As long-time readers know, I don't cover XC to the extent I do T&F.
But Collegiate Conference races do tell us some of what we need to know regarding the upcoming NCAA Championship, as well as who might be running fast distance races---especially 5000's---INdoors in December, as has happened in recent years!
Also, while overall times aren't really important in XC, margins of victories are!
(See the ACC Men's results to know why times are fairly meaningless over Hill & Dale!)
Onward!
The SEC was won by Alex George in 23:24, a 9 second margin over Sean Tobin, and 15 over MJ Erb!
The Women were led by Karissa Schweizer's 20:10.
She beat Devin Clark by 8 seconds!
Arkansas took both team battles!
The Big East races were won by Angel Piccirillo's 20:49 and Patrick Tiernan's 24:18.
Sarah Collins finished 4th, 21 seconds behind Piccirillo!
The Providence Women beat Villanova, while Georgetown's Men prevailed!
The Mountain West Women's race saw an upset of sorts, as Brenna Peloquin's 20:27 was 25 seconds behind winner Alice Wright's 20:02.
Peloquin, an early season projected NCAA Champ, faded at the end!
Yusuke Vahikoshi (sp?) took the Men's race in 23:48.
Jerrell Mock was 9 seconds back!
Bernard Keter's 25:28 led the Big 12 Men.
Sharon Lokedi's 20:18 won for the Women!
Oklahoma State and Iowa State took the respective team races!
Erin Finn won again!!
And by another HUGE margin!!
Her 20:37 controlled the Big 10 Women's field by 25 seconds!
Sarah Disanza was 24th, a full 1:12 behind Finn!
Morgan McDonald took the Men's race in 24:35.
Finn's Michigan team won, while Wisconsin took the Men's side!
Edward Cheserek---YAWN!!--took the PAC-12 Men's race by 15 seconds over Grant Fisher!!
Ches's time was 23:58.
Ben Saarel was 3rd, while John Dressel took 6th in 24:20, with Sean McGorty two seconds behind Dressel!
Amy Eloise-Neale's final kick prevailed for the Women in 20:22, with just a second's spread back to Erin Clark in 2nd, and Dani Jones in 3rd another second back!
Katie Rainsberger led the Oregon Ducks in 5th, with Charlotte Prouse in 6th, Fiona O'Keefe in 11th, and Christina Aragon in 14th!
Colorado won both team battles, beating Stanford's Men, 41 to 47, and beating the Women UDubbers, 33 to 74!!
The ACC Men's course (the Women too??) must have been anywhere from 200 to 500 meters short!
Justyn Knight led the Men's "8K" with 22:50.
While not outrageously fast, it WAS about 30 seconds to a minute or more faster than all other Conference Men's times!
Knight is certainly worthy of such a time, but check out what followed!
Ed Kibichiy was just 2 seconds behind in 2nd, with a 3rd runner also dipping under 23:00!!
But 27 (!!!) running under 24:00---in one race on one course??
Doubtful!!
For the Women, Anna Rohrer's 19:26 for the 6000 meter course was much more believable, as she's also a strong favorite for the NCAA's!
Isabelle Kennedy's 19:51 took second.
Special note!
That ACC Women's race saw the startling return of Wesley Frazier!!
With just the occasional race (of any quality!) since her great final year of HS, she finished 10th, although her 20:21 was 55 seconds behind Rohrer!!
The "other" Frazier--Ryen--improved greatly over her far-back (around 100th or so) finish in an early season race.
She was 14th, seven seconds behiind Wesley!
They helped North Carolina State to the team victory!!
Syracuse took the Men's title!
Some Road Race news.
Tirunesh Dibaba won the Great South 10 Miler in a solid 51:49.
Chris Thompson won the Men's race in 47:23.
The Valencia Half-Marathon was taken by Stephen Kibet's 59:27 and Peres Jepchirchir's 67:09!
Today's Frankfort Marathon saw Mark Korir's 2:06:48 prevail.
Bobby Curtis moved from 16th to 4th as leading American, time of 2:11:20.
Mamitu Daska won the Women's race, but fading badly over the final 2K, moving from 2:21 pace to her final time of 2:25:27.
Fate Tola's 2:25:42 was 15 seconds behind, but she closed strongly, and with another 400 meters or so, might have won!!
A Flanagan Woman led the American charge--but it wasn't Shalane!!
Lindsay Flanagan--25 years old--ran a PR by well over 3 minutes, her 2:29:28 in 4th missing my DDD by 35 seconds!!
Mary Cain ran the Mayor's Cup XC race again, finishing 3rd behind Liz Westphal and Amy Van Alstine--times of 16:53, 16:57, and Cain's 17:08.
But a post on her website made Cain's "return" to racing more interesting than the result!
She announced her official SPLIT from the Nike Oregon Project!!!
She said she's a full-time student at Fordham University, is being coached by John Henwood, and plans to remain in New York for the indefinite future!!
She said her split from NOP---and from Alberto Salazar as her coach!!!--was amiable and friendly.
She said she intends to race more this fall on XC courses and a road race or two, before heading to INdoor tracks!!
My opinion?
While she said her decision was based mainly on the logistics of living on one coast, while training on the other, I think there's also a divide between Salazar's personality and demeanor and Cain's---a HUGE divide!!
She was just too nice to mention that!!
Does this mean a return to her form of 2011-INdoors 2014, when she rewrote the HS Record Book?
Her great forward movement of those years was due mostly to her youth, and the unfettered freedom she had BEFORE Dr Frankenstein got his draconian claws into her innocent psyche!!
It wasn't until early 2014 that we began to see the negative effects AlSal had on her!!
He must take ALL the blame for her failings of OUTdoor 2014, ALL of 2015 AND 2016!!
Let's hope her Exodus from Salazar and NOP will see a whole set of new PR's--and World Class times from this still-20 year old Woman!!
Australian Pole Vaulter Alana Boyd---her 15-9.25 PR ranking her 14th A-T World OUTdoors---has retired!
As for future posts, the 2016-2017 INdoor Track and Field season is just 20 days from kickstarting at the JDL All-Comers meet on November 19th!
My next post will cover the NYC Marathon.
I'll of course report on the big Championship XC races---NCAA, Footlocker & NXN--yet to come!
But November will also see posts PREVIEWING the INdoor T&F season!!
What it takes to make my INdoor Top 24 Performers lists!
My Age Records predictions.
A fairly complete schedule of meets.
And then the beginning of RESULTS!!
See you soon!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
LIFE (& other news)
"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans!"
(John Lennon)
After watching the livestream of the Toronto Marathon this morning, I went to Twitter to see what was what before beginning my newest post--which had been my plan!
There, I was blasted by the most tragic news imaginable---the death of an innocent child!
100's of tweets abounded about the death of Tyson Gay's 15 year old daughter---Trinity Gay---from a stray bullet in a gunfight between people in 2 cars outside a Lexington KY restaurant today!
I didn't even know he had a daughter!
Nothing---NOTHING!---is more tragic than the loss of a child.
Made even worse---if that's possible--is that she was an innocent bystander---caught in the middle of more ugly violence!
I will get to my "normal" material soon----Cross Country results, recent marathons---but first I'll continue with more "off-track" news.
Familiar with Suzy Favor Hamilton's story--as written about in her memoir called "Fast Girl"?
One of the greatest runners in American history, she was "outed" as a Las Vegas escort, and as a victim of Bi-Polar disorder.
Since then, she's salvaged her marriage---and as much happiness & strength as possible--even though she'd lost almost everything due to her year in Vegas!
Well, a blog by her turned up yesterday, in which she said a recent episode of the TV show "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" had used HER story for ITS plot in this episode!
I watched it, and it DOES follow SFH's story---almost to a T!
The main differences---the ONLY differences!--are that "Jenna Miller" is a Pole Vaulter (the WR holder!!), and she was brutally raped by one of her clients!!
Other than that, it's Suzy's story, as SHE told it in her book!
Being a star T&F athlete, who's a part-time escort, who's afraid of losing her fans and her contracts if she's outed, and is Bi-Polar!
Watch it---Season 18, Episode 4--and see why Suzy was so upset about it!
(BTW, I highly recommend her memoir, and the particular episode---even though I hadn't watched the show for several years!)
Four more brief items--
Evan Jager got married (!!) to a Swedish beauty, Sofia Hellberg Jonson (sp??)--IN Sweden last week!!
She apparently had an okay track career at Ole Miss, running the 400, 400H, and the 800!!
Elise Cranny and Allie Ostrander are both injured--with Allie O being redshirted for the season, and according to one report, Cranny being seen on crutches at her team's recent XC meet!
Jessica Ennis-Hill has retired early---and will not be in London's World Championship next summer!
And HS star Kate Murphy tweeted she's signed on to attend the University of Oregon next year!!
(About Murphy--a new TV show called "Better Things"--about a single mom of 3 daughters--has a character--that of the teenage daughter--played by an actress whose face---especially her eyes!--strongly resembles Ms Murphy!!)
Okayyyyyy!!
This XC season's finale is being forged at a rapid pace by the results of key early meets, including this weekend's Wisconsin and Pre-Nationals!
Meaning, it appears that ALL of the NCAA meet's Top 20 or so---maybe even the Top 10---are becoming highly predictable through the above meet's results!
Look for Ed Cheserek to do battle with Justyn Knight for the win, with sub-4 HS milers of 2015--Grant Fisher and Matthew Maton in close--with Futsam Ziensillassie in the lead pack!
Add "newcomer" Jerrell Mock, plus Levi Thomet, John Dressel, and maybe MJ Erb to the mix!
For the Women, it should be a dogfight between Erin Finn, Anna Rohrer, Brenna Peloquin, and maybe Alice Wright and Erin Clark.
Add Charlotte Prouse and Amy Eloise-Neale of Washington, Courtney Smith of Harvard, and Lauren LaRocco of Portland!
(The Women's Collegiate elite list is much longer than the Men's!!)
The Wisconsin Men's race was won by Justyn Knight in 23:53.
Ziensellassie was 2nd, just 2 seconds back.
Stanford's Grant Fisher and Sean McGorty took 4th and 6th, both within 5 seconds of the winner!
Jerrell Mock finished only 29th!!
NAU took the team battle with 78 points, beating Stanford's 118!
Brenna Peloquin won the Women's race in 20:00, just one second ahead of Alice Wright, 3 in front of Anna Rohrer, with the U-Dub duo Neale and Prouse running 4th and 5th!
Courtney Smith took 6th, but Sarah Collins was just 16th, while Angel Piccirillo was 19th.
Ryen Frazier---once a rising star--ended way back in 96th place!!
UW won the meet with 124 points over North Carolina State's 166, Providence's 170, and New Mexico's 207!
The Pre-Nats meet on the Terre Haute course is where Oregon's Men--led by King Ches's 22 second win in 23:34 --prevailed!
Frankline Tanui's 23:56 took 2nd, with total unknown Amos Terer (of Campbell, wherever THAT is!!) 3rd two seconds behind Tanui!
Matt Maton was 4th, but 33 seconds behind Cheserek!
Levi Thomet, John Dressel, and Ben Saarel were 26th, 27th, and 28th, all back at least 55 seconds from Ches!
Sam Prakel was just 36th.
Brenna's brother--Tristan Peloquin of Portland--finished in 59th, while Lopez's younger brother---Alex Lomong---was back in 162nd!!
Erin Finn made it 3 of 4 on the season---her only loss to Ms Peloquin at the Griak meet---and her 3 wins by HUGE margins!!
Her 19:44 finished a full 24 seconds in front of Erin Clark (who led the Colorado team victory!).
Remember me mentioning a high place in an early season race by one Peyton Bilo of Cal Poly?
I said I'd never heard of her, and that she's a Soph!
Well, she's NOT so unknown now!!
She happened to take THIRD, just 3 seconds in back of Clark!!
(Add her to my above list of NCAA contenders!!)
Katie Rainsberger---who seems to be the top Collegiate Frosh runner this year--was 6th, but LED the UO team to its 2nd place podium spot!!
The vaunted Stanford Freshman class---Christine Aragon and Ella Donaghu--ended well back in 41st and 47th, respectively--well over a minute behind Ms Finn!!
Matt's sister--Ashley Maton--was 98th, while Hannah DiBalsi was just 113th!!
The Penn State meet saw Tessa Barrett (20:06) and MJ Erb (24:49) win.
Destiny Collins--now a Texas Frosh, formerly of the Great Oak distance factory--finished 35th in what I believe was her first Collegiate race!
The Chicago Marathon--minus professional pacers!!--was another slow one for the Men--Abel Kirui's 2:11:25 winning by 6 seconds over Dickson Chumba.
Diego Estrada was 8th in 2:13:56--in his initial 26.2 race!!
The Women's race---also no rabbits--was faster!
In a battle of the Kiplagat's, Florence's 2:21:32 prevailed over Edna's 2:23:28.
American Serena Burla was 7th in 2:30:40, while Sarah Crouch ended in 9th in 2:33:48.
The Eindhoven Marathon in the Netherlands was WON by the PACER!!!
Kenya's Festus Talam---designated rabbit--stayed in the race, winning it in 2:06:26!!
A prior credential was a Half-Marathon in 60:56!
He's 21 years old!
The Twin Cities race saw the Course Record being broken---and it dated from 1985!!--by Dominic Ondoro, his time being 2:08:51.
I watched TWO full Marathon livestreams this morning--the Amsterdam race and the earlier-mentioned Toronto race!
Daniel Wanjiru's 2:05:21 took the Amsterdam affair, his time a PR of around 3 minutes!!
Sammy Kitwara's 2:05:45 was 2nd, two seconds in front of Marius Kimutai!
Meselech Melkamu's 2:23:21 prevailed for the Women over Aselech Afework's 2:24:27.
Priscah Jeptoo took 4th, 2:35 behind the winner!
Toronto's race was won by the 2:08:28 of Philomon Rono!
Shure Demise's 2:25:15 took the Women's race!
The Women's Tufts 10K was won by Emily Sisson, who is having a GREAT end of 2016 on the roads!!
Her time of 31:47 was a full 44 seconds in front of Sarah Pagano's 32:31.
Lauren Paquette was 3rd, with ageless Jen Rhines finishing 6th in 33:31.
Finally, the Twin Cities 10 Mile race saw a "shock" winner!
Ms Jordan Hasay crushed the field with her time of 52:49!!
Aliphine Tuliamuk was 2nd some 12 seconds back!
(Former??) Triathlete Gwen Jorgensen---training for her 1st official marathon in New York---was a strong 3rd in 53:13!!
She finished some 20 seconds ahead of Sara Hall!!
Watch for her in the Big Apple!!
Sam Chelanga won the Men's race in 47:25, with Noah Droddy 3 seconds back.
Andy Bumbalough was 8th in 48:13!!
Again, sincere condolences to the family of Trinity Gay, Tyson's 15 year old daughter, killed early this morning!!
(John Lennon)
After watching the livestream of the Toronto Marathon this morning, I went to Twitter to see what was what before beginning my newest post--which had been my plan!
There, I was blasted by the most tragic news imaginable---the death of an innocent child!
100's of tweets abounded about the death of Tyson Gay's 15 year old daughter---Trinity Gay---from a stray bullet in a gunfight between people in 2 cars outside a Lexington KY restaurant today!
I didn't even know he had a daughter!
Nothing---NOTHING!---is more tragic than the loss of a child.
Made even worse---if that's possible--is that she was an innocent bystander---caught in the middle of more ugly violence!
I will get to my "normal" material soon----Cross Country results, recent marathons---but first I'll continue with more "off-track" news.
Familiar with Suzy Favor Hamilton's story--as written about in her memoir called "Fast Girl"?
One of the greatest runners in American history, she was "outed" as a Las Vegas escort, and as a victim of Bi-Polar disorder.
Since then, she's salvaged her marriage---and as much happiness & strength as possible--even though she'd lost almost everything due to her year in Vegas!
Well, a blog by her turned up yesterday, in which she said a recent episode of the TV show "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" had used HER story for ITS plot in this episode!
I watched it, and it DOES follow SFH's story---almost to a T!
The main differences---the ONLY differences!--are that "Jenna Miller" is a Pole Vaulter (the WR holder!!), and she was brutally raped by one of her clients!!
Other than that, it's Suzy's story, as SHE told it in her book!
Being a star T&F athlete, who's a part-time escort, who's afraid of losing her fans and her contracts if she's outed, and is Bi-Polar!
Watch it---Season 18, Episode 4--and see why Suzy was so upset about it!
(BTW, I highly recommend her memoir, and the particular episode---even though I hadn't watched the show for several years!)
Four more brief items--
Evan Jager got married (!!) to a Swedish beauty, Sofia Hellberg Jonson (sp??)--IN Sweden last week!!
She apparently had an okay track career at Ole Miss, running the 400, 400H, and the 800!!
Elise Cranny and Allie Ostrander are both injured--with Allie O being redshirted for the season, and according to one report, Cranny being seen on crutches at her team's recent XC meet!
Jessica Ennis-Hill has retired early---and will not be in London's World Championship next summer!
And HS star Kate Murphy tweeted she's signed on to attend the University of Oregon next year!!
(About Murphy--a new TV show called "Better Things"--about a single mom of 3 daughters--has a character--that of the teenage daughter--played by an actress whose face---especially her eyes!--strongly resembles Ms Murphy!!)
Okayyyyyy!!
This XC season's finale is being forged at a rapid pace by the results of key early meets, including this weekend's Wisconsin and Pre-Nationals!
Meaning, it appears that ALL of the NCAA meet's Top 20 or so---maybe even the Top 10---are becoming highly predictable through the above meet's results!
Look for Ed Cheserek to do battle with Justyn Knight for the win, with sub-4 HS milers of 2015--Grant Fisher and Matthew Maton in close--with Futsam Ziensillassie in the lead pack!
Add "newcomer" Jerrell Mock, plus Levi Thomet, John Dressel, and maybe MJ Erb to the mix!
For the Women, it should be a dogfight between Erin Finn, Anna Rohrer, Brenna Peloquin, and maybe Alice Wright and Erin Clark.
Add Charlotte Prouse and Amy Eloise-Neale of Washington, Courtney Smith of Harvard, and Lauren LaRocco of Portland!
(The Women's Collegiate elite list is much longer than the Men's!!)
The Wisconsin Men's race was won by Justyn Knight in 23:53.
Ziensellassie was 2nd, just 2 seconds back.
Stanford's Grant Fisher and Sean McGorty took 4th and 6th, both within 5 seconds of the winner!
Jerrell Mock finished only 29th!!
NAU took the team battle with 78 points, beating Stanford's 118!
Brenna Peloquin won the Women's race in 20:00, just one second ahead of Alice Wright, 3 in front of Anna Rohrer, with the U-Dub duo Neale and Prouse running 4th and 5th!
Courtney Smith took 6th, but Sarah Collins was just 16th, while Angel Piccirillo was 19th.
Ryen Frazier---once a rising star--ended way back in 96th place!!
UW won the meet with 124 points over North Carolina State's 166, Providence's 170, and New Mexico's 207!
The Pre-Nats meet on the Terre Haute course is where Oregon's Men--led by King Ches's 22 second win in 23:34 --prevailed!
Frankline Tanui's 23:56 took 2nd, with total unknown Amos Terer (of Campbell, wherever THAT is!!) 3rd two seconds behind Tanui!
Matt Maton was 4th, but 33 seconds behind Cheserek!
Levi Thomet, John Dressel, and Ben Saarel were 26th, 27th, and 28th, all back at least 55 seconds from Ches!
Sam Prakel was just 36th.
Brenna's brother--Tristan Peloquin of Portland--finished in 59th, while Lopez's younger brother---Alex Lomong---was back in 162nd!!
Erin Finn made it 3 of 4 on the season---her only loss to Ms Peloquin at the Griak meet---and her 3 wins by HUGE margins!!
Her 19:44 finished a full 24 seconds in front of Erin Clark (who led the Colorado team victory!).
Remember me mentioning a high place in an early season race by one Peyton Bilo of Cal Poly?
I said I'd never heard of her, and that she's a Soph!
Well, she's NOT so unknown now!!
She happened to take THIRD, just 3 seconds in back of Clark!!
(Add her to my above list of NCAA contenders!!)
Katie Rainsberger---who seems to be the top Collegiate Frosh runner this year--was 6th, but LED the UO team to its 2nd place podium spot!!
The vaunted Stanford Freshman class---Christine Aragon and Ella Donaghu--ended well back in 41st and 47th, respectively--well over a minute behind Ms Finn!!
Matt's sister--Ashley Maton--was 98th, while Hannah DiBalsi was just 113th!!
The Penn State meet saw Tessa Barrett (20:06) and MJ Erb (24:49) win.
Destiny Collins--now a Texas Frosh, formerly of the Great Oak distance factory--finished 35th in what I believe was her first Collegiate race!
The Chicago Marathon--minus professional pacers!!--was another slow one for the Men--Abel Kirui's 2:11:25 winning by 6 seconds over Dickson Chumba.
Diego Estrada was 8th in 2:13:56--in his initial 26.2 race!!
The Women's race---also no rabbits--was faster!
In a battle of the Kiplagat's, Florence's 2:21:32 prevailed over Edna's 2:23:28.
American Serena Burla was 7th in 2:30:40, while Sarah Crouch ended in 9th in 2:33:48.
The Eindhoven Marathon in the Netherlands was WON by the PACER!!!
Kenya's Festus Talam---designated rabbit--stayed in the race, winning it in 2:06:26!!
A prior credential was a Half-Marathon in 60:56!
He's 21 years old!
The Twin Cities race saw the Course Record being broken---and it dated from 1985!!--by Dominic Ondoro, his time being 2:08:51.
I watched TWO full Marathon livestreams this morning--the Amsterdam race and the earlier-mentioned Toronto race!
Daniel Wanjiru's 2:05:21 took the Amsterdam affair, his time a PR of around 3 minutes!!
Sammy Kitwara's 2:05:45 was 2nd, two seconds in front of Marius Kimutai!
Meselech Melkamu's 2:23:21 prevailed for the Women over Aselech Afework's 2:24:27.
Priscah Jeptoo took 4th, 2:35 behind the winner!
Toronto's race was won by the 2:08:28 of Philomon Rono!
Shure Demise's 2:25:15 took the Women's race!
The Women's Tufts 10K was won by Emily Sisson, who is having a GREAT end of 2016 on the roads!!
Her time of 31:47 was a full 44 seconds in front of Sarah Pagano's 32:31.
Lauren Paquette was 3rd, with ageless Jen Rhines finishing 6th in 33:31.
Finally, the Twin Cities 10 Mile race saw a "shock" winner!
Ms Jordan Hasay crushed the field with her time of 52:49!!
Aliphine Tuliamuk was 2nd some 12 seconds back!
(Former??) Triathlete Gwen Jorgensen---training for her 1st official marathon in New York---was a strong 3rd in 53:13!!
She finished some 20 seconds ahead of Sara Hall!!
Watch for her in the Big Apple!!
Sam Chelanga won the Men's race in 47:25, with Noah Droddy 3 seconds back.
Andy Bumbalough was 8th in 48:13!!
Again, sincere condolences to the family of Trinity Gay, Tyson's 15 year old daughter, killed early this morning!!
Monday, October 3, 2016
XC Leaders Emerging
While it's not this blog's specialty, I do like to keep an eye on the Cross Country results.
The times they run aren't as important as their margins of victory.
Whether they break a Course Record has no or little significance.
The Team titles?
This blog doesn't really care!
So why report XC results at all?
Why not just take a long (and deserved!) vacation from the burden of putting out over 100 posts per year?
The best reason is that XC often reveal the names of the next season's (INdoors or OUTdoors!) leaders on the TRACK in distances ranging from 1500 to 10000--and including the 3000SC!
Also, in a sort of reverse realm of thinking, we can see which Track record setters do NOT do so well over hill and dale!
Believe me, that list is long!!
All that said, here's the latest from XC--especially the Collegiates.
Anna Rohrer led Notre Dame's team with her 16:11 win at the Joe Piane Invite.
Alice Wright was 5 seconds back, with Bethan Knights another 5 behind Wright.
Sarah Collins was just 9th, 26 seconds behind Rohrer.
Sean Tobin took the Men's race in 23:31, three seconds in front of George Parsons.
Jonah Koech was 5th in 23:52.
The UDub Invite in Seattle saw Ed Cheserek dominate.
Duhhh!
He won by 19 over Jerrell Mock, who's been having a good season.
Sam Prakel and Matt Maton took 3rd and 4th, while Grant Fisher was 29 seconds in back of the King, with Blake Haney another 11 behind in 12th place!
Huskie Soph Charlotte Prouse won the Women's race in 19:36 over Oregon's stud Frosh Katie Rainsberger, who ended just 6 seconds behind!
Amy Eloise-Neale and Harvard's Courtney Smith were almost tied in 3rd and 4th, both timed in the 19:47's!
Angel Piccirillo won Paul Short by 15 seconds in 19:56.
Scott Carpenter's 23:36 led Kierin Clements's 23:37 and Gilbert Kirui's 23:39 to victory.
An interesting match of Collegiate Frosh---running unattached--saw Austin Tamagno beat Levi Thomet by 1 second, winning the Willamette Invite in 24:31!
Erin Finn is now 3 for 4--losing only last week's Griak race to Brenna Peloquin!
And she again won by a huge margin--this time, it was by 24 seconds at the Louisville Classic, her time 16:26.
John Dressel beat Ben Saarel by 36 seconds in the Rocky Mountain Shootout race, 24:37 to 25:13.
Another race there saw Joe Klecker win in 24:41.
Erin Clark's 19:53 beat Kaitlyn Benner's 20:01.
Elise Cranny's 20:02 took the Stanford Invite over the 20:06 of the unheralded Peyton Bilo, who is a Soph at Cal Poly.
Hannah DiBalsi was far back in 18th, 1:22 behind Cranny!
Thomas Ratcliffe--the 4:01 HS Miler--beat Emmanuel Rotich by two seconds, 23:17 to 23:19.
Not bad for his first Collegiate race!!
Vincent Kiprop (23:03) and Karissa Schweizer (16:09) took the Chili Pepper races!
Kiprop won by 30 seconds, while Schweizer could manage just a 2 second gap in front of Devin Clark!
Nikki Hiltz finished in 10th place, 33 seconds behind Schweizer!
Anything conclusive yet?
Ches looks to win again at NCAA's, but watch for Ratcliffe, Dressel, and Justyn Knight, whose fast win last week went unreported by me!
Sorry!
Allie Ostrander is either injured, or otherwise hurting, as she's yet to race this year!
But she's still considered one of the faves for NCAA's.
Erin Finn--despite that 1 loss (to Ostrander's Boise State teammate!!)--looks super formidable!
Rohrer and Cranny are others to watch.
Watch for Frosh Rainsberger to sneak into the Top 10.
Betsy Saina won the Great Scottish Run Half-Marathon, her 67:22 a PR by over 2 minutes!
Helah Kiprop's 68:52 in 2nd was also a PR.
Callum Hawkins set a Scottish record with his win in 60:24!
Moses Kipsiro's 60:54 was well back!
The Lisbon Marathon saw Sarah Chepchirchir PR by 6 minutes with her 2:24:12 win!
In another exhibition event---NOT legit for record or list purposes!!--Jenn Suhr wowed her hometown fans (including her mom and dad!!) with a clearance at 16-5.25 (5.01).
I have no idea what her day included---if she started at a lower height---how many bars she cleared before the 5.01---or how many attempts she was allowed at each height.
In an exhibition, rules are made to be broken!
List-making or not, it was still an astounding performance for the recently (VERY) sickly Suhr!
BTW, the bar jiggled some, but stayed on!
Finally, an interesting picture appeared on Twitter.
It showed HS Mile star Kate Murphy winning her XC race in record time.
Holding one end of the finish line tape was---Mary Cain!
Mile Split called it the "Photo of the Year".
My first thought was---if Cain had RUN that race, Murphy would have cleaned her CLOCK!!!
See you soon.
The times they run aren't as important as their margins of victory.
Whether they break a Course Record has no or little significance.
The Team titles?
This blog doesn't really care!
So why report XC results at all?
Why not just take a long (and deserved!) vacation from the burden of putting out over 100 posts per year?
The best reason is that XC often reveal the names of the next season's (INdoors or OUTdoors!) leaders on the TRACK in distances ranging from 1500 to 10000--and including the 3000SC!
Also, in a sort of reverse realm of thinking, we can see which Track record setters do NOT do so well over hill and dale!
Believe me, that list is long!!
All that said, here's the latest from XC--especially the Collegiates.
Anna Rohrer led Notre Dame's team with her 16:11 win at the Joe Piane Invite.
Alice Wright was 5 seconds back, with Bethan Knights another 5 behind Wright.
Sarah Collins was just 9th, 26 seconds behind Rohrer.
Sean Tobin took the Men's race in 23:31, three seconds in front of George Parsons.
Jonah Koech was 5th in 23:52.
The UDub Invite in Seattle saw Ed Cheserek dominate.
Duhhh!
He won by 19 over Jerrell Mock, who's been having a good season.
Sam Prakel and Matt Maton took 3rd and 4th, while Grant Fisher was 29 seconds in back of the King, with Blake Haney another 11 behind in 12th place!
Huskie Soph Charlotte Prouse won the Women's race in 19:36 over Oregon's stud Frosh Katie Rainsberger, who ended just 6 seconds behind!
Amy Eloise-Neale and Harvard's Courtney Smith were almost tied in 3rd and 4th, both timed in the 19:47's!
Angel Piccirillo won Paul Short by 15 seconds in 19:56.
Scott Carpenter's 23:36 led Kierin Clements's 23:37 and Gilbert Kirui's 23:39 to victory.
An interesting match of Collegiate Frosh---running unattached--saw Austin Tamagno beat Levi Thomet by 1 second, winning the Willamette Invite in 24:31!
Erin Finn is now 3 for 4--losing only last week's Griak race to Brenna Peloquin!
And she again won by a huge margin--this time, it was by 24 seconds at the Louisville Classic, her time 16:26.
John Dressel beat Ben Saarel by 36 seconds in the Rocky Mountain Shootout race, 24:37 to 25:13.
Another race there saw Joe Klecker win in 24:41.
Erin Clark's 19:53 beat Kaitlyn Benner's 20:01.
Elise Cranny's 20:02 took the Stanford Invite over the 20:06 of the unheralded Peyton Bilo, who is a Soph at Cal Poly.
Hannah DiBalsi was far back in 18th, 1:22 behind Cranny!
Thomas Ratcliffe--the 4:01 HS Miler--beat Emmanuel Rotich by two seconds, 23:17 to 23:19.
Not bad for his first Collegiate race!!
Vincent Kiprop (23:03) and Karissa Schweizer (16:09) took the Chili Pepper races!
Kiprop won by 30 seconds, while Schweizer could manage just a 2 second gap in front of Devin Clark!
Nikki Hiltz finished in 10th place, 33 seconds behind Schweizer!
Anything conclusive yet?
Ches looks to win again at NCAA's, but watch for Ratcliffe, Dressel, and Justyn Knight, whose fast win last week went unreported by me!
Sorry!
Allie Ostrander is either injured, or otherwise hurting, as she's yet to race this year!
But she's still considered one of the faves for NCAA's.
Erin Finn--despite that 1 loss (to Ostrander's Boise State teammate!!)--looks super formidable!
Rohrer and Cranny are others to watch.
Watch for Frosh Rainsberger to sneak into the Top 10.
Betsy Saina won the Great Scottish Run Half-Marathon, her 67:22 a PR by over 2 minutes!
Helah Kiprop's 68:52 in 2nd was also a PR.
Callum Hawkins set a Scottish record with his win in 60:24!
Moses Kipsiro's 60:54 was well back!
The Lisbon Marathon saw Sarah Chepchirchir PR by 6 minutes with her 2:24:12 win!
In another exhibition event---NOT legit for record or list purposes!!--Jenn Suhr wowed her hometown fans (including her mom and dad!!) with a clearance at 16-5.25 (5.01).
I have no idea what her day included---if she started at a lower height---how many bars she cleared before the 5.01---or how many attempts she was allowed at each height.
In an exhibition, rules are made to be broken!
List-making or not, it was still an astounding performance for the recently (VERY) sickly Suhr!
BTW, the bar jiggled some, but stayed on!
Finally, an interesting picture appeared on Twitter.
It showed HS Mile star Kate Murphy winning her XC race in record time.
Holding one end of the finish line tape was---Mary Cain!
Mile Split called it the "Photo of the Year".
My first thought was---if Cain had RUN that race, Murphy would have cleaned her CLOCK!!!
See you soon.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
An Almost WR---Again
In London, Eliud Kipchoge (a super fast track runner of yore) came within 8 seconds of Dennis Kimetto's World Record of 2:02:57, running a superb 2:03:05, and showing a disgusted face at how he'd ALMOST had the WR.
Fast forward about 5 months to today's Berlin race.
At 5000, a field of 10 or so blazes a 14:20, the WR assault ON
When they pass 10K in 29:00, then the Half in 1:01:11, the blast of WR air attacks even the most pragmatic and skeptical.
Kimetto's pace was 1:01:45, then 1:01:12.
They were 34 seconds up on WR pace.
BUT--they'd have to match Kimetto's opening salvo--after having run half the race!
The pace was still deadly at 30K in 1:27:26.
And it was becoming a RACE!
At points along the trail, Ken Bekele had fallen back---not by much--just 10 to 20 meters.
The more experienced 26.2 man--Wilson Kipsang--with a PR coming in 1:40 faster than the speedy trackster--held the lead, and looked comfortable.
But so did Bekele.
And when he closed those gaps every time they appeared, Kipsang started to fret.
Side by side they flew, but a bit slower---now off WR pace by 20 seconds approaching 40 kilometers!
Tim Hutchings (on NBC's livestream) was saying the WR chase was done---and now it would be a race---between the Kenyan and the Ethiopian.
Then Bekele stomped the gas pedal, opening a 15 meter spread in less than a "lap" of running.
The race was over, and the 12:37.35 and 26:17.53 man was sprinting!
SPRINTING!!!
Too little too late!
As Hutchings said, if he'd begun that kick a K earlier, the WR would've been his!
And he knew it.
Breaking the tape at 2:03:04, he shook his head, flipped his hands, knowing IF---IF---and how ALMOST he'd gotten!!
A virtual repeat of Kipchoge's reaction after London!
That said, Bekele destroyed the Age 34 record, as well as Haile Gebrsellassie's Ethiopia National Record.
He is now 3rd A-T World---on my list that includes times from Boston!
Kipsang, also 34, missed that Age record by---9 seconds!
He'd been 6th A-T World.
After this race--with Bekele's time added--he's still 6th, but now is 6th, tied with 1 other!
Thus he moves DOWN the list---in a way!
Third went to Evans Chebet in a slight PR of 2:05:31.
The Women's race also started fast---with the first Half going by in 1:09:27, with Berhane Dibaba narrowly trailing Aberu Kebede.
Not much was seen of the Women's race in the last half, as NBC focused on the great Men's battle.
But I know Kebede---who had dropped Dibaba---went by 30K in 1:38:42.
Then she slowed---pretty drastically--falling from the mid-16:30's to over 17 minute 5000's.
And there went her attempt to break 2:20!
But she easily won, time of 2:20:45, a full 3:13 ahead of Dibaba's 2:23:58.
Newcomer Ruti Aga was 3rd in a 45 second PR of 2:24:41.
In the past 2 weeks or so, there have been other good races on the roads of the world!
Mo Farah took the Great North Run 13.1 Miler in 60:04.
But surprising in 2nd---and actually leading at points!--Dathan Ritzenhein finished in 60:12.
Vivian Cheruiyot took the Women's race in 67:54, one second up on Priscah Jeptoo, with Tirunesh Dibaba in 3rd with a time of 68:04.
In the Prague 10K, Violah Jepchumbo's 30:24 missed the WR by just 3 seconds!!
Abe Kipyetich took the Men's division in 27:40.
Another fast Half-Marathon was taken by James Wangari in 59:07.
And there was good depth.
Stephen Kibet was 2nd in 59:28, with Albert Kangogo another second back, and 4 others getting under an hour!!
Wangari ran his first 10K in 27:15!!
The USATF 5000 was won by Ryan Hill (13:57) and Aliphine Tuliamuk (15:22).
In the Women's race, Emily Sisson was 2nd in 15:42--her 2nd good race in a row!
That Great North City Games held a couple of oddball 500 meter races.
These were DOWNhill (overall), and was a combined road AND track race!!
But they were also fast!
David Rudisha ran the fastest 500 ever--57.69---which obviously counts as much as a 100 with a 25 MPH wind at his back!!
Mark English took 2nd in 57.91, with Martyn Rooney getting the same time in 3rd!
Lynsey Sharp took the Women's race in another "fastest ever" time of 1:06.62.
Shalayna Oskan-Clarke took 2nd in 1:06.89.
The Talence Multi's were okay--if compared to a meet composed of Collegiate Frosh!!
Nadine Broersen took the Heptathlon with 6377 points, four more than Yorgelis Rodriguez.
Aleksey Kasyanov took the Decathlon with a measly 8077 points.
But 2nd was Canadian Pierre LePage, a 20 year old, whose previous best was about 500 points less than his 8027!
He'd led the field much of the way!
Erin Finn took her first 2 XC races, each by about 45 seconds!!
But then she faced Boise State's Brenna Peloquin in the Roy Griak 6K.
Even with a mile to go, Peloquin sprinted ahead, winning by over 10 seconds in 20:49 and change.
Third went to another new face (though introduced to you in this blog earlier this year!!), Portland's Lauren LaRocco.
In fact, Portland won BOTH races--Men and Women!!
The Men's race was taken by Colorado State's Jerrell Mock in 25:06.
Sam Prakel edged Tanner Anderson in the Dellinger XC race, both running 24:36.
Emily Weber won the Women's race.
Ed Cheserek didn't run.
But RONALD Cheserek did!!
That Cheserek (Related?? Don't know!) took the Mt. Dew Gator race in 24:43, winning by 18 seconds.
He's a Frosh at St Leo's!
A HS girl named Brie Oakley ran a SUPER fast XC time of 15:53 over a 5K course!
Don't have the details, so don't know the TRUE quality of her time.
But that is FAST!!
Alana Hadley FINISHED another Marathon---barely!
Starting good--tied with eventual winner Becki Spellman at 6 miles--Hadley was hurting---her ankle again!!---and stepped off the gas.
But she managed to finish her first race (of any distance??) since her Indy win in November of 2014!!
Timed in 3:18:32, she was then carted off in a wheelchair!!
Finally, Jenn Suhr is BACK!!
Super sick from early August on, she's apparently feeling good now.
In an "exhibition"---although it had other competitors---held INdoors (!!)--Suhr cleared the bar set at 4.88, or 16 feet even!!
And I mean she CLEARED it!!
However, she missed her Age 34 INdoor record set much earlier this year of 16-0.75!!
She said she'll compete again on October 1st.
I'm working on an idea for an "extra" post, where I'll list "Questions needing Answers"---on various subjects related to our sport!
But that's in the wind---nothing definite.
Next "results" post will probably be in 2 weeks--after the Chicago Marathon!
Fast forward about 5 months to today's Berlin race.
At 5000, a field of 10 or so blazes a 14:20, the WR assault ON
When they pass 10K in 29:00, then the Half in 1:01:11, the blast of WR air attacks even the most pragmatic and skeptical.
Kimetto's pace was 1:01:45, then 1:01:12.
They were 34 seconds up on WR pace.
BUT--they'd have to match Kimetto's opening salvo--after having run half the race!
The pace was still deadly at 30K in 1:27:26.
And it was becoming a RACE!
At points along the trail, Ken Bekele had fallen back---not by much--just 10 to 20 meters.
The more experienced 26.2 man--Wilson Kipsang--with a PR coming in 1:40 faster than the speedy trackster--held the lead, and looked comfortable.
But so did Bekele.
And when he closed those gaps every time they appeared, Kipsang started to fret.
Side by side they flew, but a bit slower---now off WR pace by 20 seconds approaching 40 kilometers!
Tim Hutchings (on NBC's livestream) was saying the WR chase was done---and now it would be a race---between the Kenyan and the Ethiopian.
Then Bekele stomped the gas pedal, opening a 15 meter spread in less than a "lap" of running.
The race was over, and the 12:37.35 and 26:17.53 man was sprinting!
SPRINTING!!!
Too little too late!
As Hutchings said, if he'd begun that kick a K earlier, the WR would've been his!
And he knew it.
Breaking the tape at 2:03:04, he shook his head, flipped his hands, knowing IF---IF---and how ALMOST he'd gotten!!
A virtual repeat of Kipchoge's reaction after London!
That said, Bekele destroyed the Age 34 record, as well as Haile Gebrsellassie's Ethiopia National Record.
He is now 3rd A-T World---on my list that includes times from Boston!
Kipsang, also 34, missed that Age record by---9 seconds!
He'd been 6th A-T World.
After this race--with Bekele's time added--he's still 6th, but now is 6th, tied with 1 other!
Thus he moves DOWN the list---in a way!
Third went to Evans Chebet in a slight PR of 2:05:31.
The Women's race also started fast---with the first Half going by in 1:09:27, with Berhane Dibaba narrowly trailing Aberu Kebede.
Not much was seen of the Women's race in the last half, as NBC focused on the great Men's battle.
But I know Kebede---who had dropped Dibaba---went by 30K in 1:38:42.
Then she slowed---pretty drastically--falling from the mid-16:30's to over 17 minute 5000's.
And there went her attempt to break 2:20!
But she easily won, time of 2:20:45, a full 3:13 ahead of Dibaba's 2:23:58.
Newcomer Ruti Aga was 3rd in a 45 second PR of 2:24:41.
In the past 2 weeks or so, there have been other good races on the roads of the world!
Mo Farah took the Great North Run 13.1 Miler in 60:04.
But surprising in 2nd---and actually leading at points!--Dathan Ritzenhein finished in 60:12.
Vivian Cheruiyot took the Women's race in 67:54, one second up on Priscah Jeptoo, with Tirunesh Dibaba in 3rd with a time of 68:04.
In the Prague 10K, Violah Jepchumbo's 30:24 missed the WR by just 3 seconds!!
Abe Kipyetich took the Men's division in 27:40.
Another fast Half-Marathon was taken by James Wangari in 59:07.
And there was good depth.
Stephen Kibet was 2nd in 59:28, with Albert Kangogo another second back, and 4 others getting under an hour!!
Wangari ran his first 10K in 27:15!!
The USATF 5000 was won by Ryan Hill (13:57) and Aliphine Tuliamuk (15:22).
In the Women's race, Emily Sisson was 2nd in 15:42--her 2nd good race in a row!
That Great North City Games held a couple of oddball 500 meter races.
These were DOWNhill (overall), and was a combined road AND track race!!
But they were also fast!
David Rudisha ran the fastest 500 ever--57.69---which obviously counts as much as a 100 with a 25 MPH wind at his back!!
Mark English took 2nd in 57.91, with Martyn Rooney getting the same time in 3rd!
Lynsey Sharp took the Women's race in another "fastest ever" time of 1:06.62.
Shalayna Oskan-Clarke took 2nd in 1:06.89.
The Talence Multi's were okay--if compared to a meet composed of Collegiate Frosh!!
Nadine Broersen took the Heptathlon with 6377 points, four more than Yorgelis Rodriguez.
Aleksey Kasyanov took the Decathlon with a measly 8077 points.
But 2nd was Canadian Pierre LePage, a 20 year old, whose previous best was about 500 points less than his 8027!
He'd led the field much of the way!
Erin Finn took her first 2 XC races, each by about 45 seconds!!
But then she faced Boise State's Brenna Peloquin in the Roy Griak 6K.
Even with a mile to go, Peloquin sprinted ahead, winning by over 10 seconds in 20:49 and change.
Third went to another new face (though introduced to you in this blog earlier this year!!), Portland's Lauren LaRocco.
In fact, Portland won BOTH races--Men and Women!!
The Men's race was taken by Colorado State's Jerrell Mock in 25:06.
Sam Prakel edged Tanner Anderson in the Dellinger XC race, both running 24:36.
Emily Weber won the Women's race.
Ed Cheserek didn't run.
But RONALD Cheserek did!!
That Cheserek (Related?? Don't know!) took the Mt. Dew Gator race in 24:43, winning by 18 seconds.
He's a Frosh at St Leo's!
A HS girl named Brie Oakley ran a SUPER fast XC time of 15:53 over a 5K course!
Don't have the details, so don't know the TRUE quality of her time.
But that is FAST!!
Alana Hadley FINISHED another Marathon---barely!
Starting good--tied with eventual winner Becki Spellman at 6 miles--Hadley was hurting---her ankle again!!---and stepped off the gas.
But she managed to finish her first race (of any distance??) since her Indy win in November of 2014!!
Timed in 3:18:32, she was then carted off in a wheelchair!!
Finally, Jenn Suhr is BACK!!
Super sick from early August on, she's apparently feeling good now.
In an "exhibition"---although it had other competitors---held INdoors (!!)--Suhr cleared the bar set at 4.88, or 16 feet even!!
And I mean she CLEARED it!!
However, she missed her Age 34 INdoor record set much earlier this year of 16-0.75!!
She said she'll compete again on October 1st.
I'm working on an idea for an "extra" post, where I'll list "Questions needing Answers"---on various subjects related to our sport!
But that's in the wind---nothing definite.
Next "results" post will probably be in 2 weeks--after the Chicago Marathon!
Thursday, September 15, 2016
2016 High School Wrap-Up (& AOY's)
This one will be longer than the Collegiate review posted earlier.
More records broken, and more marks making my DDD's.
To save space, please refer to my Collegiate post for the usual intro stuff.
Pro HS'ers will be covered at the end of this post!!
The Men go first.
Four HSR's bit the dust in the 2016 OUTdoor season, and two of them came in similar (but different!!) events from the boys of Great Oak HS in Temecula CA.
They broke the 4X1600 Relay record with their 16:55.85.
And they nabbed the 40 year old 4X1Mile Relay mark with their 17:04.55 time!
Noah Ly;es broke another very old mark--the 200, with his 20.09.
And Chris Nilsen got the PV record with his 18-4.75!!
The Frosh Class saw 4 Class Records fall--out of 8 total!
Tyrese Cooper got 2 of them--the 200 in 20.62, and the 400 with his 45.23.
Sam Affolder got the Frosh Class 3000SC mark with his 9:16.43.
K Carrillo broke the Frosh Class DT record with his 198-9.
Mondo Duplantis got the lone Soph Class mark--his PV of 18-1.
Jordan Geist got the only Junior Class record--his SP measured 74-3.50.
Lyles and Nilsen were the Senior Class record breakers.
The following made my DDD lists!
200 Noah Lyles (20.09--HSR--1st) Michael Norman (20.14--3rd, tied with 1 other)
400 Cooper (45.23--8th)
800 Sean Torpy (1:47.95--9th) Michael Slagowski (1:48.36--18th)
1500 Drew Hunter (3:41.85--3rd) Slagowski (3:42.40--4th) Austin Tamagno (3:44.14--12th)
1 Mile Hunter (3:58.86--3rd) Slagowski (3:59.54--7th) Tamagno (4:01.04--12th) Thomas Ratcliffe (4:01.50--15th, tied with 1 other)
3000SC Elon Nohilly (9:06.36--13th) Noah Affolder (9:06.52--15th)
110H Marcus Krah (13.25--3rd) Grant Holloway (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Trey Cunningham (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Damion Thomas (13.42--21st, tied with 2 others)
HJ Vernon Turner (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darius Corbin (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darryl Sullivan (7-4--18th, tied with 6 others)
LJ JaMari Ward (26-1.50--8th, tied with 1 other)
TJ Ward (53-7.50--5th, tied with 1 other)
PV Nilsen (18-4.75--HSR--1st) Duplantis (18-1--7th)
SP Geist (74-3.50--5th) Tripp Piperi (73-5.25--7th, tied with 1 other) Bronson Osborn (71-7.25--16th) Dan Guiliani (71-1.50--20th, tied with 1 other)
DT Terrell Adams (213-9--15th)
JT Liam Christiansen (232-1--8th)
HT Bobby Colantonio (251-2--5th)
No marks for the 100, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, 10000, 400H, or the Decathlon.
There were 32 marks dated 2016 on my Men's lists!
The "AOY" would be the TOY (Team of the Year)--IF I thought Relay teams should get top rank!!
But I want to keep this an individual's award, so I'm giving this year's Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book Athlete of the Year award for the 2016 OUTdoor season to--NOAH LYLES!!
While Chris Nilsen also got a HSR, his broke a very recent mark.
Lyles got a mark dating back to 1985!!
But give Nilsen an Honorable Mention, as well as both Great Oak Relay squads!
Add Jordan Geist and Ty Cooper to my list of HM's!
While the Athlete of the Year can't go to a Relay team, the Performance of the Year can---and does!!
Of the two HSR's going to G-O's team, their 4X1Mile broke a mark dating back 40 years, and belonged to a team from South Eugene HS--icing on the cake!!
And that HSR gets my POY!!
HM's go to Lyles & Nilsen, of course.
But also give it to Duplantis, Geist, Krah, Cooper (for his 400 mark!), and to Drew Hunter, for both his 1500 and 1 Mile marks.
Oh yes, add Great Oak's 4X1600 Relay team!!
Three events got 4 marks each on my DDD's.
They were the 1 Mile, 110H, and the SP.
With 3 marks were the 1500 and HJ.
The 200, 800, 3000SC, and the PV had 2 marks on my lists!
Unlike the Collegiates, only one meet deserves recognition as Meet of the Year--and that's ALWAYS the NBN!!
Thus, I'm giving no award for this category for HS'ers!!
(Or just give the meet a Perpetual Trophy!! LOL)
For the first time ever, HS Men went Pro before leaving the HS ranks!
They are Drew Hunter and the Lyles brothers, Noah and Josephus!!
All Seniors, they nonetheless had Professional marks prior to August 31st!!
(Actually, Josephus ended his season early, due to injury, before turning Pro!)
Hunter ran his fastest Mile--a 3:57.15--in July.
Lyles ran his 20.09 at the Olympic Trials--after the NBN, but before going Pro.
Thus, my HS Pro AOY goes to DREW HUNTER!!
(As well as the HS Pro Performance of the Year!!)
And now for the Women---who, as ever recently--came through with more of---everything!!
(Well, they tied the Men for most HSR's!!)
Katie Rainsberger FINALLY took down Lynn Bjorklund's 1975 HSR in the 3000 meters!!
And no asterisks or special notations are needed!!
Her time of 9:00.62 did the trick!
Tia Jones ran the 100H in 12.84.
Sydney McLaughlin got the 400H record with her 54.15 (after first breaking it with her 54.46!!).
And as with the Men, the Great Oak HS 4X1600 Relay team got the HSR, running 19:52.88.
Thirteen Class Records fell--14, if you include Kate Tuohy's 8th Grade 1500 record of 4:24.36.
I don't, but thought it worth mentioning!!
The ones that count included 2 Frosh Class marks--the 12.84 by Tia Jones, and the 42-1.75 TJ by Jasmine Moore.
No Soph Class standards fell.
The Junior Class record list includes Kate Murphy's 4:07.21 in the 1500, Chanel Brissett's 100H time of 12.95 (which tied the record!!), McLaughlin's 54.15 (and her earlier 54.46--but I'm only counting her fastest!!), Rachel Baxter's 14-3 in the PV, Alyssa Wilson's SP mark of 55-9.25, and Nevada Mareno's 2 Mile mark of 10:00.44.
Senior Class records went to Christine Aragon's 4:08.71 in the 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, Anna Cockrell's 55.20 in the 400H, Vashti Cunningham's HJ of 6-4.25 (Before she turned Pro!!), and Emma Fitzgerald's Heptathlon total of 5577 points!
The Women scored heavily in the DDD department!
100 KT Seymour (11.26--20th, tied with 2 others)
200 Lauren Rain Williams (22.80--6th) Lauryn Ghee (22.97--20th, tied with 1 other)
400 Lynna Irby (51.39--7th) McLaughlin (51.87--12th)
800 Sammy Watson (2:02.91--9th) Aaliyah Miller (2:02.96--10th) Ruby Stauber (2:03.43--16th)
1500 Murphy (4:07.21--3rd) Aragon (4:08.71--4th) Rainsberger (4:12.62--6th) Ella Donaghu (4:14.11--7th) Mareno (4:18.48--18th) Caitlyn Collier (4:19.05--22nd)
3000 Rainsberger (9:00.62--HSR--1st) Murphy (9:10.51--3rd) Weini Kelati (9:19.91--17th)
2 Mile Mareno (10:00.44--5th) Fiona O'Keefe (10:05.63--12th) Abbey Wheeler (10:08.64--16th) Brie Oakley (10:08.89--17th) Rebecca Story (10:11.24--22nd, tied with 1 other) Molly Born (10:11.36--24th)
5000 O'Keefe (15:56.84--6th)
3000SC Flournoy (1st name unknown right now!) (10:48.68--9th)
100H Jones (12.84--HSR--1st) Alexis Duncan (12.93--3rd) Brissett (12.95--4th, tied with 1 other) Tonea Marshall (13.04--7th) Brandee Johnson (13.08--8th) Cockrell (13.17--10th, tied with 1 other)
400H McLaughlin (54.15--HSR--1st) Cockrell (55.20--2nd, tied with 1 other) Johnson (56.16--6th)
LJ Samiyah Samuels (21-1.50--9th, tied with 1 other) Taylor DeLoach (20-10.50--24th)
TJ Tara Davis (43-2--10th)
PV Baxter (14-3--3rd) Carson Dingler (13-11.25--11th, tied with 1 other) Alina McDonald (13-10.50--14th) Erika Malaspina (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Andrea Willis (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Margaret Ollinger (13-8.25--22nd, tied with 1 other) Makenna Caskey (13-8--24th, tied with 2 others)
SP Wilson (55-9.25--2nd) Elena Bruckner (54-7--5th) Nickolette Dunbar (52-3.75--18th)
DT Bruckner (186-10--4th) Josie Schaefer (176-3--24th)
JT Sophia Rivera (180-4--3rd) Katelyn Gochenour (171-1--11th)
HT Joy McArthur (203-8--2nd) Wilson (191-2--14th) Kamryn Brinson (187-0--17th) Courtney Jacobsen (185-11--19th)
Heptathlon Fitzgerald (5577 points--2nd) Tyra Gittens (5337--12th)
No marks were dated 2016 in the 1 Mile, 10000, or the HJ!
(Oh, what coulda been in the Mile!! With all the above-listed STUDS in the 1500, a blitz attack from those Women on the 1982 Mile HSR would have had a SRO crowd, and might have gotten televised live on ESPN!! A MONSTROUS oversight and a unique LOSS to HS historians!!)
The 2016 HS Athlete of the Year had several STRONG candidates!
And it took awhile for me to talk myself OUT of giving it to Tia Jones for her amazing 12.84--in the LOADED 100H event---as a FRESHMAN!!
It was THIS close--and I might be regretting it 5 minutes after posting!
But in the end, you have to go with someone who not only destroys the HSR---TWICE--but makes the Olympic team in doing so---and only performs somewhat below par because she got sick a week before her event began in Rio!!
For those reasons, this award goes to SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN!!
But (more than) Honorable Mention goes to Ms Jones!
Other HM's go to Rainsberger, Murphy, Baxter, Brissett, Cockrell, Cunningham, Wilson, and Fitzgerald.
Performance of the Year DOES go to Tia Jones's 12.84 in the 100H.
In a year which could easily be labeled the "Year of the Hurdles--BOTH distances!!", Jones's mark was simply stunning!!
You just don't break High School Records as a FRESHMAN!!
Yet she not only shoots that myth to pieces, she does it in an event that calls for some maturity, and learned technique--not just raw speed!!
But also give major props as POY HM's to Murphy's 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, plus to Wilson's SP and to Fitzgerald, who missed tying the HSR by ONE point in the Heptathlon!!
The prize for Event of the Year (based on number of marks on my DDD's dated this year!) SHOULD go to the PV, which led with 7 marks!!
But the 6 marks in the 100H--as noted above--included the HSR, plus several other high list placings!
The 1500 was close in this regard--also getting 6 marks, and with very high placings.
BUT---no HSR!!
So the award goes to the 100H!
The 2 Mile also got 6 DDD marks.
The Hammer Throw had 4.
Three each in the 800, 3000, 400H, and the SP.
Two apiece in the 200, 400, LJ, DT, JT, and Heptathlon!
Three Women competing as HS'ers in 2016 were Professional athletes---and one of them--Vashti Cunningham--didn't turn Pro until she'd already competed as an amateur OUTdoors.
(See my "amateur" DDD listings above!)
But AFTER turning Pro, Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5-50--becoming the first HS Pro FIELD event athlete to get a Pro mark!
Also competing as HS Pro's were 3 sprinters--Khalifa St Fort, Kaylin Whitney, and Candace Hill.
While all ran well, they didn't break any records--even if they'd be eligible to do so!!
St Fort went to the Olympics as a member of the Trinidad & Tobago team!
Whitney and Hill didn't make the US team, but did okay at the Trials!
Cunningham made the Rio team, and made the final!!
For that accomplishment, she gets my HS Pro AOY!!
Onwards to the INdoor season!!
More records broken, and more marks making my DDD's.
To save space, please refer to my Collegiate post for the usual intro stuff.
Pro HS'ers will be covered at the end of this post!!
The Men go first.
Four HSR's bit the dust in the 2016 OUTdoor season, and two of them came in similar (but different!!) events from the boys of Great Oak HS in Temecula CA.
They broke the 4X1600 Relay record with their 16:55.85.
And they nabbed the 40 year old 4X1Mile Relay mark with their 17:04.55 time!
Noah Ly;es broke another very old mark--the 200, with his 20.09.
And Chris Nilsen got the PV record with his 18-4.75!!
The Frosh Class saw 4 Class Records fall--out of 8 total!
Tyrese Cooper got 2 of them--the 200 in 20.62, and the 400 with his 45.23.
Sam Affolder got the Frosh Class 3000SC mark with his 9:16.43.
K Carrillo broke the Frosh Class DT record with his 198-9.
Mondo Duplantis got the lone Soph Class mark--his PV of 18-1.
Jordan Geist got the only Junior Class record--his SP measured 74-3.50.
Lyles and Nilsen were the Senior Class record breakers.
The following made my DDD lists!
200 Noah Lyles (20.09--HSR--1st) Michael Norman (20.14--3rd, tied with 1 other)
400 Cooper (45.23--8th)
800 Sean Torpy (1:47.95--9th) Michael Slagowski (1:48.36--18th)
1500 Drew Hunter (3:41.85--3rd) Slagowski (3:42.40--4th) Austin Tamagno (3:44.14--12th)
1 Mile Hunter (3:58.86--3rd) Slagowski (3:59.54--7th) Tamagno (4:01.04--12th) Thomas Ratcliffe (4:01.50--15th, tied with 1 other)
3000SC Elon Nohilly (9:06.36--13th) Noah Affolder (9:06.52--15th)
110H Marcus Krah (13.25--3rd) Grant Holloway (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Trey Cunningham (13.37--9th, tied with 1 other) Damion Thomas (13.42--21st, tied with 2 others)
HJ Vernon Turner (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darius Corbin (7-4.50--8th, tied with 5 others) Darryl Sullivan (7-4--18th, tied with 6 others)
LJ JaMari Ward (26-1.50--8th, tied with 1 other)
TJ Ward (53-7.50--5th, tied with 1 other)
PV Nilsen (18-4.75--HSR--1st) Duplantis (18-1--7th)
SP Geist (74-3.50--5th) Tripp Piperi (73-5.25--7th, tied with 1 other) Bronson Osborn (71-7.25--16th) Dan Guiliani (71-1.50--20th, tied with 1 other)
DT Terrell Adams (213-9--15th)
JT Liam Christiansen (232-1--8th)
HT Bobby Colantonio (251-2--5th)
No marks for the 100, 3000, 2 Mile, 5000, 10000, 400H, or the Decathlon.
There were 32 marks dated 2016 on my Men's lists!
The "AOY" would be the TOY (Team of the Year)--IF I thought Relay teams should get top rank!!
But I want to keep this an individual's award, so I'm giving this year's Aaron K's Track and Field Record Book Athlete of the Year award for the 2016 OUTdoor season to--NOAH LYLES!!
While Chris Nilsen also got a HSR, his broke a very recent mark.
Lyles got a mark dating back to 1985!!
But give Nilsen an Honorable Mention, as well as both Great Oak Relay squads!
Add Jordan Geist and Ty Cooper to my list of HM's!
While the Athlete of the Year can't go to a Relay team, the Performance of the Year can---and does!!
Of the two HSR's going to G-O's team, their 4X1Mile broke a mark dating back 40 years, and belonged to a team from South Eugene HS--icing on the cake!!
And that HSR gets my POY!!
HM's go to Lyles & Nilsen, of course.
But also give it to Duplantis, Geist, Krah, Cooper (for his 400 mark!), and to Drew Hunter, for both his 1500 and 1 Mile marks.
Oh yes, add Great Oak's 4X1600 Relay team!!
Three events got 4 marks each on my DDD's.
They were the 1 Mile, 110H, and the SP.
With 3 marks were the 1500 and HJ.
The 200, 800, 3000SC, and the PV had 2 marks on my lists!
Unlike the Collegiates, only one meet deserves recognition as Meet of the Year--and that's ALWAYS the NBN!!
Thus, I'm giving no award for this category for HS'ers!!
(Or just give the meet a Perpetual Trophy!! LOL)
For the first time ever, HS Men went Pro before leaving the HS ranks!
They are Drew Hunter and the Lyles brothers, Noah and Josephus!!
All Seniors, they nonetheless had Professional marks prior to August 31st!!
(Actually, Josephus ended his season early, due to injury, before turning Pro!)
Hunter ran his fastest Mile--a 3:57.15--in July.
Lyles ran his 20.09 at the Olympic Trials--after the NBN, but before going Pro.
Thus, my HS Pro AOY goes to DREW HUNTER!!
(As well as the HS Pro Performance of the Year!!)
And now for the Women---who, as ever recently--came through with more of---everything!!
(Well, they tied the Men for most HSR's!!)
Katie Rainsberger FINALLY took down Lynn Bjorklund's 1975 HSR in the 3000 meters!!
And no asterisks or special notations are needed!!
Her time of 9:00.62 did the trick!
Tia Jones ran the 100H in 12.84.
Sydney McLaughlin got the 400H record with her 54.15 (after first breaking it with her 54.46!!).
And as with the Men, the Great Oak HS 4X1600 Relay team got the HSR, running 19:52.88.
Thirteen Class Records fell--14, if you include Kate Tuohy's 8th Grade 1500 record of 4:24.36.
I don't, but thought it worth mentioning!!
The ones that count included 2 Frosh Class marks--the 12.84 by Tia Jones, and the 42-1.75 TJ by Jasmine Moore.
No Soph Class standards fell.
The Junior Class record list includes Kate Murphy's 4:07.21 in the 1500, Chanel Brissett's 100H time of 12.95 (which tied the record!!), McLaughlin's 54.15 (and her earlier 54.46--but I'm only counting her fastest!!), Rachel Baxter's 14-3 in the PV, Alyssa Wilson's SP mark of 55-9.25, and Nevada Mareno's 2 Mile mark of 10:00.44.
Senior Class records went to Christine Aragon's 4:08.71 in the 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, Anna Cockrell's 55.20 in the 400H, Vashti Cunningham's HJ of 6-4.25 (Before she turned Pro!!), and Emma Fitzgerald's Heptathlon total of 5577 points!
The Women scored heavily in the DDD department!
100 KT Seymour (11.26--20th, tied with 2 others)
200 Lauren Rain Williams (22.80--6th) Lauryn Ghee (22.97--20th, tied with 1 other)
400 Lynna Irby (51.39--7th) McLaughlin (51.87--12th)
800 Sammy Watson (2:02.91--9th) Aaliyah Miller (2:02.96--10th) Ruby Stauber (2:03.43--16th)
1500 Murphy (4:07.21--3rd) Aragon (4:08.71--4th) Rainsberger (4:12.62--6th) Ella Donaghu (4:14.11--7th) Mareno (4:18.48--18th) Caitlyn Collier (4:19.05--22nd)
3000 Rainsberger (9:00.62--HSR--1st) Murphy (9:10.51--3rd) Weini Kelati (9:19.91--17th)
2 Mile Mareno (10:00.44--5th) Fiona O'Keefe (10:05.63--12th) Abbey Wheeler (10:08.64--16th) Brie Oakley (10:08.89--17th) Rebecca Story (10:11.24--22nd, tied with 1 other) Molly Born (10:11.36--24th)
5000 O'Keefe (15:56.84--6th)
3000SC Flournoy (1st name unknown right now!) (10:48.68--9th)
100H Jones (12.84--HSR--1st) Alexis Duncan (12.93--3rd) Brissett (12.95--4th, tied with 1 other) Tonea Marshall (13.04--7th) Brandee Johnson (13.08--8th) Cockrell (13.17--10th, tied with 1 other)
400H McLaughlin (54.15--HSR--1st) Cockrell (55.20--2nd, tied with 1 other) Johnson (56.16--6th)
LJ Samiyah Samuels (21-1.50--9th, tied with 1 other) Taylor DeLoach (20-10.50--24th)
TJ Tara Davis (43-2--10th)
PV Baxter (14-3--3rd) Carson Dingler (13-11.25--11th, tied with 1 other) Alina McDonald (13-10.50--14th) Erika Malaspina (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Andrea Willis (13-9--15th, tied with 5 others) Margaret Ollinger (13-8.25--22nd, tied with 1 other) Makenna Caskey (13-8--24th, tied with 2 others)
SP Wilson (55-9.25--2nd) Elena Bruckner (54-7--5th) Nickolette Dunbar (52-3.75--18th)
DT Bruckner (186-10--4th) Josie Schaefer (176-3--24th)
JT Sophia Rivera (180-4--3rd) Katelyn Gochenour (171-1--11th)
HT Joy McArthur (203-8--2nd) Wilson (191-2--14th) Kamryn Brinson (187-0--17th) Courtney Jacobsen (185-11--19th)
Heptathlon Fitzgerald (5577 points--2nd) Tyra Gittens (5337--12th)
No marks were dated 2016 in the 1 Mile, 10000, or the HJ!
(Oh, what coulda been in the Mile!! With all the above-listed STUDS in the 1500, a blitz attack from those Women on the 1982 Mile HSR would have had a SRO crowd, and might have gotten televised live on ESPN!! A MONSTROUS oversight and a unique LOSS to HS historians!!)
The 2016 HS Athlete of the Year had several STRONG candidates!
And it took awhile for me to talk myself OUT of giving it to Tia Jones for her amazing 12.84--in the LOADED 100H event---as a FRESHMAN!!
It was THIS close--and I might be regretting it 5 minutes after posting!
But in the end, you have to go with someone who not only destroys the HSR---TWICE--but makes the Olympic team in doing so---and only performs somewhat below par because she got sick a week before her event began in Rio!!
For those reasons, this award goes to SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN!!
But (more than) Honorable Mention goes to Ms Jones!
Other HM's go to Rainsberger, Murphy, Baxter, Brissett, Cockrell, Cunningham, Wilson, and Fitzgerald.
Performance of the Year DOES go to Tia Jones's 12.84 in the 100H.
In a year which could easily be labeled the "Year of the Hurdles--BOTH distances!!", Jones's mark was simply stunning!!
You just don't break High School Records as a FRESHMAN!!
Yet she not only shoots that myth to pieces, she does it in an event that calls for some maturity, and learned technique--not just raw speed!!
But also give major props as POY HM's to Murphy's 1500, Rainsberger's 3000, plus to Wilson's SP and to Fitzgerald, who missed tying the HSR by ONE point in the Heptathlon!!
The prize for Event of the Year (based on number of marks on my DDD's dated this year!) SHOULD go to the PV, which led with 7 marks!!
But the 6 marks in the 100H--as noted above--included the HSR, plus several other high list placings!
The 1500 was close in this regard--also getting 6 marks, and with very high placings.
BUT---no HSR!!
So the award goes to the 100H!
The 2 Mile also got 6 DDD marks.
The Hammer Throw had 4.
Three each in the 800, 3000, 400H, and the SP.
Two apiece in the 200, 400, LJ, DT, JT, and Heptathlon!
Three Women competing as HS'ers in 2016 were Professional athletes---and one of them--Vashti Cunningham--didn't turn Pro until she'd already competed as an amateur OUTdoors.
(See my "amateur" DDD listings above!)
But AFTER turning Pro, Cunningham HJ'ed 6-5-50--becoming the first HS Pro FIELD event athlete to get a Pro mark!
Also competing as HS Pro's were 3 sprinters--Khalifa St Fort, Kaylin Whitney, and Candace Hill.
While all ran well, they didn't break any records--even if they'd be eligible to do so!!
St Fort went to the Olympics as a member of the Trinidad & Tobago team!
Whitney and Hill didn't make the US team, but did okay at the Trials!
Cunningham made the Rio team, and made the final!!
For that accomplishment, she gets my HS Pro AOY!!
Onwards to the INdoor season!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
2016 Collegiate Wrap-Up (& AOY's)
It's that time of year again.
The OUTdoor T&F season is winding down, and Cross Country & Road Racing is taking over--while we all await the start of the 2016-2017 INdoor Track and Field season.
There's still the Talence Multi's, and the fall Marathons, but generally, for Americans, OUTdoor T&F is finished for the year.
Two segments of the sport--Collegiate and High School--ended even earlier.
I follow T&FN's "rule" that the Collegiate season---whether INdoor or OUTdoor--ends with the close of the NCAA Championship meet.
And I agree that the HS season ends on August 31st, unless Seniors have already begun competing for their Collegiate team!!
For the Collegiates, if you know an athlete had a better mark during the summer--remember this rule!!
So who are Aaron K's T&F Record Book's picks for Athlete of the Year, and for Performance of the Year--for both Men and Women?
This post covers my Collegiate picks, while the next post will cover the High School scene.
One major note--even though it should be obvious to this blog's readers--is that because this blog is centered on Records & Marks, THAT is the major criteria I use for my AOY choices.
If someone breaks the Collegiate Record, and someone else has an unbeaten season (but no records!)--guess who gets my AOY!!
That said, let's get to it!
Men first.
Only Donavan Brazier broke a CR this year!!
His 1:43.55 in the 800 was sensational--and somewhat shocking--even though he'd run well in a few earlier races.
As for Class Records, there were just four.
Besides Brazier getting the Frosh Class standard, Brandon McBride's 1:44.50 got the Senior Class record.
Sam Mattis's early season Discus Throw of 221-3 is the new Senior Class record.
Ionnis Kyriazis's Javelin Throw of 268-7 took over the Soph Class record nook!
My DDD's (Double Dandy Dozen) are my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists.
I have them for World, US, Collegiate, and HS--INdoors & OUTdoors, Men & Women.
The following are those Collegiates whose marks date from 2016--by event.
100 SJ Givans (9.96--8th, tied with 2 others)
200 Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake (19.95--7th, tied with 1 other)
800 Brazier (1:43.55--CR, 1st) McBride (1:44.50--3rd) Shaquille Walker (1:44.99--15th)
1500 Clay Murphy (3:36.38--8th) Mason Ferlic (3:36.65--12th)
5000 Sean McGorty (13:24.25--20th)
10000 Futsam Zienasellassie (27:52.70--20th)
HJ Avion Jones (7-7--21st, tied with 6 others)
LJ Stefan Brits (26-11.75--24th)
PV Devin King (18-8.25--18th, tied with 6 others)
SP Filip Mihaljevic (67-11.50--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Mattis (221-3--2nd)
JT Kyiazis (268-7--8th, tied with 1 other) Curtis Thompson (265-10--13th)
HT Nick Miller (252-4--7th, tied with 1 other) Rudy Winkler (246-5--13th) Sam Donnelly (243-11--18th)
Decathlon Lindon Victor (8446 points--4th) Zach Ziemek (8300--8th)
4X100 Relay Houston (38.44--6th School) Western Kentucky (38.60--13th) North Carolina State (39.41--24th)
4X400 Relay Texas (3:02.18--22nd)
Some events are not listed!
They simply did not have any marks made in 2016!!
They were the 400, 1 Mile, 3000SC, 110H, 400H, and the TJ!!
Just 25 Men's marks made my Collegiate DDD this OUTdoor season!!
My 2016 Collegiate Men's Athlete of the Year is DONAVAN BRAZIER!!
Honorable Mentions go to McBride, Mattis, Victor, Mitchell-Blake, and Miller!
The Performance of the Year was a bit tougher to choose.
If Victor had scored just 20 more points--breaking the CR--he probably would have won!
But Brazier's mark gained added weight, since it came while a Freshman!!
The Meet of the Year (for Collegiates) was NOT the NCAA!!
It was the SEC meet, as it broke 3 of its Meet Records, while the NCAA got just one--even though it was Brazier's CR!!
The Event of the Year is measured by which event saw the most marks on my DDD's for the year.
Three events tied, with 3 marks each.
They were the 800, HT, and the 4X100 Relay.
With 2 each were the 1500, JT, and the Decathlon!
I'll give the edge to the 800, as it had the CR, and 2 other good marks!
The Women--as has been the case of late--did much better!
Their Collegiate Record list for 2016 OUTdoors numbers five!!
Courtney Okolo nabbed the 400 mark with her 49.71--the first sub-50!
Courtney Frerichs got the 3000SC standard with her 9:24.41.
Keturah Orji got the CR--as well as the American Record!!--in the TJ with her 47-8.
Raven Saunders sent the Shot Put standard out to 63-5.
And Maggie Malone's 204-0 Javelin Throw is the new CR there!
Class Records were broken by ten women!!
The new Frosh Class records are Arianna Washington's 22.21 in the 200, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn's 100H mark of 12.69, and Lexi Weeks's PV height of 15-2.75.
The Soph Class Record Book was changed by Hannah Cunliffe's 10.99 in the 100, Orji's 47-8 in the TJ, Saunders's SP of 63-5, and by Maggie Ewen's Hammer Throw of 231-3.
No Junior Class records went down.
The Senior Class saw Okolo's 49.71, Frerich's 9:24.41, and Malone's 204-0 JT enter the books!
The DDD list for the Women is long!!
100 Cunliffe (10.99--8th)
200 Washington (22.21--4th, tied with 1 other) Deajah Stevens (22.25--9th) Felicia Brown (22.26--10th)
400 Okolo (49.71--CR--1st) Taylor Ellis-Watson (50.78--20th)
800 Olivia Baker (2:01.02--15th, tied with 1 other)
1500 Marta Freitas (4:09.53--13th) Elise Cranny (4:09.54--14th)
5000 Dominique Scott (15:25.10--18th)
10000 Scott (31:56.84--6th) Courtney Smith (32:08.32--9th) Chelsea Blaase (32:08.39--10th)
3000SC Frerichs (9:24.41--CR--1st) Jessica Kamilos (9:41.28--12th) Elinor Purrier (9:47.17--22nd)
100H Camacho-Quinn (12.69--12th) Ebony Morrison (12.76--23rd, tied with 1 other)
400H Shamier Little (53.51--2nd) Kiah Seymour (54.67--18th) Sage Watson (54.82--20th) Autumne Franklin (54.91--22nd) Chanice Chase (54.94--24th)
HJ Akela Jones (6-4.75--7th, tied with 5 others)
TJ Orji (47-8--CR & AR--1st) Simone Charley (45-2.25--20th)
PV L Weeks (15-2.75--3rd) Megan Clark (15-2.25--4th) Alysha Newman (15-1--6th, tied with 1 other) Morgann LeLeux (14-10--9th) Annie Rhodes (14-7.25--18th, tied with 5 others)
SP Saunders (63-5--CR--1st) Kelsey Card (60-10.75--7th, tied with 1 other) Chase Ealey (59-0.25--21st, tied with 1 other) Nikki Okwelogu (58-9.25--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Card (208-5--7th) Hannah Carson (203-4--12th) Kellion Knibb (201-7--13th) Valerie Allman (201-6--14th) Tera Novy (200-5--15th)
JT M Malone (204-0--CR--1st) Carson (200-9--4th) Avione Allgood (192-11--11th) Marija Vucevenic (189-8--14th) Audrey Malone (187-2--18th)
HT DeAnna Price (238-5--2nd) Ewen (231-3--6th)
Heptathlon Kendell Williams (6225 points--6th) Amelie Iuel (6011--24th)
4X100 Relay UO (42.68--3rd School) USC (42.90--8th) San Diego State (43.55--21st)
4X400 Relay Arkansas (3:25.48--4th) Florida (3:26.28--6th) USC (3:26.73--9th) Kentucky (3:28.45--17th)
Two events had ZERO marks from 2016.
They were the 1 Mile and the LJ!!
55 marks made my Women's DDD's--more than double the Men's total!!
With FIVE Collegiate Records, my AOY was VERY difficult to choose!!
ANY Collegiate Record should be considered great.
But when said CR also breaks the American Record--well, that settles THAT!!
Thus, my 2016 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year is KETURAH ORJI.
(And remember, that's not even counting what happened AFTER the NCAA meet!!)
Honorable Mentions go to the other 4 CR breakers--Okolo, Saunders, M Malone, and Frerichs!!
But I would add Shamier Little, Lexi Weeks, Megan Clark, Kendell Williams, and Kelsey Card to the list of HM's!
The Performance of the Year is no mystery!
Orji's 47-8.
HM's go to Okolo's 49.71, Frerichs's 9:24.41, Saunders's 63-5, and M Malone's 204-0.
The Big 10 Conference meet saw 6 Meet Records going down!
Four each fell at the SEC, PAC-12, and the ACC.
But while the NCAA Championships didn't quite match the Big 10's total, their 5 MR's included that TJ American Record of Orji's--thus giving them the edge for Meet of the Year!
For Event of the Year, I'm giving that to the Javelin Throw, as its total of 5 DDD marks included the CR!!
Also getting 5 marks were the 400H, PV, and DT!
The SP and the 4X400 relay saw 4 marks on the list from 2016.
With 3 each were the 200, 10000, 3000SC, and the 4X100 Relay.
Two each went to the 400, 1500, 100H, TJ, HT, and the Heptathlon.
I know--as I noted earlier-- that several athletes had better marks during the summer--AFTER the NCAA meet!
In my various reports, I made note of the fact that IF so-and-so mark had been accomplished at the Championship meet--or before--that mark would be the CR--or at least higher on my list!!
But rules are rules!
And while I may not like the rule--I've chosen to incorporate it into my list-making and record-keeping.
It's different for High Schoolers, as they have several HS, or HS AGE--oriented meets held during the summer--AFTER the acknowledged HS Championship meet sponsored by New Balance!!
For Collegiates--because many Seniors "turn Pro" after the NCAA's, or because many are far older than their grade level permits--it would be unfair to allow marks made after the NCAA's to count in my AOY selections, or in my "Collegiate" Record Book!!
I'll have my HS Wrap-Up posted soon--probably early tomorrow!!
The OUTdoor T&F season is winding down, and Cross Country & Road Racing is taking over--while we all await the start of the 2016-2017 INdoor Track and Field season.
There's still the Talence Multi's, and the fall Marathons, but generally, for Americans, OUTdoor T&F is finished for the year.
Two segments of the sport--Collegiate and High School--ended even earlier.
I follow T&FN's "rule" that the Collegiate season---whether INdoor or OUTdoor--ends with the close of the NCAA Championship meet.
And I agree that the HS season ends on August 31st, unless Seniors have already begun competing for their Collegiate team!!
For the Collegiates, if you know an athlete had a better mark during the summer--remember this rule!!
So who are Aaron K's T&F Record Book's picks for Athlete of the Year, and for Performance of the Year--for both Men and Women?
This post covers my Collegiate picks, while the next post will cover the High School scene.
One major note--even though it should be obvious to this blog's readers--is that because this blog is centered on Records & Marks, THAT is the major criteria I use for my AOY choices.
If someone breaks the Collegiate Record, and someone else has an unbeaten season (but no records!)--guess who gets my AOY!!
That said, let's get to it!
Men first.
Only Donavan Brazier broke a CR this year!!
His 1:43.55 in the 800 was sensational--and somewhat shocking--even though he'd run well in a few earlier races.
As for Class Records, there were just four.
Besides Brazier getting the Frosh Class standard, Brandon McBride's 1:44.50 got the Senior Class record.
Sam Mattis's early season Discus Throw of 221-3 is the new Senior Class record.
Ionnis Kyriazis's Javelin Throw of 268-7 took over the Soph Class record nook!
My DDD's (Double Dandy Dozen) are my Top 24 All-Time Performers lists.
I have them for World, US, Collegiate, and HS--INdoors & OUTdoors, Men & Women.
The following are those Collegiates whose marks date from 2016--by event.
100 SJ Givans (9.96--8th, tied with 2 others)
200 Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake (19.95--7th, tied with 1 other)
800 Brazier (1:43.55--CR, 1st) McBride (1:44.50--3rd) Shaquille Walker (1:44.99--15th)
1500 Clay Murphy (3:36.38--8th) Mason Ferlic (3:36.65--12th)
5000 Sean McGorty (13:24.25--20th)
10000 Futsam Zienasellassie (27:52.70--20th)
HJ Avion Jones (7-7--21st, tied with 6 others)
LJ Stefan Brits (26-11.75--24th)
PV Devin King (18-8.25--18th, tied with 6 others)
SP Filip Mihaljevic (67-11.50--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Mattis (221-3--2nd)
JT Kyiazis (268-7--8th, tied with 1 other) Curtis Thompson (265-10--13th)
HT Nick Miller (252-4--7th, tied with 1 other) Rudy Winkler (246-5--13th) Sam Donnelly (243-11--18th)
Decathlon Lindon Victor (8446 points--4th) Zach Ziemek (8300--8th)
4X100 Relay Houston (38.44--6th School) Western Kentucky (38.60--13th) North Carolina State (39.41--24th)
4X400 Relay Texas (3:02.18--22nd)
Some events are not listed!
They simply did not have any marks made in 2016!!
They were the 400, 1 Mile, 3000SC, 110H, 400H, and the TJ!!
Just 25 Men's marks made my Collegiate DDD this OUTdoor season!!
My 2016 Collegiate Men's Athlete of the Year is DONAVAN BRAZIER!!
Honorable Mentions go to McBride, Mattis, Victor, Mitchell-Blake, and Miller!
The Performance of the Year was a bit tougher to choose.
If Victor had scored just 20 more points--breaking the CR--he probably would have won!
But Brazier's mark gained added weight, since it came while a Freshman!!
The Meet of the Year (for Collegiates) was NOT the NCAA!!
It was the SEC meet, as it broke 3 of its Meet Records, while the NCAA got just one--even though it was Brazier's CR!!
The Event of the Year is measured by which event saw the most marks on my DDD's for the year.
Three events tied, with 3 marks each.
They were the 800, HT, and the 4X100 Relay.
With 2 each were the 1500, JT, and the Decathlon!
I'll give the edge to the 800, as it had the CR, and 2 other good marks!
The Women--as has been the case of late--did much better!
Their Collegiate Record list for 2016 OUTdoors numbers five!!
Courtney Okolo nabbed the 400 mark with her 49.71--the first sub-50!
Courtney Frerichs got the 3000SC standard with her 9:24.41.
Keturah Orji got the CR--as well as the American Record!!--in the TJ with her 47-8.
Raven Saunders sent the Shot Put standard out to 63-5.
And Maggie Malone's 204-0 Javelin Throw is the new CR there!
Class Records were broken by ten women!!
The new Frosh Class records are Arianna Washington's 22.21 in the 200, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn's 100H mark of 12.69, and Lexi Weeks's PV height of 15-2.75.
The Soph Class Record Book was changed by Hannah Cunliffe's 10.99 in the 100, Orji's 47-8 in the TJ, Saunders's SP of 63-5, and by Maggie Ewen's Hammer Throw of 231-3.
No Junior Class records went down.
The Senior Class saw Okolo's 49.71, Frerich's 9:24.41, and Malone's 204-0 JT enter the books!
The DDD list for the Women is long!!
100 Cunliffe (10.99--8th)
200 Washington (22.21--4th, tied with 1 other) Deajah Stevens (22.25--9th) Felicia Brown (22.26--10th)
400 Okolo (49.71--CR--1st) Taylor Ellis-Watson (50.78--20th)
800 Olivia Baker (2:01.02--15th, tied with 1 other)
1500 Marta Freitas (4:09.53--13th) Elise Cranny (4:09.54--14th)
5000 Dominique Scott (15:25.10--18th)
10000 Scott (31:56.84--6th) Courtney Smith (32:08.32--9th) Chelsea Blaase (32:08.39--10th)
3000SC Frerichs (9:24.41--CR--1st) Jessica Kamilos (9:41.28--12th) Elinor Purrier (9:47.17--22nd)
100H Camacho-Quinn (12.69--12th) Ebony Morrison (12.76--23rd, tied with 1 other)
400H Shamier Little (53.51--2nd) Kiah Seymour (54.67--18th) Sage Watson (54.82--20th) Autumne Franklin (54.91--22nd) Chanice Chase (54.94--24th)
HJ Akela Jones (6-4.75--7th, tied with 5 others)
TJ Orji (47-8--CR & AR--1st) Simone Charley (45-2.25--20th)
PV L Weeks (15-2.75--3rd) Megan Clark (15-2.25--4th) Alysha Newman (15-1--6th, tied with 1 other) Morgann LeLeux (14-10--9th) Annie Rhodes (14-7.25--18th, tied with 5 others)
SP Saunders (63-5--CR--1st) Kelsey Card (60-10.75--7th, tied with 1 other) Chase Ealey (59-0.25--21st, tied with 1 other) Nikki Okwelogu (58-9.25--23rd, tied with 1 other)
DT Card (208-5--7th) Hannah Carson (203-4--12th) Kellion Knibb (201-7--13th) Valerie Allman (201-6--14th) Tera Novy (200-5--15th)
JT M Malone (204-0--CR--1st) Carson (200-9--4th) Avione Allgood (192-11--11th) Marija Vucevenic (189-8--14th) Audrey Malone (187-2--18th)
HT DeAnna Price (238-5--2nd) Ewen (231-3--6th)
Heptathlon Kendell Williams (6225 points--6th) Amelie Iuel (6011--24th)
4X100 Relay UO (42.68--3rd School) USC (42.90--8th) San Diego State (43.55--21st)
4X400 Relay Arkansas (3:25.48--4th) Florida (3:26.28--6th) USC (3:26.73--9th) Kentucky (3:28.45--17th)
Two events had ZERO marks from 2016.
They were the 1 Mile and the LJ!!
55 marks made my Women's DDD's--more than double the Men's total!!
With FIVE Collegiate Records, my AOY was VERY difficult to choose!!
ANY Collegiate Record should be considered great.
But when said CR also breaks the American Record--well, that settles THAT!!
Thus, my 2016 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year is KETURAH ORJI.
(And remember, that's not even counting what happened AFTER the NCAA meet!!)
Honorable Mentions go to the other 4 CR breakers--Okolo, Saunders, M Malone, and Frerichs!!
But I would add Shamier Little, Lexi Weeks, Megan Clark, Kendell Williams, and Kelsey Card to the list of HM's!
The Performance of the Year is no mystery!
Orji's 47-8.
HM's go to Okolo's 49.71, Frerichs's 9:24.41, Saunders's 63-5, and M Malone's 204-0.
The Big 10 Conference meet saw 6 Meet Records going down!
Four each fell at the SEC, PAC-12, and the ACC.
But while the NCAA Championships didn't quite match the Big 10's total, their 5 MR's included that TJ American Record of Orji's--thus giving them the edge for Meet of the Year!
For Event of the Year, I'm giving that to the Javelin Throw, as its total of 5 DDD marks included the CR!!
Also getting 5 marks were the 400H, PV, and DT!
The SP and the 4X400 relay saw 4 marks on the list from 2016.
With 3 each were the 200, 10000, 3000SC, and the 4X100 Relay.
Two each went to the 400, 1500, 100H, TJ, HT, and the Heptathlon.
I know--as I noted earlier-- that several athletes had better marks during the summer--AFTER the NCAA meet!
In my various reports, I made note of the fact that IF so-and-so mark had been accomplished at the Championship meet--or before--that mark would be the CR--or at least higher on my list!!
But rules are rules!
And while I may not like the rule--I've chosen to incorporate it into my list-making and record-keeping.
It's different for High Schoolers, as they have several HS, or HS AGE--oriented meets held during the summer--AFTER the acknowledged HS Championship meet sponsored by New Balance!!
For Collegiates--because many Seniors "turn Pro" after the NCAA's, or because many are far older than their grade level permits--it would be unfair to allow marks made after the NCAA's to count in my AOY selections, or in my "Collegiate" Record Book!!
I'll have my HS Wrap-Up posted soon--probably early tomorrow!!
Friday, September 9, 2016
Two More AR's for Women
It's a shutout (thus far), to use baseball terminology!
Eight--zip!
That is, Women of the United States have now broken EIGHT American Records in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
The Men?
Nada.
To Michelle Carter (SP), Keturah Orji (TJ), Gwen Berry (HT), Kendra Harrison (100H---Also the WORLD Record!!), Emma Coburn (3000SC), and Molly Huddle (10000), add Sandi Morris (Her own PV mark!) and Shannon Rowbury (5000)!!
The "predicted" World Records by Almaz Ayana and Consesius Kipruto never materialized.
Either the pacing was poor, or they just never REALLY intended to go after them!
However, one "prediction"--if you will--did come to fruition!
Morris had said she was in the best shape of her life, and wanted to go after Yelena Isinbayeva's Meet Record in Brussels..
That was 16-2, and if Morris was successful, she would not only break Isi's mark, but her own AR and OUTdoor PR, which matched Isi's mark!
Coming in at 14-10 with a miss, eyebrows rose.
Then she made her 2nd try, and successfully cleared 15-0.25 and 15-2.75 on first, then needed two at 15-5, before hitting her next 4 heights on first efforts--15-7.25, 15-9.75, 16-0, and 16-2.50--the latter of which was the Meet and Personal Record breaker!
But she wasn't done!
She missed her first at 16-4.75, or 5.00!
Then she went over on second, but touched the bar, jiggling it.
Standing stock-still, hands locked in prayer, eyes looking upward, waiting.
It stayed on!
And the celebration began.
Until she had the bar raised to the World Record height of 5.07, or 16-7.50.
Not sure how close she came, but heard they weren't "bad" efforts!
In other words, 2017 could be historic for Sandi.
(As if 2016 wasn't!)
Ekaterina Stefanida made 15-7.25.
She missed once at 15-9.75, then passed the next height, to try twice at 16-2.50.
But she missed both.
For Morris, she also breaks her own Age 24 record!
She remains 2nd A-T World, and 1st A-T US.
BTW, a tweet by Becca (PoleVaultPower) says she's filed legislation with USATF that they change their rule which doesn't recognize separate AR's for OUTdoors.
As everyone knows, I've NEVER recognized USATF's rule, nor those of IAAF, if such was the case, regarding the "combining" of the seasons!
No "absolutes" here, Baby!!
Almaz Ayana's WR "try" went off-track (sic!) in the first kilometer!
The rabbit hit 2:53---already 4 seconds slower than needed---and Ayana didn't take control until another K had come and gone.
Her series of 65-68 laps couldn't get her any closer than her final time of 14:18.89, which still got the Meet Record!
Well back in 2nd, Helen Obiri PR'ed with 14:25.78.
It's the Age 26 record, and moves her from 15th A-T World to 8th!
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list, her times of 3:57.05 and 14:25.78 add to 18:22.83, which moves her from 10th to 4th.
Senbere Teferi's 14:29.82 is the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
She's 16th A-T World.
Etanesh Diro Neda was 4th, in 14:33.30.
In 5th--moving up from 8th earlier in the race--came Shannon Rowbury, time of 14:38.92.
That removes Molly Huddle's 14:42.64 as the American Record.
Shannon moves from 4th to 1st on the US list.
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list for the US, her marks of 3:56.29 and 14:38.92 add to 18:35.21, which keeps her in 1st place!
Alice Aprot (Nawawuna) ran 14:39.56, after pacing Ayana earlier--though not sure if planned!
Her Combined Event times for the 5000 and 10000 (14:39.56 and 29:53.51) add to 44:33.07--for 8th A-T.
Back in 15th came GenGen LaCaze, whose 15:06.67 was her 17th PR of 2016!!
The rest of the Van Damme meet was good--even great--but not worth extensive reporting!
Here's the rest--
Elaine Thompson blasted a 10.72 to tie SAFP's Meet Record in the 100.
She WHUPPED Dafne Schippers, who managed just 10.97!!
The Men's 200 was fast---and close!
Jamaica's Julian Forte's 19.97 beat the 19.97 of Adam Gemili, and the 19.98 of Churandy Martina--PR's for the first two.
Tim Cheruiyot upset Abdelaati Iguider and Asbel Kiprop in the 1500, time of 3:31.34.
It had begun with an 800 in 1:50+, then slowed.
In 9th came Ben Blankenship's PR of 3:34.26, which missed my US DDD by 0.11.
Erik Kynard and Natissatou Thiam took the HJ's with "LOW" jumps of 7-7.25 and 6-4.
Orlando Ortega's 13.08 beat Pascal Martinot-Legarde's 13.12 in the 110H, while Jasmin Stowers beat a slow field in a slow 12.78 in the 100H.
Cassandra Tate won the 400H in 54.47.
An unnamed person ran ahead of the Women's 400 Winner, Courtney Okolo, whose 50.51 matched 2nd placer Stephanie McPherson's time.
Shericka Jackson and Natasha Hastings finished in 50.73 and 50.84.
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.36 beat the 1:44.44 of Kipyegon Bett.
Clay Murphy faded to 7th in 1:45.15.
Only in Belgium, Liguelin Santos's 45.02 beat the Borlee family male trio, who ended in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!
In the field (besides Morris!)---
Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-10, missing both the South Africa National Record and my World DDD by 0.75 inches!!
Caterine Ibarguen TJ'ed 48-1.25, winning easily.
(Couldn't help but notice that Keturah Orji's AR from Rio would have won here!!)
Daniel Stahl took the DT with 215-10.
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP--held the day before downtown!--65-6.75 to 64-2.50!
Madera Palameika's 217-1 PR in the Javelin Throw is the National Record for Latvia, and makes her 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Barbara Spotakova was well back, hitting 209-3, while Kara Winger's 202-11 is her 2016 best!
As noted earlier, Consesius Kipruto didn't break the WR, as he SAID he wanted, running just 8:03.74.
This beat Evan Jager's 2016 best time of 8:04.01.
In 6th was Hillary Bor of the US Army, whose 8:13.68 makes him 8th A-T US.
In 7th was the 8:16.11 PR of Andy Bayer, which moves him from 18th A-T US to 13th!
In Rovereto's meet, Genzebe Dibaba's desired World Record attempt on the Mile went out the window on the 2nd lap of rabbiting, which was just 67 seconds!!
But GD being GD, she took control and still managed to become 2nd A-T World with her 4:14.30!!
She passed 1500 in 3:57.31.
It's the National Record of Ethiopia!
And the Age 25 record!
In 4th was Alexa Efraimson--seemingly recovered from whatever befell her in that 9:11 3K recently!
Her 4:27.39 (4:05.50 in the 1500 enroute) misses my US list by just 0.16 seconds!!
People said it was the "AJR", beating Polly Plumer's 4:35.24.
First, as you know, I don't DO "Junior" records.
Second, Ms Plumer's mark REMAINS the HSR!
As for Efraimson's mark, she misses the Age 19 record of Zola Budd (Pieterse) by almost ten full seconds!!
Speaking of Age records, I have no idea if Solomon Baragi's 13:24.06 in the 5000 is the Age 16 record.
But it's fast!!
On the other end of the scale is Fabrizio Donato, whose TJ of 55-6.50 smashes the Age 40 & over record!!
In Zagreb, Ryan Crouser nailed a SP distance of 73-0.25.
This beat the 72-10.50 by Tom Walsh, which breaks his own New Zealand National Record.
It also breaks his own Age 24 record!
He moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Third was Darrell Hill's 70-4.25!
In the Swedish Champs, Daniel Stahl threw the Discus a PR distance of 225-5!
The Falmouth Mile---on a track--was won by Kyle Merber in 3:58.14.
But a mistake was made in the reporting about Drew Hunter's 6th place time of 4:06.71.
They said it was his first Pro race.
Nope!
His first was his OUTdoor PR of 3:57.15, run earlier in the summer!!
(See my post about that!!)
The USATF 20000 races were taken by Len Korir in 59:15 (over Sam Chelanga's 59:16 and Christo Landry's 59:24) and Aliphine Tuliamuk's 65:47.
Second was Emily Sisson's 66:02.
That's a good time for Sisson, whose 2016 has been slow.
It's about equal to a 1:10 Half-Marathon!!
In Collegiate XC, I saw where Erin Finn whipped her Michigan teammates (and everyone else) with a 47 second win over a 5K route.
She ran as unattached, which MIGHT mean she's still redshirting---for now!!
BTW, TFRSS got it wrong--apparently--about all those great Stanford distancers "DNF'ing" at a recent XC meet.
According to Flotrack, they never even started the race!!
What's left in 2016?
There's still the Talence Multis meet, plus maybe a couple of small "meets" elsewhere.
The Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Fukuoka Marathons are upcoming, of course!
Then there's Cross Country!!
As readers of this blog know, we can expect the first dribblings of INdoor marks to come in late November!
I'll soon have my AOY reports for Collegiates and HS'ers!!
(The World and US reports come at year's end!!)
The frequency of my posts will slow drastically over the next two months---especially after my Collegiate and HS reports!!
But there's tons of stuff to talk about OFF-track (and field), and I'm sure you'll see a "rant" or 2 or 3 before Thanksgiving!!
Oh, one late item.
Reports have broken on Twitter (through fairly reliable sources!) that the young behemoth SP'er Konrad Bukowiecki has tested positive for a "stimulant".
But said stimulant apparently is NOT on the banned substances list of WADA!!
Buko of course denies taking drugs!
These are through initial reports.
I'm sure more details will soon come through!
See you soon!
Eight--zip!
That is, Women of the United States have now broken EIGHT American Records in the 2016 OUTdoor season!
The Men?
Nada.
To Michelle Carter (SP), Keturah Orji (TJ), Gwen Berry (HT), Kendra Harrison (100H---Also the WORLD Record!!), Emma Coburn (3000SC), and Molly Huddle (10000), add Sandi Morris (Her own PV mark!) and Shannon Rowbury (5000)!!
The "predicted" World Records by Almaz Ayana and Consesius Kipruto never materialized.
Either the pacing was poor, or they just never REALLY intended to go after them!
However, one "prediction"--if you will--did come to fruition!
Morris had said she was in the best shape of her life, and wanted to go after Yelena Isinbayeva's Meet Record in Brussels..
That was 16-2, and if Morris was successful, she would not only break Isi's mark, but her own AR and OUTdoor PR, which matched Isi's mark!
Coming in at 14-10 with a miss, eyebrows rose.
Then she made her 2nd try, and successfully cleared 15-0.25 and 15-2.75 on first, then needed two at 15-5, before hitting her next 4 heights on first efforts--15-7.25, 15-9.75, 16-0, and 16-2.50--the latter of which was the Meet and Personal Record breaker!
But she wasn't done!
She missed her first at 16-4.75, or 5.00!
Then she went over on second, but touched the bar, jiggling it.
Standing stock-still, hands locked in prayer, eyes looking upward, waiting.
It stayed on!
And the celebration began.
Until she had the bar raised to the World Record height of 5.07, or 16-7.50.
Not sure how close she came, but heard they weren't "bad" efforts!
In other words, 2017 could be historic for Sandi.
(As if 2016 wasn't!)
Ekaterina Stefanida made 15-7.25.
She missed once at 15-9.75, then passed the next height, to try twice at 16-2.50.
But she missed both.
For Morris, she also breaks her own Age 24 record!
She remains 2nd A-T World, and 1st A-T US.
BTW, a tweet by Becca (PoleVaultPower) says she's filed legislation with USATF that they change their rule which doesn't recognize separate AR's for OUTdoors.
As everyone knows, I've NEVER recognized USATF's rule, nor those of IAAF, if such was the case, regarding the "combining" of the seasons!
No "absolutes" here, Baby!!
Almaz Ayana's WR "try" went off-track (sic!) in the first kilometer!
The rabbit hit 2:53---already 4 seconds slower than needed---and Ayana didn't take control until another K had come and gone.
Her series of 65-68 laps couldn't get her any closer than her final time of 14:18.89, which still got the Meet Record!
Well back in 2nd, Helen Obiri PR'ed with 14:25.78.
It's the Age 26 record, and moves her from 15th A-T World to 8th!
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list, her times of 3:57.05 and 14:25.78 add to 18:22.83, which moves her from 10th to 4th.
Senbere Teferi's 14:29.82 is the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
She's 16th A-T World.
Etanesh Diro Neda was 4th, in 14:33.30.
In 5th--moving up from 8th earlier in the race--came Shannon Rowbury, time of 14:38.92.
That removes Molly Huddle's 14:42.64 as the American Record.
Shannon moves from 4th to 1st on the US list.
On my Combined Events 1500-5000 list for the US, her marks of 3:56.29 and 14:38.92 add to 18:35.21, which keeps her in 1st place!
Alice Aprot (Nawawuna) ran 14:39.56, after pacing Ayana earlier--though not sure if planned!
Her Combined Event times for the 5000 and 10000 (14:39.56 and 29:53.51) add to 44:33.07--for 8th A-T.
Back in 15th came GenGen LaCaze, whose 15:06.67 was her 17th PR of 2016!!
The rest of the Van Damme meet was good--even great--but not worth extensive reporting!
Here's the rest--
Elaine Thompson blasted a 10.72 to tie SAFP's Meet Record in the 100.
She WHUPPED Dafne Schippers, who managed just 10.97!!
The Men's 200 was fast---and close!
Jamaica's Julian Forte's 19.97 beat the 19.97 of Adam Gemili, and the 19.98 of Churandy Martina--PR's for the first two.
Tim Cheruiyot upset Abdelaati Iguider and Asbel Kiprop in the 1500, time of 3:31.34.
It had begun with an 800 in 1:50+, then slowed.
In 9th came Ben Blankenship's PR of 3:34.26, which missed my US DDD by 0.11.
Erik Kynard and Natissatou Thiam took the HJ's with "LOW" jumps of 7-7.25 and 6-4.
Orlando Ortega's 13.08 beat Pascal Martinot-Legarde's 13.12 in the 110H, while Jasmin Stowers beat a slow field in a slow 12.78 in the 100H.
Cassandra Tate won the 400H in 54.47.
An unnamed person ran ahead of the Women's 400 Winner, Courtney Okolo, whose 50.51 matched 2nd placer Stephanie McPherson's time.
Shericka Jackson and Natasha Hastings finished in 50.73 and 50.84.
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.36 beat the 1:44.44 of Kipyegon Bett.
Clay Murphy faded to 7th in 1:45.15.
Only in Belgium, Liguelin Santos's 45.02 beat the Borlee family male trio, who ended in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!
In the field (besides Morris!)---
Luvo Manyonga LJ'ed 27-10, missing both the South Africa National Record and my World DDD by 0.75 inches!!
Caterine Ibarguen TJ'ed 48-1.25, winning easily.
(Couldn't help but notice that Keturah Orji's AR from Rio would have won here!!)
Daniel Stahl took the DT with 215-10.
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP--held the day before downtown!--65-6.75 to 64-2.50!
Madera Palameika's 217-1 PR in the Javelin Throw is the National Record for Latvia, and makes her 23rd A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Barbara Spotakova was well back, hitting 209-3, while Kara Winger's 202-11 is her 2016 best!
As noted earlier, Consesius Kipruto didn't break the WR, as he SAID he wanted, running just 8:03.74.
This beat Evan Jager's 2016 best time of 8:04.01.
In 6th was Hillary Bor of the US Army, whose 8:13.68 makes him 8th A-T US.
In 7th was the 8:16.11 PR of Andy Bayer, which moves him from 18th A-T US to 13th!
In Rovereto's meet, Genzebe Dibaba's desired World Record attempt on the Mile went out the window on the 2nd lap of rabbiting, which was just 67 seconds!!
But GD being GD, she took control and still managed to become 2nd A-T World with her 4:14.30!!
She passed 1500 in 3:57.31.
It's the National Record of Ethiopia!
And the Age 25 record!
In 4th was Alexa Efraimson--seemingly recovered from whatever befell her in that 9:11 3K recently!
Her 4:27.39 (4:05.50 in the 1500 enroute) misses my US list by just 0.16 seconds!!
People said it was the "AJR", beating Polly Plumer's 4:35.24.
First, as you know, I don't DO "Junior" records.
Second, Ms Plumer's mark REMAINS the HSR!
As for Efraimson's mark, she misses the Age 19 record of Zola Budd (Pieterse) by almost ten full seconds!!
Speaking of Age records, I have no idea if Solomon Baragi's 13:24.06 in the 5000 is the Age 16 record.
But it's fast!!
On the other end of the scale is Fabrizio Donato, whose TJ of 55-6.50 smashes the Age 40 & over record!!
In Zagreb, Ryan Crouser nailed a SP distance of 73-0.25.
This beat the 72-10.50 by Tom Walsh, which breaks his own New Zealand National Record.
It also breaks his own Age 24 record!
He moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 16th, tied with 1 other!
Third was Darrell Hill's 70-4.25!
In the Swedish Champs, Daniel Stahl threw the Discus a PR distance of 225-5!
The Falmouth Mile---on a track--was won by Kyle Merber in 3:58.14.
But a mistake was made in the reporting about Drew Hunter's 6th place time of 4:06.71.
They said it was his first Pro race.
Nope!
His first was his OUTdoor PR of 3:57.15, run earlier in the summer!!
(See my post about that!!)
The USATF 20000 races were taken by Len Korir in 59:15 (over Sam Chelanga's 59:16 and Christo Landry's 59:24) and Aliphine Tuliamuk's 65:47.
Second was Emily Sisson's 66:02.
That's a good time for Sisson, whose 2016 has been slow.
It's about equal to a 1:10 Half-Marathon!!
In Collegiate XC, I saw where Erin Finn whipped her Michigan teammates (and everyone else) with a 47 second win over a 5K route.
She ran as unattached, which MIGHT mean she's still redshirting---for now!!
BTW, TFRSS got it wrong--apparently--about all those great Stanford distancers "DNF'ing" at a recent XC meet.
According to Flotrack, they never even started the race!!
What's left in 2016?
There's still the Talence Multis meet, plus maybe a couple of small "meets" elsewhere.
The Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Fukuoka Marathons are upcoming, of course!
Then there's Cross Country!!
As readers of this blog know, we can expect the first dribblings of INdoor marks to come in late November!
I'll soon have my AOY reports for Collegiates and HS'ers!!
(The World and US reports come at year's end!!)
The frequency of my posts will slow drastically over the next two months---especially after my Collegiate and HS reports!!
But there's tons of stuff to talk about OFF-track (and field), and I'm sure you'll see a "rant" or 2 or 3 before Thanksgiving!!
Oh, one late item.
Reports have broken on Twitter (through fairly reliable sources!) that the young behemoth SP'er Konrad Bukowiecki has tested positive for a "stimulant".
But said stimulant apparently is NOT on the banned substances list of WADA!!
Buko of course denies taking drugs!
These are through initial reports.
I'm sure more details will soon come through!
See you soon!
Saturday, September 3, 2016
5th Ave Mile Livens Season's End
Maybe it was expected.
It was an Olympics year, after all.
But with four post-OG DL's, I thought (hoped??) we'd see better stuff coming from these "Olympians".
Especially when one of those DL's---the one just passed--is called "Weltklasse"---or "World Class".
And that meet--the Zurich affair--HAS been just that.
But not so much this year!
Thus the delay in posting the results from there.
Luckily, today's Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC saved the day---and my ass!!
So let's begin there!
The Women's race had 5 athletes who had competed in Zurich just 2 days prior.
Consider a flight to NY and the ensuing jet lag, and we maybe shouldn't have expected such a fantastically deep & fast race!
With $1000 on the line for the leader at halfway--it appeared that Morgan Uceny sprinted ahead just before that point, although it was hard to tell from the camera's angle.
From that point, Jenny Simpson and Laura Muir battled it out almost side by side, with Muir a step behind.
Muir has been the dominant figure in the Women's 1500 on the circuit, but Simpson had just run two of her fastest times also!
Simpson just edged Muir at the tape, their times 4:18.3 and 4:18.5.
And coming on strong at the end was "Queen of the Road Mile" Heather Kampf, who also dipped under 4:20 with her 4:19.8.
If the course is accurate, that's Kampf's fastest race ever---over a Mile or 1500!!
Next came perennial 4th placer Amanda Eccleston, who also probably ran her fastest--4:20.7.
Kate Grace--normally an 800 gal--was 5th in 4:22.7, also worth faster than her 1500 PR!!
Shelby Houlihan, Nicole Sifuentes, Katie Mackey, and Emma Coburn all were under 4:24!!
If you thought the Women's race was close (and a bit of an upset!), the Men shocked the crowd even more.
The Olympic 1500 Gold winner Matthew Centrowitz was favored, but he'd have to deal with 800 man Clay Murphy.
Bearded Ben Blankenship won the Grand at the Half, and then fell back a bit, with Centro just ahead!
Then Colby Alexander gave chase, running to Centro's left.
It appeared to be a two-man dash for the cash!
In fact, Centro--in the lead--checked his left side-view mirror right before the line.
He was going to beat Alexander.
And he did!
BUT---he shoulda looked to his RIGHT!!!
Sprinting like Usain Bolt, Eric Jenkins swept past him on the OTHER side, his 3:49.5 nipping Centro's 3:49.6.
Believe me, they weren't even a tenth apart!!
Alexander finished in 3:50.3!
Murphy was another 2 seconds back--3:52.3, with Charles Philibut-Thiboutout next in 3:52.8.
Then came Chris O'Hare, Ford Palmer, Blankenship, and Leo Manzano, all sub 3:55.
Well, let's see what Zurich DID have to offer!
The Women's PV was held in the train station the night before--so was an INdoor event!!
Holly Bradshaw and Sandi Morris both reached 15-7.25, with Bradshaw the winner!
The Men's PV was held OUTdoors the next day!
Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie both jumped 19-4.25, Kendricks the winner.
Both missed their tries at 19-8.50!
Thiago Braz Da Silva was 3rd with 19-2.
Another close contest came in the Women's LJ, with Brittney Reese's 22-9.75 prevailing over Ivana Spanovic's 22-9!
Sandra Perkovic won the DT with a good 224-6.
Ruth Beitia again took the HJ with a 6-5 mark.
She then tried 3 times at 6-7.50!!
Shamier Little found a little (sic!) bit of redemption with her 53.97 win in the 400H over Sara Petersen's 54.22.
The Men's 5000--promoted as a VERY fast race--was a disappointment!
They flew the first 1000 in 2:34, then started jogging.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won in 13:14.82.
Paul Chelimo and Evan Jager were 2nd and 3rd, with Ageless Bernard Lagat a decent 6th in 13:19.73!
Ryan Hill was 9th a second or so behind Lagat!
Tom Walsh continued his hot streak, again breaking his own National Record of New Zealand in the SP--mark of 72-10.
He moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 17th, where he's tied with 2 others!
Ryan Crouser's 72-2.25 wasn't bad in 2nd!
The Women's 200 was a doozy--NOT a snoozer!!
Waiting for the gun were 3 of the best ever--Allyson Felix, Dafne Schippers, and Elaine Thompson!
Schippers appeared ahead coming off the curve, with Thompson right there, and Felix looking good.
But ET stretched her legs just a bit more--edging Schippers for the win--21.85 to 21.86!!
Felix ran strong, her 22.02 in 3rd not an embarrassment!!
This one has been, and will be talked about through the winter doldrums!!
The Women's Metric Mile produced a shock winner--and perhaps a DQ-able offence!!
Laura Muir had run 3:55.22, and apart from the dangerous Faith Kipyegon, appeared to be the woman to beat!
When the rabbit left, it was Muir in front, with Kipyegon and Jenny Simpson right there.
Sifan Hassan used the 2nd lane to move up to do battle, while American Record holder Shannon Rowbury hugged the rail.
Off the final curve, Muir drifted wide, leaving the door open for Rowbury's charge, while Simpson and Hassan were back a ways, and Kipyegon was---heh--gone!
Muir stayed ahead until JUST before the line, when Rowbury flew by (Remember Molly Huddle and Emily Infeld in Beijing, except here, Muir wasn't yet celebrating!!).
At that point, Shannon's right arm seemed to jab Muir, and in fact HIT her--seeming to stop Muir in her tracks, while Rowbury was declared the winner by 0.07, 3:57.78 to 3:57.85!!
There's (last I saw!) six pages of commentary on the Let's Run Forum, most of it saying Rowbury should have been DQ'ed!!
Even the more "sane" T&FN MB people agreed, for the most part!
But Muir, having won the DL's $40G's prize, didn't file a protest, so the result remains as is!
Hassan took 3rd in 3:58.43 over Simpson's 3:58.54, and Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.63.
Also finishing in front of Kipyegon's 4:01.86 in 7th was Besu Sado's PR of 3:59.47!
Another race was controversial, but for different reasons.
That Women's 2-lapper!!
The first 3 across the line will remain unnamed!
And you know why--and who they are!
But a great race was happening for the WIN--with Joanna Jozwik's 1:58.21 nipping the solid PR of Kate Grace--1:58.28!
Grace moves from 23rd A-T US to 19th!!
Melissa Bishop, who was the best and most consistent all year, ran 1:58.84!
Ruth Jebet's 9:07.00 win in the 3000SC got her the Meet Record!
Hyvin Kiyeng was 2nd in 9:10.15.
But Emma Coburn wasn't close, even though her 9:17.42 took 3rd.
Colleen Quigley and GenGen LaCaze had bad hair days, running over 15 and 21 seconds slower than their respective recent PR's!!
In other events, Asefa Powell took the 100 in 9.94.
Kerron Clement won the 400H in 48.72.
Kendra Harrison won again, her time a slowish 12.63.
Cindy Ofili and Dawn Harper-Nelson followed in 12.70 and 12.73.
Christian Taylor took the TJ with 58-4.75.
It also got him the Weltklasse Meet Record!!
LaShawn Merritt cruised to the 400 win in 44.64 over Bralon Taplin's 44.70.
Jakub Vadlijch's 286-4 took the Javelin Throw over Thomas Rohler's 284-0.
Jamaica's 41.65 took the meet-ending 4X100 Relay from the United States, who finished well back, in 43.30!
That is, until the Americans were DQ'ed for passing out of the zone!
And it apparently was Allyson Felix's fault!!
More hand-wringing about US Relay disasters!!
Oh, almost forgot!!
Anita Wlodarczyk SHATTERED her own World Record---AGAIN!!!
Ho hum.
Kidding aside, this woman is simply amazing!!
At the Skolimowska Memorial, she set the Hammer sailing out to 272-3, or 82.98 metric!
She also breaks her own National Record of Poland, and her own Age 31 record!
Her series wasn't bad either!
Besides the 272-3, she also threw 263-6, 266-7, AND 268-3!!
Pawel Fajdek returned to form, also winning with a toss of 270-7!!
The Hoka One One Mile in Long Island (NY) were taken by David Torrence in 3:54.99, and Amanda Eccleston in 4:26.87.
Lauren Johnson and Shannon Osika ran in the 4:28's!
Some Young Un's news!
I may have mentioned this in an earlier post---too lazy to check!!--but Ty Cooper continued his HOT season of Frosh Class record-smashing at the AAU Junior Olympics!!
He TRIPLED in 10.36 (a PR, and 0.01 off the Frosh Class record!), 20.62 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record), and 45.23, which simply obliterated his old Frosh Class record by a whopping 0.31 seconds!!
And he apparently ran all three finals within a four hour span of time!!
ADDED hours later---
I DID mention Cooper's triple in an earlier post.
But not completely!
In my Rio post called "Four Fabulous Finals", I said he tripled, and that his 45.23 moved him to 8th A-T HS, and shattered his own Frosh Class record.
But I didn't list his times for the 100 or 200, so those are new!
Sorry for the repeat, but always striving for accuracy!
Also at that meet, Tyra Gittens scored 5337 points in the Heptathlon, making her 12th A-T HS!!
At the USATF Junior Olympics, INdoor Frosh 400 sensation Brian Herron ran a PR of 46.30.
If not for Cooper, that would be BIG news---or at least bigger than it is now!!
Alina McDonald PV'ed 13-10.50, to become 14th A-T HS!
Berlin's ISTAF meet, once a very important Invitational, but now an IWC meet, produced a few decent marks.
Bernard Lagat says he's now retired from track racing, after taking 2nd in the 3000 to Augustine Choge's 7:43.00 winner, his time being a not-bad-for-Age-41, 7:43.63!!
His time was only 0.88 slower than his 2015 Age 40 & over record!!
David Rudisha won the 800 in 1:43.31 over Kipyegon Bett's 1:43.76!
Two nameless people finished in front of Eunice Sum's 1:57.95 winner in the Women's 800!
Joanna Jozwik and Lynsey Sharp were next in 1:58.20 and 1:58.31.
Celliphine Chespol took a sluggish 3000SC in 9:25.49.
Speaking of Ageless Wonders, Kim Collins WON the 100 in 10.07, beating guys 10 and more years younger!!
David Omoregie's 13.24 prevailed over Pascal Martinot-Legarde's own 13.24, separated by hairs!
Cindy Roleder won the 100H in 12.65, beating some good ladies.
Jasmin Stowers took 2nd in 12.72, with Phylicia George next in 12.74, then Dawn Harper-Nelson in 12.76, with Tiffany Porter running 12.79 in 5th!
Johannes Vetter produced a Javelin Throw measuring 293-10, which makes him 16th A-T World!
Julian Weber threw 289-8, while Thomas Rohler was further behind!
Christina Obergfoll's 210-11 took the Women's JT!
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP, her 64-6.75 beating Val's 64-5.
Well, folks, don't look now, but CROSS COUNTRY has snuck up on us!!
While most of the results I've seen so far haven't included many "names", the San Francisco Invitational was interesting for its list of DNF's!!
While Cal's Trent Brandel was winning the Men's 8K race in 24:21, Sean McGorty, Grant Fisher, and Kai Benedict were listed as being DNF's!
I don't know if they served as "rabbits" for their teammates, or whether they had problems, but a DNF isn't what we expect from guys like these so early in the season!
And the Women's race had an even longer roster of DNF's!!
They included Jordyn Colter, Fiona O'Keefe, Ella Donaghu, Christine Aragon, Sarah Walker, and Hannah DeBalsi!!
WHY???
BTW, Vanessa Fraser and Elise Cranny went 1-2, both given the same time of 20:52.3 for the 6K course.
Right behind them came Charlotte Taylor in 20:52.4.
Bethan Knights of Cal was 4th about 10 seconds later!
A few new faces to watch for MIGHT be---
Karis Joshen, a Senior at Texas A&M, who won a 4.1K race in 13:50.4 by a big margin!
Cameron Villereal (an A&M Senior), who took the Men's 6K in 18:18.1.
Andrew Schille, a Northern Kentucky Soph, who won a 6K in 18:14.8.
And watch also for Lainey Studebaker, who revved her engines (Pardon the lame pun!!) to a 6K win in 20:53.8.
Caroline Alcorta also won easily.
As did Katie Michta!
Wait, Katie MICHTA---the WALKER???
Yes, THAT Katie Michta!
I was so surprised seeing her as the WINNER (She's a Molloy College Junior!) over 4K--that I tweeted her about that.
She replied, laughing, saying she "gets that all the time", and is definitely continuing in RaceWalking, while being a "proud runner" for Molloy!!
(But what are her TRACK times??)
One final XC-related item.
The Belmont Invitational in Tennessee--where Lipscomb College opened their season--did NOT include the name of Kayla Montgomery in its results---where the "entire" Lipscomb Women's squad ran!
I know she had an MS relapse about a year ago.
But last I heard, she had run a road 5000 race--or at least it SEEMED that was the case, based on a Facebook post I saw about it--and was training hard.
She's still on Lipscomb's roster--a Junior now!---so I'm curious why she didn't run!
And whether she WILL compete this year!!
I wish her the very best, and will report anything I find out!
One more Diamond League meet to go---Brussels' Van Damme, 5 days from now!
Almaz Ayana will race the 5000.
She's "expected" to try for the World Record!!
And there's lots of other greats there too!
Hopefully, they'll let it rip for that one final push to keep 2016 OUTdoors a Record-smashing year!!
Will see you then.
I'll also tell you my planned schedule for the remainder of 2016!
It was an Olympics year, after all.
But with four post-OG DL's, I thought (hoped??) we'd see better stuff coming from these "Olympians".
Especially when one of those DL's---the one just passed--is called "Weltklasse"---or "World Class".
And that meet--the Zurich affair--HAS been just that.
But not so much this year!
Thus the delay in posting the results from there.
Luckily, today's Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC saved the day---and my ass!!
So let's begin there!
The Women's race had 5 athletes who had competed in Zurich just 2 days prior.
Consider a flight to NY and the ensuing jet lag, and we maybe shouldn't have expected such a fantastically deep & fast race!
With $1000 on the line for the leader at halfway--it appeared that Morgan Uceny sprinted ahead just before that point, although it was hard to tell from the camera's angle.
From that point, Jenny Simpson and Laura Muir battled it out almost side by side, with Muir a step behind.
Muir has been the dominant figure in the Women's 1500 on the circuit, but Simpson had just run two of her fastest times also!
Simpson just edged Muir at the tape, their times 4:18.3 and 4:18.5.
And coming on strong at the end was "Queen of the Road Mile" Heather Kampf, who also dipped under 4:20 with her 4:19.8.
If the course is accurate, that's Kampf's fastest race ever---over a Mile or 1500!!
Next came perennial 4th placer Amanda Eccleston, who also probably ran her fastest--4:20.7.
Kate Grace--normally an 800 gal--was 5th in 4:22.7, also worth faster than her 1500 PR!!
Shelby Houlihan, Nicole Sifuentes, Katie Mackey, and Emma Coburn all were under 4:24!!
If you thought the Women's race was close (and a bit of an upset!), the Men shocked the crowd even more.
The Olympic 1500 Gold winner Matthew Centrowitz was favored, but he'd have to deal with 800 man Clay Murphy.
Bearded Ben Blankenship won the Grand at the Half, and then fell back a bit, with Centro just ahead!
Then Colby Alexander gave chase, running to Centro's left.
It appeared to be a two-man dash for the cash!
In fact, Centro--in the lead--checked his left side-view mirror right before the line.
He was going to beat Alexander.
And he did!
BUT---he shoulda looked to his RIGHT!!!
Sprinting like Usain Bolt, Eric Jenkins swept past him on the OTHER side, his 3:49.5 nipping Centro's 3:49.6.
Believe me, they weren't even a tenth apart!!
Alexander finished in 3:50.3!
Murphy was another 2 seconds back--3:52.3, with Charles Philibut-Thiboutout next in 3:52.8.
Then came Chris O'Hare, Ford Palmer, Blankenship, and Leo Manzano, all sub 3:55.
Well, let's see what Zurich DID have to offer!
The Women's PV was held in the train station the night before--so was an INdoor event!!
Holly Bradshaw and Sandi Morris both reached 15-7.25, with Bradshaw the winner!
The Men's PV was held OUTdoors the next day!
Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie both jumped 19-4.25, Kendricks the winner.
Both missed their tries at 19-8.50!
Thiago Braz Da Silva was 3rd with 19-2.
Another close contest came in the Women's LJ, with Brittney Reese's 22-9.75 prevailing over Ivana Spanovic's 22-9!
Sandra Perkovic won the DT with a good 224-6.
Ruth Beitia again took the HJ with a 6-5 mark.
She then tried 3 times at 6-7.50!!
Shamier Little found a little (sic!) bit of redemption with her 53.97 win in the 400H over Sara Petersen's 54.22.
The Men's 5000--promoted as a VERY fast race--was a disappointment!
They flew the first 1000 in 2:34, then started jogging.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won in 13:14.82.
Paul Chelimo and Evan Jager were 2nd and 3rd, with Ageless Bernard Lagat a decent 6th in 13:19.73!
Ryan Hill was 9th a second or so behind Lagat!
Tom Walsh continued his hot streak, again breaking his own National Record of New Zealand in the SP--mark of 72-10.
He moves from 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 17th, where he's tied with 2 others!
Ryan Crouser's 72-2.25 wasn't bad in 2nd!
The Women's 200 was a doozy--NOT a snoozer!!
Waiting for the gun were 3 of the best ever--Allyson Felix, Dafne Schippers, and Elaine Thompson!
Schippers appeared ahead coming off the curve, with Thompson right there, and Felix looking good.
But ET stretched her legs just a bit more--edging Schippers for the win--21.85 to 21.86!!
Felix ran strong, her 22.02 in 3rd not an embarrassment!!
This one has been, and will be talked about through the winter doldrums!!
The Women's Metric Mile produced a shock winner--and perhaps a DQ-able offence!!
Laura Muir had run 3:55.22, and apart from the dangerous Faith Kipyegon, appeared to be the woman to beat!
When the rabbit left, it was Muir in front, with Kipyegon and Jenny Simpson right there.
Sifan Hassan used the 2nd lane to move up to do battle, while American Record holder Shannon Rowbury hugged the rail.
Off the final curve, Muir drifted wide, leaving the door open for Rowbury's charge, while Simpson and Hassan were back a ways, and Kipyegon was---heh--gone!
Muir stayed ahead until JUST before the line, when Rowbury flew by (Remember Molly Huddle and Emily Infeld in Beijing, except here, Muir wasn't yet celebrating!!).
At that point, Shannon's right arm seemed to jab Muir, and in fact HIT her--seeming to stop Muir in her tracks, while Rowbury was declared the winner by 0.07, 3:57.78 to 3:57.85!!
There's (last I saw!) six pages of commentary on the Let's Run Forum, most of it saying Rowbury should have been DQ'ed!!
Even the more "sane" T&FN MB people agreed, for the most part!
But Muir, having won the DL's $40G's prize, didn't file a protest, so the result remains as is!
Hassan took 3rd in 3:58.43 over Simpson's 3:58.54, and Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.63.
Also finishing in front of Kipyegon's 4:01.86 in 7th was Besu Sado's PR of 3:59.47!
Another race was controversial, but for different reasons.
That Women's 2-lapper!!
The first 3 across the line will remain unnamed!
And you know why--and who they are!
But a great race was happening for the WIN--with Joanna Jozwik's 1:58.21 nipping the solid PR of Kate Grace--1:58.28!
Grace moves from 23rd A-T US to 19th!!
Melissa Bishop, who was the best and most consistent all year, ran 1:58.84!
Ruth Jebet's 9:07.00 win in the 3000SC got her the Meet Record!
Hyvin Kiyeng was 2nd in 9:10.15.
But Emma Coburn wasn't close, even though her 9:17.42 took 3rd.
Colleen Quigley and GenGen LaCaze had bad hair days, running over 15 and 21 seconds slower than their respective recent PR's!!
In other events, Asefa Powell took the 100 in 9.94.
Kerron Clement won the 400H in 48.72.
Kendra Harrison won again, her time a slowish 12.63.
Cindy Ofili and Dawn Harper-Nelson followed in 12.70 and 12.73.
Christian Taylor took the TJ with 58-4.75.
It also got him the Weltklasse Meet Record!!
LaShawn Merritt cruised to the 400 win in 44.64 over Bralon Taplin's 44.70.
Jakub Vadlijch's 286-4 took the Javelin Throw over Thomas Rohler's 284-0.
Jamaica's 41.65 took the meet-ending 4X100 Relay from the United States, who finished well back, in 43.30!
That is, until the Americans were DQ'ed for passing out of the zone!
And it apparently was Allyson Felix's fault!!
More hand-wringing about US Relay disasters!!
Oh, almost forgot!!
Anita Wlodarczyk SHATTERED her own World Record---AGAIN!!!
Ho hum.
Kidding aside, this woman is simply amazing!!
At the Skolimowska Memorial, she set the Hammer sailing out to 272-3, or 82.98 metric!
She also breaks her own National Record of Poland, and her own Age 31 record!
Her series wasn't bad either!
Besides the 272-3, she also threw 263-6, 266-7, AND 268-3!!
Pawel Fajdek returned to form, also winning with a toss of 270-7!!
The Hoka One One Mile in Long Island (NY) were taken by David Torrence in 3:54.99, and Amanda Eccleston in 4:26.87.
Lauren Johnson and Shannon Osika ran in the 4:28's!
Some Young Un's news!
I may have mentioned this in an earlier post---too lazy to check!!--but Ty Cooper continued his HOT season of Frosh Class record-smashing at the AAU Junior Olympics!!
He TRIPLED in 10.36 (a PR, and 0.01 off the Frosh Class record!), 20.62 (breaking his own Frosh Class Record), and 45.23, which simply obliterated his old Frosh Class record by a whopping 0.31 seconds!!
And he apparently ran all three finals within a four hour span of time!!
ADDED hours later---
I DID mention Cooper's triple in an earlier post.
But not completely!
In my Rio post called "Four Fabulous Finals", I said he tripled, and that his 45.23 moved him to 8th A-T HS, and shattered his own Frosh Class record.
But I didn't list his times for the 100 or 200, so those are new!
Sorry for the repeat, but always striving for accuracy!
Also at that meet, Tyra Gittens scored 5337 points in the Heptathlon, making her 12th A-T HS!!
At the USATF Junior Olympics, INdoor Frosh 400 sensation Brian Herron ran a PR of 46.30.
If not for Cooper, that would be BIG news---or at least bigger than it is now!!
Alina McDonald PV'ed 13-10.50, to become 14th A-T HS!
Berlin's ISTAF meet, once a very important Invitational, but now an IWC meet, produced a few decent marks.
Bernard Lagat says he's now retired from track racing, after taking 2nd in the 3000 to Augustine Choge's 7:43.00 winner, his time being a not-bad-for-Age-41, 7:43.63!!
His time was only 0.88 slower than his 2015 Age 40 & over record!!
David Rudisha won the 800 in 1:43.31 over Kipyegon Bett's 1:43.76!
Two nameless people finished in front of Eunice Sum's 1:57.95 winner in the Women's 800!
Joanna Jozwik and Lynsey Sharp were next in 1:58.20 and 1:58.31.
Celliphine Chespol took a sluggish 3000SC in 9:25.49.
Speaking of Ageless Wonders, Kim Collins WON the 100 in 10.07, beating guys 10 and more years younger!!
David Omoregie's 13.24 prevailed over Pascal Martinot-Legarde's own 13.24, separated by hairs!
Cindy Roleder won the 100H in 12.65, beating some good ladies.
Jasmin Stowers took 2nd in 12.72, with Phylicia George next in 12.74, then Dawn Harper-Nelson in 12.76, with Tiffany Porter running 12.79 in 5th!
Johannes Vetter produced a Javelin Throw measuring 293-10, which makes him 16th A-T World!
Julian Weber threw 289-8, while Thomas Rohler was further behind!
Christina Obergfoll's 210-11 took the Women's JT!
Michelle Carter again beat Valerie Adams in the SP, her 64-6.75 beating Val's 64-5.
Well, folks, don't look now, but CROSS COUNTRY has snuck up on us!!
While most of the results I've seen so far haven't included many "names", the San Francisco Invitational was interesting for its list of DNF's!!
While Cal's Trent Brandel was winning the Men's 8K race in 24:21, Sean McGorty, Grant Fisher, and Kai Benedict were listed as being DNF's!
I don't know if they served as "rabbits" for their teammates, or whether they had problems, but a DNF isn't what we expect from guys like these so early in the season!
And the Women's race had an even longer roster of DNF's!!
They included Jordyn Colter, Fiona O'Keefe, Ella Donaghu, Christine Aragon, Sarah Walker, and Hannah DeBalsi!!
WHY???
BTW, Vanessa Fraser and Elise Cranny went 1-2, both given the same time of 20:52.3 for the 6K course.
Right behind them came Charlotte Taylor in 20:52.4.
Bethan Knights of Cal was 4th about 10 seconds later!
A few new faces to watch for MIGHT be---
Karis Joshen, a Senior at Texas A&M, who won a 4.1K race in 13:50.4 by a big margin!
Cameron Villereal (an A&M Senior), who took the Men's 6K in 18:18.1.
Andrew Schille, a Northern Kentucky Soph, who won a 6K in 18:14.8.
And watch also for Lainey Studebaker, who revved her engines (Pardon the lame pun!!) to a 6K win in 20:53.8.
Caroline Alcorta also won easily.
As did Katie Michta!
Wait, Katie MICHTA---the WALKER???
Yes, THAT Katie Michta!
I was so surprised seeing her as the WINNER (She's a Molloy College Junior!) over 4K--that I tweeted her about that.
She replied, laughing, saying she "gets that all the time", and is definitely continuing in RaceWalking, while being a "proud runner" for Molloy!!
(But what are her TRACK times??)
One final XC-related item.
The Belmont Invitational in Tennessee--where Lipscomb College opened their season--did NOT include the name of Kayla Montgomery in its results---where the "entire" Lipscomb Women's squad ran!
I know she had an MS relapse about a year ago.
But last I heard, she had run a road 5000 race--or at least it SEEMED that was the case, based on a Facebook post I saw about it--and was training hard.
She's still on Lipscomb's roster--a Junior now!---so I'm curious why she didn't run!
And whether she WILL compete this year!!
I wish her the very best, and will report anything I find out!
One more Diamond League meet to go---Brussels' Van Damme, 5 days from now!
Almaz Ayana will race the 5000.
She's "expected" to try for the World Record!!
And there's lots of other greats there too!
Hopefully, they'll let it rip for that one final push to keep 2016 OUTdoors a Record-smashing year!!
Will see you then.
I'll also tell you my planned schedule for the remainder of 2016!
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Super-WR Leads Post-Rio DL's
A stunning--but not wholly unexpected--World Record led a string of fast distance races in the two Diamond League meets following the Olympic Games in Rio!
Ruth Jebet, my Athletics Annual book says, was born November 17, 1996.
This made her just 19 when she DESTROYED the WR by just over 6 seconds in Paris today with her incredible time of 8:52.78.
If she can run THIS fast at 19, what can she run in 5---or 10--years?
In an amazing show of talent, she followed a pacer through the first 1000 in 2:56.
While the first 1000 times for the SC are not too reliable for estimating final times, this indicated we were in for a real SHOW!
And when she---now all alone, with Hyvin Kiyeng (Chepkemoi) already a few meters behind---kept steady through 2000 in 5:54, all eyes turned to the clock!
Jebet (A Kenyan woman told me today--as did Athletics Africa--her name IS Jebet--not Chebet, as some list her!) has AWFUL hurdling technique.
In fact, it seems, most Kenyans--female or male--do!!
She literally JUMPS over the hurdles, rather than, well, hurdles them!
(Compare their style to that of Emma Coburn, or Evan Jager, both of whom are "perfect" over the barriers, iincluding the water jump!)
But it doesn't matter!
Her speed and strength between the barriers tells the story better!
And there--right now--no other woman can match her!
Her 8:52.78 is the WR, and breaks her own National Record of Bahrain (She's a FORMER Kenyan!), and breaks her own Age 19 record.
She moves from 2nd A-T World to the top!
And on my Combined Events list for the 3000 & 3000SC??
Believe it or not, her fastest OUTdoor flat 3K time is 9:09.8!!
That's right, she's run about 17 seconds faster WITH hurdles than without!!
(That WILL be remedied, whenever she runs another flat 3000!! I'd guess she's good for high-8:20's or very low 8:30's!!)
Anyway, right now, her times add to 18:02.58.
My World list stops at 18:02.0, but I added her name, knowing she'll eventually have a combined time under 17:30!!
Kiyeng's time was 9:01.76 in second.
Then came Coburn in 9:10.19, her 2nd best ever!
Beatrice Chepkoech came in 4th in 9:10.86.
She moves from 22nd A-T World to 14th!
Sofia Assefa was next in 9:13.09, followed in 6th by 2016's best PR machine--GenGen LaCaze!!
This Australian lass has broken close to a dozen PR's over several distances this year, with her newest being her 9:14.28 here!
She broke the Australian National Record, and is now 22nd A-T World!
Virginia Nyambura--who I hadn't heard from too much this year--suddenly is back, as her 9:18.95 took 7th!
Then came two Americans, both getting PR's.
Stephanie Garcia, 4th at the Trials, topped her former best by about 4 seconds, her 9:19.48 moving her from 7th A-T US to 4th!
Then came Colleen Quigley, who JUST missed dipping under 9:20 with her EXACT 9:20.00!!
She moves from 6th to 5th on the A-T US list!!
In 10th came Etanesh Diro Neda's 9:21.44, good for the best-ever 10th Place record!!
A fast and deep field finished off a great 1000 meters in Lausanne's DL--2 days before Paris!
Ayanleh Souleiman's 2:13.49--off splits of 52, then 1:45-high--got the Lausanne Meet Record--although apparently it was the initial running of this event here!!
He also got the National Record of Djibouti.
He's now 5th A-T World!
Robert Biwott's 2:13.89 was 2nd, and makes him 9th A-T World!
Jonathan Kitilit was 3rd in 2:13.95, for the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
He gets the Age 22 record, and is 11th A-T World!
Next came Asbel Kiprop, whose 2:14.23 is the best 4th Place mark!
He's 14th A-T World!!
Then came Marcin Lewandowski's 2:14.30!
It's the best-ever 5th Place mark.
He also gets Adam Kszczot's National Record of Poland!
And he's now 15th A-T World!!
Matthew Centrowitz, the Olympic 1500 Gold winner, could finish just 6th here!
But he's now 9th A-T US with his 2:16.67!
Two more ran under 2:17, while 12 got under 2:20!
Another deep field of Men produced another speedy middle distance race--in Paris.
Minus Daniel Rudisha or Mohammed Aman or Nijel Amos, among others, this late-season race saw Alfred Kipketer emerge in front, his 1:42.87 missing my World DDD by just 0.06 seconds!!
Taoufik Makhloufi came 2nd in 1:42.98, with Jon Kitilit---who had run that fast 1K in Lausanne just 2 days before!--next in a PR of 1:43.05!
Ferguson Rotich, Ayonleh Souleiman, Pierre Ambroise-Bosse, and Marcin Lewandowski all followed, times between 1:43.43 and 1:43.73!
In 8th---running the best-ever 8th Place time--came Adam Kszczot in 1:43.76!!
So that makes one Place mark from the London race broken!!
The Men's 3000 in Paris had yet another solid group of finishers!
Yomif Kejelcha--all of 19 years of age!--won in 7:28.19.
Some sources have said this was the World Junior record!
But, as you know, I don't have records for Juniors, Youth, or Masters!
My "age" records are for actual AGE, not a GROUP of ages!!
So the fastest time by someone Age 19 remains Eliud Kipchoge's 7:27.72 from 2004!!
Kipchoge was born November 5, 1984.
Thus he was NOT a "Junior" that year, as indicated by IAAF standards and rules.
But he WAS 19, so gets that Age Record!
Kejelcha--born August 1, 1997--is still a "Junior", re IAAF!!
Also 19, he misses Kipchoge's record by 0.47 seconds!!
Just wanted to explain this to you, so you'd understand why I'm not calling this a "World Junior" record!
Anyway, back to that 3K!
Kejelcha is 14th A-T World!
Knocked OFF my World list was the sole American, Bernard Lagat, his 7:29.00 American Record time from 2010 now GONE!!
Abdelaati Iguider was 2nd in 7:30.09, with Hagos Gebrhiwet next in 7:30.45.
But in 4th came Ryan Hill, whose big PR of 7:30.93 moves him from 16th A-T US to 3rd!!
With his 3:35.59 in the 1500, he's now 3rd on my US Combined Events list for 1500-3000, with a total time of 11:06.52!
Albert Rop's 7:32.02 in 5th is the National Record of Bahrain!
Bethwell Birgen and Mukti Edris both ran under 7:34 in 6th and 7th!
In 8th came American Paul Chelimo, his 7:37.98 ranked 15th A-T US!
The Women's 3000 in Lausanne saw Genzebe Dibaba sprint to the front, her 8:31.84 getting the Lausanne Meet Record!
Helen Obiri ran 8:33.96, with Mercy Cherono's 8:34.49 following.
Way back--in 8th and last--came Alexa Efraimson, missing her attempt at the "American Junior" record.
She ran 9:11.48.
But more worrying than her slow time was the REASON for it!!
According to a source, she was doing fine for most of the race, then crumbled to the track on the final straight--and CRAWLED to the finish line!!
She was taken away by ambulance, and is apparently recovered.
No indication as to what caused it.
But if you recall, this (or something similar) has happened at least twice before!!
In a couple of 5000's (on the road??), she also stopped a short distance from the finish, having to jog or walk the rest of the way!
This has never happened in shorter races, nor in other 3000's she's run--as far as I know!
Supposedly, she'll run another DL--possibly Zurich!!
Laura Muir---of Great Britain via Scotland--needs to be taken VERY seriously from now on!!
Following the rabbit's pace of just under 64, then a 2:09-high through 800, Muir sprinted past the rabbit (who ran another 200 meters in the 3rd lane!!) on the second back-straight, running a 61 second lap, passing the 1100 mark in about 2:55, and the 1200 in 3:10!!
And she was still in the highest gear!!
Trying to catch her was the favored Faith Kipyegon, as well as Sifan Hassan--but to no avail!
Pulling away at the end, she SMASHED the British National Record with her stunning 3:55.22!!
Only one ACTIVE runner is faster than her---and her name is Genzebe Dibaba!!
She also gets the Age 23 record!!
And she's now 13th A-T World!!
The rest of the field wasn't exactly stale bread!!
Kipyegon ran a solid time of 3:56.72, followed in 3rd by Hassan's 3:57.13!!
Then came the Battle of the Americans!
Shannon Rowbury's 3:58.00 prevailed by just 0.19 seconds, as she finished 4th to Jenny Simpson's 6th place time of 3:58.19!!
They were separated (by the Referee!---HaHa, just kidding!!) by Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.05!!
Besu Sado's 3:59.96 made it SEVEN women who got in under 4 minutes!!
Sofia Ennoui's 4:01.00 was 8th!
Beyond the distances, there were some other good marks.
The Paris Men's Shot Put saw the Meet Record broken THREE times!!
(And it dated from 1992!!)
First came Tom Walsh's 71-6.75 in round 2.
Then that was broken by Ryan Crouser's 72-1.75 in round 3.
But his metric mark of 21.99 was bettered by 0.01--Walsh's 22.00 (72-2.25) in round 6 getting the last of the 3 MR's!!
Walsh also broke his own New Zealand National Record, and ranks 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other!
In Lausanne, Valerie Adams beat her OG conqueror in the SP, Michelle Carter, 65-5 to 63-11.50!
Madeira Palameiko upset Barbora Spotakova in the Lausanne JT, 214-2 to 211-6.
But Caterine Ibarguen won her specialty, her Lausanne TJ winner measuring 48-5.25!
Philip Milanov took the Men's DT there with 215-3!
Mutaz Barshim's 7-8.50 won the HJ, while Sam Kendricks's 19-5 PR-equaler beat Renaud Lavillenie's 18-9.50!
Kendricks got the Lausanne Meet Record!
Ivana Spanovic took the Lausanne AND Paris LJ's, marks of 22-5 (with Darya Klishina 5th and Tianna Bartoletta 8th!) and 22-7.75.
But--possibly injured--she stopped after just 2 rounds in Paris!!
Jakub Vadlejch's 288-9 took the JT in Paris, but missed my World DDD by 1 foot and 2 inches!
Chris Carter took a weak Paris TJ with 55-6.25.
Sandra Perkovic came through with a 221-10 DT win, while Lavillenie rebounded on his home turf, his 19-5.50 prevailing over Kendricks's 19-0.75!
Renaud missed three tries at 6.00 meters!
Ruth Beitia's 6-6 took the Paris HJ over Lavern Spencer's 6-5.
Beitia tried 3 times at 6-7.50, or 2.02
Nicholas Bett returned to form, winning the Paris 400H in 48.01, beating Olympic Gold winner Kerron Clement's 48.19, and Yasman Copello's 48.24.
Natasha Hastings beat Stephanie McPherson in the 400, 50.06 to 50.33.
Orlando Ortega's 13.11 edged Omar McLeod's 13.12 in the 110H.
LaShawn Merritt eased through a 44.50 in the 400, beating Steven Gardiner's 44.75!
Delilah Muhammed kept winning, her 53.78 beating Elidh Doyle's 54.45.
In 5th and 6th came Shamier Little and Ashley Spencer (!!), both in the 55's!
Dafne Schippers won easily in the Paris 200, her 22.13 beating the PR of Desiree Henry--22.46.
Henry nipped Jenna Prandini's 22.48!
Kendra Harrison won twice--in Lausanne and Paris.
Her Lausanne time of 12.42 was 0.02 faster than her Paris win!
And Dawn Harper-Nelson took the runner-up prize in both, her times being 12.71, then 12.65!
The Lausanne Women's 100 was strange!
The first time (!!), the starter shot off the recall gun---but a few runners ran the whole distance, apparently not hearing the gun!!
So--just minutes later--they re-ran the race!!
Elaine Thompson's 10.78 easily beat Jenna Prandini's 11.11.
I don't know which runners ran that first race, so not sure which might have been tired for the re-run!!
The Men's 100 was taken by Ben Meite's Ivory Coast National Record-equaling 9.96!
Akani Simbine was 2nd in 10.00, with Churandy Martina next in 10.01.
Kim Collins and Michael Rodgers finished in 6th and 7th, times of 10.12 and 10.14.
Martina ran a better 200 in Paris!
His 19.81 breaks his own National Record of the Netherlands.
He moves from 24th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 21st, tied with 1 other.
Alonzo Edward ran 19.92 in 2nd.
Asafa Powell took the Lausanne 100 in 9.96.
Two other track distance affairs were run, both in the Lausanne meet.
Abe Kibiwot took the 3000SC in 8:09.58, beating Nicholas Bett's (the OTHER Nicholas Bett!!) PR of 8:10.07.
Don Cabral finished 6th in 8:20.77.
And in the Women's 800, one of those who shall remain unnamed "won" the race in 1:57.71.
This person was followed by the REAL winner--Eunice Sum's 1:58.41.
Sum beat Lynsey Sharp's 1:58.52, and Melissa Bishop's 1:58.71, as well as Selina Buchel's 1:58.77.
On the Roads, Stephen Sambu won the Falmouth 7 Mile race, time of 32:10.
Len Korir took 2nd in 32:35.
Caroline Chepkoech won the Women's race in 36:25, with Betsy Saina 2nd in 36:52.
I'll close this lengthy post with some GREAT news!!
Gabe Grunewald, stricken with cancer for the third time, has DEFEATED this awful disease---a third time!
Surgery to remove a tumor from her liver was totally successful!
She was photographed in her bed, smiling, and thanking everyone for their support, saying she was on the road to recovery!!
The very next day, she was photographed WALKING---again smiling beautifully---in the hospital's hallway, a good friend by her side!
This woman is GUTS and HEART personified!!
Don't be at all shocked to see her back on the tracks---possibly even INdoors!!--in 2017!!
An AMAZING woman---and person!!
Ruth Jebet, my Athletics Annual book says, was born November 17, 1996.
This made her just 19 when she DESTROYED the WR by just over 6 seconds in Paris today with her incredible time of 8:52.78.
If she can run THIS fast at 19, what can she run in 5---or 10--years?
In an amazing show of talent, she followed a pacer through the first 1000 in 2:56.
While the first 1000 times for the SC are not too reliable for estimating final times, this indicated we were in for a real SHOW!
And when she---now all alone, with Hyvin Kiyeng (Chepkemoi) already a few meters behind---kept steady through 2000 in 5:54, all eyes turned to the clock!
Jebet (A Kenyan woman told me today--as did Athletics Africa--her name IS Jebet--not Chebet, as some list her!) has AWFUL hurdling technique.
In fact, it seems, most Kenyans--female or male--do!!
She literally JUMPS over the hurdles, rather than, well, hurdles them!
(Compare their style to that of Emma Coburn, or Evan Jager, both of whom are "perfect" over the barriers, iincluding the water jump!)
But it doesn't matter!
Her speed and strength between the barriers tells the story better!
And there--right now--no other woman can match her!
Her 8:52.78 is the WR, and breaks her own National Record of Bahrain (She's a FORMER Kenyan!), and breaks her own Age 19 record.
She moves from 2nd A-T World to the top!
And on my Combined Events list for the 3000 & 3000SC??
Believe it or not, her fastest OUTdoor flat 3K time is 9:09.8!!
That's right, she's run about 17 seconds faster WITH hurdles than without!!
(That WILL be remedied, whenever she runs another flat 3000!! I'd guess she's good for high-8:20's or very low 8:30's!!)
Anyway, right now, her times add to 18:02.58.
My World list stops at 18:02.0, but I added her name, knowing she'll eventually have a combined time under 17:30!!
Kiyeng's time was 9:01.76 in second.
Then came Coburn in 9:10.19, her 2nd best ever!
Beatrice Chepkoech came in 4th in 9:10.86.
She moves from 22nd A-T World to 14th!
Sofia Assefa was next in 9:13.09, followed in 6th by 2016's best PR machine--GenGen LaCaze!!
This Australian lass has broken close to a dozen PR's over several distances this year, with her newest being her 9:14.28 here!
She broke the Australian National Record, and is now 22nd A-T World!
Virginia Nyambura--who I hadn't heard from too much this year--suddenly is back, as her 9:18.95 took 7th!
Then came two Americans, both getting PR's.
Stephanie Garcia, 4th at the Trials, topped her former best by about 4 seconds, her 9:19.48 moving her from 7th A-T US to 4th!
Then came Colleen Quigley, who JUST missed dipping under 9:20 with her EXACT 9:20.00!!
She moves from 6th to 5th on the A-T US list!!
In 10th came Etanesh Diro Neda's 9:21.44, good for the best-ever 10th Place record!!
A fast and deep field finished off a great 1000 meters in Lausanne's DL--2 days before Paris!
Ayanleh Souleiman's 2:13.49--off splits of 52, then 1:45-high--got the Lausanne Meet Record--although apparently it was the initial running of this event here!!
He also got the National Record of Djibouti.
He's now 5th A-T World!
Robert Biwott's 2:13.89 was 2nd, and makes him 9th A-T World!
Jonathan Kitilit was 3rd in 2:13.95, for the best-ever 3rd Place mark!
He gets the Age 22 record, and is 11th A-T World!
Next came Asbel Kiprop, whose 2:14.23 is the best 4th Place mark!
He's 14th A-T World!!
Then came Marcin Lewandowski's 2:14.30!
It's the best-ever 5th Place mark.
He also gets Adam Kszczot's National Record of Poland!
And he's now 15th A-T World!!
Matthew Centrowitz, the Olympic 1500 Gold winner, could finish just 6th here!
But he's now 9th A-T US with his 2:16.67!
Two more ran under 2:17, while 12 got under 2:20!
Another deep field of Men produced another speedy middle distance race--in Paris.
Minus Daniel Rudisha or Mohammed Aman or Nijel Amos, among others, this late-season race saw Alfred Kipketer emerge in front, his 1:42.87 missing my World DDD by just 0.06 seconds!!
Taoufik Makhloufi came 2nd in 1:42.98, with Jon Kitilit---who had run that fast 1K in Lausanne just 2 days before!--next in a PR of 1:43.05!
Ferguson Rotich, Ayonleh Souleiman, Pierre Ambroise-Bosse, and Marcin Lewandowski all followed, times between 1:43.43 and 1:43.73!
In 8th---running the best-ever 8th Place time--came Adam Kszczot in 1:43.76!!
So that makes one Place mark from the London race broken!!
The Men's 3000 in Paris had yet another solid group of finishers!
Yomif Kejelcha--all of 19 years of age!--won in 7:28.19.
Some sources have said this was the World Junior record!
But, as you know, I don't have records for Juniors, Youth, or Masters!
My "age" records are for actual AGE, not a GROUP of ages!!
So the fastest time by someone Age 19 remains Eliud Kipchoge's 7:27.72 from 2004!!
Kipchoge was born November 5, 1984.
Thus he was NOT a "Junior" that year, as indicated by IAAF standards and rules.
But he WAS 19, so gets that Age Record!
Kejelcha--born August 1, 1997--is still a "Junior", re IAAF!!
Also 19, he misses Kipchoge's record by 0.47 seconds!!
Just wanted to explain this to you, so you'd understand why I'm not calling this a "World Junior" record!
Anyway, back to that 3K!
Kejelcha is 14th A-T World!
Knocked OFF my World list was the sole American, Bernard Lagat, his 7:29.00 American Record time from 2010 now GONE!!
Abdelaati Iguider was 2nd in 7:30.09, with Hagos Gebrhiwet next in 7:30.45.
But in 4th came Ryan Hill, whose big PR of 7:30.93 moves him from 16th A-T US to 3rd!!
With his 3:35.59 in the 1500, he's now 3rd on my US Combined Events list for 1500-3000, with a total time of 11:06.52!
Albert Rop's 7:32.02 in 5th is the National Record of Bahrain!
Bethwell Birgen and Mukti Edris both ran under 7:34 in 6th and 7th!
In 8th came American Paul Chelimo, his 7:37.98 ranked 15th A-T US!
The Women's 3000 in Lausanne saw Genzebe Dibaba sprint to the front, her 8:31.84 getting the Lausanne Meet Record!
Helen Obiri ran 8:33.96, with Mercy Cherono's 8:34.49 following.
Way back--in 8th and last--came Alexa Efraimson, missing her attempt at the "American Junior" record.
She ran 9:11.48.
But more worrying than her slow time was the REASON for it!!
According to a source, she was doing fine for most of the race, then crumbled to the track on the final straight--and CRAWLED to the finish line!!
She was taken away by ambulance, and is apparently recovered.
No indication as to what caused it.
But if you recall, this (or something similar) has happened at least twice before!!
In a couple of 5000's (on the road??), she also stopped a short distance from the finish, having to jog or walk the rest of the way!
This has never happened in shorter races, nor in other 3000's she's run--as far as I know!
Supposedly, she'll run another DL--possibly Zurich!!
Laura Muir---of Great Britain via Scotland--needs to be taken VERY seriously from now on!!
Following the rabbit's pace of just under 64, then a 2:09-high through 800, Muir sprinted past the rabbit (who ran another 200 meters in the 3rd lane!!) on the second back-straight, running a 61 second lap, passing the 1100 mark in about 2:55, and the 1200 in 3:10!!
And she was still in the highest gear!!
Trying to catch her was the favored Faith Kipyegon, as well as Sifan Hassan--but to no avail!
Pulling away at the end, she SMASHED the British National Record with her stunning 3:55.22!!
Only one ACTIVE runner is faster than her---and her name is Genzebe Dibaba!!
She also gets the Age 23 record!!
And she's now 13th A-T World!!
The rest of the field wasn't exactly stale bread!!
Kipyegon ran a solid time of 3:56.72, followed in 3rd by Hassan's 3:57.13!!
Then came the Battle of the Americans!
Shannon Rowbury's 3:58.00 prevailed by just 0.19 seconds, as she finished 4th to Jenny Simpson's 6th place time of 3:58.19!!
They were separated (by the Referee!---HaHa, just kidding!!) by Dawit Seyaum's 3:58.05!!
Besu Sado's 3:59.96 made it SEVEN women who got in under 4 minutes!!
Sofia Ennoui's 4:01.00 was 8th!
Beyond the distances, there were some other good marks.
The Paris Men's Shot Put saw the Meet Record broken THREE times!!
(And it dated from 1992!!)
First came Tom Walsh's 71-6.75 in round 2.
Then that was broken by Ryan Crouser's 72-1.75 in round 3.
But his metric mark of 21.99 was bettered by 0.01--Walsh's 22.00 (72-2.25) in round 6 getting the last of the 3 MR's!!
Walsh also broke his own New Zealand National Record, and ranks 23rd A-T World, tied with 1 other!
In Lausanne, Valerie Adams beat her OG conqueror in the SP, Michelle Carter, 65-5 to 63-11.50!
Madeira Palameiko upset Barbora Spotakova in the Lausanne JT, 214-2 to 211-6.
But Caterine Ibarguen won her specialty, her Lausanne TJ winner measuring 48-5.25!
Philip Milanov took the Men's DT there with 215-3!
Mutaz Barshim's 7-8.50 won the HJ, while Sam Kendricks's 19-5 PR-equaler beat Renaud Lavillenie's 18-9.50!
Kendricks got the Lausanne Meet Record!
Ivana Spanovic took the Lausanne AND Paris LJ's, marks of 22-5 (with Darya Klishina 5th and Tianna Bartoletta 8th!) and 22-7.75.
But--possibly injured--she stopped after just 2 rounds in Paris!!
Jakub Vadlejch's 288-9 took the JT in Paris, but missed my World DDD by 1 foot and 2 inches!
Chris Carter took a weak Paris TJ with 55-6.25.
Sandra Perkovic came through with a 221-10 DT win, while Lavillenie rebounded on his home turf, his 19-5.50 prevailing over Kendricks's 19-0.75!
Renaud missed three tries at 6.00 meters!
Ruth Beitia's 6-6 took the Paris HJ over Lavern Spencer's 6-5.
Beitia tried 3 times at 6-7.50, or 2.02
Nicholas Bett returned to form, winning the Paris 400H in 48.01, beating Olympic Gold winner Kerron Clement's 48.19, and Yasman Copello's 48.24.
Natasha Hastings beat Stephanie McPherson in the 400, 50.06 to 50.33.
Orlando Ortega's 13.11 edged Omar McLeod's 13.12 in the 110H.
LaShawn Merritt eased through a 44.50 in the 400, beating Steven Gardiner's 44.75!
Delilah Muhammed kept winning, her 53.78 beating Elidh Doyle's 54.45.
In 5th and 6th came Shamier Little and Ashley Spencer (!!), both in the 55's!
Dafne Schippers won easily in the Paris 200, her 22.13 beating the PR of Desiree Henry--22.46.
Henry nipped Jenna Prandini's 22.48!
Kendra Harrison won twice--in Lausanne and Paris.
Her Lausanne time of 12.42 was 0.02 faster than her Paris win!
And Dawn Harper-Nelson took the runner-up prize in both, her times being 12.71, then 12.65!
The Lausanne Women's 100 was strange!
The first time (!!), the starter shot off the recall gun---but a few runners ran the whole distance, apparently not hearing the gun!!
So--just minutes later--they re-ran the race!!
Elaine Thompson's 10.78 easily beat Jenna Prandini's 11.11.
I don't know which runners ran that first race, so not sure which might have been tired for the re-run!!
The Men's 100 was taken by Ben Meite's Ivory Coast National Record-equaling 9.96!
Akani Simbine was 2nd in 10.00, with Churandy Martina next in 10.01.
Kim Collins and Michael Rodgers finished in 6th and 7th, times of 10.12 and 10.14.
Martina ran a better 200 in Paris!
His 19.81 breaks his own National Record of the Netherlands.
He moves from 24th A-T World, tied with 3 others, to 21st, tied with 1 other.
Alonzo Edward ran 19.92 in 2nd.
Asafa Powell took the Lausanne 100 in 9.96.
Two other track distance affairs were run, both in the Lausanne meet.
Abe Kibiwot took the 3000SC in 8:09.58, beating Nicholas Bett's (the OTHER Nicholas Bett!!) PR of 8:10.07.
Don Cabral finished 6th in 8:20.77.
And in the Women's 800, one of those who shall remain unnamed "won" the race in 1:57.71.
This person was followed by the REAL winner--Eunice Sum's 1:58.41.
Sum beat Lynsey Sharp's 1:58.52, and Melissa Bishop's 1:58.71, as well as Selina Buchel's 1:58.77.
On the Roads, Stephen Sambu won the Falmouth 7 Mile race, time of 32:10.
Len Korir took 2nd in 32:35.
Caroline Chepkoech won the Women's race in 36:25, with Betsy Saina 2nd in 36:52.
I'll close this lengthy post with some GREAT news!!
Gabe Grunewald, stricken with cancer for the third time, has DEFEATED this awful disease---a third time!
Surgery to remove a tumor from her liver was totally successful!
She was photographed in her bed, smiling, and thanking everyone for their support, saying she was on the road to recovery!!
The very next day, she was photographed WALKING---again smiling beautifully---in the hospital's hallway, a good friend by her side!
This woman is GUTS and HEART personified!!
Don't be at all shocked to see her back on the tracks---possibly even INdoors!!--in 2017!!
An AMAZING woman---and person!!
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Rio's Best & Worst
Almost decided against a "Best & Worst" for Rio.
After all, what haven't I already said in my EIGHTEEN posts centered (mostly) on the Olympic Games in Rio?
So maybe that's where I'll begin---by bragging (or moaning!!) about my 18 Rio posts!
Best Rio Post on This Blog
These are my PERSONAL favorites, not necessarily the "best"!
I was most proud of my "As Rio (& Life) Go On".
No results (as I recall!), but said what I wanted to say, in the way I wanted to say it---boldly & honestly!
Next up is "Historic 10K Rewrites Record Book".
Because I LOVE being able to write about multiple records being smashed in ONE race!!
And because such a race actually happened!!
Honorable Mentions go to my Place Records posts--because I've never had a post devoted solely to my Place Records before!
Also liked the "Four Fabulous Finals"---as I got to describe at length the Women's Marathon and Heptathlon!!
Best Title was the one with numbers---"17:10.02 & 236-3"
A bit mysterious, which gave me reason to explain it!
Worst Rio Post on This Blog
Probably my 4 Predictions posts---because I got so much WRONG!!
Now let's deal with some numbers!
Which gender performed best?
The WOMEN!!
Out of 8 categories, the Men led just one!!
Most World Records Broken-----------Women broke 2, the Men 1.
Most American Records Broken------A shutout for the Women--4 to ZERO!!
Most Place Records Broken-----------A wipe-out for the Ladies--30 to 8!!
Most Age Records Broken------------13 to 5, the Women win!
Most non-US National Records Broken----Women over the Men, 43 to 33!
The Men, as noted, did prevail in one---
Most Olympic Games Meet Records Broken--They got 5 to the Women's 3.
As for Marks that made my DDD (Top 24 Performers) lists, or improved on marks already on the lists---
For the US DDD's, the Women win by a 10 to 5 margin!
On my World DDD's, Women get 22 to the Men's 13!
Overall, the Women prevailed by a 127 to 70 score!!
Thus, 197 (!!) revisions were made in my T&F Record Book in the 10 days of Rio!!
Best Event?
The Women's 10000!!
The Worst?
The Women's High Jump!!
Best Series in the Throws or Horizontal Jumps?
Ryan Crouser for the Men.
He broke the MR 3 times, as well as his PR!
The Women's award goes to Anita Wlodarczyk, for basically the same reasons!
She twice broke her PR, which happened to have been the WR!!
(Although the 2nd breaking came AFTER she'd already shattered her WR!! Nothing like adding more icing to the icing!!)
Worst Shocks
Probably have to give it to those EXPECTED to win, but who failed to do so, and even failed to make the final!!
Give this one to Pawel Fajdek!
HM's go to Robert Harting and Olga Saladukha!
Best Event where Women Outperformed the Men
That 10K, and the Long Jump!
And Vice Versa?
The 400!
A WR wins over a close race---even with a 9.7 point dive!!
How did I do in my Predictions?
Not so good!
I got 40 (out of 72 possibles) for the Men!
I was a bit better with the Women---42 (of 69) correct!
Oh, BTW, the above numbers (of correct picks) were NOT specific as to Medal---just getting the NAMES of the Medalists right---in whatever order!!
The one's I got all three (names!) right were (for the Women) the 5000, 3000SC 20K Walk, and the 4X400 Relay!
I scored 100% for the Men in the 400, 3000SC, and the PV!
On the actual Gold Medalist, I got 10 Men's Gold's right, and 8 Women's---if you believe Melissa Bishop won that 800!!
Best Shocking Result
This goes to Sara Kolak for her win in the JT!!
I'd never even heard of her before the Games---and NO ONE (prior to August 12th!) picked her---even for their Top 10 Formcharts!!
I'll give Michelle Carter's 6th round win in the SP over Valerie Adams Honorable Mention!!
Best Excuse for a Poor Performance
Jenn's Suhr's mysterious illness!
Just saw an update from Rick! They went directly to an ER on returning home, but found no specific disease!!
She's getting better, but says she's in no shape to perform!
But Rick said she had PLANNED on a post-OG meet!
Best Improvement
There's several this award could go to!
Wayde Van Niekerk, going from 43.48 to 43.03.
Ryan Crouser's massive SP's!
Almaz Ayana's 10K WR---about 50 seconds faster than her PR.
(Molly Huddle's 34 second PR!!)
But---I'm giving this one to Keturah Orji!!
She's young (20), a college student, and is an American in an event where Americans haven't been very good of late!
For breaking through to the 48 foot realm, this gal wins!!
Best Heat or Semi or Qualifying Round where the mark was better than in the final
Lalita Babar's 9:19.76 National Record for India in the Heats of the 3000SC!!
Should have saved something for the final!!
OK, time for the Best & Worst by Event Groups!!
Men first.
Best Sprint Event-----------400 (Obvious!)
Worst Sprint Event----------200 (Blah!)
Best Distance Event--------800 (Not London, but still the best!)
Worst Distance Event------1500 (Come on, guys, RUN!!)
Best Jumping Event--------PV (Good battle, and a super popular winner!!)
Worst Jumping Event------LJ (Where were those LONG Jumps???)
Best Throwing Event------SP (For Crouser, and for depth!)
Worst Throwing Event----HT (Fajdek missing from the final!)
Best Walking Event-------50000 (Lead changes and defeat of the WR holder!)
Best Relay------------------4X400 (Great depth, and a good race for Gold!)
And for the Women---
Best Sprint Event---------100 (Good times!)
Worst Sprint Event-------200 (Yeah, I know, it was good! But just not AS good as it could've been!!)
Best Distance Event-----10000 (Did you really have to ask??!!)
Worst Distance Event----1500 (Those Metric Mile folks need to learn how to run their event!!)
Best Jumping Event------LJ (Great competition! And good marks!)
Worst Jumping Event----HJ (Worst of the entire meet! See above!!)
Best Throwing Event----SP (An AR, and a shocking 6th round upset!!)
Worst Throwing Event--DT (Perkovic won. Ho hum.)
Worst (AND Best!) Relay-----4X100 (That solo time trial, and the finals result!! Oh, and the FUCK UP that led to all that!!)
And for Best Multi?
Close to a TIE!! But I'll give the edge to the Women's Heptathlon--for it being a good battle, and for the surprise winner!
If Ashton Eaton had BROKEN---instead of tied!--the MR, I might have given it to the Dec!!
Best NON-Medalist?
How about Bernard Lagat?
He placed 5th, but smashed his own Age 40 & Over record by about 8 seconds in the 5000!
Also goes to Molly Huddle's 6th place in THAT race---for her American Record, as well as the Age 31 record!
Best Uniforms
Great Britain!!
Loved the pictures on the jerseys!!
Much better than those dull one-color jobs!
Best Shove It Up the ASS of Nike and Rule 40
Goes to Emma Coburn, for her removing her NEW BALANCE shoes, draping them (tied together) over her shoulder, then doing her victory lap, American Flag waving in the breeze!!
Here's an easy one!
Worst Decision by the IAAF
Two of them, actually!
For Banning ALL Russians---including INNOCENT ones!!
(Except for Darya Klishina!)
And for allowing Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba, and Margaret Wambui to compete!!
Best Moments that went Viral on the Internet, and around the World!
The Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin Show!!
Such a sweet, wonderful, POSITIVE story!!
Also, the story behind Feyisa Lelisa's arm-crossing pose when crossing the Marathon finish line for the Silver!!
He's still in Brazil, hoping to go to the US, but still a "Man Without a Country"!!
Finally, the Marriage Proposal by Will Claye to Queen Harrison!
He'd just taken Silver in the TJ, then went to the stands, where long-time girlfriend Harrison was sitting!
He proposed---and she accepted!!
In relation to the above--
Best Mile Ever Run with Multiple Leg Injuries
To Abbey D, for her courageous and heartwarming finish to her 5K race!
She's headed to surgery, and possibly 6 months of recovery!!
Best Entertainers
Chaunte Lowe DANCED her way into my heart!!
She should go on DWTS!!
And her partner should be---
Usain Bolt!!
That man has MOVES!!
Best (or my Favorite!) Names
Besides that oldie, Mujinga Kambundji, I also like Dane Bird-Smith, the Brit who took the 20K Walk Bronze!!
Add Konstanze Klosterhalfen---aka KK---who's fast, is very pretty, AND has a great memorable name!!
Best Performance by a Teenager
Eliza McCartney, by at least 15 feet 9 inches!!
Tied her PR (and Age 19 record!), and won the Bronze!!
Ruth Jebet, for her 3000SC win!
She won Gold, and broke her own Age 19 record!!
Worst Nightmare Scenario on Speed-Dial
This "award" goes to the United States 4X100 Relay teams!!
The DQ's!
Then having to run a Time Trial.
Then being relegated to Lane One---the Worst lane for a sprinter!!
Word of Advice---
Watch the movie "Fast Girls" for some baton passing lessons!!
LOL
Best Book Title Brought to Life by its Author
This goes to Shalane Flanagan, who just had published her (& Elyse Kopecky's) cookbook---"Run Fast, Eat Slow".
Don't think she ate anything while racing to 6th place in the Marathon, but she sure did "Run FAST"!!
BTW, in its 1st week out, it made 143rd place on USA Today's "150 Best Selling Books" list!
And they begin a National Book-Signing tour soon!!
How about the Best Stoic Face After Smashing a WR??
Goes to Almaz Ayana!
She crosses the line, and only began smiling a minute or so later---when she got some cameras shoved in her face!!
(As opposed to Jenny Simpson going bonkers, screaming after winning the 1500 Bronze in a SLOW time!!)
Event with the Most Hyphenated Names
Easy!
The Heptathlon!
BTE, JEH, KJT, LIA, HMK, and GZF.
(Did I miss any??)
Worst Performance by the Crowds
BOOING Justin Gatlin and Renaud Lavillenie!!
Compare to Eugene, where the Duckies get the loudest cheers, but EVERYONE gets their due respect and love!!
Best Brazil Moment
Thiagi Braz Da Silva's shock win over Renaud Lavillenie in the PV!!
Stunned the crowd, and got the loudest & longest cheers!!
Worst Brazil Moment
The NO HEIGHT of Fabiana Murer---who was supposed to match what Da Silva did!!
And----
Best Unplanned Serendipitous Moment??
That my 300th (!!!) blog post was the one describing & detailing the Women's 10K!!
Which, as noted above, is also one of my personal favorites!!
See you all soon with some DL results!!
After all, what haven't I already said in my EIGHTEEN posts centered (mostly) on the Olympic Games in Rio?
So maybe that's where I'll begin---by bragging (or moaning!!) about my 18 Rio posts!
Best Rio Post on This Blog
These are my PERSONAL favorites, not necessarily the "best"!
I was most proud of my "As Rio (& Life) Go On".
No results (as I recall!), but said what I wanted to say, in the way I wanted to say it---boldly & honestly!
Next up is "Historic 10K Rewrites Record Book".
Because I LOVE being able to write about multiple records being smashed in ONE race!!
And because such a race actually happened!!
Honorable Mentions go to my Place Records posts--because I've never had a post devoted solely to my Place Records before!
Also liked the "Four Fabulous Finals"---as I got to describe at length the Women's Marathon and Heptathlon!!
Best Title was the one with numbers---"17:10.02 & 236-3"
A bit mysterious, which gave me reason to explain it!
Worst Rio Post on This Blog
Probably my 4 Predictions posts---because I got so much WRONG!!
Now let's deal with some numbers!
Which gender performed best?
The WOMEN!!
Out of 8 categories, the Men led just one!!
Most World Records Broken-----------Women broke 2, the Men 1.
Most American Records Broken------A shutout for the Women--4 to ZERO!!
Most Place Records Broken-----------A wipe-out for the Ladies--30 to 8!!
Most Age Records Broken------------13 to 5, the Women win!
Most non-US National Records Broken----Women over the Men, 43 to 33!
The Men, as noted, did prevail in one---
Most Olympic Games Meet Records Broken--They got 5 to the Women's 3.
As for Marks that made my DDD (Top 24 Performers) lists, or improved on marks already on the lists---
For the US DDD's, the Women win by a 10 to 5 margin!
On my World DDD's, Women get 22 to the Men's 13!
Overall, the Women prevailed by a 127 to 70 score!!
Thus, 197 (!!) revisions were made in my T&F Record Book in the 10 days of Rio!!
Best Event?
The Women's 10000!!
The Worst?
The Women's High Jump!!
Best Series in the Throws or Horizontal Jumps?
Ryan Crouser for the Men.
He broke the MR 3 times, as well as his PR!
The Women's award goes to Anita Wlodarczyk, for basically the same reasons!
She twice broke her PR, which happened to have been the WR!!
(Although the 2nd breaking came AFTER she'd already shattered her WR!! Nothing like adding more icing to the icing!!)
Worst Shocks
Probably have to give it to those EXPECTED to win, but who failed to do so, and even failed to make the final!!
Give this one to Pawel Fajdek!
HM's go to Robert Harting and Olga Saladukha!
Best Event where Women Outperformed the Men
That 10K, and the Long Jump!
And Vice Versa?
The 400!
A WR wins over a close race---even with a 9.7 point dive!!
How did I do in my Predictions?
Not so good!
I got 40 (out of 72 possibles) for the Men!
I was a bit better with the Women---42 (of 69) correct!
Oh, BTW, the above numbers (of correct picks) were NOT specific as to Medal---just getting the NAMES of the Medalists right---in whatever order!!
The one's I got all three (names!) right were (for the Women) the 5000, 3000SC 20K Walk, and the 4X400 Relay!
I scored 100% for the Men in the 400, 3000SC, and the PV!
On the actual Gold Medalist, I got 10 Men's Gold's right, and 8 Women's---if you believe Melissa Bishop won that 800!!
Best Shocking Result
This goes to Sara Kolak for her win in the JT!!
I'd never even heard of her before the Games---and NO ONE (prior to August 12th!) picked her---even for their Top 10 Formcharts!!
I'll give Michelle Carter's 6th round win in the SP over Valerie Adams Honorable Mention!!
Best Excuse for a Poor Performance
Jenn's Suhr's mysterious illness!
Just saw an update from Rick! They went directly to an ER on returning home, but found no specific disease!!
She's getting better, but says she's in no shape to perform!
But Rick said she had PLANNED on a post-OG meet!
Best Improvement
There's several this award could go to!
Wayde Van Niekerk, going from 43.48 to 43.03.
Ryan Crouser's massive SP's!
Almaz Ayana's 10K WR---about 50 seconds faster than her PR.
(Molly Huddle's 34 second PR!!)
But---I'm giving this one to Keturah Orji!!
She's young (20), a college student, and is an American in an event where Americans haven't been very good of late!
For breaking through to the 48 foot realm, this gal wins!!
Best Heat or Semi or Qualifying Round where the mark was better than in the final
Lalita Babar's 9:19.76 National Record for India in the Heats of the 3000SC!!
Should have saved something for the final!!
OK, time for the Best & Worst by Event Groups!!
Men first.
Best Sprint Event-----------400 (Obvious!)
Worst Sprint Event----------200 (Blah!)
Best Distance Event--------800 (Not London, but still the best!)
Worst Distance Event------1500 (Come on, guys, RUN!!)
Best Jumping Event--------PV (Good battle, and a super popular winner!!)
Worst Jumping Event------LJ (Where were those LONG Jumps???)
Best Throwing Event------SP (For Crouser, and for depth!)
Worst Throwing Event----HT (Fajdek missing from the final!)
Best Walking Event-------50000 (Lead changes and defeat of the WR holder!)
Best Relay------------------4X400 (Great depth, and a good race for Gold!)
And for the Women---
Best Sprint Event---------100 (Good times!)
Worst Sprint Event-------200 (Yeah, I know, it was good! But just not AS good as it could've been!!)
Best Distance Event-----10000 (Did you really have to ask??!!)
Worst Distance Event----1500 (Those Metric Mile folks need to learn how to run their event!!)
Best Jumping Event------LJ (Great competition! And good marks!)
Worst Jumping Event----HJ (Worst of the entire meet! See above!!)
Best Throwing Event----SP (An AR, and a shocking 6th round upset!!)
Worst Throwing Event--DT (Perkovic won. Ho hum.)
Worst (AND Best!) Relay-----4X100 (That solo time trial, and the finals result!! Oh, and the FUCK UP that led to all that!!)
And for Best Multi?
Close to a TIE!! But I'll give the edge to the Women's Heptathlon--for it being a good battle, and for the surprise winner!
If Ashton Eaton had BROKEN---instead of tied!--the MR, I might have given it to the Dec!!
Best NON-Medalist?
How about Bernard Lagat?
He placed 5th, but smashed his own Age 40 & Over record by about 8 seconds in the 5000!
Also goes to Molly Huddle's 6th place in THAT race---for her American Record, as well as the Age 31 record!
Best Uniforms
Great Britain!!
Loved the pictures on the jerseys!!
Much better than those dull one-color jobs!
Best Shove It Up the ASS of Nike and Rule 40
Goes to Emma Coburn, for her removing her NEW BALANCE shoes, draping them (tied together) over her shoulder, then doing her victory lap, American Flag waving in the breeze!!
Here's an easy one!
Worst Decision by the IAAF
Two of them, actually!
For Banning ALL Russians---including INNOCENT ones!!
(Except for Darya Klishina!)
And for allowing Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba, and Margaret Wambui to compete!!
Best Moments that went Viral on the Internet, and around the World!
The Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin Show!!
Such a sweet, wonderful, POSITIVE story!!
Also, the story behind Feyisa Lelisa's arm-crossing pose when crossing the Marathon finish line for the Silver!!
He's still in Brazil, hoping to go to the US, but still a "Man Without a Country"!!
Finally, the Marriage Proposal by Will Claye to Queen Harrison!
He'd just taken Silver in the TJ, then went to the stands, where long-time girlfriend Harrison was sitting!
He proposed---and she accepted!!
In relation to the above--
Best Mile Ever Run with Multiple Leg Injuries
To Abbey D, for her courageous and heartwarming finish to her 5K race!
She's headed to surgery, and possibly 6 months of recovery!!
Best Entertainers
Chaunte Lowe DANCED her way into my heart!!
She should go on DWTS!!
And her partner should be---
Usain Bolt!!
That man has MOVES!!
Best (or my Favorite!) Names
Besides that oldie, Mujinga Kambundji, I also like Dane Bird-Smith, the Brit who took the 20K Walk Bronze!!
Add Konstanze Klosterhalfen---aka KK---who's fast, is very pretty, AND has a great memorable name!!
Best Performance by a Teenager
Eliza McCartney, by at least 15 feet 9 inches!!
Tied her PR (and Age 19 record!), and won the Bronze!!
Ruth Jebet, for her 3000SC win!
She won Gold, and broke her own Age 19 record!!
Worst Nightmare Scenario on Speed-Dial
This "award" goes to the United States 4X100 Relay teams!!
The DQ's!
Then having to run a Time Trial.
Then being relegated to Lane One---the Worst lane for a sprinter!!
Word of Advice---
Watch the movie "Fast Girls" for some baton passing lessons!!
LOL
Best Book Title Brought to Life by its Author
This goes to Shalane Flanagan, who just had published her (& Elyse Kopecky's) cookbook---"Run Fast, Eat Slow".
Don't think she ate anything while racing to 6th place in the Marathon, but she sure did "Run FAST"!!
BTW, in its 1st week out, it made 143rd place on USA Today's "150 Best Selling Books" list!
And they begin a National Book-Signing tour soon!!
How about the Best Stoic Face After Smashing a WR??
Goes to Almaz Ayana!
She crosses the line, and only began smiling a minute or so later---when she got some cameras shoved in her face!!
(As opposed to Jenny Simpson going bonkers, screaming after winning the 1500 Bronze in a SLOW time!!)
Event with the Most Hyphenated Names
Easy!
The Heptathlon!
BTE, JEH, KJT, LIA, HMK, and GZF.
(Did I miss any??)
Worst Performance by the Crowds
BOOING Justin Gatlin and Renaud Lavillenie!!
Compare to Eugene, where the Duckies get the loudest cheers, but EVERYONE gets their due respect and love!!
Best Brazil Moment
Thiagi Braz Da Silva's shock win over Renaud Lavillenie in the PV!!
Stunned the crowd, and got the loudest & longest cheers!!
Worst Brazil Moment
The NO HEIGHT of Fabiana Murer---who was supposed to match what Da Silva did!!
And----
Best Unplanned Serendipitous Moment??
That my 300th (!!!) blog post was the one describing & detailing the Women's 10K!!
Which, as noted above, is also one of my personal favorites!!
See you all soon with some DL results!!
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