE athlete leads the WORLD, you forget that she did so in a weakened event!!
By any measurement, that's an impressive place to be for one so young--especially in an event known to be most welcoming to athletes in their late 20's or 30's!!
She's 10 years ahead of her time!!
She led the World most of the year--until Anita Marton (No slouch!!) skipped ahead of her!
Then, just days later, Raven answered the challenge!
With a sixth round effort, she punched the ball out 64-2.25--saying "Take THAT, World!!"!
And that, as they say, was that!
Honorable Mentions!
Again, so many!!
Keturah Orji probably deserves EQUAL billing with Ms Saunders---and I almost gave them BOTH the top prize!!--but in the end, Orji's standing against the World didn't quite match Saunders's!
Jazmin Fray shocked many with her 2:43.15 1000 early in the season!
But the real shocker came a bit later, when she broke the CR in the 800!!
Hannah Cunliffe put down her selfie camera, and took up some HARD training--the result being the CR in the 60, and a solid season of top 60 & 200 times!
Karissa Schweizer also shocked many--maybe including herself!!--with her NCAA Cross Country victory!
She then opened up INdoors with a fast December 5000!
She ended it with a fast 5000 (5th A-T) in the Championship final!!
In a year when the HJ generally took a back seat to most other events, Madaline Fagan jumped 6-4 to win the NCAA's!
No one saw that coming!!
Sha'Keela Saunders LJ'ed 22-7.75--just one-quarter inch away from nabbing the title of "Co-CR holder"!!
And this was a GREAT year for Women in the Collegiate LJ!!
Kendell Williams & Taliyah Brooks put on a good battle for top honors in the Pentathlon!
While Williams won, both deserve HM's!!
Finally, ONE of the Weeks twins had a FANTASTIC year in the Pole Vault---and it wasn't the Rio Olympian!!
Sister Tori took over the event--temporarily???--from Sister Lexi--becoming the latest Collegian to clear 15 feet!!
Performance of the Year--Collegiate Women
KETURAH ORJI & RAVEN SAUNDERS
One broke her own American and Collegiate Records.
The other broke her own Collegiate Record--and led the WORLD!
BOTH get my top prize in this category!!
There was no way I could think to separate them, so I didn't!
(BTW, the Collegiate Coaches Association ALSO gave both their award--but for AOY!!)
Honorable Mentions
Ms's Cunliffe, Fray, Schweizer, Williams, and Tori Weeks get listed here--for reasons stated above!
But add Sha'Keela Saunders for her ALMOST getting the LJ CR!!
Special Mention
Deajah Stevens was DQ'ed in her 200 race at NCAA's!
She didn't win, she didn't place, she didn't get the Collegiate Record!
Yet she accomplished all three---UNTIL videos showed her blatantly running out of her lane--several times!
But her time--even if not legal--of 22.28 was so phenomenal--It would have shattered the CR by 0.12 seconds!!--that I can't NOT make mention of it here!
If only!
Another Special Mention goes out to the UO Women's DMR time of 10:48.77, as well as USC's 4X400 Relay time of 3:27.03--both of which get the title of Collegiate Record holders!!
Event of the Year--Collegiate Women
The Relays!!
While the 4X400 has 7 Schools with 2017 times, while the DMR has 3, BOTH get the prize for EOY!
But the 800 and 60H got 5 each!
Top field events were the PV and SP, with 4 apiece!
Personality of the Year--Collegiate Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS & HANNAH CUNLIFFE
Both are great athletes, as noted above!
But both have personalities to die for!
Saunders just EXUDES a dynamic that EXPLODES in your face!!
Yet her smile & energy & genuine humanity tell you she's been a WINNER all her life, and will continue to be!!
As for Cunliffe, I first became aware of her MOSTLY through her ubiquitous presence on Twitter during her last year of High School!
She would post these glamorous selfies--all showing an exotic brunette who thought so much of herself, she couldn't stop sending all these photos of herself out to the world!
Nothing "bad"---but definitely at least PG-13 rated!
Segue to College, where she suddenly leaves Oklahoma to go to Oregon, erupting into this still-glamorous--but now HUGELY talented Woman ready for MAJOR advances in her running career!
She might still LOVE the camera, but now that side of herself has emerged into a crowd-pleasing attitude that just screams "I'm the BEST, and that's why you LOVE me!"!!
She just might be the next Lolo Jones-Maggie Vessey-Michelle Jenneke combined!!
Athlete of the Year--High School Men
ARMAND "MONDO" DUPLANTIS
Just one friggin' word--INCREDIBLE!!
What more need be said about a guy who's been breaking PV records since he was a lad in knickers--and who has broken Age & Class & HS (and now National!!) Records with endless rapidity!
Even though short in stature, he's the fastest rising (pun intended!!) PV'er EVER!!
From 16-1 as a Frosh--just 2 short years ago--to 19-1--as a Junior in HS, this son of former elite Vaulter Dad Greg, has simply rewritten the Record Book!!
Where will it end?
Representing Sweden (through his Mom being Swedish!), he wants to MEDAL in the London World Championships this summer!
Don't doubt him!!
Honorable Mentions
What a year it's been for HS'ers!!
While most of the HSR's went to the Women, the Men did quite well too, thank you!
Besides the 6 produced by our AOY, Trey Cunningham took care of 3 of them--two in the NBIN alone!
(He also got some 55H records, but I don't have those in my Record Book!!)
Then there's Tyrese Cooper!
Breaking records since Age 14 at least, he's been improving ever since!
Just this year, he got Soph Class records in the 200 and 400--the latter just 0.09 seconds shy of the HSR!!
At age 16!!
Then there's Jordan Geist!
While he didn't quite reach Ryan Crouser's INdoor HSR with the 12 pound SP, he DID sort of "nip" Mr Crouser's HSR with the 16!!
Like maybe by FOUR FEET FIVE INCHES!!!
At one time, that made him WORLD LEADER!!
And he's still one of the best--despite throwing that weighted ball in just ONE meet--back in December!!
Others worthy of mention include--
Tripp Piperi, who was shadowed only by Geist in the SP!
DJ Principe, who ran a Mile in 4:00.97, and had a good steady year!
Jacob Wickey, who powered the WT out to the high-70's all season--and beat Geist in a great NBIN showdown!
Kyle Garland, who shocked with a 4150 score in the NBIN Pentathlon!
Brodey Hasty--he of the wild flowing hair (echoes of Evan Jager??)--who took the NBIN Deuce!
Cameron Cooper, who beat a heavy fave in the 800 at The Armory in the number 2 time INdoors in history!
Performance of the Year--High School Men
MONDO DUPLANTIS & JORDAN GEIST
For the 19-1 and the 68-4!
No contest--and no way to break the tie!
Honorable Mentions
To BOTH Cooper's (Ty & Cameron)!
To Principe & Hasty!
To Garland & to Cunningham!!
All incredible, and all who--in most other years--might have been number one!
Special Mentions go to the DMR HSR of 9:56.18 by the Carlisle TC of Pennsylvania, and to the East Orange (NJ) team that shattered the Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR!!
Event of the Year--High School Men
The 1500 and Mile share the top spot with 6 apiece!
The 3000 had 5--in a year when, obviously, the distances took top billing for the Men!
Best field event was the PV--with 3.
Personality of the Year--High School Men
MONDO DUPLANTIS
This is NOT given for his athletic exploits!
But for what happened AFTER his latest HSR!
He bounced up from the Vault pad, raised his arms in victory--the crowd going apeshit!!--then ran over to Dad Greg, sitting in the stands, and hugged him!!
THAT--to me--spoke volumes!
Such a humble, popular, and loving person!!
Beyond his Vaulting, he'll be a STAR for life!!
Athlete of the Year--High School Women
SAMANTHA "SAMMY" WATSON
Who else?
Beginning by nipping 0.20 off the HSR in the 600, that was the first of FIVE High School Records she destroyed this season!!
Against Professionals, she smashed that 600 mark by 1.54 seconds!
Then, also against Pro's, she first broke Sarah Bowman Brown's HSR in the 1000, then got THAT record by another 2.46 seconds in the final!!
But hold on!
Remember a certain Mary Decker Slaney?
Well, Sammy took care of a record Ms Decker first set 43 years earlier--the 800--by just 0.02 seconds!!
She ran the Mile at NBIN, but decided to just jog it!
Honorable Mentions
Like the Men, LOADED with great athletes!
Sydney McLaughlin breaking her own HSR in the 400, while also getting the amateur HSR in the 300.
Alyssa Wilson, who happened to smash the HSR of Raven Saunders, who had, in turn, smashed the HSR of Michelle Carter!
Where does that place Wilson??
Brie Oakley, the first HS'er to go sub-16:00 in the INdoor 5000, while becoming the SEVENTH consecutive women to break the NBIN Meet Record!!
She added a 9:56.06 Two Mile as icing on the cake!
Lauren Harris, HS's best Walker--EVER!!
Jill Shippee, who invaded Shelby Ashe territory in the WT!
Tara Davis & Chanel Brissett, the season's two best 60H'ers!
But Tara deserves Special Mention, as she broke the HSR in the LJ, and won 2 of 3 events at NBIN--all against top competition!!
Performance of the Year--High School Women
SAMMY WATSON
So much to choose from, but when you crack a HSR set in 1974--and it's 2017!--well, you get the picture!!
Honorable Mentions
Watson's---well, ALL of them!!
Sydney's pair!
Oakley's double dip!
Tara's duo!
And Ms Shippee's explosion forward in the WT--after Gianna Rao had been the dominant force in that event all season!!
Special Mention goes to Western Branch's (of VA) crushing of the Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR---by 0.59 seconds!!
Event of the Year--High School Women
The 3000!!
Surprised?
So many ran fast in the NBIN Two Mile--and all got enroute times at 3000!
So THAT helped make this event the winner here, with 7 marks!
The 300 & 400, as well as the WT and PV, each got 5 spots on my DDD's!
Personality of the Year--High School Women
SAMMY WATSON
Breaker of 5 HSR's, this shy-appearing, beautifully-dimpled powerhouse made fans root for her by her humble and ever-ready smile, while hiding in the guise of a fearsome animal once she stepped on the track!
What I most love about her is that she WANTS to break records, so doesn't seem the type who will sit & kick---even in future Professional races!
And don't count her out as a potential London TeamUSA member this summer!!
Before I close---FINALLY!!--I need to speak of my HS PRO Division!!
This year, it consisted of just ONE member--Candace Hill!
So--obviously, she wins ALL the awards in this category!!
But let me state her credentials!
In her final year of HS--amateur or Pro--Hill ran some of the fastest 300 times by HS girls!
Of course, none of them can count as HSR's!
That's why I created my HS PRO division!!
Anyway, her time of 36.56 came in a race against--sic!--Professionals!
That broke her earlier best of 36.86!
She added a 400 of 53.05 and a 60 of 7.30, the latter of which broke her own HS PRO record from 2016!!
She'll still be a HS PRO OUTdoors, but when she graduates in June, will anyone fill in the gap??
Friends, that is IT!!
But this INdoor season series of Wrap-Ups aren't done yet!
I have one more coming!!
And I'm calling it an "extra" post--as it will detail the numbers behind me saying this was maybe the GREATEST EVER INdoor season for Record Smashing!!
Look for that one in a day or two!!
Then I'll begin my series of OUTdoor Previews!!
Yep, the SUNSHINE Season is UPON us!!
See you soon!
INdoors 2017--World & US AOY's
You go into a year hoping for the best.
You end the year being totally awestruck at what just passed!
THAT was the 2017 INdoor season!!
In a season that saw a record-breaking number of records broken--AND a record number of marks making my Top 24 Performers lists--it becomes VERY difficult choosing the "best" athletes, or performances, from among the HUGE quantity of records and marks produced by some of the greatest-ever athletes this century---or even the whole history of the sport--has ever seen!!
BUT---decisions MUST be made--and so I have!
I present to you Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book's Annual Athlete of the Year Awards!
A brief guide--
These are MY choices, and mine alone!
Feel free to disagree---or to agree!---and to comment!
The AOY goes to the person who produced the OVERALL best season, with STRONG emphasis on major records broken (World, US, Collegiate, HS)!
The Performance of the Year goes to--obviously--the best performance by an INDIVIDUAL!!
(However, great Relay performances get Special Mention!!)
The Event of the Year is based SOLELY on numbers--meaning the number of marks an event has---dating from 2017--on my DDD's, or All-Time Top 24 Performers lists!
As to my Personality of the Year, I choose the athlete who---in positive OR negative ways!!--affected the sport!!
So, without further BS'ing, let's see who these people (and events) are!
(I'll do the Men first, then the Women--in each category! But, due to space limitations, I'll do this in TWO posts--this one for the World & US, the 2nd one for Collegiates & HS'ers!)
Athlete of the Year--World Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
It was mainly his 200 time of 20.11 that decided it for me! Coming within 0.01 of a prestigious American (and Collegiate) Record, in a race where he was dominant makes him the obvious choice! But when you add his co-World-leading time of 6.45 in the 60, that cements it!! In a year when the major international meet was the European Championships, there were several MIA's! But that in no way should diminish the accomplishments of Mr Coleman!!
Honorable Mentions
Fred Kerley built his year in the 400 on consistency--as in consistently FAST!!
Casimir Loxsom led all in the 600, in what was basically the "Year of the 600"!!
Piotr Lisek was the year's dominant PV'er, and broke his National Record more than once!
In a year that saw the retirement of Ashton Eaton, France's Kevin Mayer challenged Eaton's WR Heptathlon, filling a gigantic vacuum!!
Performance of the Year--World Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
As noted above , his 200 mark at the NCAA's was just awesome!! Even though it wasn't a World, American, or even Collegiate record, it was so magical to watch that he wins this award--no contest!!
Honorable Mentions
Kerley's 44.85 at the NCAA's capped a year that saw him running twice under 45 (albeit the other being on an Oversize Track!!)--something we haven't seen much of this century--or even in the entire history of INdoor track!!
Mayer's 6479 Hept score came within 20 points of the immortal Mr Eaton's CR--and stands as 2nd best A-T in the World--with Ashton alone ahead of him!
Andrew Pozzi's 7.43 in the 60H came in the year's biggest meet, and finished off a year of SEVERAL fast times!!
Event of the Year--World Men
The 600 has 8 marks on my A-T list, more than any other!
(The 5000 had 7, with the 300 having 6. No field event had more than 2!!)
Personality of the Year--World Men
KEVIN MAYER
I've already said it!
Mayer filled a HUGE empty place in the Heptathlon event, left by Eaton's sudden retirement!
Never forgetting Eaton's vast number of accomplishments, Mayer gave us hope this great event has a new hero to admire!
For having the confidence to do so makes this award choice an easy one!
Athlete of the Year--World Women
LAURA MUIR
In not 1, not 2, but THREE events, Ms Muir completely dominated the World's distance scene in 2017!
But it wasn't just her fast times, or number of British (Read-Scotland!) records broken, it was the WAY she did it!
She didn't take any prisoners--but her opponents might as well have been locked up in a cell--as she generally led every race she ran, from start to finish--then kicked fiercely at the end!!
MY kind of distance runner!!
Honorable Mentions
Ajee Wilson broke a tough American Record--and led the World--with her 1:58.27 800. But she backed that up with a fast 600--3rd best ever!--against a VERY tough opponent!
And she made it look so EASY!!
Ivana Spanovic and Gwen Berry had one SUPER series in their respective events--the LJ & WT--that spoke volumes of their greatness and consistency!
Nafissatou Thiam is only 22, but took over the Pentathlon with elegant grace and ease--even in the absence of the various Hyphens (JEH, KJT, and the newly retired BTE!!).
Kendra Harrison ran several fast 60H times--in a year where she's seeking redemption for her Olympic Trials failure!
And DESPITE the banning of her home nation from the sport, Russian HJ'er Mariya Kuchina's 6-8 leap led a World which denied CLEAN Russians the chance to show their stuff!
Well, Ms Kuchina definitely SHOWED us what she has to offer!!
Performance of the Year--World Women
GENZEBE DIBABA
Yes, the 2000 meters is a VERY obscure--and rarely run--event!
But G-D made mince-meat of the WR, and even topped the best time from OUTdoors!!
And she did so in a solo race--with her usual confident aplomb!!
Honorable Mentions
Ajee Wilson's 1:58.27 took down a tough American Record--and made the World list!
Her 600 wasn't anything to sneeze at either!
Harrison didn't quite get the AR, but she had a few fast times!
Thiam WAS on course for a 5000 points score, but fell short in her final events!
As noted above, Spanovic & Berry had tremendous series in their events.
Kuchina defied both gravity--and the IAAF!!--with her World-leading HJ!!
Event of the Year--World Women
The Weight Throw has 8 marks dated as from 2017!
The 300 has 6, while the 600 has 5!
Personality of the Year--World Women
LAURA MUIR
Not only prevailing in her races, it was her charismatic demeanor--her brave tactics--and her almost-shy acceptance of her new position among the World's best distance runners--that made this choice SUPER easy to make!!
Now for the United States!
Athlete of the Year--US Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
As always, my US award for AOY is the same as the World's AOY---IF that athlete won the World award!!
Coleman did!
For his 200 time of 20.11, and for his 60 in 6.45--both World leaders (though his 60 was tied by another!)--Coleman's choice was obvious!
Super strong, he appears ready to challenge the World's best OUTdoors too!!
Honorable Mentions
Besides Mr's Kerley and Loxsom, two youngsters came through in VERY adult ways--and just one of them has turned Pro!!
I speak of Noah Lyles, who nipped the 300 WR at the age of 19--against a group of guys much older than him!
As for the NON-Pro, Jordan Geist's meeting with the 16 pound SP came off totally symbiotic!!
His 68-4--(Even though coming in December, it's considered part of the 2017 INdoor season!!) DESTROYED a HSR owned by none other than Rio Olympic Gold winner Ryan Crouser!!
At year's end, it remains one of the World's best!!
From a kid in High School!!!
Performance of the Year--US Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
I can't say enough about that 200!!
The way he just FLEW around that banked oval in College Station TX was absolutely amazing!
He NEVER let up--sprinting right through the finish line tape!!
SO impressive!!
Honorable Mentions
Because Casimir Loxsom got the World Record with his 1:14.91--in a year when THREE Men broke the 1:15 barrier (for the 1st time!!), he deserves Special Mention here!
But Kerley's 44.85 was fabulous too!
(And yes, even his OT 44.94 deserves praise!!)
But maybe best of all was his LEAD-OFF 4X400 Relay leg of 44.96--in a race that produced the Collegiate Record!!
And I must put Mr Geist in this group!
If he had broken Crouser's HSR with the 12 pounder, no way he'd be on THIS list! But he did it with the Big Boys implement!!
Wow!
Event of the Year--US Men
The 600! It has 9 marks dated 2017 on my US DDD!!
But the 300 followed with 8!
Best field events (I include the Multi's here!!) were the Heptathlon and the WT--with 3 each!
Personality of the Year--US Men
KYLE MERBER
He didn't win his fastest race!
He looks sort of scrubby with his beard and headband.
He's sometimes obnoxiously ubiquitous on Twitter!
He's a loud mouth!
And guess what?
For ALL of the above reasons, Merber wins this award hands down!!
Gotta love the guy!
Athlete of the Year--US Women
AJEE WILSON
She ran faster than the only two American women on the A-T World list!
She beat one of the few women now running in the World who have run faster than 50 seconds in the 400 (OUTdoors!)!
And she did so with the most STOIC facial expressions I've ever seen on such a speedy demon!!
Never seeming to be going all-out, she nonetheless faces the World's women with confidence and power rarely seen!
And she's still just 22 years old!!
Honorable Mentions
In that 800 race, Charlene Lipsey stalked Wilson ALL the way, winding up the 2nd US woman on the A-T World 800 list!!
Kendra Harrison had 3 of the fastest-ever 60H times.
Despite failing to get the WR--or the AR!--she deserves her place here!
Kate Grace--who, by the "grace" of that shocking tumble at the Olympic Trials, became an Olympian for the 1st time--ran the fastest Mile and 1000 by US women this year!
Despite the absence of Jenny Simpson INdoors, she still had the OUTdoor AR holder in the 1500 to contend with!
And she beat her, becoming a true challenger to US Mile-1500 World contention!!
And don't forget her BEST event is the 800!!
But let's not ignore Raven Saunders, who led the WORLD in the SP!
Or Gwen Berry, who finally took down that tough WT World Record!
And Kendell Williams, who came THIS close to her CR in the Pentathlon!
One more height in the HJ, and she'd have broken it!!
Performance of the Year--US Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS
Yes, I know she's "just" a 20 year old College student!
Yes, I know that less than 4 years ago, her best SP reached just 42 feet!
But when a Woman of such an age--and rapid rise to HS, Collegiate, and US dominance--suddenly LEADS the WORLD!!---well, what can I say?
Raven-ous Raven wins this award easily!!
At Age 20, she bettered the best European mark!
And she topped the limited showings by AR holder Michelle Carter!!
But maybe best of all, she returned to her penchant of bettering her PR's by FEET, not inches!!
Homorable Mentions
Berry's World Record WT of 84-0 must lead this group!
But both of Wilson's marks definitely make the cut!
As does Harrison's 7.74 in the 60H, and Grace's 4:22.93 Mile!!
A VERY Special Mention goes out to the USA All-Stars team that broke the World and American records in the Distance Medley Relay!
And what a team!!
Emma Coburn--US Record holder in the 3000SC--Sydney McLaughlin--HSR holder in the 300 and 400--Brenda Martinez--One of America's greatest middle distance runners!--and Jenny Simpson--Olympic medalist & holder of several top US performances, in events ranging from the 800 to the 5000 meters!!
Event of the Year--US Women
My DDD lists consist of the Top 24 A-T Performers!
2017 saw the Women's 600 add ELEVEN times to that list!!
That's almost HALF of the A-T best times!!
Even more impressive was that so many of the US's best at 400 & 800 were MIA in this event this season!
What kind of numbers would we have if ALL of them had competed??!!
But the 300 wasn't far behind--with 9!
The best field event was the WT, with 6.
(The PV--normally a list-topper--had "only" 5!!)
Personality of the Year--US Women
JENN SUHR & RAVEN SAUNDERS!
Alpha & Omega!
Top & Bottom!
Devil & Angel!
Choose your metaphor, your euphemism!
Whatever word is used, the 2017 INdoor season saw one of each--for better AND for worse!
America's greatest-ever PV'er, Ms Suhr announced she would NOT be competing at the USATF meet JUST prior to the meet's opening!
She said she was "frustrated" with the way USATF presented her event!
BUT--she gave NO specific reasons!
She (and husband-coach Rick) just flew home, sending Facebook message after Facebook message, spouting their perceived "frustration" out in ever-more-frustrating fashion!
This produced a vast outflow of criticism via Twitter, FB, and the various T&F Message Boards!!
And total puzzlement!!
On the positive side of the coin, we had Raven Saunders!
Besides her demonstrated acumen with that round & heavy orb she throws out to Record-breaking distances, she has a dynamic & charismatic & crowd-enervating personality that shines from here to Sunday!!
Even if she were NOT one of the best athletes in the WORLD, she'd fill ANY room she graces her presence with---and I AIN'T talking about her size!!
Love that girl!!
Well, friends (Are we still friends--after the above choices & comments??), that covers the World & US awards!
I'll post my Collegiate & High School award selections soon!!
See you then!
You end the year being totally awestruck at what just passed!
THAT was the 2017 INdoor season!!
In a season that saw a record-breaking number of records broken--AND a record number of marks making my Top 24 Performers lists--it becomes VERY difficult choosing the "best" athletes, or performances, from among the HUGE quantity of records and marks produced by some of the greatest-ever athletes this century---or even the whole history of the sport--has ever seen!!
BUT---decisions MUST be made--and so I have!
I present to you Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book's Annual Athlete of the Year Awards!
A brief guide--
These are MY choices, and mine alone!
Feel free to disagree---or to agree!---and to comment!
The AOY goes to the person who produced the OVERALL best season, with STRONG emphasis on major records broken (World, US, Collegiate, HS)!
The Performance of the Year goes to--obviously--the best performance by an INDIVIDUAL!!
(However, great Relay performances get Special Mention!!)
The Event of the Year is based SOLELY on numbers--meaning the number of marks an event has---dating from 2017--on my DDD's, or All-Time Top 24 Performers lists!
As to my Personality of the Year, I choose the athlete who---in positive OR negative ways!!--affected the sport!!
So, without further BS'ing, let's see who these people (and events) are!
(I'll do the Men first, then the Women--in each category! But, due to space limitations, I'll do this in TWO posts--this one for the World & US, the 2nd one for Collegiates & HS'ers!)
Athlete of the Year--World Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
It was mainly his 200 time of 20.11 that decided it for me! Coming within 0.01 of a prestigious American (and Collegiate) Record, in a race where he was dominant makes him the obvious choice! But when you add his co-World-leading time of 6.45 in the 60, that cements it!! In a year when the major international meet was the European Championships, there were several MIA's! But that in no way should diminish the accomplishments of Mr Coleman!!
Honorable Mentions
Fred Kerley built his year in the 400 on consistency--as in consistently FAST!!
Casimir Loxsom led all in the 600, in what was basically the "Year of the 600"!!
Piotr Lisek was the year's dominant PV'er, and broke his National Record more than once!
In a year that saw the retirement of Ashton Eaton, France's Kevin Mayer challenged Eaton's WR Heptathlon, filling a gigantic vacuum!!
Performance of the Year--World Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
As noted above , his 200 mark at the NCAA's was just awesome!! Even though it wasn't a World, American, or even Collegiate record, it was so magical to watch that he wins this award--no contest!!
Honorable Mentions
Kerley's 44.85 at the NCAA's capped a year that saw him running twice under 45 (albeit the other being on an Oversize Track!!)--something we haven't seen much of this century--or even in the entire history of INdoor track!!
Mayer's 6479 Hept score came within 20 points of the immortal Mr Eaton's CR--and stands as 2nd best A-T in the World--with Ashton alone ahead of him!
Andrew Pozzi's 7.43 in the 60H came in the year's biggest meet, and finished off a year of SEVERAL fast times!!
Event of the Year--World Men
The 600 has 8 marks on my A-T list, more than any other!
(The 5000 had 7, with the 300 having 6. No field event had more than 2!!)
Personality of the Year--World Men
KEVIN MAYER
I've already said it!
Mayer filled a HUGE empty place in the Heptathlon event, left by Eaton's sudden retirement!
Never forgetting Eaton's vast number of accomplishments, Mayer gave us hope this great event has a new hero to admire!
For having the confidence to do so makes this award choice an easy one!
Athlete of the Year--World Women
LAURA MUIR
In not 1, not 2, but THREE events, Ms Muir completely dominated the World's distance scene in 2017!
But it wasn't just her fast times, or number of British (Read-Scotland!) records broken, it was the WAY she did it!
She didn't take any prisoners--but her opponents might as well have been locked up in a cell--as she generally led every race she ran, from start to finish--then kicked fiercely at the end!!
MY kind of distance runner!!
Honorable Mentions
Ajee Wilson broke a tough American Record--and led the World--with her 1:58.27 800. But she backed that up with a fast 600--3rd best ever!--against a VERY tough opponent!
And she made it look so EASY!!
Ivana Spanovic and Gwen Berry had one SUPER series in their respective events--the LJ & WT--that spoke volumes of their greatness and consistency!
Nafissatou Thiam is only 22, but took over the Pentathlon with elegant grace and ease--even in the absence of the various Hyphens (JEH, KJT, and the newly retired BTE!!).
Kendra Harrison ran several fast 60H times--in a year where she's seeking redemption for her Olympic Trials failure!
And DESPITE the banning of her home nation from the sport, Russian HJ'er Mariya Kuchina's 6-8 leap led a World which denied CLEAN Russians the chance to show their stuff!
Well, Ms Kuchina definitely SHOWED us what she has to offer!!
Performance of the Year--World Women
GENZEBE DIBABA
Yes, the 2000 meters is a VERY obscure--and rarely run--event!
But G-D made mince-meat of the WR, and even topped the best time from OUTdoors!!
And she did so in a solo race--with her usual confident aplomb!!
Honorable Mentions
Ajee Wilson's 1:58.27 took down a tough American Record--and made the World list!
Her 600 wasn't anything to sneeze at either!
Harrison didn't quite get the AR, but she had a few fast times!
Thiam WAS on course for a 5000 points score, but fell short in her final events!
As noted above, Spanovic & Berry had tremendous series in their events.
Kuchina defied both gravity--and the IAAF!!--with her World-leading HJ!!
Event of the Year--World Women
The Weight Throw has 8 marks dated as from 2017!
The 300 has 6, while the 600 has 5!
Personality of the Year--World Women
LAURA MUIR
Not only prevailing in her races, it was her charismatic demeanor--her brave tactics--and her almost-shy acceptance of her new position among the World's best distance runners--that made this choice SUPER easy to make!!
Now for the United States!
Athlete of the Year--US Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
As always, my US award for AOY is the same as the World's AOY---IF that athlete won the World award!!
Coleman did!
For his 200 time of 20.11, and for his 60 in 6.45--both World leaders (though his 60 was tied by another!)--Coleman's choice was obvious!
Super strong, he appears ready to challenge the World's best OUTdoors too!!
Honorable Mentions
Besides Mr's Kerley and Loxsom, two youngsters came through in VERY adult ways--and just one of them has turned Pro!!
I speak of Noah Lyles, who nipped the 300 WR at the age of 19--against a group of guys much older than him!
As for the NON-Pro, Jordan Geist's meeting with the 16 pound SP came off totally symbiotic!!
His 68-4--(Even though coming in December, it's considered part of the 2017 INdoor season!!) DESTROYED a HSR owned by none other than Rio Olympic Gold winner Ryan Crouser!!
At year's end, it remains one of the World's best!!
From a kid in High School!!!
Performance of the Year--US Men
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
I can't say enough about that 200!!
The way he just FLEW around that banked oval in College Station TX was absolutely amazing!
He NEVER let up--sprinting right through the finish line tape!!
SO impressive!!
Honorable Mentions
Because Casimir Loxsom got the World Record with his 1:14.91--in a year when THREE Men broke the 1:15 barrier (for the 1st time!!), he deserves Special Mention here!
But Kerley's 44.85 was fabulous too!
(And yes, even his OT 44.94 deserves praise!!)
But maybe best of all was his LEAD-OFF 4X400 Relay leg of 44.96--in a race that produced the Collegiate Record!!
And I must put Mr Geist in this group!
If he had broken Crouser's HSR with the 12 pounder, no way he'd be on THIS list! But he did it with the Big Boys implement!!
Wow!
Event of the Year--US Men
The 600! It has 9 marks dated 2017 on my US DDD!!
But the 300 followed with 8!
Best field events (I include the Multi's here!!) were the Heptathlon and the WT--with 3 each!
Personality of the Year--US Men
KYLE MERBER
He didn't win his fastest race!
He looks sort of scrubby with his beard and headband.
He's sometimes obnoxiously ubiquitous on Twitter!
He's a loud mouth!
And guess what?
For ALL of the above reasons, Merber wins this award hands down!!
Gotta love the guy!
Athlete of the Year--US Women
AJEE WILSON
She ran faster than the only two American women on the A-T World list!
She beat one of the few women now running in the World who have run faster than 50 seconds in the 400 (OUTdoors!)!
And she did so with the most STOIC facial expressions I've ever seen on such a speedy demon!!
Never seeming to be going all-out, she nonetheless faces the World's women with confidence and power rarely seen!
And she's still just 22 years old!!
Honorable Mentions
In that 800 race, Charlene Lipsey stalked Wilson ALL the way, winding up the 2nd US woman on the A-T World 800 list!!
Kendra Harrison had 3 of the fastest-ever 60H times.
Despite failing to get the WR--or the AR!--she deserves her place here!
Kate Grace--who, by the "grace" of that shocking tumble at the Olympic Trials, became an Olympian for the 1st time--ran the fastest Mile and 1000 by US women this year!
Despite the absence of Jenny Simpson INdoors, she still had the OUTdoor AR holder in the 1500 to contend with!
And she beat her, becoming a true challenger to US Mile-1500 World contention!!
And don't forget her BEST event is the 800!!
But let's not ignore Raven Saunders, who led the WORLD in the SP!
Or Gwen Berry, who finally took down that tough WT World Record!
And Kendell Williams, who came THIS close to her CR in the Pentathlon!
One more height in the HJ, and she'd have broken it!!
Performance of the Year--US Women
RAVEN SAUNDERS
Yes, I know she's "just" a 20 year old College student!
Yes, I know that less than 4 years ago, her best SP reached just 42 feet!
But when a Woman of such an age--and rapid rise to HS, Collegiate, and US dominance--suddenly LEADS the WORLD!!---well, what can I say?
Raven-ous Raven wins this award easily!!
At Age 20, she bettered the best European mark!
And she topped the limited showings by AR holder Michelle Carter!!
But maybe best of all, she returned to her penchant of bettering her PR's by FEET, not inches!!
Homorable Mentions
Berry's World Record WT of 84-0 must lead this group!
But both of Wilson's marks definitely make the cut!
As does Harrison's 7.74 in the 60H, and Grace's 4:22.93 Mile!!
A VERY Special Mention goes out to the USA All-Stars team that broke the World and American records in the Distance Medley Relay!
And what a team!!
Emma Coburn--US Record holder in the 3000SC--Sydney McLaughlin--HSR holder in the 300 and 400--Brenda Martinez--One of America's greatest middle distance runners!--and Jenny Simpson--Olympic medalist & holder of several top US performances, in events ranging from the 800 to the 5000 meters!!
Event of the Year--US Women
My DDD lists consist of the Top 24 A-T Performers!
2017 saw the Women's 600 add ELEVEN times to that list!!
That's almost HALF of the A-T best times!!
Even more impressive was that so many of the US's best at 400 & 800 were MIA in this event this season!
What kind of numbers would we have if ALL of them had competed??!!
But the 300 wasn't far behind--with 9!
The best field event was the WT, with 6.
(The PV--normally a list-topper--had "only" 5!!)
Personality of the Year--US Women
JENN SUHR & RAVEN SAUNDERS!
Alpha & Omega!
Top & Bottom!
Devil & Angel!
Choose your metaphor, your euphemism!
Whatever word is used, the 2017 INdoor season saw one of each--for better AND for worse!
America's greatest-ever PV'er, Ms Suhr announced she would NOT be competing at the USATF meet JUST prior to the meet's opening!
She said she was "frustrated" with the way USATF presented her event!
BUT--she gave NO specific reasons!
She (and husband-coach Rick) just flew home, sending Facebook message after Facebook message, spouting their perceived "frustration" out in ever-more-frustrating fashion!
This produced a vast outflow of criticism via Twitter, FB, and the various T&F Message Boards!!
And total puzzlement!!
On the positive side of the coin, we had Raven Saunders!
Besides her demonstrated acumen with that round & heavy orb she throws out to Record-breaking distances, she has a dynamic & charismatic & crowd-enervating personality that shines from here to Sunday!!
Even if she were NOT one of the best athletes in the WORLD, she'd fill ANY room she graces her presence with---and I AIN'T talking about her size!!
Love that girl!!
Well, friends (Are we still friends--after the above choices & comments??), that covers the World & US awards!
I'll post my Collegiate & High School award selections soon!!
See you then!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
NBIN 2017--The WOMEN
And here's the ladies!
If you read my Men's report, you know I have some old news to give you!
So let's begin there!
SAFP--aka Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce--is Preggers!!
Yep, this 5 foot speedster is gonna have a baby!!
This summer!
That means that her Jamaican compadre Elaine Thompson will have things bit easier in the WC's this summer!!
But she'll return in 2018, she said!
In the marks department, we have---
Kelsey Chmiel ran the 3000 meters in 9:26.28, making her 8th A-T HS!
More significantly, she's the new Soph Class record holder!!
The old mark was Debbie Quatier's, dating from 1974!!
Gianna Rao improved her WT to 61-3, moving her from 11th A-T HS to 8th!
(See below for what she did at NBIN!)
Jessica Lawson ran 1500 meters in 4:25.66, moving her from 21st A-T HS to 17th!
Katelyn Tuohy finished 2nd in 4:25.86, making her 18 A-T HS!
Leya Solis ran 1000 meters in 2:48.25, making her 20th A-T HS!
Lanae Tava Thomas LJ'ed 20-7, moving her from 22nd A-T HS to 13th, where she's tied with 1 other!
In an OUTdoor meet in Australia, Keely Small ran an 800 in 2:01.46.
Nothing special, you say?
HA!
How about if I tell you she's just 15 years old?
FIFTEEN!!
She was born June 9, 2001!!
Now to the NBIN meet--the Women's side!
And what a "side" it was!!
FOUR High School Records bit the dust at The Armory!
And maybe none were better than Brie Oakley's 5000 meters HSR!!
For the SEVENTH year in a row, this historic meet saw the Women's 5000 HSR broken!
In 2011, it was Waverly Neer's 16:35.
Then came Erin Finn's 16:19.69 in the London Olympics year!
In 2013 came that crazy race where Erin Finn led all the way--She'd passed 3000 in 9:33!!--until the last INCH!!
That's where hard-kicking Wesley Frazier came from nowhere, and beat Finn, 16:18.01 to 16:18.02!
In 2014, it was another great race, with Anna Rohrer outlasting Wesley's sister Ryen, time of 16:12.
In 2015, it was Tessa Barrett's turn, when she took 2 more seconds off the Meet (And HS!) Record!
Lastly, tiny Weini Kelati ran 16:08.83 last year!
This year, NXN XC winner Brie Oakley--very new to running, as she played other sports!--CRUSHED Kelati's mark by 13 seconds, the largest margin since Finn destroyed Neer's record!!
And she did it the hard way---alone!!
While Sarah Platek attempted to stick with her, that idea didn't last!
In fact, Oakley LAPPED Platek later in the race--although Platek finished 2nd!!
Going through 3K in 9:31--similar to what Finn did in 2013!--she kept the pace going, though needed a hard final lap to keep the time under 16 minutes!!
Her 15:55.75 gets her the Senior Class record too, as well as the Meet Record!
Seven years of incredible distance racing!!
Will the streak continue in 2018??
Platek's time was 16:48.09, making her 22nd A-T HS!
Taken OFF my DDD was the venerable Cathy (Schiro) O'Brien, who is still the HSR holder in the Marathon, with her 2:34:24 from 1984!
O'Brien's 16:52.83 dated from 1983!!
BTW, O'Brien's mark was the LAST one on my Top 24 Performer's list remaining from the twentieth century!!
But Oakley wasn't finished!
She ran the Two Mile also!
The Meet Record is Melody Fairchild's 9:55.92, dating from 1991.
But the NB people say it's Aisling Cuffe's 9:56.85, dating from 2011, as that came when the meet was sponsored by New Balance!
But this meet had been going on---under another name!---for years before NB took over!
So the records that came during those earlier years should--IMHO--be accepted as MR's--if they're better than the ones established during the NB era!
Thus---long story short--Oakley did NOT get the MR---Fairchild's MR---but DID run faster than Cuffe!!
Confusing??
Her time of 9:56.06 took the measure of a fast field!
Oakley is 3rd A-T HS!
Jessica Lawson finished 2nd in 10:12.39.
She moves from 23rd A-T HS to 18th!
Kelsey Chmiel's 10:12.94 makes her 19th A-T HS!
But she gets the Soph Class record--by just 0.01 seconds!!
Allie Schadler was next, running 10:13.74, which made her 22nd A-T HS!
Maggie Farrell's 10:17.34 missed my DDD by 0.59 seconds!
And Clara Savchik's 10:18.00 misses the list by 1.25 seconds!!
Like with the Men, enroute times at 3000 were taken!
Oakley's 9:20.34 gives her 6th A-T HS!
Chmiel's 9:30.03 didn't match her earlier PR--see above!!
Schadler's 9:34.91 makes her 17th A-T HS!
Lawson's 9:36.41 leaves her 18th A-T HS!
And Clara Savchik's 9:39.01 makes her 23rd A-T HS!
BTW, over the 2 Mile distance, SIX athletes here ran faster than the WINNER of the Professional Women's race at USATF!!
Sydney McLaughlin did what she intended--break her own HSR for the 400!!
After a strolling heat of 52.83--She just walked away, like a sweet ocean breeze in Hawaii--after running the fastest time of the season!
What would she do in the final!
51.61, that's what!
And she made it seem easy--as every athlete who breaks records does!!
Her 200 meter splits were more even than normal for a 400, which are normally about 2.5 to 3 seconds apart!
McLaughlin's splits were 25.39 and 26.02!!
Besides the HSR, she gets the Senior Class record, her own Age 17 record, and her own NBIN Meet Record!
But the record breaking wasn't done!!
Karamah Davis sped 52.91 for 2nd, and 6th A-T HS!
But in 3rd came Britton Wilson, whose 53.25 FINALLY broke the Soph Class record of 53.45--which was run over 440 yards!!
While it's impossible to truly determine, I see the 53.25 time run over the metric distance as slightly better than the time run over the English measure!
She also becomes 8th A-T HS!
Sterling Lester's 53.92 was moved OFF the list, but then came back on--in 19th place!
Sometimes happens that way!
Strange!
As with the Men, the Women's Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR was utterly smashed!!
From 31.22 to Western Branch's (VA) 30.63!!
The Men's HSR came down by 0.58, while the Women's was broken by 0.59!!
Another rarely run event---or in this case, WALKED!!--is the Mile Walk!
And Lauren Harris did it again--took down her own HSR in the time of 6:53.44.
Incredible as it might seem, she Walked her first 440 yards in 1:29!
The Men's winner, Cameron Haught, went out in--1:31!
Harris also gets the Senior Class record, and her own Meet Record!
In 2nd came an incredible young lady!!
Remember the name of Taylor Evert!
She Walked the Mile in 7:06.32.
And simply smashed the Frosh Class record by 18.35 seconds!!
Tara Davis ran herself ragged---or maybe not!
But she was ubiquitous!!
In three events, she won TWO of them, losing only the TJ!
The 60H has been her main track focus this season, and it worked!
While Chanel Brissett had sped an 8.14 to take over the season's lead from Davis's 8.22, Tara tied Brissett's former best of 8.16 in her heat!
This moved her from 9th A-T HS to 5th, tied with 1 other!
Brissett also ran a heat in 8.16, but it wasn't a PR!
Tia Jones, the OUTdoor HSR holder over 100H, ran 8.34, moving her from 22nd A-T HS, tied with 4 others, to 20th, tied with 2 others!
Another heat saw Caitlyn Little run 8.30, making her 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
In the final, Davis--who has her long hair braided fantastically!--sped a PR of 8.14, simply passing her rivals like they were standing still!
This time moved her from 5th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, where she's tied with 2 others, including Brissett!!
Caitlyn Little improved her best from the 8.30 she'd run in her heat to 8.24!
She moves from 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 12th, also tied with 1 other!
Ms Jones also ran 8.30, moving her from 21st A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Brissett, meanwhile, had an off day, hitting only 8.33 on the watch!
Kaylah Robinson's 8.34 tied her PR!
Davis continued her rampage in the LJ, where her leap of 21-3.25 prevailed over a tough field!
It wasn't a PR for this HSR holder, but she managed to beat two solid opponents, Titiana Marsh, who reached 20-5 in 2nd.
For Marsh, it makes her 18th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Jasmine Moore, another who specializes more in the TJ--along with Marsh--, leapt 20-3.75, making her 22nd A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Lanae Tava Thomas's 20-3.50 wasn't a PR!
(See above for more on LTT!)
ADDED March 14---Tara Davis's 21-3.25 ties the Meet Record set last year by Samiyah Samuels!
I somehow missed that! Apologies to everyone---especially Ms Davis! LOL
It was in the TJ where Davis finally met her match--in the guise of Ms's Moore and Marsh!
Moore improved her PR to 42-6.75, taking over the title of Soph Class record holder!!
She also moves from 14th A-T HS to 8th!!
Davis had her best TJ of the season, a mark of 42-3.25, moving her from 22nd A-T HS to 15th!
Jaimie Robinson measured out to 41-8.50, making her 23rd A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Marsh was off a bit, leaving her out of the medals!!
Jill Shippee had a great day in the Weight Throw!!
Not since Shelby Ashe threw the HSR of 68-2.50 have we seen a throw land past the 65 foot mark!!
Ashe OWNS the top performances list, with ALL the throws over 65!
Not anymore!!
Ms Shippee's winning throw of 65-6 took care of that!
She moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
Gianna Rao continued her fine year, throwing 59-7.75 for 2nd--though it wasn't a PR!
Sophie Walker took 3rd with her 59-2, which makes her 22nd A-T HS!
Makenli Forrest threw 59-1.25, but no PR for her!
The SP winner (at a mere 54-5.25), Alyssa Wilson, was next, but her PR of 58-8.50 misses the HS DDD by 3 inches!!
Wilson beat Kathleen Young's non-PR of 51-9 in the SP!
In other NBIN events---
Sammy Watson jogged the Mile in 4:48.30, disappointing those who hoped for yet another HSR from this talented athlete!
Jayla Kirkland took the 60 in 7.27--the season leader--making her 11th A-T HS!
Rachel McArthur took the 800, her 2:06.08 making her 10th A-T HS!
Katie Jones out-Vaulted Carson Dingler, both improving their PR's!
Jones got over 13-9.25, moving her from 17th A-T HS, to 10th, tied with 1 other!
Dingler improved by a quarter-inch, but it moved her from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 18th, tied with 1 other!
Lynna Irby took the 200 in 23.62, but she'd run a faster time in the heats--23.58!
That latter time makes her 14th A-T HS!
Karamah Davis ran 23.67 in the heats, making her 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Symone Mason also ran a fast heat, her 23.72 making her 22nd A-T HS!
In the final, Mason finished just 0.01 behind Irby, her 23.63 moving her from 22nd to 16th on the HS list!!
In the 4X400 Relay, Bellis School TC of Maryland got the NBIN Meet Record with their time of 3:39.70!
BTW, that took the record away from the Sydney McLaughlin-led Union Catholic team, which ran 3:40.28 last year, with Sydney anchoring in 51.65!!
In the DMR, Katelyn Tuohy anchored her North Rockland TC (NY) team to the win in 11:41.04 with her 4:50.26 split!
But Rachel McArthur ran the fastest 1600 leg of the day, her 4:42.99 not enough to get her team better than 5th place!
(Her time rates as faster than what Sammy Watson ran to win the open Mile!!)
Carlie Queen won the HJ with a good 5-10.75, but it misses my HS list by one-fourth of an inch!!
Finally--from this historic meet--comes the Pentathlon win by Anna Hall, who scored 3740 points, good for 4th A-T HS!!
She went over 5-10.50 in the Pent HJ!!
I know these reports have been long, but I must add what took place in the Gate River Run in Florida, which doubled as the USATF 15K Championships!
For the Men, it was a sweep by former Africans, now American citizens!!
Len Korir won it in 43:22, followed in quick succession by Shadrack Kipchirchir (43:23), Sam Chelanga (43:28), and Stan Kebenai (43:29)!!
The Women's race was entirely different!
Jordan Hasay took the top honors with her 49:28.
Emily Infeld was 2nd, time of 49:42.
Neely Gracey came next, in 49:47, which beat Laura Thweatt's 49:54 and Natosha Rogers's 50:01!
Well, that pretty much puts an end to this fantastic 2017 INdoor season---but not quite!
In the next few days, I'll do my Athletes of the Year selections!
I'm also planning an "extra" post, detailing just how wonderful---and record-shattering!!--this season has been!
And believe me, it WAS a RECORDS breaking 3-plus months!
I'll have all the "evidence" soon!!
Enjoy this & my other NBIN posts---and feel free to reread any or all of my other 350 or so posts!!
If you read my Men's report, you know I have some old news to give you!
So let's begin there!
SAFP--aka Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce--is Preggers!!
Yep, this 5 foot speedster is gonna have a baby!!
This summer!
That means that her Jamaican compadre Elaine Thompson will have things bit easier in the WC's this summer!!
But she'll return in 2018, she said!
In the marks department, we have---
Kelsey Chmiel ran the 3000 meters in 9:26.28, making her 8th A-T HS!
More significantly, she's the new Soph Class record holder!!
The old mark was Debbie Quatier's, dating from 1974!!
Gianna Rao improved her WT to 61-3, moving her from 11th A-T HS to 8th!
(See below for what she did at NBIN!)
Jessica Lawson ran 1500 meters in 4:25.66, moving her from 21st A-T HS to 17th!
Katelyn Tuohy finished 2nd in 4:25.86, making her 18 A-T HS!
Leya Solis ran 1000 meters in 2:48.25, making her 20th A-T HS!
Lanae Tava Thomas LJ'ed 20-7, moving her from 22nd A-T HS to 13th, where she's tied with 1 other!
In an OUTdoor meet in Australia, Keely Small ran an 800 in 2:01.46.
Nothing special, you say?
HA!
How about if I tell you she's just 15 years old?
FIFTEEN!!
She was born June 9, 2001!!
Now to the NBIN meet--the Women's side!
And what a "side" it was!!
FOUR High School Records bit the dust at The Armory!
And maybe none were better than Brie Oakley's 5000 meters HSR!!
For the SEVENTH year in a row, this historic meet saw the Women's 5000 HSR broken!
In 2011, it was Waverly Neer's 16:35.
Then came Erin Finn's 16:19.69 in the London Olympics year!
In 2013 came that crazy race where Erin Finn led all the way--She'd passed 3000 in 9:33!!--until the last INCH!!
That's where hard-kicking Wesley Frazier came from nowhere, and beat Finn, 16:18.01 to 16:18.02!
In 2014, it was another great race, with Anna Rohrer outlasting Wesley's sister Ryen, time of 16:12.
In 2015, it was Tessa Barrett's turn, when she took 2 more seconds off the Meet (And HS!) Record!
Lastly, tiny Weini Kelati ran 16:08.83 last year!
This year, NXN XC winner Brie Oakley--very new to running, as she played other sports!--CRUSHED Kelati's mark by 13 seconds, the largest margin since Finn destroyed Neer's record!!
And she did it the hard way---alone!!
While Sarah Platek attempted to stick with her, that idea didn't last!
In fact, Oakley LAPPED Platek later in the race--although Platek finished 2nd!!
Going through 3K in 9:31--similar to what Finn did in 2013!--she kept the pace going, though needed a hard final lap to keep the time under 16 minutes!!
Her 15:55.75 gets her the Senior Class record too, as well as the Meet Record!
Seven years of incredible distance racing!!
Will the streak continue in 2018??
Platek's time was 16:48.09, making her 22nd A-T HS!
Taken OFF my DDD was the venerable Cathy (Schiro) O'Brien, who is still the HSR holder in the Marathon, with her 2:34:24 from 1984!
O'Brien's 16:52.83 dated from 1983!!
BTW, O'Brien's mark was the LAST one on my Top 24 Performer's list remaining from the twentieth century!!
But Oakley wasn't finished!
She ran the Two Mile also!
The Meet Record is Melody Fairchild's 9:55.92, dating from 1991.
But the NB people say it's Aisling Cuffe's 9:56.85, dating from 2011, as that came when the meet was sponsored by New Balance!
But this meet had been going on---under another name!---for years before NB took over!
So the records that came during those earlier years should--IMHO--be accepted as MR's--if they're better than the ones established during the NB era!
Thus---long story short--Oakley did NOT get the MR---Fairchild's MR---but DID run faster than Cuffe!!
Confusing??
Her time of 9:56.06 took the measure of a fast field!
Oakley is 3rd A-T HS!
Jessica Lawson finished 2nd in 10:12.39.
She moves from 23rd A-T HS to 18th!
Kelsey Chmiel's 10:12.94 makes her 19th A-T HS!
But she gets the Soph Class record--by just 0.01 seconds!!
Allie Schadler was next, running 10:13.74, which made her 22nd A-T HS!
Maggie Farrell's 10:17.34 missed my DDD by 0.59 seconds!
And Clara Savchik's 10:18.00 misses the list by 1.25 seconds!!
Like with the Men, enroute times at 3000 were taken!
Oakley's 9:20.34 gives her 6th A-T HS!
Chmiel's 9:30.03 didn't match her earlier PR--see above!!
Schadler's 9:34.91 makes her 17th A-T HS!
Lawson's 9:36.41 leaves her 18th A-T HS!
And Clara Savchik's 9:39.01 makes her 23rd A-T HS!
BTW, over the 2 Mile distance, SIX athletes here ran faster than the WINNER of the Professional Women's race at USATF!!
Sydney McLaughlin did what she intended--break her own HSR for the 400!!
After a strolling heat of 52.83--She just walked away, like a sweet ocean breeze in Hawaii--after running the fastest time of the season!
What would she do in the final!
51.61, that's what!
And she made it seem easy--as every athlete who breaks records does!!
Her 200 meter splits were more even than normal for a 400, which are normally about 2.5 to 3 seconds apart!
McLaughlin's splits were 25.39 and 26.02!!
Besides the HSR, she gets the Senior Class record, her own Age 17 record, and her own NBIN Meet Record!
But the record breaking wasn't done!!
Karamah Davis sped 52.91 for 2nd, and 6th A-T HS!
But in 3rd came Britton Wilson, whose 53.25 FINALLY broke the Soph Class record of 53.45--which was run over 440 yards!!
While it's impossible to truly determine, I see the 53.25 time run over the metric distance as slightly better than the time run over the English measure!
She also becomes 8th A-T HS!
Sterling Lester's 53.92 was moved OFF the list, but then came back on--in 19th place!
Sometimes happens that way!
Strange!
As with the Men, the Women's Shuttle Hurdle Relay HSR was utterly smashed!!
From 31.22 to Western Branch's (VA) 30.63!!
The Men's HSR came down by 0.58, while the Women's was broken by 0.59!!
Another rarely run event---or in this case, WALKED!!--is the Mile Walk!
And Lauren Harris did it again--took down her own HSR in the time of 6:53.44.
Incredible as it might seem, she Walked her first 440 yards in 1:29!
The Men's winner, Cameron Haught, went out in--1:31!
Harris also gets the Senior Class record, and her own Meet Record!
In 2nd came an incredible young lady!!
Remember the name of Taylor Evert!
She Walked the Mile in 7:06.32.
And simply smashed the Frosh Class record by 18.35 seconds!!
Tara Davis ran herself ragged---or maybe not!
But she was ubiquitous!!
In three events, she won TWO of them, losing only the TJ!
The 60H has been her main track focus this season, and it worked!
While Chanel Brissett had sped an 8.14 to take over the season's lead from Davis's 8.22, Tara tied Brissett's former best of 8.16 in her heat!
This moved her from 9th A-T HS to 5th, tied with 1 other!
Brissett also ran a heat in 8.16, but it wasn't a PR!
Tia Jones, the OUTdoor HSR holder over 100H, ran 8.34, moving her from 22nd A-T HS, tied with 4 others, to 20th, tied with 2 others!
Another heat saw Caitlyn Little run 8.30, making her 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
In the final, Davis--who has her long hair braided fantastically!--sped a PR of 8.14, simply passing her rivals like they were standing still!
This time moved her from 5th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, where she's tied with 2 others, including Brissett!!
Caitlyn Little improved her best from the 8.30 she'd run in her heat to 8.24!
She moves from 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 12th, also tied with 1 other!
Ms Jones also ran 8.30, moving her from 21st A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Brissett, meanwhile, had an off day, hitting only 8.33 on the watch!
Kaylah Robinson's 8.34 tied her PR!
Davis continued her rampage in the LJ, where her leap of 21-3.25 prevailed over a tough field!
It wasn't a PR for this HSR holder, but she managed to beat two solid opponents, Titiana Marsh, who reached 20-5 in 2nd.
For Marsh, it makes her 18th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Jasmine Moore, another who specializes more in the TJ--along with Marsh--, leapt 20-3.75, making her 22nd A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Lanae Tava Thomas's 20-3.50 wasn't a PR!
(See above for more on LTT!)
ADDED March 14---Tara Davis's 21-3.25 ties the Meet Record set last year by Samiyah Samuels!
I somehow missed that! Apologies to everyone---especially Ms Davis! LOL
It was in the TJ where Davis finally met her match--in the guise of Ms's Moore and Marsh!
Moore improved her PR to 42-6.75, taking over the title of Soph Class record holder!!
She also moves from 14th A-T HS to 8th!!
Davis had her best TJ of the season, a mark of 42-3.25, moving her from 22nd A-T HS to 15th!
Jaimie Robinson measured out to 41-8.50, making her 23rd A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Marsh was off a bit, leaving her out of the medals!!
Jill Shippee had a great day in the Weight Throw!!
Not since Shelby Ashe threw the HSR of 68-2.50 have we seen a throw land past the 65 foot mark!!
Ashe OWNS the top performances list, with ALL the throws over 65!
Not anymore!!
Ms Shippee's winning throw of 65-6 took care of that!
She moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
Gianna Rao continued her fine year, throwing 59-7.75 for 2nd--though it wasn't a PR!
Sophie Walker took 3rd with her 59-2, which makes her 22nd A-T HS!
Makenli Forrest threw 59-1.25, but no PR for her!
The SP winner (at a mere 54-5.25), Alyssa Wilson, was next, but her PR of 58-8.50 misses the HS DDD by 3 inches!!
Wilson beat Kathleen Young's non-PR of 51-9 in the SP!
In other NBIN events---
Sammy Watson jogged the Mile in 4:48.30, disappointing those who hoped for yet another HSR from this talented athlete!
Jayla Kirkland took the 60 in 7.27--the season leader--making her 11th A-T HS!
Rachel McArthur took the 800, her 2:06.08 making her 10th A-T HS!
Katie Jones out-Vaulted Carson Dingler, both improving their PR's!
Jones got over 13-9.25, moving her from 17th A-T HS, to 10th, tied with 1 other!
Dingler improved by a quarter-inch, but it moved her from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 18th, tied with 1 other!
Lynna Irby took the 200 in 23.62, but she'd run a faster time in the heats--23.58!
That latter time makes her 14th A-T HS!
Karamah Davis ran 23.67 in the heats, making her 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Symone Mason also ran a fast heat, her 23.72 making her 22nd A-T HS!
In the final, Mason finished just 0.01 behind Irby, her 23.63 moving her from 22nd to 16th on the HS list!!
In the 4X400 Relay, Bellis School TC of Maryland got the NBIN Meet Record with their time of 3:39.70!
BTW, that took the record away from the Sydney McLaughlin-led Union Catholic team, which ran 3:40.28 last year, with Sydney anchoring in 51.65!!
In the DMR, Katelyn Tuohy anchored her North Rockland TC (NY) team to the win in 11:41.04 with her 4:50.26 split!
But Rachel McArthur ran the fastest 1600 leg of the day, her 4:42.99 not enough to get her team better than 5th place!
(Her time rates as faster than what Sammy Watson ran to win the open Mile!!)
Carlie Queen won the HJ with a good 5-10.75, but it misses my HS list by one-fourth of an inch!!
Finally--from this historic meet--comes the Pentathlon win by Anna Hall, who scored 3740 points, good for 4th A-T HS!!
She went over 5-10.50 in the Pent HJ!!
I know these reports have been long, but I must add what took place in the Gate River Run in Florida, which doubled as the USATF 15K Championships!
For the Men, it was a sweep by former Africans, now American citizens!!
Len Korir won it in 43:22, followed in quick succession by Shadrack Kipchirchir (43:23), Sam Chelanga (43:28), and Stan Kebenai (43:29)!!
The Women's race was entirely different!
Jordan Hasay took the top honors with her 49:28.
Emily Infeld was 2nd, time of 49:42.
Neely Gracey came next, in 49:47, which beat Laura Thweatt's 49:54 and Natosha Rogers's 50:01!
Well, that pretty much puts an end to this fantastic 2017 INdoor season---but not quite!
In the next few days, I'll do my Athletes of the Year selections!
I'm also planning an "extra" post, detailing just how wonderful---and record-shattering!!--this season has been!
And believe me, it WAS a RECORDS breaking 3-plus months!
I'll have all the "evidence" soon!!
Enjoy this & my other NBIN posts---and feel free to reread any or all of my other 350 or so posts!!
NBIN 2017--The MEN
There's going to be TWO reports--one for each gender!
This is partly due to how truly astounding this edition of the New Balance INdoor Nationals was!
But also because I have several bits of old news, which I'd like to get out before they get too moldy!!
To make things simpler, I'll divide them by gender.
Note--The old marks--most by HS'ers--happened BEFORE the NBIN--so read their list placings, etc, with that in mind.
Some of them improved their marks at the Armory meet!
I finally got hold of the 1500 splits from Ed Cheserek's Collegiate Record Mile!
He passed through 1500 meters in 3:37.01, so gets THAT Collegiate Record also!!
It's the Senior Class record too.
He moves from 18th A-T Collegiate, to 1st!
Other 1500 splits from that race were good also!
Johnny Gregorek was timed enroute in 3:37.76, making him 10th A-T US.
Kyle Merber--who finished ahead of Gregorek in the full mile, was timed in 3:37.83!
He moves from 22nd A-T US to 11th!
And Ford Palmer's 1500 split was 3:38.04, making him 13th A-T US!
In an OUTdoor meet in South Africa, Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-9.25.
It wasn't a PR, but a long foul was measured at 28-7.50!
Watch for this guy at the World Championships!!
Another OUTdoors mark is from Turner Washington, who threw the Discus 208-4, a great early HS mark!
This was from March 1st!
Jacob Wickey threw the WT 78-7, moving him from 16th A-T HS to 14th!
See below for what he did at NBIN!
Finally, Tyler Gleen supposedly ran the 600 in 1:18.52, which I reported in an earlier post!
But the eTN that came out right after that reports that mark as being 1:19.52!
While EITHER mark would place him on my HS list, he obviously gets listed MUCH higher with the faster time!
When I find out which mark is real, I'll let you know!!
Now on to the NBIN!!
When the Men's side produces FIVE High School Records--pretty much average for this incredible meet!!--it's hard to decide which one should lead!
Well, Trey Cunningham ran two of them, so.....!!
In the 60H heats, all eyes focused on Cunningham, who had already broken the HSR earlier in the season!
Here, he took his 7.49 HSR down to 7.45, making it look easy!
Coming back later in the day, he tore over the hurdles in 7.40, again destroying an already-great record!!
He's now 0.13 faster than Grant Holloway, who ain't exactly Swiss cheese!!
Seems he's close to Aries Merritt territory--the OUTdoor version of Merritt, that is!
He gets the Senior Class record, and the Meet Record!
Cory Poole ran 7.63, which makes him 9th A-T HS!
Damion Thomas ended in 7.73, making him 19th A-T HS, tied with 5 others!
Joseph Anderson's 7.74 misses my DDD by 0.01 seconds!!
Now, those were the heats!!
In the final, where Cunningham ran the 7.40, Thomas improved to 7.64!
He moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 5 others, to 10th!
Noah Green sped a 7.72.
He's 17th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Anderson improved to 7.73, making him 21st A-T HS, tied with 5 others!
Mondo!!
This Swedish-American Mighty Mite just keeps on getting more incredible every time he and a pole get together!!
Opening at 17-5--after two other "human" PV'ers ended!!--Duplantis began his show!
After clearing 17-5, he passed the next 2 heights, clearing 18-8.75 on first try!
Yes, he went from 5.31 to 5.71 like hopping across a wide boulevard is done every day!
From there--on his third Height of the day!!--he cleared 19-1--the first by a HS'er, of course, but also the first 19 footer by ANYone under the age of 19!!
He breaks his own HSR---for the SIXTH time this INdoor season!!--and his own Junior Class record, and his own Age 17 record!
But hold on, folks!
He ALSO is now the National Record holder (NOT just the "Junior" NR holder, but THE National Record holder!!) of Sweden!!
The NBIN Meet Record--Natch!-- is his too!
And he even tried once to clear 19-2.75--but missed!
Don't bet against him Medaling in London this summer!!
Tyrese Cooper is another MEGA-SuperStar whose exploits on any track he stands on just leave observers totally awestruck!!
And yet--perhaps BECAUSE he's so great!!--we look at his performances at this NBIN thinking he wasn't at his best!!
Silly thought!
Let's concentrate on his 200's and 400's, since his 60's weren't near his PR of 6.78!
In his 400 heat, he ran 47.10, and wasn't even breathing hard at the end, while slower guys were bent over!
Later, he toured one lap in his 200 heat in 21.15, coming within 0.03 seconds of his PR--and Soph Class record!
So the thinking was--maybe HSR's in both??
Or at least in the 400, where he'd come within 0.09 seconds earlier this season!
But here, he actually had some competition!!
The 400 was first, and there he had to outlast Brian Herron and Chantz Sawyers, Herron being Cooper's rival for Frosh Class records last year!
He did win, but in a slowish (HA!!) 46.55, a full 0.54 slower than his earlier race!
Still, it took down the NBIN Meet Record!!
Herron ran 46.69, making him 6th A-T HS!!
(Don't forget, he's a Sophomore too!!)
Then Sawyers came across in 46.74, giving him 7th A-T HS!!
A really Classic HS race!!
Cooper returned an hour or so later in the 200, where his 21.05 broke his own Soph Class record!
He moves from 11th A-T HS to 7th, tied with 1 other!
Micaiah Harris surprised with his 21.13, which makes him 12th A-T HS!!
What will Ty do OUTdoors??
The mind boggles!!
The Men's distance races--both individual and Relay--produced some outstanding times--one of them a HSR!!
And the Affolder brothers were involved in most of them!
Their Carlisle TC of PA took down a venerable Relay record, the 9:59.94 by the Gloucester MA team, set in 2000, in the DMR!
The younger brother--Sam--ran his opening 1200 leg in 3:02.11.
Then Noah, a Senior, ran his anchor split in 4:04.95--by himself!
Their time---and the new HSR and Meet Record--was 9:56.18!!
Sam ran the Mile race!
But it was Cooper Teare who beat NXN XC Champ Reed Brown to the tape--and yes, this meet actually holds up a strip of tape for the winners to break in distance races!!
Teare tore (sic!!) up the track in a speedy 4:06.60, making him 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Brown wasn't far behind, his 4:06.74, however, not being a PR!
Then came Haleed Suliman's 4:06.82, which makes him 11th A-T HS!
And Sam?
His 4:09.89 missed the Soph Class record by 0.07 seconds!
The NBIN is great for enroute times, and this year's edition was no different!
Suliman's split of 3:51.95 makes him 18th A-T HS.
Teare split 3:51.99 for 19th A-T HS!
Dalton Hengst's 3:52.26 wasn't a PR, but Brown's 3:52.32 makes him 22nd A-T HS!
Noah Affolder ran the Two Mile!
And that race was FAST!!
Okay, no HSR, but for once, these guys didn't mess around for half the race!!
Brodey Hasty--he of the wild hair!--made "haste" (Giggle, giggle!)--and HAD to, with some speedy dudes right behind him!
But he prevailed, running 8:45.16, making him 5th A-T HS!
Affolder was right behind him, his 8:46.08 making him 7th A-T HS!
Then came 4:00.97 Miler DJ (David) Principe's 8:47.40, which made him 8th A-T HS!!
Even Connor Lane's 8:53.59 made my DDD, in 20th place!!
And here again, splits were taken at 3000 meters, for even MORE revisions to my Record Book!!
(I wish Pro meets would do this more often!! See above for Ed Cheserek's 1500 split--that came through about a WEEK after his CR-breaking Mile!!)
Anyway, Hasty was timed at 3000 in 8:13.92, making him 9th A-T HS!
Principe was timed in 8:14.15, giving him 10th on the list!
Next came Affolder's 8:16.56, which makes him 13th A-T HS!
Lane's 8:17.01 makes him 15th A-T HS, while Gabe Fendal's 8:21.89 makes him 19th A-T HS!
In the 5000, only one runner finished fast enough to make my list.
Ben Verghese's 14:47.25 winner makes him 20th A-T HS!
The name of "Cooper" was all around here!
Besides Tyrese, we had Cooper Teare, and now--in the 800--there was Cameron Cooper!!
While Brandon McGorty was seen as the favorite (At least by yours truly!!), Cooper's the one who really ripped up the Armory track!
His 1:49.46 got the NBIN Meet Record!!
And was just 0.25 from the HSR!!
He moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
(Behind just Robby Andrews!!)
Rey Rivera also beat McGorty, his 1:50.04 nailing down 4th spot on the A-T HS list!
Then followed McGorty in a not-so-tardy 1:50.29!
He moves from 12th A-T HS to 6th, tied with 1 other!
Not many HS (or ANY!!) meets hold Walk races--at least not on a track!
(That's why I like the World Juniors OUTdoors, where both Men and Women Walkers get to stroll 10000 meters worth of track before a crowd of Walk fans!!)
That said, Cameron Haught--despite checking his watch a few times during this Mile race!--couldn't get Trevor Barron's HSR, or Barron's Meet Record!
His 6:12.00 won easily, however!!
In my opening remarks, I gave you some old marks!
Including a PR by WT specialist Jacob Wickey!
Well, he broke that here!!
In a battle of Titans--although his opponent is better known for his Shot Put achievements!!--Wickey did battle with one Jordan Geist!!
And he prevailed!
Wickey's WT of 79-6.75 beat Geist's PR of 79-4.75!
For Wickey, he goes from 14th to 13th on the A-T HS list!
Geist got the bigger PR, and sailed from 21st A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 14th!
Earlier, Geist won his specialty in ANOTHER battle of Titans!!
This time, Adrian "Tripp" Piperi was his name!
Neither of them got a PR, but Geist's 75-4.75 destroyed the NBIN Meet Record by about 4 feet!!
Piperi's 12 pound ball soared 72-0.75!!
This blog pays VERY little attention---if any!--to an exciting race--the Shuttle Hurdles Relay!
Indoors, it goes like this--
Hurdles are set up in two lanes--turned in opposite directions!!
(Actually, four lanes, as there's two teams racing in a heat!)
The runners start the race, the distance INdoors being 55 meters!
When they reach their finish line, their teammate starts running--in the opposite direction!
He (or she!) then "hands off"---though no baton is carried!!--when he crosses HIS finish line!
So, like most other relays, there's 4 to a team!
Anyway, the team from East Orange (NJ) whacked 0.58 off the HSR, their time being 28.62!
That's an average of four 7.15's being run by ONE High School!!
Just FYI, the HSR for the 55 meter hurdles is--or should I say, WAS!--7.00!
By Grant Holloway!
Keeping to their history of timing enroute distances, Trey Cunningham was timed in a HSR of 6.92 during his 7.40 for the 60H!!
Gives you some idea of how truly GREAT that Shuttle Hurdle HSR is!!
The Men's HJ has improved recently--at least OUTdoors!
But it's still fairly rare in this decade to see THREE guys clear the 7 foot barrier in the same meet--especially an INdoor meet, even one as prestigious as the NBIN!
Rahman Minor's 7-0.25 took the Gold over the 7-0.25's of JuVaughn Blake and Dan Claxton!
Finally, the Pentathlon!
As I noted in my NBIN Preview--Read it again to see how I did!! LOL--the Pentathlon was hard to predict based on season marks, as this event isn't held much outside of this meet!
So the results here were fairly surprising!!
Kyle Garland--Watch for him in the OUTdoor Decathlon!!!--scored 4150 points, which handed him the Junior Class record!!
Yes, he's now one of just 8 men who have scored 4000 or more points INdoors!!
He moved all the way from 23rd A-T HS to 4th!!
And Darby Renwick's 3860 was pretty decent as well!!
He's now 22nd A-T HS!!
Quite a meet--and fully livestreamed too!
(You can watch the entire meet--if you want--by going to the NBIN site, where replays of the livestream are available for your viewing pleasure!)
I'll return in a few hours with my Women's NBIN post!
See you then!
This is partly due to how truly astounding this edition of the New Balance INdoor Nationals was!
But also because I have several bits of old news, which I'd like to get out before they get too moldy!!
To make things simpler, I'll divide them by gender.
Note--The old marks--most by HS'ers--happened BEFORE the NBIN--so read their list placings, etc, with that in mind.
Some of them improved their marks at the Armory meet!
I finally got hold of the 1500 splits from Ed Cheserek's Collegiate Record Mile!
He passed through 1500 meters in 3:37.01, so gets THAT Collegiate Record also!!
It's the Senior Class record too.
He moves from 18th A-T Collegiate, to 1st!
Other 1500 splits from that race were good also!
Johnny Gregorek was timed enroute in 3:37.76, making him 10th A-T US.
Kyle Merber--who finished ahead of Gregorek in the full mile, was timed in 3:37.83!
He moves from 22nd A-T US to 11th!
And Ford Palmer's 1500 split was 3:38.04, making him 13th A-T US!
In an OUTdoor meet in South Africa, Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-9.25.
It wasn't a PR, but a long foul was measured at 28-7.50!
Watch for this guy at the World Championships!!
Another OUTdoors mark is from Turner Washington, who threw the Discus 208-4, a great early HS mark!
This was from March 1st!
Jacob Wickey threw the WT 78-7, moving him from 16th A-T HS to 14th!
See below for what he did at NBIN!
Finally, Tyler Gleen supposedly ran the 600 in 1:18.52, which I reported in an earlier post!
But the eTN that came out right after that reports that mark as being 1:19.52!
While EITHER mark would place him on my HS list, he obviously gets listed MUCH higher with the faster time!
When I find out which mark is real, I'll let you know!!
Now on to the NBIN!!
When the Men's side produces FIVE High School Records--pretty much average for this incredible meet!!--it's hard to decide which one should lead!
Well, Trey Cunningham ran two of them, so.....!!
In the 60H heats, all eyes focused on Cunningham, who had already broken the HSR earlier in the season!
Here, he took his 7.49 HSR down to 7.45, making it look easy!
Coming back later in the day, he tore over the hurdles in 7.40, again destroying an already-great record!!
He's now 0.13 faster than Grant Holloway, who ain't exactly Swiss cheese!!
Seems he's close to Aries Merritt territory--the OUTdoor version of Merritt, that is!
He gets the Senior Class record, and the Meet Record!
Cory Poole ran 7.63, which makes him 9th A-T HS!
Damion Thomas ended in 7.73, making him 19th A-T HS, tied with 5 others!
Joseph Anderson's 7.74 misses my DDD by 0.01 seconds!!
Now, those were the heats!!
In the final, where Cunningham ran the 7.40, Thomas improved to 7.64!
He moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 5 others, to 10th!
Noah Green sped a 7.72.
He's 17th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Anderson improved to 7.73, making him 21st A-T HS, tied with 5 others!
Mondo!!
This Swedish-American Mighty Mite just keeps on getting more incredible every time he and a pole get together!!
Opening at 17-5--after two other "human" PV'ers ended!!--Duplantis began his show!
After clearing 17-5, he passed the next 2 heights, clearing 18-8.75 on first try!
Yes, he went from 5.31 to 5.71 like hopping across a wide boulevard is done every day!
From there--on his third Height of the day!!--he cleared 19-1--the first by a HS'er, of course, but also the first 19 footer by ANYone under the age of 19!!
He breaks his own HSR---for the SIXTH time this INdoor season!!--and his own Junior Class record, and his own Age 17 record!
But hold on, folks!
He ALSO is now the National Record holder (NOT just the "Junior" NR holder, but THE National Record holder!!) of Sweden!!
The NBIN Meet Record--Natch!-- is his too!
And he even tried once to clear 19-2.75--but missed!
Don't bet against him Medaling in London this summer!!
Tyrese Cooper is another MEGA-SuperStar whose exploits on any track he stands on just leave observers totally awestruck!!
And yet--perhaps BECAUSE he's so great!!--we look at his performances at this NBIN thinking he wasn't at his best!!
Silly thought!
Let's concentrate on his 200's and 400's, since his 60's weren't near his PR of 6.78!
In his 400 heat, he ran 47.10, and wasn't even breathing hard at the end, while slower guys were bent over!
Later, he toured one lap in his 200 heat in 21.15, coming within 0.03 seconds of his PR--and Soph Class record!
So the thinking was--maybe HSR's in both??
Or at least in the 400, where he'd come within 0.09 seconds earlier this season!
But here, he actually had some competition!!
The 400 was first, and there he had to outlast Brian Herron and Chantz Sawyers, Herron being Cooper's rival for Frosh Class records last year!
He did win, but in a slowish (HA!!) 46.55, a full 0.54 slower than his earlier race!
Still, it took down the NBIN Meet Record!!
Herron ran 46.69, making him 6th A-T HS!!
(Don't forget, he's a Sophomore too!!)
Then Sawyers came across in 46.74, giving him 7th A-T HS!!
A really Classic HS race!!
Cooper returned an hour or so later in the 200, where his 21.05 broke his own Soph Class record!
He moves from 11th A-T HS to 7th, tied with 1 other!
Micaiah Harris surprised with his 21.13, which makes him 12th A-T HS!!
What will Ty do OUTdoors??
The mind boggles!!
The Men's distance races--both individual and Relay--produced some outstanding times--one of them a HSR!!
And the Affolder brothers were involved in most of them!
Their Carlisle TC of PA took down a venerable Relay record, the 9:59.94 by the Gloucester MA team, set in 2000, in the DMR!
The younger brother--Sam--ran his opening 1200 leg in 3:02.11.
Then Noah, a Senior, ran his anchor split in 4:04.95--by himself!
Their time---and the new HSR and Meet Record--was 9:56.18!!
Sam ran the Mile race!
But it was Cooper Teare who beat NXN XC Champ Reed Brown to the tape--and yes, this meet actually holds up a strip of tape for the winners to break in distance races!!
Teare tore (sic!!) up the track in a speedy 4:06.60, making him 10th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Brown wasn't far behind, his 4:06.74, however, not being a PR!
Then came Haleed Suliman's 4:06.82, which makes him 11th A-T HS!
And Sam?
His 4:09.89 missed the Soph Class record by 0.07 seconds!
The NBIN is great for enroute times, and this year's edition was no different!
Suliman's split of 3:51.95 makes him 18th A-T HS.
Teare split 3:51.99 for 19th A-T HS!
Dalton Hengst's 3:52.26 wasn't a PR, but Brown's 3:52.32 makes him 22nd A-T HS!
Noah Affolder ran the Two Mile!
And that race was FAST!!
Okay, no HSR, but for once, these guys didn't mess around for half the race!!
Brodey Hasty--he of the wild hair!--made "haste" (Giggle, giggle!)--and HAD to, with some speedy dudes right behind him!
But he prevailed, running 8:45.16, making him 5th A-T HS!
Affolder was right behind him, his 8:46.08 making him 7th A-T HS!
Then came 4:00.97 Miler DJ (David) Principe's 8:47.40, which made him 8th A-T HS!!
Even Connor Lane's 8:53.59 made my DDD, in 20th place!!
And here again, splits were taken at 3000 meters, for even MORE revisions to my Record Book!!
(I wish Pro meets would do this more often!! See above for Ed Cheserek's 1500 split--that came through about a WEEK after his CR-breaking Mile!!)
Anyway, Hasty was timed at 3000 in 8:13.92, making him 9th A-T HS!
Principe was timed in 8:14.15, giving him 10th on the list!
Next came Affolder's 8:16.56, which makes him 13th A-T HS!
Lane's 8:17.01 makes him 15th A-T HS, while Gabe Fendal's 8:21.89 makes him 19th A-T HS!
In the 5000, only one runner finished fast enough to make my list.
Ben Verghese's 14:47.25 winner makes him 20th A-T HS!
The name of "Cooper" was all around here!
Besides Tyrese, we had Cooper Teare, and now--in the 800--there was Cameron Cooper!!
While Brandon McGorty was seen as the favorite (At least by yours truly!!), Cooper's the one who really ripped up the Armory track!
His 1:49.46 got the NBIN Meet Record!!
And was just 0.25 from the HSR!!
He moves from 13th A-T HS to 2nd!
(Behind just Robby Andrews!!)
Rey Rivera also beat McGorty, his 1:50.04 nailing down 4th spot on the A-T HS list!
Then followed McGorty in a not-so-tardy 1:50.29!
He moves from 12th A-T HS to 6th, tied with 1 other!
Not many HS (or ANY!!) meets hold Walk races--at least not on a track!
(That's why I like the World Juniors OUTdoors, where both Men and Women Walkers get to stroll 10000 meters worth of track before a crowd of Walk fans!!)
That said, Cameron Haught--despite checking his watch a few times during this Mile race!--couldn't get Trevor Barron's HSR, or Barron's Meet Record!
His 6:12.00 won easily, however!!
In my opening remarks, I gave you some old marks!
Including a PR by WT specialist Jacob Wickey!
Well, he broke that here!!
In a battle of Titans--although his opponent is better known for his Shot Put achievements!!--Wickey did battle with one Jordan Geist!!
And he prevailed!
Wickey's WT of 79-6.75 beat Geist's PR of 79-4.75!
For Wickey, he goes from 14th to 13th on the A-T HS list!
Geist got the bigger PR, and sailed from 21st A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 14th!
Earlier, Geist won his specialty in ANOTHER battle of Titans!!
This time, Adrian "Tripp" Piperi was his name!
Neither of them got a PR, but Geist's 75-4.75 destroyed the NBIN Meet Record by about 4 feet!!
Piperi's 12 pound ball soared 72-0.75!!
This blog pays VERY little attention---if any!--to an exciting race--the Shuttle Hurdles Relay!
Indoors, it goes like this--
Hurdles are set up in two lanes--turned in opposite directions!!
(Actually, four lanes, as there's two teams racing in a heat!)
The runners start the race, the distance INdoors being 55 meters!
When they reach their finish line, their teammate starts running--in the opposite direction!
He (or she!) then "hands off"---though no baton is carried!!--when he crosses HIS finish line!
So, like most other relays, there's 4 to a team!
Anyway, the team from East Orange (NJ) whacked 0.58 off the HSR, their time being 28.62!
That's an average of four 7.15's being run by ONE High School!!
Just FYI, the HSR for the 55 meter hurdles is--or should I say, WAS!--7.00!
By Grant Holloway!
Keeping to their history of timing enroute distances, Trey Cunningham was timed in a HSR of 6.92 during his 7.40 for the 60H!!
Gives you some idea of how truly GREAT that Shuttle Hurdle HSR is!!
The Men's HJ has improved recently--at least OUTdoors!
But it's still fairly rare in this decade to see THREE guys clear the 7 foot barrier in the same meet--especially an INdoor meet, even one as prestigious as the NBIN!
Rahman Minor's 7-0.25 took the Gold over the 7-0.25's of JuVaughn Blake and Dan Claxton!
Finally, the Pentathlon!
As I noted in my NBIN Preview--Read it again to see how I did!! LOL--the Pentathlon was hard to predict based on season marks, as this event isn't held much outside of this meet!
So the results here were fairly surprising!!
Kyle Garland--Watch for him in the OUTdoor Decathlon!!!--scored 4150 points, which handed him the Junior Class record!!
Yes, he's now one of just 8 men who have scored 4000 or more points INdoors!!
He moved all the way from 23rd A-T HS to 4th!!
And Darby Renwick's 3860 was pretty decent as well!!
He's now 22nd A-T HS!!
Quite a meet--and fully livestreamed too!
(You can watch the entire meet--if you want--by going to the NBIN site, where replays of the livestream are available for your viewing pleasure!)
I'll return in a few hours with my Women's NBIN post!
See you then!
NCAA--Sprint & Field Shockers Excite
Some of the NCAA Championships you had to SEE to believe!
It wasn't the GREAT marks that seemingly fell like hailstones from the roof of the College Station TX arena the past 2 days.
Many were expected.
No, it was the stunning way they happened---or in the case of some, didn't!!
And the depth!
WOW!!
But time's-a-wasting!
I'm sure you want to know what went down---or up--as the case might be, so sit back, relax, and read on!
She did it again!
For long time readers of my blog, you know I've referred to Raven Saunders as a Shot Putter who broke her PR's by FEET, not inches!!
There have been several examples of that--since her Senior year of HS!
But recently, she seemed to have arrived on some sort of plateau, where she didn't PR for awhile--or did so by lesser increments than feet!
Well, not to fear, cause Raven's here!!
After a 2nd round 63-0--one of her best--she fell back into her "average" mode of mere 60 foot throws!
For others, that's reason to break into a dance!
For Saunders, it's reason to cry!
Then came her blast of the ball that fell 64-2.25 from where she stood!
This again added a full FOOT (and a bit more!!) to her previous INdoor best!!
Once leading the WORLD--prior to Anita Marton passing her at the Euros--she's back there again--with exclamation points (Something I know much about!! LOL)---and, since the season has for all intents ended, she's likely to remain!!
An incredible feat for a 20 year old College student--in America, Europe, or anywhere else!!
She breaks her own Collegiate Record.
She gets the Junior Class record, and the Meet Record!
While remaining 1st A-T Collegiate, she moves from 5th to 4th on the A-T US list!
Second was Danniel Thomas, getting a 60-4.50 PR.
She remains 9th A-T Collegiate!
Brittany Mann's 58-0.25 misses the Collegiate list by 0.75 inches!
Inside the Aggies's beautiful arena--pure white & light gray walls splashed with great photos & other Texas A&M mementos, we saw several great sprinters performing at their best!
And none were better than Christian Coleman!
We first witnessed it in the heats of the 60.
Side by side with Kendal Williams and Cameron Burrell, he left both those talents in his wake as he flew down the 60 meter straight with abandon--and ease!
His heat was an 0.01 PR of 6.50.
He moved from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 7th, tied with 2 others.
He became 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others!
Burrell ran 6.53, not a PR.
In the 200 heats, Coleman "lost" to Just-N Thymes's 20.49, which missed my Collegiate DDD by 0.03 seconds!
Also missing that list was Jereem Richards's 20.50, which fell short by 0.04 seconds!
Coleman was 3rd fastest, his 20.51 missing the list by 0.05!
On the 2nd day, Coleman outdid himself--to say the least!!
In the 60 final, he blew away his competition--mostly in the last half of the race!--with a Collegiate Record-tying 6.45 shocker!
Even I didn't see this coming!
Besides tying the CR, he nabbed the Junior Class record!
He also tied the Age 21 record--the other guy being one Justin Gatlin!!
(Coleman had just turned 21, being born March 6, 1996!!)
He also got the Meet Record!!
He moved from 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to the top, where he's tied with 1 other!
On the World DDD, he becomes 6th A-T, tied with 7 others!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 4th, where he's also tied with 4 others!
And he wasn't through yet!!
Watch the final of the Men's 200--with AWE!!
Not letting up for an instant--from the gun to the tape--Christian Coleman tore his feet around the banked oval in 20.11 seconds!!
SO close to the venerable American (and Meet) Record---so so close!!
Claiming the Junior Class record, and the Age 21 record, he's now 2nd A-T Collegiate, 2nd A-T US, and 3rd A-T World!!
But it was the depth that added to your amazement!
Behind Coleman came Jereem Richards, whose 20.34 at the SEC became worthless due to its being run on an OT!
He made up for it here!
His 20.31 was far behind Coleman, but he got a distinct honor even Coleman couldn't claim!
He broke the National Record of Trinidad--that having belonged to Ato Boldon, dating from 1997!!
He is 9th A-T Collegiate!
And 11th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Then came The Rapper, Just'N Thymes, who "rapped" out a 20.36 in 3rd!
He is 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
He's 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
And he's 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Another who lost a great mark to the OT gods was Fred Kerley, 2017's INdoor 400 Master!
But here he ran even faster--with no help from an Oversize Track!
His 44.85 solo run in the final (after a heat of 45.10) did lots of things!
It gave him the Senior Class record, which had been his already!
He also broke his own Age 21 record!
On the various lists, he moved from 4th to 3rd A-T Collegiate, from 4th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, and from 5th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
In that heat, 2nd went to Kunle Fasasi's 45.57, which made him 21st A-T Collegiate!
The Women ran some fantastic times in the sprints also--one of which claimed its athlete a DQ!!
In the 200 heats, Deajah Stevens wanted to make a statement!
She did--except it came out for all the world to see--including the officials who see those things that DQ an athlete!
While sprinting once around in 22.28--which would have smashed the CR!--Stevens spread her talents into the lane inside of her--once too many times!!
So--for lane violations--that "CR" died!!
Maybe next time, Deajah!!
Meanwhile, the other Duck women did themselves proud!
In the 60 heats, Hannah Cunliffe cruised to a 7.13 win, with Stevens taking 3rd!
Between them came Javianne Oliver's 7.14, which made her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Stevens ran 7.17, making her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others!
The DQ, as noted, came in the 200 heats.
Ariana Washington won her section in 22.57 (after the DQ, that is!)
She moves from 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th!!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 10th, tied with 1 other.
And she becomes 22nd A-T World!
Hannah Cunliffe's 22.74 wasn't a PR.
Cunliffe took the final in an average (for her!) 7.14, with Stevens taking 5th in 7.22.
The 200 final was beautiful--for those "waddlers" from Ory-gun territory!
Ariana Washington took the Grand Prize with her PR of 22.42!
She claims the Junior Class record, as well as the Age 20 record!
She moves from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!
She moves from 10th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd.
And she moves from 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 11th!!
Cunliffe was 2nd in 22.53.
She moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th.
She gains 11th place on the US list, tied with 1 other, while ending in 22nd place on the World DDD, tied with 1 other!
Deanna Hill of USC got 3rd, just one watch tick behind Cunliffe, her 22.54 getting her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, 11th A-T US, tied with 1 other, and 23rd A-T World, also tied with 1 other!!
Not needing the points at the end, the Duck Women ran the 4X400 Relay anyway!
And finished 2nd, losing their Collegiate Record in the process!!
In an amazing race--showing how DEEP the College scene is in the United States--here's the numbers!!
USC has muscle!!
Eeking out a win by 0.04 seconds over the Ducks, their 3:27.03 took 0.37 off Oregon's CR!!
They moved from 5th A-T School to 1st!
UO ran a spiffy 3:27.07, but their loss moved them DOWN the scale, from 1st to 2nd A-T School!!
Now get this!
All 12 finishers ran 3:32.34 or faster!!
Has there EVER been a race like this---anywhere??
Texas A&M got 3rd in 3:28.36
This moves them from 8th A-T School to 5th!
Alabama's 3:28.62 moves them from 9th to 6th A-T School!!
Baylor's 5th place 3:30.60 moves them from 16th A-T School to 12th!
Ohio State moves from 24th A-T School to 15th, off their 3:31.23!
No PR's for Miami (3:31.85), Florida (3:31.94), or South Carolina (3:32.14)!
But then we have Purdue's 3:32.34, which makes them 19th A-T School!
(BTW, three schools got the "same" time of 3:32.34--divided by thousandths of a second!!)
But no PR's were awarded for the 3:32.34's of Arkansas and LSU!!
The Men's 4X4 was good too!
The Home Boys won it, time of 3:02.86.
But if you've read my blog, you know that A&M had run faster--at least twice--albeit once on an OT!
So no PR, but their time gets them the Meet Record!
Florida finished 2nd in 3:03.52, while 2 others made my list, or changed their position on it!
Iowa's 3:05.60 was a PR by just 0.03 seconds, but it moved them from 19th A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 19th, but with no ties!!
In 8th, Alabama's 3:06.06 made them 24th A-T school!!
Sasha Wallace gave 10 more points to the Ducks, via her 60H win in 7.90!
But that wasn't her best time!
That came in the heats--where she won in 7.87!
This moved her from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, tied with 2 others!
She also becomes 23rd A-T US!
Dewynne Charlton took 2nd in the heats with a non-PR 7.98!
But Anna Cockrell's 7.98 WAS a PR, giving her 19th place on the A-T Collegiate list, tied with 6 others!
Much more important, she now is the Frosh Class record holder!!
In the final, Charlton ran 7.93, moving her from 18th A-T Collegiate to 11th, tied with 2 others!
Pedrya Seymour's 7.97 moves her from 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 6 others, to 19th, but with no ties!
Grant Holloway took the Men's 60H in a PR-tying 7.58.
The Multi's were great!
And Tim Duckworth is for real!
That said, the Brit (via his British parents!) lost!!
Leading by over 200 points after 6 events, he couldn't break 3 minutes in the 1000, while Devon Williams (Kendell's brother!) sped a low-2:40's, edging out the Brit, 6177 to 6165!!
For Williams, he becomes 4th A-T Collegiate, and 10th A-T US!
Duckworth breaks his own National Record of Great Britain--by about 200 points!
Ironic, eh, mate??
Anyway, he also moves from 16th A-T Collegiate to 6th, tied with 1 other!!
Karl Saluri took 3rd with 6051 points, making him 13th A-T Collegiate!
Hunter Price got 5996 points, making him 18th A-T Collegiate, and 21st A-T US!!
Lindon Victor had a great SP of around 55 feet, which helped give him a point total of 5976!
He's 21st A-T Collegiate!
Harrison (No relation!) Williams scored 5970 points,making him 23rd A-T Collegiate.
He also moves up one spot on the US list, from 24th to 23rd!
BTW, Harrison was moved OFF the list by Price's entrance, but then came back on!!
Kendell Williams ALMOST got her own Collegiate Record!
But her HJ ended well below her norm, so she lost just enough points to later deny her another CR!
Nonetheless, her 4682 score was impressive!
And--it gave her her FOURTH Collegiate Class Record, as she now owns ALL of them--plus two from her HS years!!
Taliyah Brooks also performed great, her new PR being 4580 points!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 4th!
And she moves from 12th to 8th on the A-T US list!!
Nina Schultz took 3rd with 4340 points, making this Canadian 23rd A-T Collegiate!
Michelle Atherley's 4319 points in 4th missed the Collegiate list by 20 points!
But she's now 22nd A-T US!!
In 6th, Stacy Destin's 4186 points included a HJ of 6-2.75!
This misses my Collegiate DDD by a mere quarter-inch!
In the actual HJ, she went over 6-1.50 for 4th in that event--an impressive performance!!
In the open HJ, Logan Boss took 3rd, also getting over 6-2.75!
She's a Junior at Mississippi State!
In case you're interested (HaHa!), Madeline Fagan WON the HJ with a solid 6-4!
She's now 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, as well as 19th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
The distances were good--and interesting!
Mr Edward Cheserek did NOT get the triple he went after, as he lost the Mile to Josh Kerr, a New Mexico Frosh, of all people---and by 2 whole seconds!!
But maybe Ches was tired after winning the 5000 the day before in 13:41 & change, and winning his Mile heat in 3:59.30!
Then he won the 3000 in 7:55 also!
(No leg on the DMR!!)
In the Women's 5000, the pace was pushed by Notre Dame's Anna Rohrer, who figured she'd steal it from flashy kicker Karissa Schweizer!
No dice, Anna!!
After leading Erin Finn and Schweizer for about 23 laps, Schweizer left both far behind, as she sprinted her final 400 in about 65 seconds, her time of 15:19.14 giving her the Junior Class record!!
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate (from her race in December!!), to 9th!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 9th!
Finn stayed together to run a non-PR time of 15:27.36.
Rohrer finished in 15:29.83!
This moves her from 11th to 9th on the A-T Collegiate list!
And she moves up one spot on the A-T US list, from 18th to 17th!
Allie Bucharski's 15:41.69 misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.81 seconds, while Tessa Barrett's 15:42.29 misses that list by 1.41 seconds!
A shock winner came in the Women's Mile also!!
Ever hear of Samford College?
(No, it's NOT a misspelling of Stanford!! LOL)
Well, it's in Birmingham, Alabama!
And that's where the Mile winner--Karissa Nelson--matriculates--AND runs!!
Her 4:31.24 winner took the air out of the balloons of Elinor Purrier (2nd in 4:31.88) and Kaela Edwards (4th in 4:34.27)!!
Nelson becomes 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
She's in her Junior year at Stanf.....um, I mean SAMford!!
In other NCAA news---
Raevyn Rogers easily sprinted away from CR holder Jazmin Fray, as well as rising star Hanna Green in the 800!
Her 2:01.09 took down the NCAA Meet Record, though it wasn't a PR for her!
Green's 2:02.13 in 2nd moves her from 20th A-T Collegiate to 10th!
Shea Collinsworth ran 2:02.35, claiming 13th spot on the A-T Collegiate list!
Fray faded to 4th, but ran a decent 2:03.00.
Just 0.01 behind her, Ruby Stauber's 2:03.01 claimed the Freshman Class record!!
It also makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!
Chased OFF my Collegiate list was the historic Delisa Walton (Floyd), whose 2:03.24 dated from 1983!!
The Men's 800 was a snoozer, considering there were TWO one-time CR holders, and one one-time WR holder among the finalists!!
Emmanuel Korir got the win in 1:47.83.
Dani Jones took the 3000 in 9:09.21, with Karissa Schweizer and Katie Rainsberger finishing with the number 9:09 to their credit too!
Keturah Orji took just 2 of her 6 rounds to claim an easy TJ win--but no records this time.
Her 46-3.25 was sufficient to beat Yanis David's 45-1.75!
Trey Culver and Kyle Landon both HJ'ed 7-5, with Culver getting the W.
Clive Pullen "pulled" out a TJ win with his 55-3.75!
Shakima Wimbley took the 400 in 51.07, which just squeaked past Kendell Ellis's 51.07!!
For Wimbley, this moves her from 16th A-T Collegiate to 13th, and from 19th A-T US to 12th!
Ellis moves from 19th A-T Collegiate to 13th, where she's "tied" with Wimbley!
She's also tied with Wimbley on the US list--in 12th place!
BTW, Ellis had run 51.59 in her heat, first reaching that 19th spot!
Sage Watson PR'ed in 3rd, her 51.84 missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.07 seconds!
Johnnie Jackson took the Men's WT with 75-0.75!
Grant Cartwright was 2nd with 74-5.25, while Olympian Rudy Winkler was 4th, and 2017 newcomer Gleb Dudarov finished 6th, reaching just 72-1!
Freshman shudders??
KeAndre Bates won the LJ with 26-4.50, while Grant Holloway maybe got those Frosh shudders also, as he ended just 11th, jumping only 24-10!
(Though he recovered--See above!--to win the 60H!)
Mostafa Hassan didn't PR, but his 69-9.50 was an easy winner for him in the Shot Put!
The DMR's were taken by Ole Miss's 9:31.32, with Virginia Tech's 9:33.05 taking 2nd, while the Women's race saw Colorado's 3000 winner Dani Jones sprinting ahead to give her team the win, time of 11:00.34!
They became 16th A-T School!!
But---IMHO!--there's a bit of a question about the split given to Notre Dame's 8th place time of 11:05.76!
NOT their time, or their place, but about the 1600 split given to their anchor, Jessica Harris!
While Dani Jones anchored Colorado with a 4:31.16 split, Harris--whom I'd never heard of before!--was said to have run 4:27.01 for her anchor leg!!
4:27.01--not much slower than the Mile CR of Jenny (Barringer) Simpson!
Or the time Kaela Edwards ran earlier this season!
So should we believe that ND's 800 woman ran a jogger's 2:15 for her 800, while this previous 4:40-type Miler suddenly skips to a 4:27??
If I discover anything different, I'll let you know!!
I'm almost finished--but I think you'll find the rest of my report interesting!
ANOTHER Collegiate Record almost fell!!
The Women's LJ--while not matching the SEC event (See my post about that!)--did deliver a whopper for the winner!
Sha'Keela Saunders leapt 22-7.75, falling just one-quarter inch shy of tying the CR of 22-8!!
She also missed the Senior Class record by the same frustrating amount!!
However, Saunders moves from 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd!
Quanesha Burks jumped 22-0.75 for 2nd, but it wasn't a PR.
FINALLY--WHEW!--the PV's!!
The Men's was won by Chris Nilsen, with a height of 18-8.25.
He then missed his 3 tries at 19-0.75!
But it was the Women's Vault that delighted some, and puzzled many!!
What happened with Lexi and Tori, the Weeks twins?
Both of them 15 footers, Tori could reach just 14-1.25, while Olympian Lexi couldn't get past her 13-9.25!!
They finished 5th and 8th, respectively!!
In their "absence" (Well, not literally! LOL), Lakan Taylor and Annie Rhodes led the bar-toppers!
Both getting over 14-7.25, Taylor won by virtue of fewer misses!
They're both now 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 8 others, including each other!!
Olivia Gruver took 3rd with her 14-5.25!
Lucy Bryan got a PR with her 4th place mark of 14-5.25!
I'll be back tomorrow with my report on the NBIN meet!
I have LOTS to report already, so determinant on how much MORE of note happens in its last day, I'll decide whether to divide it into TWO posts--one for each gender!
Hope you don't mind the length here, but I just didn't feel I had enough for 2 posts!!
(Gee, Gosh, maybe I DID!! Hee Hee!!)
See you tomorrow!
(Be sure to watch the all-day livestream--on ESPN3--beginning at 5 a.m., Pacific time this morning!!)
It wasn't the GREAT marks that seemingly fell like hailstones from the roof of the College Station TX arena the past 2 days.
Many were expected.
No, it was the stunning way they happened---or in the case of some, didn't!!
And the depth!
WOW!!
But time's-a-wasting!
I'm sure you want to know what went down---or up--as the case might be, so sit back, relax, and read on!
She did it again!
For long time readers of my blog, you know I've referred to Raven Saunders as a Shot Putter who broke her PR's by FEET, not inches!!
There have been several examples of that--since her Senior year of HS!
But recently, she seemed to have arrived on some sort of plateau, where she didn't PR for awhile--or did so by lesser increments than feet!
Well, not to fear, cause Raven's here!!
After a 2nd round 63-0--one of her best--she fell back into her "average" mode of mere 60 foot throws!
For others, that's reason to break into a dance!
For Saunders, it's reason to cry!
Then came her blast of the ball that fell 64-2.25 from where she stood!
This again added a full FOOT (and a bit more!!) to her previous INdoor best!!
Once leading the WORLD--prior to Anita Marton passing her at the Euros--she's back there again--with exclamation points (Something I know much about!! LOL)---and, since the season has for all intents ended, she's likely to remain!!
An incredible feat for a 20 year old College student--in America, Europe, or anywhere else!!
She breaks her own Collegiate Record.
She gets the Junior Class record, and the Meet Record!
While remaining 1st A-T Collegiate, she moves from 5th to 4th on the A-T US list!
Second was Danniel Thomas, getting a 60-4.50 PR.
She remains 9th A-T Collegiate!
Brittany Mann's 58-0.25 misses the Collegiate list by 0.75 inches!
Inside the Aggies's beautiful arena--pure white & light gray walls splashed with great photos & other Texas A&M mementos, we saw several great sprinters performing at their best!
And none were better than Christian Coleman!
We first witnessed it in the heats of the 60.
Side by side with Kendal Williams and Cameron Burrell, he left both those talents in his wake as he flew down the 60 meter straight with abandon--and ease!
His heat was an 0.01 PR of 6.50.
He moved from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 7th, tied with 2 others.
He became 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others!
Burrell ran 6.53, not a PR.
In the 200 heats, Coleman "lost" to Just-N Thymes's 20.49, which missed my Collegiate DDD by 0.03 seconds!
Also missing that list was Jereem Richards's 20.50, which fell short by 0.04 seconds!
Coleman was 3rd fastest, his 20.51 missing the list by 0.05!
On the 2nd day, Coleman outdid himself--to say the least!!
In the 60 final, he blew away his competition--mostly in the last half of the race!--with a Collegiate Record-tying 6.45 shocker!
Even I didn't see this coming!
Besides tying the CR, he nabbed the Junior Class record!
He also tied the Age 21 record--the other guy being one Justin Gatlin!!
(Coleman had just turned 21, being born March 6, 1996!!)
He also got the Meet Record!!
He moved from 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to the top, where he's tied with 1 other!
On the World DDD, he becomes 6th A-T, tied with 7 others!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 4th, where he's also tied with 4 others!
And he wasn't through yet!!
Watch the final of the Men's 200--with AWE!!
Not letting up for an instant--from the gun to the tape--Christian Coleman tore his feet around the banked oval in 20.11 seconds!!
SO close to the venerable American (and Meet) Record---so so close!!
Claiming the Junior Class record, and the Age 21 record, he's now 2nd A-T Collegiate, 2nd A-T US, and 3rd A-T World!!
But it was the depth that added to your amazement!
Behind Coleman came Jereem Richards, whose 20.34 at the SEC became worthless due to its being run on an OT!
He made up for it here!
His 20.31 was far behind Coleman, but he got a distinct honor even Coleman couldn't claim!
He broke the National Record of Trinidad--that having belonged to Ato Boldon, dating from 1997!!
He is 9th A-T Collegiate!
And 11th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Then came The Rapper, Just'N Thymes, who "rapped" out a 20.36 in 3rd!
He is 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
He's 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
And he's 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Another who lost a great mark to the OT gods was Fred Kerley, 2017's INdoor 400 Master!
But here he ran even faster--with no help from an Oversize Track!
His 44.85 solo run in the final (after a heat of 45.10) did lots of things!
It gave him the Senior Class record, which had been his already!
He also broke his own Age 21 record!
On the various lists, he moved from 4th to 3rd A-T Collegiate, from 4th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, and from 5th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
In that heat, 2nd went to Kunle Fasasi's 45.57, which made him 21st A-T Collegiate!
The Women ran some fantastic times in the sprints also--one of which claimed its athlete a DQ!!
In the 200 heats, Deajah Stevens wanted to make a statement!
She did--except it came out for all the world to see--including the officials who see those things that DQ an athlete!
While sprinting once around in 22.28--which would have smashed the CR!--Stevens spread her talents into the lane inside of her--once too many times!!
So--for lane violations--that "CR" died!!
Maybe next time, Deajah!!
Meanwhile, the other Duck women did themselves proud!
In the 60 heats, Hannah Cunliffe cruised to a 7.13 win, with Stevens taking 3rd!
Between them came Javianne Oliver's 7.14, which made her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Stevens ran 7.17, making her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others!
The DQ, as noted, came in the 200 heats.
Ariana Washington won her section in 22.57 (after the DQ, that is!)
She moves from 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th!!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 10th, tied with 1 other.
And she becomes 22nd A-T World!
Hannah Cunliffe's 22.74 wasn't a PR.
Cunliffe took the final in an average (for her!) 7.14, with Stevens taking 5th in 7.22.
The 200 final was beautiful--for those "waddlers" from Ory-gun territory!
Ariana Washington took the Grand Prize with her PR of 22.42!
She claims the Junior Class record, as well as the Age 20 record!
She moves from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!
She moves from 10th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd.
And she moves from 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 11th!!
Cunliffe was 2nd in 22.53.
She moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th.
She gains 11th place on the US list, tied with 1 other, while ending in 22nd place on the World DDD, tied with 1 other!
Deanna Hill of USC got 3rd, just one watch tick behind Cunliffe, her 22.54 getting her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, 11th A-T US, tied with 1 other, and 23rd A-T World, also tied with 1 other!!
Not needing the points at the end, the Duck Women ran the 4X400 Relay anyway!
And finished 2nd, losing their Collegiate Record in the process!!
In an amazing race--showing how DEEP the College scene is in the United States--here's the numbers!!
USC has muscle!!
Eeking out a win by 0.04 seconds over the Ducks, their 3:27.03 took 0.37 off Oregon's CR!!
They moved from 5th A-T School to 1st!
UO ran a spiffy 3:27.07, but their loss moved them DOWN the scale, from 1st to 2nd A-T School!!
Now get this!
All 12 finishers ran 3:32.34 or faster!!
Has there EVER been a race like this---anywhere??
Texas A&M got 3rd in 3:28.36
This moves them from 8th A-T School to 5th!
Alabama's 3:28.62 moves them from 9th to 6th A-T School!!
Baylor's 5th place 3:30.60 moves them from 16th A-T School to 12th!
Ohio State moves from 24th A-T School to 15th, off their 3:31.23!
No PR's for Miami (3:31.85), Florida (3:31.94), or South Carolina (3:32.14)!
But then we have Purdue's 3:32.34, which makes them 19th A-T School!
(BTW, three schools got the "same" time of 3:32.34--divided by thousandths of a second!!)
But no PR's were awarded for the 3:32.34's of Arkansas and LSU!!
The Men's 4X4 was good too!
The Home Boys won it, time of 3:02.86.
But if you've read my blog, you know that A&M had run faster--at least twice--albeit once on an OT!
So no PR, but their time gets them the Meet Record!
Florida finished 2nd in 3:03.52, while 2 others made my list, or changed their position on it!
Iowa's 3:05.60 was a PR by just 0.03 seconds, but it moved them from 19th A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 19th, but with no ties!!
In 8th, Alabama's 3:06.06 made them 24th A-T school!!
Sasha Wallace gave 10 more points to the Ducks, via her 60H win in 7.90!
But that wasn't her best time!
That came in the heats--where she won in 7.87!
This moved her from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, tied with 2 others!
She also becomes 23rd A-T US!
Dewynne Charlton took 2nd in the heats with a non-PR 7.98!
But Anna Cockrell's 7.98 WAS a PR, giving her 19th place on the A-T Collegiate list, tied with 6 others!
Much more important, she now is the Frosh Class record holder!!
In the final, Charlton ran 7.93, moving her from 18th A-T Collegiate to 11th, tied with 2 others!
Pedrya Seymour's 7.97 moves her from 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 6 others, to 19th, but with no ties!
Grant Holloway took the Men's 60H in a PR-tying 7.58.
The Multi's were great!
And Tim Duckworth is for real!
That said, the Brit (via his British parents!) lost!!
Leading by over 200 points after 6 events, he couldn't break 3 minutes in the 1000, while Devon Williams (Kendell's brother!) sped a low-2:40's, edging out the Brit, 6177 to 6165!!
For Williams, he becomes 4th A-T Collegiate, and 10th A-T US!
Duckworth breaks his own National Record of Great Britain--by about 200 points!
Ironic, eh, mate??
Anyway, he also moves from 16th A-T Collegiate to 6th, tied with 1 other!!
Karl Saluri took 3rd with 6051 points, making him 13th A-T Collegiate!
Hunter Price got 5996 points, making him 18th A-T Collegiate, and 21st A-T US!!
Lindon Victor had a great SP of around 55 feet, which helped give him a point total of 5976!
He's 21st A-T Collegiate!
Harrison (No relation!) Williams scored 5970 points,making him 23rd A-T Collegiate.
He also moves up one spot on the US list, from 24th to 23rd!
BTW, Harrison was moved OFF the list by Price's entrance, but then came back on!!
Kendell Williams ALMOST got her own Collegiate Record!
But her HJ ended well below her norm, so she lost just enough points to later deny her another CR!
Nonetheless, her 4682 score was impressive!
And--it gave her her FOURTH Collegiate Class Record, as she now owns ALL of them--plus two from her HS years!!
Taliyah Brooks also performed great, her new PR being 4580 points!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 4th!
And she moves from 12th to 8th on the A-T US list!!
Nina Schultz took 3rd with 4340 points, making this Canadian 23rd A-T Collegiate!
Michelle Atherley's 4319 points in 4th missed the Collegiate list by 20 points!
But she's now 22nd A-T US!!
In 6th, Stacy Destin's 4186 points included a HJ of 6-2.75!
This misses my Collegiate DDD by a mere quarter-inch!
In the actual HJ, she went over 6-1.50 for 4th in that event--an impressive performance!!
In the open HJ, Logan Boss took 3rd, also getting over 6-2.75!
She's a Junior at Mississippi State!
In case you're interested (HaHa!), Madeline Fagan WON the HJ with a solid 6-4!
She's now 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, as well as 19th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
The distances were good--and interesting!
Mr Edward Cheserek did NOT get the triple he went after, as he lost the Mile to Josh Kerr, a New Mexico Frosh, of all people---and by 2 whole seconds!!
But maybe Ches was tired after winning the 5000 the day before in 13:41 & change, and winning his Mile heat in 3:59.30!
Then he won the 3000 in 7:55 also!
(No leg on the DMR!!)
In the Women's 5000, the pace was pushed by Notre Dame's Anna Rohrer, who figured she'd steal it from flashy kicker Karissa Schweizer!
No dice, Anna!!
After leading Erin Finn and Schweizer for about 23 laps, Schweizer left both far behind, as she sprinted her final 400 in about 65 seconds, her time of 15:19.14 giving her the Junior Class record!!
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate (from her race in December!!), to 9th!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 9th!
Finn stayed together to run a non-PR time of 15:27.36.
Rohrer finished in 15:29.83!
This moves her from 11th to 9th on the A-T Collegiate list!
And she moves up one spot on the A-T US list, from 18th to 17th!
Allie Bucharski's 15:41.69 misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.81 seconds, while Tessa Barrett's 15:42.29 misses that list by 1.41 seconds!
A shock winner came in the Women's Mile also!!
Ever hear of Samford College?
(No, it's NOT a misspelling of Stanford!! LOL)
Well, it's in Birmingham, Alabama!
And that's where the Mile winner--Karissa Nelson--matriculates--AND runs!!
Her 4:31.24 winner took the air out of the balloons of Elinor Purrier (2nd in 4:31.88) and Kaela Edwards (4th in 4:34.27)!!
Nelson becomes 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
She's in her Junior year at Stanf.....um, I mean SAMford!!
In other NCAA news---
Raevyn Rogers easily sprinted away from CR holder Jazmin Fray, as well as rising star Hanna Green in the 800!
Her 2:01.09 took down the NCAA Meet Record, though it wasn't a PR for her!
Green's 2:02.13 in 2nd moves her from 20th A-T Collegiate to 10th!
Shea Collinsworth ran 2:02.35, claiming 13th spot on the A-T Collegiate list!
Fray faded to 4th, but ran a decent 2:03.00.
Just 0.01 behind her, Ruby Stauber's 2:03.01 claimed the Freshman Class record!!
It also makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!
Chased OFF my Collegiate list was the historic Delisa Walton (Floyd), whose 2:03.24 dated from 1983!!
The Men's 800 was a snoozer, considering there were TWO one-time CR holders, and one one-time WR holder among the finalists!!
Emmanuel Korir got the win in 1:47.83.
Dani Jones took the 3000 in 9:09.21, with Karissa Schweizer and Katie Rainsberger finishing with the number 9:09 to their credit too!
Keturah Orji took just 2 of her 6 rounds to claim an easy TJ win--but no records this time.
Her 46-3.25 was sufficient to beat Yanis David's 45-1.75!
Trey Culver and Kyle Landon both HJ'ed 7-5, with Culver getting the W.
Clive Pullen "pulled" out a TJ win with his 55-3.75!
Shakima Wimbley took the 400 in 51.07, which just squeaked past Kendell Ellis's 51.07!!
For Wimbley, this moves her from 16th A-T Collegiate to 13th, and from 19th A-T US to 12th!
Ellis moves from 19th A-T Collegiate to 13th, where she's "tied" with Wimbley!
She's also tied with Wimbley on the US list--in 12th place!
BTW, Ellis had run 51.59 in her heat, first reaching that 19th spot!
Sage Watson PR'ed in 3rd, her 51.84 missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.07 seconds!
Johnnie Jackson took the Men's WT with 75-0.75!
Grant Cartwright was 2nd with 74-5.25, while Olympian Rudy Winkler was 4th, and 2017 newcomer Gleb Dudarov finished 6th, reaching just 72-1!
Freshman shudders??
KeAndre Bates won the LJ with 26-4.50, while Grant Holloway maybe got those Frosh shudders also, as he ended just 11th, jumping only 24-10!
(Though he recovered--See above!--to win the 60H!)
Mostafa Hassan didn't PR, but his 69-9.50 was an easy winner for him in the Shot Put!
The DMR's were taken by Ole Miss's 9:31.32, with Virginia Tech's 9:33.05 taking 2nd, while the Women's race saw Colorado's 3000 winner Dani Jones sprinting ahead to give her team the win, time of 11:00.34!
They became 16th A-T School!!
But---IMHO!--there's a bit of a question about the split given to Notre Dame's 8th place time of 11:05.76!
NOT their time, or their place, but about the 1600 split given to their anchor, Jessica Harris!
While Dani Jones anchored Colorado with a 4:31.16 split, Harris--whom I'd never heard of before!--was said to have run 4:27.01 for her anchor leg!!
4:27.01--not much slower than the Mile CR of Jenny (Barringer) Simpson!
Or the time Kaela Edwards ran earlier this season!
So should we believe that ND's 800 woman ran a jogger's 2:15 for her 800, while this previous 4:40-type Miler suddenly skips to a 4:27??
If I discover anything different, I'll let you know!!
I'm almost finished--but I think you'll find the rest of my report interesting!
ANOTHER Collegiate Record almost fell!!
The Women's LJ--while not matching the SEC event (See my post about that!)--did deliver a whopper for the winner!
Sha'Keela Saunders leapt 22-7.75, falling just one-quarter inch shy of tying the CR of 22-8!!
She also missed the Senior Class record by the same frustrating amount!!
However, Saunders moves from 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd!
Quanesha Burks jumped 22-0.75 for 2nd, but it wasn't a PR.
FINALLY--WHEW!--the PV's!!
The Men's was won by Chris Nilsen, with a height of 18-8.25.
He then missed his 3 tries at 19-0.75!
But it was the Women's Vault that delighted some, and puzzled many!!
What happened with Lexi and Tori, the Weeks twins?
Both of them 15 footers, Tori could reach just 14-1.25, while Olympian Lexi couldn't get past her 13-9.25!!
They finished 5th and 8th, respectively!!
In their "absence" (Well, not literally! LOL), Lakan Taylor and Annie Rhodes led the bar-toppers!
Both getting over 14-7.25, Taylor won by virtue of fewer misses!
They're both now 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 8 others, including each other!!
Olivia Gruver took 3rd with her 14-5.25!
Lucy Bryan got a PR with her 4th place mark of 14-5.25!
I'll be back tomorrow with my report on the NBIN meet!
I have LOTS to report already, so determinant on how much MORE of note happens in its last day, I'll decide whether to divide it into TWO posts--one for each gender!
Hope you don't mind the length here, but I just didn't feel I had enough for 2 posts!!
(Gee, Gosh, maybe I DID!! Hee Hee!!)
See you tomorrow!
(Be sure to watch the all-day livestream--on ESPN3--beginning at 5 a.m., Pacific time this morning!!)
Thursday, March 9, 2017
NCAA Preview--Men & Women
Hello again! I'm back with my NCAA Preview.
But this will be ordered a bit differently than the NBIN Preview!
Instead of strictly following the meet schedule in my ordering of events, I will divide each day into "gender sections"--meaning ALL Women's events for the day, followed by ALL Men's events for that day!
But the running events follow the "Girl-Boy" sequence, so figure that into your enjoyment of the meet!
Read on!
FRIDAY--Women
Pentathlon (4703)
Off her SEC performance--where she "jogged" to a score of 4486 points--Kendell Williams is the clear favorite!
Not to mention that the MR (which is the Collegiate Record!) is her's to break!
I'll give her "just" 75-25 odds, for the sole reason that the Pent has 5 ways to go awry, not just one!
Taliyah Brooks should be her main challenger, but watch for Michelle Atherley and Leigha Brown!
If she begins with a sub-8.00 in the 60H, watch out!!
SP (63-0.75)
Raven Saunders--still with the 2nd best mark in the WORLD this year--is THE favorite--hands down!!
She's primed for another of those foot-long advances she's made a habit of, so this MR (her's!) is given 80-20 odds!
Only caveat is that Raven tends to have "off" days!
Hopefully, this won't be one of them!
Watch for Dannielle Thomas and Maggie Ewen to both challenge the 60 foot mark!
The Women's Mile Heats are scheduled here!
HJ (6-6)
This MR is so safe, it has its own blankie and fuzzy puppy!!
While Tatiana Gusan might be considered a slight favorite, watch closely for Nicole Green, Madaline Fagan, and Eleanora Omaregie to be in the mix!
ZERO odds for the MR!
The 60 and 400 Heats are scheduled here!
LJ (22-8)
The SEC (See my report!) had a monster Women's LJ, with 3 women over 22 feet--a rarity in Collegiate circles!
But none exceeded 22-5!
So give this MR "just" 55-45 odds!
That said, it's gonna be fun to watch!
Quanesha Burks might have a slight lead, but look for Sha'Keela Saunders, Kate Hall, and Hall's TJ Superstar teammate Keturah Orji to challenge!
Hall has yet to come near her OUTdoor HSR 22-5 leap in her 2 years of college!!
The 800 Heats are scheduled here!
5000 (15:14.18)
This baby is---well, STACKED!!
That said, given the nature of most Championship distance races (Read: TACTICAL!!), I see the MR surviving!
Recent OT 15:28 gal Katherine Receveur isn't in this event!
But that still leaves us with Erin Finn--Frontrunner Deluxe--as well as Anna Rohrer, Karissa Schweizer, Lauren LaRocco, Tessa Barrett (who also ran 15:28 in the same race as Receveur!), and Alice Wright!
MR (and CR!!) odds are 30-70!
DMR (10:50.98)
Can Oregon beat their own Collegiate Record, which is over 2 seconds faster than this MR?
Or will they--team points in mind!--opt only for the win?
(Of course, BOTH can happen in a close and well-fought race!!)
Watch also for Indiana, Stanford, and Penn State!
Odds are 40-60!
FRIDAY--Men
The Heptathlon begins the proceedings today!
As always, I'll do my Hept Preview at the time the event ENDS!!
LJ (27-10.25)
This MR also has a little kitty and a nice warm little cubby hole to relax in for another year---or decade!!
ZERO odds!
Julian Harvey is given the "fave" position--but by a hair!
Watch VERY closely for what Hurdle specialist Grant Holloway does!
His PR is 26-5, but I believe he has 27 foot potential!
KeAndra Bates and Demarcus Simpson should be in there somewhere!
PV (19-4.75)
Chris Nilsen has begun to live up to his HSR holding status!
Can he extend that to 19 feet?
Very possible, but unlikely to go much higher---this year!!
So give the odds at 30-70!
Torben Laidig, Deakin Volz, Devin King, Audie Wyatt, and Paulo Benavides should be the main challengers to Nilsen!
Three sets of Heats are scheduled here, in the following order--1 Mile, 60, and the 400.
SP (71-3.50)
Mostafa Hassan "SHOT" forward (HAHA!!) with a massive PR of 69-10.75 recently, so he should be the clear favorite--for the win!
But not for the MR!!
Odds are 40-60 for yet another BIG improvement so soon!!
Filip Miheljivik and Jared Kern should be Mostafa's main competition!
The 800 Heats are here!
5000 (13:25.11)
The King is gonna TRIPLE---and maybe even QUADRUPLE!!
Insane!!
But Ed Cheserek ain't labeled "The King" for nothing!
FULLY capable of running SUB-13:00, he'll likely take the MoBot route, and go for points!
Unless, that is, MJ Erb, Marc Scott, John Dressel, or Colby Gilbert decide to give him a little push!!
SUICIDE, guys!!
LOL
Odds for a new MR are determinant on whether someone FORCES Ches to RUN!!
Give it 30-70---or 80-20 IF someone pushes him!!
DMR (9:27.27)
Pay NO attention to times recorded on Notre Dame's or Seattle's Oversize Tracks when determining odds or predictions for this race!!
Meaningless, IMHO!
Also, the BIG question for Oregon (and their opponents!!) is whether Ches will try to follow his 5000 with the anchor leg here--just minutes later--knowing he has two MORE big races tomorrow!! As of "press" time, his coach was undecided!!
Watch for Ole Miss and UTEP to make their presence known!
SATURDAY--Women
TJ (46-9)
Keturah Orji.
Her name stands alone in Collegiate (AND American!!!) Triple Jump circles!
While she has yet to get into the 47's INdoors, we all know she went 48-3.25 in Rio last summer!!
So the potential for a MASSIVE rewrite of the INdoor CR and AR are there in her gifted legs!!
Give this SUPER stud 90-10 odds!!
Yanis David, while VERY good, is NOT (yet!) in Keturah's class!!
PV (15-2.25)
You'll need a magnifying glass to name the winner of this popular event!
Be certain, however, that her LAST name will be Weeks!!
Whether it's Tori--having by far the finest year of her career--or twin sister Lexi--the Rio Olympian!--is yet to be seen!
Can anyone challenge them?
Sure--IF one or both has a rare off day!!
Don't bet on it!!
Her (THEIR!) nearest rivals should be Kally Long, Annie Rhodes, Olivia Gruver, and the Weeks's teammate, Desiree Freier!
60-40 odds!
1 Mile (4:27.18)
Kaela Edwards went for Jenny (Barringer) Simpson's CR in the Millrose mile, but fell short!
Will she try again here?
She's not listed for any other events, so---maybe!!
While there aren't rabbits in Collegiate races, Eleanor Purrier and/or Danae Rivers might serve as same---unwittingly!!
Odds for the CR are 25-75!
But odds for this Meet Record are a bit stronger--55-45!
60 (7.09)
Someone (NOT me!!) on the T&FN Message Board said Hannah Cunliffe would win in 7.02, breaking her own Collegiate Record set a few weeks ago!
(I DID say I agreed with him!! LOL)
Kidding aside, I give Cunliffe--this year's Jenna Prandini??--75-25 odds of getting this MR--and 60-40 odds of getting her CR!!
Two of her Duck-mates--Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens--will challenge their friend!
So will Javianne Olivier, Teahna Daniels, Aleia Hobbs, and maybe even Ashley Henderson, though I think the latter is better at the longer sprints!
WT (83-10.25)
This MR WAS the World Record--until Gwen Berry went 84-0 at USATF!
But not to fret---no one here has yet reached even 80 feet, let alone 83 or 84!!
Best of them is Janeah Stewart, but she's reached "just" 76 and change!
Another speller's favorite (or nemesis??) is Annette Echikinwoke, who should be given the "best challenger" role!
Watch too for Maggie Ewen, HSR holder Shelby Ashe, as well as SP stud Raven Saunders, who got over 70 feet recently!!
400 (50.46)
Shakima Wimbley should win this, but it seems that sub-51 times are lost in the forest this year!
Chrisann Gordon should be Wimbley's nearest rival!
Look too for Kendell Ellis, Zola Golden, Brittney Ellis, Daina Harper, and Sharrika Barnett to challenge!
A not-so-surprising surprise winner could be the Canadian Sage Watson, who's been having a HOT year!!
60H (7.79)
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is the best Puerto Rico has to offer!
But it's not quite enough for me to give her the Meet Record!
So give that 40-60 odds!
As always, this event is LOADED!!
Sasha Wallace has the fastest time this year among Collegians, plus she has the need to score points for her Ducks squad, so make her a co-favorite with JCQ!
There's so many POSSIBLE finalists here, but not enough lanes!!
So toss these names in---then stir---
Dior Hall, Makiah Brisco, Devynne Charlton, Pedrya Seymour, Ebony Morrison, and Anna Cockrell!!
One missing athlete--who I thought for sure would be here--is Tonea Marshall!
The HSR holder at 8.02, she hasn't yet broken 8.20 as a Frosh, so didn't make the cut!
800 (2:01.64)
The MR should go--with emphasis!!
And this COULD be the Race of the Meet--at least on the Women's side!
Raevyn Rogers vs Jazmin Fray!
The OUTdoor 1:59 girl vs the new INdoor Collegiate Record holder!!
Will it be a blood battle to the death---or an all-out assault on yet another CR??
And by which one??
There are others in the "fray" (sic!), but see them more as backdrop to the main set!
Hanna Green is the most likely to give the top pair a tussle!
Also look for Ruby Stauber, Olivia Baker, and Shea Collinsworth!
Odds for the CR are 50-50, while the MR is given 95-5 odds!!
200 (22.40)
When that guy on the MB (see above) gave his prediction for Hannah Cunliffe in the 60, I commented that I'd add a 22.32 for her in the 200!!
While she should win this, I'd give the odds for a MR as 40-60!
I wasn't joking on the T&FN MB--I just don't see Cunliffe running that fast INdoors!
Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington are back to challenge, but so are JCQ, Deanna Hill, Ashley Henderson, Brittney Brown, and Harvard girl Gaby Thomas!
3000 (8:42.03)
Ms Simpson's (Okay, Barringer's!! LOL) CR is VERY safe!!
Not that one or more of these women aren't CAPABLE of going that fast---eventually!--but, as noted earlier, Championship distance races normally turn into jogfests!!
If she's recovered sufficiently from her 5000, watch for Katherine Receveur to do battle with Freshman sensation Katie Rainsberger for the win!
As with the longer race, there's several women who will be right there for most of the race!
Elise Cranny, Tessa Barrett, Erin Clark, Samantha Nadel, Dani Jones, Allie Buchowski, and Karissa Schweizer are the names to watch!
Zero odds for the MR!
4X400 Relay (3:27.40)
UO has the wheels.
But so do USC, Alabama, Miami, and Texas A&M!!
With the team win aspect in the forefront, give UO the edge!
The MR is given 40-60 odds!
SATURDAY--Men
Heptathlon (6499)
The two Williams's (unrelated!), Harrison and Devon, will be there throughout, but probably NOT the winner!
Lindon Victor--with a Decathlon best of 8446--has to be given the edge, even though he hasn't really shown much this INdoor season!
Brit Tim Duckworth is said to have potential for much more than his PR (and National Record!) of 6006 points!
Karl Saluri and Hunter Price are others to watch!
Don't count out the Williams dudes!!
No MR, with odds at 20-80!
WT (80-10.25)
Gleb Dudorev (See earlier posts!) has been the "find" of the year!
Out of nowhere, he's suddenly throwing this implement 76-11--which became the Frosh Class record!
But he's not alone in that mid-70's range!
Johnnie Jackson, Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, Grant Cartwright, and Adam Kelly have also flirted with those numbers!
Winkler, of course, was a Rio Olympian in the Hammer Throw!!
Meet Record odds are just 20-80, however!
HJ (7-9.25)
NO Meet Record here!
Nowhere near!!
Randall Cunningham (older brother of Vashti!) is the most consistent this year, so I look for him to win this!
Watch for Darius Corbin and Clayton Brown.
1 Mile (3:54.74)
Ches is back for his 2nd---or 3rd??---event!
And being the new CR holder, his trot to the finish line should be without serious challenge!
Ben Saarels, Jonah Koech, Matt Maton, and Zach Perrin will be the ones waiting to hand Ches his victory bouquet!!
The MR is 2.73 slower than Ches's CR, but it should survive.
40-60 odds.
60 (6.47)
Christian Coleman and Kendal Williams have both run 6.51 this season!
But odds for a 6.47 or 6.46 are 15-85!
Give Coleman the edge!
Senaj Jay-Givans, Cameron Burrell, and Darryl Haraway should be their main challengers!
400 (44.57)
NO Meet Record, which happens to double as the WORLD Record!!
That said, Fred Kerley has been both fast AND consistent this season, so make him your SOLID favorite!
(Too bad his fastest race--44.94--was on Vanderbilt's OT!!)
Michael Cherry, Akeem Bloomfield, and Izaiah Brown will follow in Kerley's footsteps---literally!!
Also entered is Kerley's younger brother, Malik!
TJ (57-0)
Chris Pullen had an early season 56-4.75, which still stands as the Collegiate leader!
But his inconsistency could hurt him, with KeAndre Bates in there.
He's a solid 55 footer!
Watch too for Clayton Brown!
The MR gets 5-95 odds!
60H (7.45)
Grant Holloway vs Chad Zallow!
You can throw away the scorecard after those two!
Holloway has been sensational his Frosh year--consistent AND fast!
Zallow's not far behind!
If all the HURDLES survive, this will be a GREAT race!!
Edge goes to Holloway, but by THIS much!!
All that said, NO Meet Record--which is also the CR!!
35-65 odds!
800 (1:45.33)
We have TWO Collegiate Record holders here (and 1 World Record holder!!)--although they held those records a week apart!
Emmanuel Korir ripped a 1:14.97 in the 600, followed a week later by Isaiah Harris's 1:14.96!!
So this race COULD be incredible!
Incredibly FAST??
That's yet to be determined!
Daniel Kuhn is another serious contender.
Watch too for Patrick Joseph, Eliud Rutto, Drew Piazza, and Andres Arroyo, any of whom could steal the race if the front 2 get careless!!
MR odds are a solid 85-15!
200 (20.10)
This event isn't held as much as in the 20th century, at least not INdoors!
Don't know why, as I find a one lap all-out sprint fascinating!!
Maybe it's fear of injury on the sharper INdoor turns!
Jereem Richards sped a FAST 20.34--on an Oversize Track!!
So I'm not sure what he can do on a LEGAL track!
Thus, make Christian Coleman, Just'N Thymes (GREAT name--for a Rapper!!!), and Brit Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake the most serious challengers!
NMB hasn't been as fast as when he first came on the scene, but watch him anyway!
ZERO odds for a new MR!
3000 (7:45.94)
If I read the schedule correctly, this MIGHT be Ed Cheserek's FOURTH event of the meet---and FIFTH race, as he'll have a Mile heat to run also!!
The DMR--which I'd THOUGHT to be the big question mark for Ches, as to whether he'd be needed for that or not--is the final event on Friday!
So that would make THIS his final, and fifth, race---IF he indeed runs on the DMR!!
IF that's the case, give this MR 5-95 odds!
If he's a bit fresher, give it a slightly better 15-85 odds!
Challenging The King here too will be Justyn Knight, Colby Gilbert, Marc Scott, Matt Maton, and John Dressel!
Will any of THEM take on The King in his final INdoor race as a Collegian??
4X400 Relay (3:02.86)
Did you know that Texas A&M ran faster than their LEGAL Collegiate Record at the SEC's--but were not given a new CR, due to Vandy's OT??
So, with TWO times (albeit one illegal!!) faster than the MR, I give the Aggies 95-5 odds of taking this MR down!!
Others in the race with half a chance to win---IF A&M drops the baton!!--are Florida, Texas, LSU, and USC!
Toss a coin!
And that is IT, friends!!!
Enjoy the meet---AND the NBIN!
Then come back here for ALL the results--told in DETAIL--after the meets finish!
See you soon!
But this will be ordered a bit differently than the NBIN Preview!
Instead of strictly following the meet schedule in my ordering of events, I will divide each day into "gender sections"--meaning ALL Women's events for the day, followed by ALL Men's events for that day!
But the running events follow the "Girl-Boy" sequence, so figure that into your enjoyment of the meet!
Read on!
FRIDAY--Women
Pentathlon (4703)
Off her SEC performance--where she "jogged" to a score of 4486 points--Kendell Williams is the clear favorite!
Not to mention that the MR (which is the Collegiate Record!) is her's to break!
I'll give her "just" 75-25 odds, for the sole reason that the Pent has 5 ways to go awry, not just one!
Taliyah Brooks should be her main challenger, but watch for Michelle Atherley and Leigha Brown!
If she begins with a sub-8.00 in the 60H, watch out!!
SP (63-0.75)
Raven Saunders--still with the 2nd best mark in the WORLD this year--is THE favorite--hands down!!
She's primed for another of those foot-long advances she's made a habit of, so this MR (her's!) is given 80-20 odds!
Only caveat is that Raven tends to have "off" days!
Hopefully, this won't be one of them!
Watch for Dannielle Thomas and Maggie Ewen to both challenge the 60 foot mark!
The Women's Mile Heats are scheduled here!
HJ (6-6)
This MR is so safe, it has its own blankie and fuzzy puppy!!
While Tatiana Gusan might be considered a slight favorite, watch closely for Nicole Green, Madaline Fagan, and Eleanora Omaregie to be in the mix!
ZERO odds for the MR!
The 60 and 400 Heats are scheduled here!
LJ (22-8)
The SEC (See my report!) had a monster Women's LJ, with 3 women over 22 feet--a rarity in Collegiate circles!
But none exceeded 22-5!
So give this MR "just" 55-45 odds!
That said, it's gonna be fun to watch!
Quanesha Burks might have a slight lead, but look for Sha'Keela Saunders, Kate Hall, and Hall's TJ Superstar teammate Keturah Orji to challenge!
Hall has yet to come near her OUTdoor HSR 22-5 leap in her 2 years of college!!
The 800 Heats are scheduled here!
5000 (15:14.18)
This baby is---well, STACKED!!
That said, given the nature of most Championship distance races (Read: TACTICAL!!), I see the MR surviving!
Recent OT 15:28 gal Katherine Receveur isn't in this event!
But that still leaves us with Erin Finn--Frontrunner Deluxe--as well as Anna Rohrer, Karissa Schweizer, Lauren LaRocco, Tessa Barrett (who also ran 15:28 in the same race as Receveur!), and Alice Wright!
MR (and CR!!) odds are 30-70!
DMR (10:50.98)
Can Oregon beat their own Collegiate Record, which is over 2 seconds faster than this MR?
Or will they--team points in mind!--opt only for the win?
(Of course, BOTH can happen in a close and well-fought race!!)
Watch also for Indiana, Stanford, and Penn State!
Odds are 40-60!
FRIDAY--Men
The Heptathlon begins the proceedings today!
As always, I'll do my Hept Preview at the time the event ENDS!!
LJ (27-10.25)
This MR also has a little kitty and a nice warm little cubby hole to relax in for another year---or decade!!
ZERO odds!
Julian Harvey is given the "fave" position--but by a hair!
Watch VERY closely for what Hurdle specialist Grant Holloway does!
His PR is 26-5, but I believe he has 27 foot potential!
KeAndra Bates and Demarcus Simpson should be in there somewhere!
PV (19-4.75)
Chris Nilsen has begun to live up to his HSR holding status!
Can he extend that to 19 feet?
Very possible, but unlikely to go much higher---this year!!
So give the odds at 30-70!
Torben Laidig, Deakin Volz, Devin King, Audie Wyatt, and Paulo Benavides should be the main challengers to Nilsen!
Three sets of Heats are scheduled here, in the following order--1 Mile, 60, and the 400.
SP (71-3.50)
Mostafa Hassan "SHOT" forward (HAHA!!) with a massive PR of 69-10.75 recently, so he should be the clear favorite--for the win!
But not for the MR!!
Odds are 40-60 for yet another BIG improvement so soon!!
Filip Miheljivik and Jared Kern should be Mostafa's main competition!
The 800 Heats are here!
5000 (13:25.11)
The King is gonna TRIPLE---and maybe even QUADRUPLE!!
Insane!!
But Ed Cheserek ain't labeled "The King" for nothing!
FULLY capable of running SUB-13:00, he'll likely take the MoBot route, and go for points!
Unless, that is, MJ Erb, Marc Scott, John Dressel, or Colby Gilbert decide to give him a little push!!
SUICIDE, guys!!
LOL
Odds for a new MR are determinant on whether someone FORCES Ches to RUN!!
Give it 30-70---or 80-20 IF someone pushes him!!
DMR (9:27.27)
Pay NO attention to times recorded on Notre Dame's or Seattle's Oversize Tracks when determining odds or predictions for this race!!
Meaningless, IMHO!
Also, the BIG question for Oregon (and their opponents!!) is whether Ches will try to follow his 5000 with the anchor leg here--just minutes later--knowing he has two MORE big races tomorrow!! As of "press" time, his coach was undecided!!
Watch for Ole Miss and UTEP to make their presence known!
SATURDAY--Women
TJ (46-9)
Keturah Orji.
Her name stands alone in Collegiate (AND American!!!) Triple Jump circles!
While she has yet to get into the 47's INdoors, we all know she went 48-3.25 in Rio last summer!!
So the potential for a MASSIVE rewrite of the INdoor CR and AR are there in her gifted legs!!
Give this SUPER stud 90-10 odds!!
Yanis David, while VERY good, is NOT (yet!) in Keturah's class!!
PV (15-2.25)
You'll need a magnifying glass to name the winner of this popular event!
Be certain, however, that her LAST name will be Weeks!!
Whether it's Tori--having by far the finest year of her career--or twin sister Lexi--the Rio Olympian!--is yet to be seen!
Can anyone challenge them?
Sure--IF one or both has a rare off day!!
Don't bet on it!!
Her (THEIR!) nearest rivals should be Kally Long, Annie Rhodes, Olivia Gruver, and the Weeks's teammate, Desiree Freier!
60-40 odds!
1 Mile (4:27.18)
Kaela Edwards went for Jenny (Barringer) Simpson's CR in the Millrose mile, but fell short!
Will she try again here?
She's not listed for any other events, so---maybe!!
While there aren't rabbits in Collegiate races, Eleanor Purrier and/or Danae Rivers might serve as same---unwittingly!!
Odds for the CR are 25-75!
But odds for this Meet Record are a bit stronger--55-45!
60 (7.09)
Someone (NOT me!!) on the T&FN Message Board said Hannah Cunliffe would win in 7.02, breaking her own Collegiate Record set a few weeks ago!
(I DID say I agreed with him!! LOL)
Kidding aside, I give Cunliffe--this year's Jenna Prandini??--75-25 odds of getting this MR--and 60-40 odds of getting her CR!!
Two of her Duck-mates--Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens--will challenge their friend!
So will Javianne Olivier, Teahna Daniels, Aleia Hobbs, and maybe even Ashley Henderson, though I think the latter is better at the longer sprints!
WT (83-10.25)
This MR WAS the World Record--until Gwen Berry went 84-0 at USATF!
But not to fret---no one here has yet reached even 80 feet, let alone 83 or 84!!
Best of them is Janeah Stewart, but she's reached "just" 76 and change!
Another speller's favorite (or nemesis??) is Annette Echikinwoke, who should be given the "best challenger" role!
Watch too for Maggie Ewen, HSR holder Shelby Ashe, as well as SP stud Raven Saunders, who got over 70 feet recently!!
400 (50.46)
Shakima Wimbley should win this, but it seems that sub-51 times are lost in the forest this year!
Chrisann Gordon should be Wimbley's nearest rival!
Look too for Kendell Ellis, Zola Golden, Brittney Ellis, Daina Harper, and Sharrika Barnett to challenge!
A not-so-surprising surprise winner could be the Canadian Sage Watson, who's been having a HOT year!!
60H (7.79)
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is the best Puerto Rico has to offer!
But it's not quite enough for me to give her the Meet Record!
So give that 40-60 odds!
As always, this event is LOADED!!
Sasha Wallace has the fastest time this year among Collegians, plus she has the need to score points for her Ducks squad, so make her a co-favorite with JCQ!
There's so many POSSIBLE finalists here, but not enough lanes!!
So toss these names in---then stir---
Dior Hall, Makiah Brisco, Devynne Charlton, Pedrya Seymour, Ebony Morrison, and Anna Cockrell!!
One missing athlete--who I thought for sure would be here--is Tonea Marshall!
The HSR holder at 8.02, she hasn't yet broken 8.20 as a Frosh, so didn't make the cut!
800 (2:01.64)
The MR should go--with emphasis!!
And this COULD be the Race of the Meet--at least on the Women's side!
Raevyn Rogers vs Jazmin Fray!
The OUTdoor 1:59 girl vs the new INdoor Collegiate Record holder!!
Will it be a blood battle to the death---or an all-out assault on yet another CR??
And by which one??
There are others in the "fray" (sic!), but see them more as backdrop to the main set!
Hanna Green is the most likely to give the top pair a tussle!
Also look for Ruby Stauber, Olivia Baker, and Shea Collinsworth!
Odds for the CR are 50-50, while the MR is given 95-5 odds!!
200 (22.40)
When that guy on the MB (see above) gave his prediction for Hannah Cunliffe in the 60, I commented that I'd add a 22.32 for her in the 200!!
While she should win this, I'd give the odds for a MR as 40-60!
I wasn't joking on the T&FN MB--I just don't see Cunliffe running that fast INdoors!
Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington are back to challenge, but so are JCQ, Deanna Hill, Ashley Henderson, Brittney Brown, and Harvard girl Gaby Thomas!
3000 (8:42.03)
Ms Simpson's (Okay, Barringer's!! LOL) CR is VERY safe!!
Not that one or more of these women aren't CAPABLE of going that fast---eventually!--but, as noted earlier, Championship distance races normally turn into jogfests!!
If she's recovered sufficiently from her 5000, watch for Katherine Receveur to do battle with Freshman sensation Katie Rainsberger for the win!
As with the longer race, there's several women who will be right there for most of the race!
Elise Cranny, Tessa Barrett, Erin Clark, Samantha Nadel, Dani Jones, Allie Buchowski, and Karissa Schweizer are the names to watch!
Zero odds for the MR!
4X400 Relay (3:27.40)
UO has the wheels.
But so do USC, Alabama, Miami, and Texas A&M!!
With the team win aspect in the forefront, give UO the edge!
The MR is given 40-60 odds!
SATURDAY--Men
Heptathlon (6499)
The two Williams's (unrelated!), Harrison and Devon, will be there throughout, but probably NOT the winner!
Lindon Victor--with a Decathlon best of 8446--has to be given the edge, even though he hasn't really shown much this INdoor season!
Brit Tim Duckworth is said to have potential for much more than his PR (and National Record!) of 6006 points!
Karl Saluri and Hunter Price are others to watch!
Don't count out the Williams dudes!!
No MR, with odds at 20-80!
WT (80-10.25)
Gleb Dudorev (See earlier posts!) has been the "find" of the year!
Out of nowhere, he's suddenly throwing this implement 76-11--which became the Frosh Class record!
But he's not alone in that mid-70's range!
Johnnie Jackson, Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, Grant Cartwright, and Adam Kelly have also flirted with those numbers!
Winkler, of course, was a Rio Olympian in the Hammer Throw!!
Meet Record odds are just 20-80, however!
HJ (7-9.25)
NO Meet Record here!
Nowhere near!!
Randall Cunningham (older brother of Vashti!) is the most consistent this year, so I look for him to win this!
Watch for Darius Corbin and Clayton Brown.
1 Mile (3:54.74)
Ches is back for his 2nd---or 3rd??---event!
And being the new CR holder, his trot to the finish line should be without serious challenge!
Ben Saarels, Jonah Koech, Matt Maton, and Zach Perrin will be the ones waiting to hand Ches his victory bouquet!!
The MR is 2.73 slower than Ches's CR, but it should survive.
40-60 odds.
60 (6.47)
Christian Coleman and Kendal Williams have both run 6.51 this season!
But odds for a 6.47 or 6.46 are 15-85!
Give Coleman the edge!
Senaj Jay-Givans, Cameron Burrell, and Darryl Haraway should be their main challengers!
400 (44.57)
NO Meet Record, which happens to double as the WORLD Record!!
That said, Fred Kerley has been both fast AND consistent this season, so make him your SOLID favorite!
(Too bad his fastest race--44.94--was on Vanderbilt's OT!!)
Michael Cherry, Akeem Bloomfield, and Izaiah Brown will follow in Kerley's footsteps---literally!!
Also entered is Kerley's younger brother, Malik!
TJ (57-0)
Chris Pullen had an early season 56-4.75, which still stands as the Collegiate leader!
But his inconsistency could hurt him, with KeAndre Bates in there.
He's a solid 55 footer!
Watch too for Clayton Brown!
The MR gets 5-95 odds!
60H (7.45)
Grant Holloway vs Chad Zallow!
You can throw away the scorecard after those two!
Holloway has been sensational his Frosh year--consistent AND fast!
Zallow's not far behind!
If all the HURDLES survive, this will be a GREAT race!!
Edge goes to Holloway, but by THIS much!!
All that said, NO Meet Record--which is also the CR!!
35-65 odds!
800 (1:45.33)
We have TWO Collegiate Record holders here (and 1 World Record holder!!)--although they held those records a week apart!
Emmanuel Korir ripped a 1:14.97 in the 600, followed a week later by Isaiah Harris's 1:14.96!!
So this race COULD be incredible!
Incredibly FAST??
That's yet to be determined!
Daniel Kuhn is another serious contender.
Watch too for Patrick Joseph, Eliud Rutto, Drew Piazza, and Andres Arroyo, any of whom could steal the race if the front 2 get careless!!
MR odds are a solid 85-15!
200 (20.10)
This event isn't held as much as in the 20th century, at least not INdoors!
Don't know why, as I find a one lap all-out sprint fascinating!!
Maybe it's fear of injury on the sharper INdoor turns!
Jereem Richards sped a FAST 20.34--on an Oversize Track!!
So I'm not sure what he can do on a LEGAL track!
Thus, make Christian Coleman, Just'N Thymes (GREAT name--for a Rapper!!!), and Brit Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake the most serious challengers!
NMB hasn't been as fast as when he first came on the scene, but watch him anyway!
ZERO odds for a new MR!
3000 (7:45.94)
If I read the schedule correctly, this MIGHT be Ed Cheserek's FOURTH event of the meet---and FIFTH race, as he'll have a Mile heat to run also!!
The DMR--which I'd THOUGHT to be the big question mark for Ches, as to whether he'd be needed for that or not--is the final event on Friday!
So that would make THIS his final, and fifth, race---IF he indeed runs on the DMR!!
IF that's the case, give this MR 5-95 odds!
If he's a bit fresher, give it a slightly better 15-85 odds!
Challenging The King here too will be Justyn Knight, Colby Gilbert, Marc Scott, Matt Maton, and John Dressel!
Will any of THEM take on The King in his final INdoor race as a Collegian??
4X400 Relay (3:02.86)
Did you know that Texas A&M ran faster than their LEGAL Collegiate Record at the SEC's--but were not given a new CR, due to Vandy's OT??
So, with TWO times (albeit one illegal!!) faster than the MR, I give the Aggies 95-5 odds of taking this MR down!!
Others in the race with half a chance to win---IF A&M drops the baton!!--are Florida, Texas, LSU, and USC!
Toss a coin!
And that is IT, friends!!!
Enjoy the meet---AND the NBIN!
Then come back here for ALL the results--told in DETAIL--after the meets finish!
See you soon!
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