Do you think I gave you ALL the "good" stuff in the 1st part?
Think again!
OK, so I did report all of the CR's already, but believe me, I have TONS more goodies for you!
Sit back and enjoy!
The Women's 10000 started a bit slow, but unlike the Men, they quickly picked it up, though still running at less than Meet Record pace.
Anna Rohrer doesn't mind leading, and that's what she did through the 5000 in a steady 16:28..
They'd need to hit 16 flat for the 2nd half to match Sylvia Mosqueda's 1988 MR (which, as I've often told you, I was blessed to witness first-hand!!).
But the 79's kept going, with Alice Wright emerging as the new leader, as Rohrer began a fade!
Charlotte Taylor, a San Francisco Stater via Great Britain, shadowed Wright and Sharon Lokedi, the 3 of them breaking away.
When the bell rang, Taylor sprinted past into a lead she would only widen to the tape!
Her 32:38.57 won by 4 seconds over Wright's 32:42.64, and Lokedi's 32:46.10.
Alyssa Snyder of Montana State also got under 33, running 32:58.31.
Chelsea Blaase was 7th in 33:06, while Rohrer ended in 16th in 33:56.
(She spoke of an illness---can't recall the details!)
Three finals pretty much went by the books---and the memories--of most!
Christoff Bryan took a nondescript HJ with his 7-3 winner!
Filip Mihaljevic's 6th round DT of 209-2 made him the winner.
A surprise in 2nd, as one of the Jager brothers (Reggie) hit 205-1.
Brian Williams could reach just 196-8, ending in 4th!
KeAndre Bates had to come from behind to win the TJ, but his windy 55-0 passed Clive Pullen's early-leading (and legal) 54-5.50!
Seven of the 8 teams in the Men's 4X100 Relay final finished in 38.82 or faster!!
Houston came out on top with their School Record 38.34!
They remain 6th A-T School!
Auburn ran 38.48, beating North Carolina A&T's 38.57.
Texas A&M ran 38.72, nipping their in-state rival Texas by 0.01, with Oregon coming 6th in 38.81, 0.01 before Arkansas!
The Men's 1500 started slow, and stayed that way until the bell, when the entire pack took off.
Josh Kerr--this year's "find"--got in front and stayed there, winning in 3:43.03.
The 3000SC was all Edwin Kibichiy.
He took the lead early (when THIS race started too slow also!), sped things up, and was an easy (and "prescient") winner, time of 8:28.40.
Darren Fahy (8:31.08), Dylan Blankenbaker (8:31.17), and MJ Erb (8:32.38) were also speedy.
Bailey Roth was in good position early, but faded to 11th, time of 8:48.70.
Running against a 2.0 wind, Grant Holloway showed why he might be a HUGE star in the future--the immediate future!!--as he won the 110H in 13.49.
Reuben Walters was 2nd in 13.54.
Remember, this was INTO a 2.0 wind!!
Also running "against the wind" (A GREAT song by Bob Seger!!) were the Men's 100 finalists!
Expecting to see Christian Coleman possibly run FASTER than his Semi of 9.82, we instead saw him battling a negative wind of 2.1.
Thus his time of 10.04, with Cameron Burrell in 2nd with 10.12.
Another we hoped to see break his own CR was Fred Kerley in the 400 final.
But maybe he was saving something for the 4X400 Relay---or maybe it was too hard to run against that wind on the backstretch!
Anyway, his 44.10 looked ridiculously easy, as 2nd took 44.69 (Nathan Allen).
Michael Cherry ran 44.77, while Michael Norman PR'ed again, this time a 44.88.
Emmannuel Korir was yet one more thought to have a chance to bring home a Collegiate Record, but a slow first lap of 51.8 put paid to that idea!
He loped home in 1:45.03, beating the 1:45.40 of Isaiah Harris, and the 1:45.73 of Joseph White.
Want another example of my "prescience"?
(OK, so you DON'T!!)
But I said that Rai Benjamin might win the 400H.
Well, he ALMOST won!
Eric Futch just edged him out at the line, 48.32 to 48.33!!
Futch makes my Collegiate DDD in 9th place!
Benjamin is 10th A-T Collegiate!
This race had good depth too.
Kemar Mowatt ran 48.49 in 3rd, making him 17th A-T Collegiate.
Kenny Selmon's 48.60 in 4th misses the list by just 0.02 seconds!!
Knocked OFF the list was a Drake Relays legend--Joey Woody--whose 48.58 dated from 1997!!
Think Mr Coleman had a strong wind to fight against in the 100--at 2.1?
How about a THREE point one in the 200??
Despite that negative force, the Bob Hayes clone Christian sped 20.25 for the win, with Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake coming close with 20.29!
From the sublime to the ridiculous!
I'm almost embarrassed to report about the Men's 5000.
Their first 1000 took 3:10!!
(I wrote on the T&FN MB that they should have brought in Helen Obiri--or even Konstanze Klosterhalfen--as rabbits!)
It took about 9 laps before they woke up--and even then they hit just 63's.
But here's 1 more example of my prognosticating prescience!
I said Grant Fisher would win--and his 55.76 final 400--and 1:58.68 last 800--did the trick.
Jack Bruce (a famous name, and now a fast & smartly coiffed & bearded runner) was a shocking 2nd, with favored Justyn Knight taking the Bronze!
The Men ended their meet with another sub-3:00 by Fred Kerley's Texas A&M squad in the 4X400 Relay!
Their 2:59.98 was slightly slower than the semi, but handily beat Arkansas's School Record of 3:01.84.
They move from 24th A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 19th!
Third place Iowa--with all undergraduates!--ran 3:01.91, becoming 20th A-T School!!
Florida and Texas Tech both ran in the 3:02's in 4th & 5th!
The Heptathlon started off good for Kendell Williams, but weather conditions held her 1st day score below her PR pace!
Despite a decent 2nd day, she ended with 6265 points, easily turning back Nina Schultz's 5959.
Taliyah Brooks took 3rd with 5795, while Payton Stumbaugh DNF'ed!!
The Women's HJ was a bit better than expected--at least by the top pair!
Madeline Fagan and Tatiana Gusin both cleared 6-3.25, but Fagan won on fewer misses!
They both missed their 3 attempts at 6-4.25!
For each, they're 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, including each other!
Shadae Lawrence came through with her 6th round 201-4 to take the win in the DT.
Maggie Ewen (who also placed in the SP--besides breaking the CR in the Hammer!) took 2nd with 197-2, beating one of the favorites, Kellion Knibb, who could reach just 194-2.
Keturah Orji ho-hummed her way through a pedestrian TJ, winning with a commonplace (for her!!) 46-10.75--which was windy!
Her best legal mark was 45-11.75!
No one else was close!
Lacking the drama (and the anticipation of a Showdown at the NCAA Corral!!) that woulda/coulda/shoulda been IF UO and LSU hadn't gotten lost getting here--the Women's 4X100 Relay final was, well, anticlimactic.
Kentucky won it in 42.51, moving them from 6th A-T School to 4th!
Alabama took 2nd in 42.56, moving them from 9th A-T School to 5th!
Florida's 42.73 in 3rd missed their School Record by just 0.01 seconds!!
San Diego State and Clemson were further back in 4th and 5th!
Like the Men's 1500, the Women's final started slow, as they hit the 800 in about 2:17.
But unlike the Men, this one produced a shocker at the finish line!!
No one---myself, T&FN, etc etc--saw Michigan's Jaimie Phelan as a likely winner--or even PLACER!!
Not only that, she was in LAST place at the bell!!
(OK, so 1st to last spread was less than the length of my studio apartment!!)
Anyway, Phelan sped from last to 1st, outkicking everyone to win in 4:13.78!!
Her final lap was 64 and change!
Nikki Hiltz was 2nd, while UO's star Frosh Katie Rainsberger took 4th!!
The Women's 3000SC was incredible!!
Yes, I favor the distances--but only when they're RACED--and not jogged!!
This one had it all!
While Elinor Purrier was favored, as she was one of the few really experienced Steeplers in this field, she appeared tired early.
Her 5-1 (or less??) height hidden among the masses, Alaskan Allie Ostrander suddenly took the lead with a K to go!
Only in her 4th-ever Steeple, she nonetheless looked like---Shall I say it??--a PRO, as she cleanly got over each hurdle and water jump, leading to an all-out sprint to the tape, and yet another PR!!
Her 9:41.31 missed the Frosh Class record by 0.33 seconds!!
(She's a 2nd year Frosh, as she redshirted last year!)
She's 13th A-T Collegiate, but said afterward she probably WON'T race anymore this year, as she doesn't want to risk injury before XC begins!!
My Preview said "Watch for Maddie Boreman as a possible shocker!".
This was back when her PR was about 10:05, and she was another near-rookie in the SC world!
But I knew of her fast HS times in the (UGH!) 3200 and 1600, and I knew she was one of "my kind"--a fast times-seeking runner!!
So I said what I said!
And she came through, running another PR--9:46.48--to take 2nd to Ostrander!!
Boreman is now 24th A-T Collegiate!!
Tori Gerlach's 9:46.76 in 3rd misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.28 seconds!
Purrier was 4th in 9:48.26!
Things got even better with the 100H final!!
While the Top 3 were all "foreigners" (although JCQ being Puerto Rican qualifies her as an American, at least for citizenship purposes!!), this was a warning shot to the World that the Women's 100H fields will be STACKED well into the future, and that the current group of Profeshes better watch out for these wannabe's!!
Using a legal, but good 1.6 wind, Tobi Amusan's 12.57 JUST nipped JCQ's 12.58 at the line!!
For Amusan--a Nigerian--this moves her from 9th A-T Collegiate, to 4th!!
It also breaks her own Soph Class Record!!
For Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, this breaks her own National Record of Puerto Rico, and moves her from 13th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 5th!
Rushelle Burton's 12.65 took 3rd, and is the new Frosh Class Record!!
She's now 11th A-T Collegiate!!
UO's Alaysha Johnson ran 12.72--a non-PR--in 4th!
Dewynne Charlton sped 12.74 in 5th, making her 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
The last 3 weren't exactly walking!!
Sasha Wallace ran 12.81, edging Dior Hall's 12.82 for 6th, with Anna Cockrell bringing up the rear in a good 12.91!!
BTW, to avoid the strong ANTI-winds the Men suffered with the day before, they moved the Women's sprint finals to the other side, so they'd (hopefully!) have winds WITH them!!
This helped Mikiah Brisco to surprise the strong 100 field, as she won in 10.96, wind of 0.3!
She's 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!!
Deajah Stevens was 2nd in 11.04, with Teahna Daniels (11.06), Ariana Washington (11.09), and slightly favored Aleia Hobbs coming in 5th in 11.12!
Chrisann Gordon took the reins in the 400, but couldn't match her 50.39 Semi time, as she won in 50.51.
Shakima Wimbley was 2nd in 50.68, while Kendell Ellis (who would later play a profound role in the climactic 4X400 Relay!!) was next in 51.06.
Another who starred in the last event was Raevyn Rogers, but not before she easily won HER race--the 800--in 2:00.02.
She's beginning to remind me of Ajee Wilson, as they both make fast times look easy, and both were early phenoms who never slowed up!!
Hanna Green was 2nd in a non-PR of 2:01.32.
But 3rd was the Semi-shocker Brooke Feldmeier--her bright yellow hair flowing as she hit yet another PR--2:01.54, missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.17 seconds!!
(And scoring a valuable 6 points for the Ducks!!)
Sage Watson PR'ed with her 400H winner of 54.52.
She moves from 20th A-T Collegiate, to 12th!!
USC Frosh Anna Cockrell was 2nd in 55.36--not a PR, as she ran 55.20 in HS last year!!
I already reported the final event--the Women's CR-breaking 4X400 Relay, but here's the last event of this 2-part post!!
Allie Ostrander had rested (??) for about 2 hours after her victorious SC run!
But here she was, in 4th or 5th halfway through the 5000!!
Could she pull off a double??
Sorry, but no--not with the outstanding Karissa Schweizer in the lead, and in COMMAND!!
Running with the composure of a certain Champion, Schweizer's feared closing kick wasn't necessary, as her lead was more than enough cushion for her to celebrate her victory before the tape!!
The time wasn't spectacular--15:38.93--but her almost-5 second margin of victory was!
And to add to the excitement was having a TOTAL unknown finish 2nd!!
A Junior at Eastern Michigan, Alsu Bogdanova ran 15:43.84 to stun everyone!!
(She was nowhere to be found on T&FN's 2017 list, nor on any pre-meet formchart!!)
Katherine Receveur was 3rd in 15:44.80, while the marvelous Ostrander was 4th in 15:46.18!
Fiona O'Keefe--another Frosh--was 5th in 15:46.93!
And that's a wrap, my friends!!
But don't fret, as you'll be getting a THIRD post--probably early tomorrow!--which will cover the Rome DL, the Portland Track Festival, and several other interesting meets from around the World!!
See you soon!!
Sunday, June 11, 2017
NCAA--Passion, Prescience, POW! (Part 1)
Okay, so my title needs a bit of explaining.
The NCAA T&F Championships had TONS of passion---i.e. the passion to win & perform at their best!
The prescience was, um, mine!
(I'll let you know why below!)
And the POW!??
Well, let the results speak for themselves!!
(I'll be dividing this into TWO posts, due to length, and my wanting to give you the MOST results & the most COMPLETE account of this great meet!!
FOUR Collegiate Records only tap the surface!
This sometimes wet & windy edition had shock winners, PR's galore, and controversy!
Not to mention an ESPN livestream that paused as much as it played, the usual breakaways for ads, boring interviews, and the odd field event right in the MIDDLE of a race, plus nauseatingly inane & STUPID commentary from the TV people (although Dwight Stones came close to getting it right!)!!
Anyway, I'm here to give you the FACTS!!
Strong rumors abound that Christian Coleman may turn Pro soon---as in SOON!!
Why not, after what he did in the SEMI of the 100!!
9.82, that's what!!
Shattering the Collegiate Record, the Junior Class Record, and the NCAA Meet Record!!
He moves from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, to the Top!!
He is 4th A-T United States!
And he is 9th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
On my US Combined Events list for the 100 & 200, his 9.82 & 19.85 adds to 29.67, leaving him 10th A-T!!
Two others ran 9.93's in the semi's!
Chris Belcher and Cameron Burrell are both 6th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others, including each other!!
They are also both 19th A-T US, tied with 6 others, including each other!!
Kyree King of Oregon ran 10.00, but misses the Collegiate DDD by 0.01 seconds!!
Taken OFF my US list were 3 A-T Greats---
Ryan Bailey, Shawn Crawford, and Walter Dix!!
And OFF the Collegiate list is Carl Lewis, his 10.00 dating from 1981!!
She'd been kicking at the door of the HT Collegiate Record all season!!
Maggie Ewen, a tall all-around thrower from Arizona State, finally nailed her Hammer (HAHA!) out 240-7 from Home Base, erasing the mark set just last year by Olympian DeAnna Price!!
It's also the Junior Class Record and the NCAA Meet Record!!
She moves from 2nd to 1st on the A-T Collegiate list, but remains 8th A-T US!!
Brooke Andersen got a PR of 225-1 in 2nd, moving her from 22nd A-T Collegiate to 16th!
Beatrice Llano's 221-2 makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
One of the most venerable---and maybe even a bit controversial!--Collegiate Records fell to the slightly unexpected winner of the Women's 200!
It was thought one of 2 Ducks might win---either Ariana Washington or Deajah Stevens--but it was Kyra Jefferson who came through with a 22.02 blazer!!
Taking down--after 28 years!!--the altitude-assisted 22.04 of Dawn Sowell, Jefferson got the CR, the Senior Class & Meet Records!!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 1st!!
She's 13th A-T US.
But she misses the World list by 0.05 seconds!!
Washington took 2nd, but was well back in 22.39!!
The "controversy" came when--just feet from the finish--Deajah Stevens suddenly collapsed to the track, rolled into lane 2 (She'd been in lane 3!), causing that runner to side-step her, veering into lane 1, causing THAT runner to also stumble a bit!!
When the meet ended, with the Ducks beating Georgia by a tiny margin, Georgia (who was 2nd!) filed a protest, saying Stevens should not have been allowed to run a leg of the 4X400 Relay (More on that in a minute!), because she didn't finish the 200!!
(Several wondered why she didn't walk or crawl to the finish, getting one point for her team! Later reports were that she was bruised and hurting, and just sat there until help arrived!)
Stevens was given a DQ (Probably because of her impeding the girl in lane 2!), and NOT a DNF!!
(Or maybe it was that the DQ came BEFORE her designation as a DNF!!)
Anyway, a fantastic run by Kyra Jefferson!!
The last CR came in the last event of the 4-day meet---the Women's 4X400 Relay!!
And WHAT a closer it was!!!
The entire Women's meet was on the line!
Georgia had 62.2 (?) points.
UO had 54!
They HAD to score the 10 points given the winner---to win!
It was close all the way.
On paper, USC had the better 400 runners!
When it came down to the last leg, USC's Kendell Ellis had a slight lead over UO's 800 specialist, Raevyn Rogers!
This held around the first curve and down the back-straight!
Rogers tried to pass her, but Ellis was in lane one, so Rogers stayed on the rail.
Ellis was slightly to the outside edge of the lane, so just before the final curve, Rogers slid through, ALMOST (but NOT!!) touching Ellis, and had the lead.
This forced Ellis to the outside, and coming into the last 100, they were almost even!
Then Rogers's 800 strength kicked in--literally KICKED in!!--and it was over, even though Ellis worked hard to close the gap!!
The result was the most exciting--and the FASTEST--4X400 Relay in Collegiate history!!
UO's 3:23.13--with Rogers closing in 49.77!--claimed the CR and the Meet Record!!
(And--eventually!--the team victory!!)
UO moves from 2nd A-T School to 1st.
USC's 3:23.35 (Ellis's leg was 49.63!!) moves them from 6th A-T School to 2nd!!
LSU (3:26.99), Texas A&M (3:27.26), Texas (3:27.27---with Chrisann Gordon having the fastest anchor--a 49.41!!), Florida (3:27.76), and Miami (3:28.90, took places 3 through 7!!
Those were the 4 CR's.
But the rest of the meet was FILLED with great marks!!
I'll do them in the order they happened!
Rudy Winkler came through with a 243-2 Hammer Throw, taking the win from Alexander Young's 241-8.
(A small wee bit of my "prescience" strutting its stuff!!)
Young's mark makes him 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Gleb Dudarev's PR of 240-11 missed my Collegiate DDD by 9 inches!!
The semi's of the Men's 4X100 Relay gave up a few School Records!!
Auburn was fastest with their 38.47.
North Carolina A&T's 38.48 moves them from 18th A-T School to 9th!
Texas's 38.68 moves them onto the list as 16th A-T School!
(Actually, I was surprised they hadn't run faster before!!)
Oregon's 38.76 moves them from 22nd A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 20th!!
Following them came Texas A&M (38.77), Arkansas (38.79), Houston (38.86), and LSU (38.89)!
Then came Ohio State's 38.92, making them 23rd A-T School!!
Four more Semi's followed--
Fred Kerley cruised a 44.57 in the 400, with Michael Cherry running 44.73.
Chris Belcher took the 200 Semi in 20.01, moving him from 21st A-T Collegiate, to 14th!
Jereem Richards ran 20.04, while Christian Coleman "jogged" 20.21.
Kemar Mowatt's 48.64 beat Eric Futch's 48.66 in the 400H Semi.
And Texas A&M's 4X400 Relay ran 2:59.95 in their Semi, with Fred Kerley reportedly splitting a 43.77!!
Marc Scott helped me be "prescient" in the 10000, but his time of 29:01.54 didn't impress!
(Until it was discovered he suffered a seizure a day or 2 before, and had to be hospitalized!!)
The rain and winds hit during the Men's PV, limiting the winner (Matthew Ludwig) to 18-4.50.
Chris Nilsen finished just 4th, clearing 17-10.50!
Ioannis Kyriazis's JT of 270-11 was just enough to nab the NCAA Meet Record, and more than enough for an easy win!
Filip Mihaljevic upset Mostafa Hassan in the SP, his 69-10.25 a big PR, and moving him from 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 17th!
Hassan was 3 feet back in a rare 2017 "off" day!!
KeAndre Bates took the LJ with a leap of 26-5.
In 2nd came Freshman Grant Holloway's 26-3.
(More on this kid later!)
Lindon Victor had a weaker 1st day in the Decathlon, while Devon Williams was charging through!
Tim Duckworth began with the fastest 100 (10.54), but fouled out of the LJ, thus for all intents ending his Dec--even though he finished the event!!
While his 2nd day was decent, Victor settled for the win with 8390 points, beating Williams's 8181, with Luca Wieland (8146) and Steve Bastien (8015) being the others to score 8000 or more!!
The Women's PV had drier weather, but it was still a bit breezy.
Despite that, it was a good competition, even though the marks suffered---if you want to call SIX women clearing at least 14-5.25 "suffering"!!
After Annie Rhodes, Sydney Clute, Kristina Owsinski, and Tori Weeks ended after clearing 14-5.25, it was left to Lexi Weeks and Olivia Gruver to do battle to the end!
They both cleared 14-7.25.
Then Gruver got an OUTdoor PR with her 14-9 clearance!
This moves her from 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 14th, tied with 4 others!!
So after missing once at 14-9, Weeks passed to the next height--14.11.
Both missed their tries (Gruver all 3, Weeks her remaining 2), and Gruver had beaten ONE of the Weeks family's brides-to-be!!
(Actually, she beat BOTH of them!! LOL)
The Women's JT went pretty much true to form.
Irena Sediva pulled out a 6th round victory, her PR-equaling 192-9 beating Marija Vucenovic's 192-2.
This moves the latter from 15th A-T Collegiate, to 13th!
Ashley Pryke took 3rd with her toss of 186-9, which makes her 21st A-T Collegiate!!
The Women's LJ saw a great competition, and Georgia securing 18 points with their 1-2 finish!!
Keturah Orji had a windy 22-0.25, but Kate Hall beat that with her legal 22-1.
This ties the Frosh Class Record of Carol Lewis, dating from 1982!!
It also makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Mike Conley's daughter Sydney took 3rd with her 21-6.25!
Favored Quanesha Burks had a bad day, hitting just 20-7 in 11th place!!
The Women's SP had an upset of sorts.
Remember me saying (in my Preview) that it wouldn't surprise me if Raven Saunders threw either 55 feet--or 65 feet??
Well, she was MUCH closer to that 55 than to the 65!!
Having one of those days (She needs to find consistency!!), her 57-3.75 gave her 4th place!!
Meanwhile Jamaica's Danniel Thomas had HER big day of days!!
Her massive PR of about 2 feet--a 62-10--gave her the National Record of Jamaica, the Senior Class Record--this one previously held by Meg Ritchie's 62-2.75, dating from 1983!!--and moves her from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
Thomas had a solid series, with all 6 Puts hitting 59 feet or better, 4 of them over 60!!
Emmonnie Henderson was 2nd with a near-PR of 58-9.25!
The Semi's of the Women's 4X100 Relay saw the OTHER Collegiate Record holders--the team from LSU--get a DQ!!
This took out BOTH CR holders--as UO got left behind at the Regionals!!
(Others DNFing here were Texas A&M, Miami, and Auburn!!)
Florida led the way with 42.91, while Arkansas's 43.34 moved them from 23rd A-T School to 16th!
As it turned out, the Semi's of the Women's 1500 were faster than the final!!
Dani Jones ran 4:10.74, missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.19 seconds!
Nikki Hiltz's 4:10.80 missed the list by 0.25 secs!
Annemarie Schwanz's 4:10.93 left her 0.38 seconds shy, while Amy Eloise-Neale's 4:11.00 missed by 0.45 seconds!!
Kaela Edwards finished in 15th, running a piddly 4:19.40--not Q'ing!
The Semi's of the Women's 3000SC saw TEN ladies ending in under 10 minutes!!
Hope Schmelzle's 9:50.51 led the way, but close behind were Tori Gerlach (9:50.54), Allie Ostrander (9:50.54--a 5 second PR in just her 3rd-ever SC!!), Maddie Boreman (9:51.00--a 15 second PR!!--my prescience baring its ass!!), Elinor Purrier (9:52.59), Madeline Strandano (9:52.74), Grayson Murphy (9:53.04), with Katy Kunc, Sarah Edwards, and Brianna Ilarda also sub-10.
In the 100H Semi's, 2 Frosh and 4 Sophs Q'ed!, with Toby Amusan's 12.79 leading, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alaysha Johnson, and Anna Cockrell all running in the 12.80's!
Four other Semi's came next---
Brooke Feldmeier surprised a few by running her 800 in 2:03.32.
Jazmine Fray shocked a few by NOT Qualifying!!
Sage Watson didn't linger in her 400H Semi, running a quick 54.88--though not a PR!
Anna Cockrell ran 55.64.
Deajah Stevens seemed on course with her Semi of 22.31, while Brittany Brown also looked good with her 22.55.
Ashley Henderson's 23.10 in 10th, however, didn't get her through!!
The 4X400 Semi's were okay, with 4 teams (USC, Florida, A&M, and Ohio State ending under 3:30.
The 400 Semi's saw Chrisann Gordon emerge from the realm of the 51's into a 50.39 gal.
This moved her from 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 7th, tied with 1 other.
Shakima Wimbley cruised through in 51.17!
This first part ends here!
But I'll be back with all the rest from Eugene in a few short hours!!
The NCAA T&F Championships had TONS of passion---i.e. the passion to win & perform at their best!
The prescience was, um, mine!
(I'll let you know why below!)
And the POW!??
Well, let the results speak for themselves!!
(I'll be dividing this into TWO posts, due to length, and my wanting to give you the MOST results & the most COMPLETE account of this great meet!!
FOUR Collegiate Records only tap the surface!
This sometimes wet & windy edition had shock winners, PR's galore, and controversy!
Not to mention an ESPN livestream that paused as much as it played, the usual breakaways for ads, boring interviews, and the odd field event right in the MIDDLE of a race, plus nauseatingly inane & STUPID commentary from the TV people (although Dwight Stones came close to getting it right!)!!
Anyway, I'm here to give you the FACTS!!
Strong rumors abound that Christian Coleman may turn Pro soon---as in SOON!!
Why not, after what he did in the SEMI of the 100!!
9.82, that's what!!
Shattering the Collegiate Record, the Junior Class Record, and the NCAA Meet Record!!
He moves from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, to the Top!!
He is 4th A-T United States!
And he is 9th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
On my US Combined Events list for the 100 & 200, his 9.82 & 19.85 adds to 29.67, leaving him 10th A-T!!
Two others ran 9.93's in the semi's!
Chris Belcher and Cameron Burrell are both 6th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others, including each other!!
They are also both 19th A-T US, tied with 6 others, including each other!!
Kyree King of Oregon ran 10.00, but misses the Collegiate DDD by 0.01 seconds!!
Taken OFF my US list were 3 A-T Greats---
Ryan Bailey, Shawn Crawford, and Walter Dix!!
And OFF the Collegiate list is Carl Lewis, his 10.00 dating from 1981!!
She'd been kicking at the door of the HT Collegiate Record all season!!
Maggie Ewen, a tall all-around thrower from Arizona State, finally nailed her Hammer (HAHA!) out 240-7 from Home Base, erasing the mark set just last year by Olympian DeAnna Price!!
It's also the Junior Class Record and the NCAA Meet Record!!
She moves from 2nd to 1st on the A-T Collegiate list, but remains 8th A-T US!!
Brooke Andersen got a PR of 225-1 in 2nd, moving her from 22nd A-T Collegiate to 16th!
Beatrice Llano's 221-2 makes her 23rd A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!!
One of the most venerable---and maybe even a bit controversial!--Collegiate Records fell to the slightly unexpected winner of the Women's 200!
It was thought one of 2 Ducks might win---either Ariana Washington or Deajah Stevens--but it was Kyra Jefferson who came through with a 22.02 blazer!!
Taking down--after 28 years!!--the altitude-assisted 22.04 of Dawn Sowell, Jefferson got the CR, the Senior Class & Meet Records!!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 1st!!
She's 13th A-T US.
But she misses the World list by 0.05 seconds!!
Washington took 2nd, but was well back in 22.39!!
The "controversy" came when--just feet from the finish--Deajah Stevens suddenly collapsed to the track, rolled into lane 2 (She'd been in lane 3!), causing that runner to side-step her, veering into lane 1, causing THAT runner to also stumble a bit!!
When the meet ended, with the Ducks beating Georgia by a tiny margin, Georgia (who was 2nd!) filed a protest, saying Stevens should not have been allowed to run a leg of the 4X400 Relay (More on that in a minute!), because she didn't finish the 200!!
(Several wondered why she didn't walk or crawl to the finish, getting one point for her team! Later reports were that she was bruised and hurting, and just sat there until help arrived!)
Stevens was given a DQ (Probably because of her impeding the girl in lane 2!), and NOT a DNF!!
(Or maybe it was that the DQ came BEFORE her designation as a DNF!!)
Anyway, a fantastic run by Kyra Jefferson!!
The last CR came in the last event of the 4-day meet---the Women's 4X400 Relay!!
And WHAT a closer it was!!!
The entire Women's meet was on the line!
Georgia had 62.2 (?) points.
UO had 54!
They HAD to score the 10 points given the winner---to win!
It was close all the way.
On paper, USC had the better 400 runners!
When it came down to the last leg, USC's Kendell Ellis had a slight lead over UO's 800 specialist, Raevyn Rogers!
This held around the first curve and down the back-straight!
Rogers tried to pass her, but Ellis was in lane one, so Rogers stayed on the rail.
Ellis was slightly to the outside edge of the lane, so just before the final curve, Rogers slid through, ALMOST (but NOT!!) touching Ellis, and had the lead.
This forced Ellis to the outside, and coming into the last 100, they were almost even!
Then Rogers's 800 strength kicked in--literally KICKED in!!--and it was over, even though Ellis worked hard to close the gap!!
The result was the most exciting--and the FASTEST--4X400 Relay in Collegiate history!!
UO's 3:23.13--with Rogers closing in 49.77!--claimed the CR and the Meet Record!!
(And--eventually!--the team victory!!)
UO moves from 2nd A-T School to 1st.
USC's 3:23.35 (Ellis's leg was 49.63!!) moves them from 6th A-T School to 2nd!!
LSU (3:26.99), Texas A&M (3:27.26), Texas (3:27.27---with Chrisann Gordon having the fastest anchor--a 49.41!!), Florida (3:27.76), and Miami (3:28.90, took places 3 through 7!!
Those were the 4 CR's.
But the rest of the meet was FILLED with great marks!!
I'll do them in the order they happened!
Rudy Winkler came through with a 243-2 Hammer Throw, taking the win from Alexander Young's 241-8.
(A small wee bit of my "prescience" strutting its stuff!!)
Young's mark makes him 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Gleb Dudarev's PR of 240-11 missed my Collegiate DDD by 9 inches!!
The semi's of the Men's 4X100 Relay gave up a few School Records!!
Auburn was fastest with their 38.47.
North Carolina A&T's 38.48 moves them from 18th A-T School to 9th!
Texas's 38.68 moves them onto the list as 16th A-T School!
(Actually, I was surprised they hadn't run faster before!!)
Oregon's 38.76 moves them from 22nd A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 20th!!
Following them came Texas A&M (38.77), Arkansas (38.79), Houston (38.86), and LSU (38.89)!
Then came Ohio State's 38.92, making them 23rd A-T School!!
Four more Semi's followed--
Fred Kerley cruised a 44.57 in the 400, with Michael Cherry running 44.73.
Chris Belcher took the 200 Semi in 20.01, moving him from 21st A-T Collegiate, to 14th!
Jereem Richards ran 20.04, while Christian Coleman "jogged" 20.21.
Kemar Mowatt's 48.64 beat Eric Futch's 48.66 in the 400H Semi.
And Texas A&M's 4X400 Relay ran 2:59.95 in their Semi, with Fred Kerley reportedly splitting a 43.77!!
Marc Scott helped me be "prescient" in the 10000, but his time of 29:01.54 didn't impress!
(Until it was discovered he suffered a seizure a day or 2 before, and had to be hospitalized!!)
The rain and winds hit during the Men's PV, limiting the winner (Matthew Ludwig) to 18-4.50.
Chris Nilsen finished just 4th, clearing 17-10.50!
Ioannis Kyriazis's JT of 270-11 was just enough to nab the NCAA Meet Record, and more than enough for an easy win!
Filip Mihaljevic upset Mostafa Hassan in the SP, his 69-10.25 a big PR, and moving him from 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 17th!
Hassan was 3 feet back in a rare 2017 "off" day!!
KeAndre Bates took the LJ with a leap of 26-5.
In 2nd came Freshman Grant Holloway's 26-3.
(More on this kid later!)
Lindon Victor had a weaker 1st day in the Decathlon, while Devon Williams was charging through!
Tim Duckworth began with the fastest 100 (10.54), but fouled out of the LJ, thus for all intents ending his Dec--even though he finished the event!!
While his 2nd day was decent, Victor settled for the win with 8390 points, beating Williams's 8181, with Luca Wieland (8146) and Steve Bastien (8015) being the others to score 8000 or more!!
The Women's PV had drier weather, but it was still a bit breezy.
Despite that, it was a good competition, even though the marks suffered---if you want to call SIX women clearing at least 14-5.25 "suffering"!!
After Annie Rhodes, Sydney Clute, Kristina Owsinski, and Tori Weeks ended after clearing 14-5.25, it was left to Lexi Weeks and Olivia Gruver to do battle to the end!
They both cleared 14-7.25.
Then Gruver got an OUTdoor PR with her 14-9 clearance!
This moves her from 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 14th, tied with 4 others!!
So after missing once at 14-9, Weeks passed to the next height--14.11.
Both missed their tries (Gruver all 3, Weeks her remaining 2), and Gruver had beaten ONE of the Weeks family's brides-to-be!!
(Actually, she beat BOTH of them!! LOL)
The Women's JT went pretty much true to form.
Irena Sediva pulled out a 6th round victory, her PR-equaling 192-9 beating Marija Vucenovic's 192-2.
This moves the latter from 15th A-T Collegiate, to 13th!
Ashley Pryke took 3rd with her toss of 186-9, which makes her 21st A-T Collegiate!!
The Women's LJ saw a great competition, and Georgia securing 18 points with their 1-2 finish!!
Keturah Orji had a windy 22-0.25, but Kate Hall beat that with her legal 22-1.
This ties the Frosh Class Record of Carol Lewis, dating from 1982!!
It also makes her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Mike Conley's daughter Sydney took 3rd with her 21-6.25!
Favored Quanesha Burks had a bad day, hitting just 20-7 in 11th place!!
The Women's SP had an upset of sorts.
Remember me saying (in my Preview) that it wouldn't surprise me if Raven Saunders threw either 55 feet--or 65 feet??
Well, she was MUCH closer to that 55 than to the 65!!
Having one of those days (She needs to find consistency!!), her 57-3.75 gave her 4th place!!
Meanwhile Jamaica's Danniel Thomas had HER big day of days!!
Her massive PR of about 2 feet--a 62-10--gave her the National Record of Jamaica, the Senior Class Record--this one previously held by Meg Ritchie's 62-2.75, dating from 1983!!--and moves her from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
Thomas had a solid series, with all 6 Puts hitting 59 feet or better, 4 of them over 60!!
Emmonnie Henderson was 2nd with a near-PR of 58-9.25!
The Semi's of the Women's 4X100 Relay saw the OTHER Collegiate Record holders--the team from LSU--get a DQ!!
This took out BOTH CR holders--as UO got left behind at the Regionals!!
(Others DNFing here were Texas A&M, Miami, and Auburn!!)
Florida led the way with 42.91, while Arkansas's 43.34 moved them from 23rd A-T School to 16th!
As it turned out, the Semi's of the Women's 1500 were faster than the final!!
Dani Jones ran 4:10.74, missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.19 seconds!
Nikki Hiltz's 4:10.80 missed the list by 0.25 secs!
Annemarie Schwanz's 4:10.93 left her 0.38 seconds shy, while Amy Eloise-Neale's 4:11.00 missed by 0.45 seconds!!
Kaela Edwards finished in 15th, running a piddly 4:19.40--not Q'ing!
The Semi's of the Women's 3000SC saw TEN ladies ending in under 10 minutes!!
Hope Schmelzle's 9:50.51 led the way, but close behind were Tori Gerlach (9:50.54), Allie Ostrander (9:50.54--a 5 second PR in just her 3rd-ever SC!!), Maddie Boreman (9:51.00--a 15 second PR!!--my prescience baring its ass!!), Elinor Purrier (9:52.59), Madeline Strandano (9:52.74), Grayson Murphy (9:53.04), with Katy Kunc, Sarah Edwards, and Brianna Ilarda also sub-10.
In the 100H Semi's, 2 Frosh and 4 Sophs Q'ed!, with Toby Amusan's 12.79 leading, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alaysha Johnson, and Anna Cockrell all running in the 12.80's!
Four other Semi's came next---
Brooke Feldmeier surprised a few by running her 800 in 2:03.32.
Jazmine Fray shocked a few by NOT Qualifying!!
Sage Watson didn't linger in her 400H Semi, running a quick 54.88--though not a PR!
Anna Cockrell ran 55.64.
Deajah Stevens seemed on course with her Semi of 22.31, while Brittany Brown also looked good with her 22.55.
Ashley Henderson's 23.10 in 10th, however, didn't get her through!!
The 4X400 Semi's were okay, with 4 teams (USC, Florida, A&M, and Ohio State ending under 3:30.
The 400 Semi's saw Chrisann Gordon emerge from the realm of the 51's into a 50.39 gal.
This moved her from 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 7th, tied with 1 other.
Shakima Wimbley cruised through in 51.17!
This first part ends here!
But I'll be back with all the rest from Eugene in a few short hours!!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
2017 NCAA Preview--WOMEN
As promised, this Preview will be shorter than the Men's.
Reason being, there's no need to repeat all the preliminary intro stuff here!
Just refer to my Men's Preview!
As for the schedule, it's basically exactly the same as the Men's, except on different days!!
There's no Multi on Day One!
Other than that, Thursday's schedule follows the Men's EXACTLY!!
The Women begin their Heptathlon on Friday--during the Men's Finals day!!
Then they follow the Men's Finals schedule (on Saturday!!) to the letter!!
Got that??
Good---so let's get to the MEAT!!
(Apologies to Vegetarians!! LOL)
HT (MR 234-8, 24th A-T Performer 220-11)
Maggie Ewen WILL become the first Collegiate to whip the Hammer out past the 240 foot line!!
She's been banging on the door all season, and should do it here!!
Even if she misses that mark, the MR's a GONER!!
Brooke Andersen had a good throw this year, but it's about 18 feet short of Ewen's best!
Julia Ratcliffe has a 230+ throw from years past, but nowhere near that in 2017!
She might surprise, however!
(On my DDD) Ewen, Ratcliffe, Andersen
PV (MR 15-5, 24th A-T Performer 14-7.25)
Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day---PLEASE!!
Predicted wet skies might stop the THREE 15 footers (Lexi Weeks, Emily Grove, Annie Rhodes)---FOUR if you include INdoor 15 foot gal Tori Weeks!!---from making this the BEST-EVER Collegiate competition!
Yes, the best, even considering the monumental duel between Sandi Morris and Demi Payne in 2015!!
There are no guaranteed winners here, not with the solid depth, which includes 14-11 Vaulters Olivia Gruver and Sydney Clute!!
While Lexi's Olympic Games experience might put her slightly ahead, she's been slow to get back to her 2016 form!!
But Eugene might be the venue where it happens!
Want a few MORE names---all of whom could surprise?
Add Kristina Owsinski, Desiree Freier, Helen Falda, Liz Quick, Kally Long, Lakan Taylor, and Duke's Madison Heath!!
No predictions here!
Just have a BLAST watching this incredible field of athletes!!
(On my DDD) L & T Weeks, Rhodes, Grove, Clute & Gruver
JT (MR 204-0, 24th A-T Performer 185-7)
Maggie Malone, the MR holder, is gone, but her sister Audrey is here.
However, she's not the favorite, as Rebekah Wales seems likely to win!
Don't bet your last dime on her, as the field is fairly level!
Watch for Eva Vivod, Irena Sediva, Mariya Vucevenic, and Katelyn Gochenour to provide some challenge!
Haley Crouser could join the fray!
No MR here!
(On my DDD) Sediva, Vucevenic, Vivod, Wales & A Malone
LJ (MR 22-9.25, 24th A-T Performer 22-0.75)
Here's another field event with FIVE solid contenders!!
Pick and choose among Quanesha Burks, Sha'Keela Saunders, TJ Master Keturah Orji, HSR holder Kate Hall, and TJ Icon Mike Conley's daughter Sydney!!
A shocker could be Rogui Sow!!
Add another classy TJ'er--Yanis David--for good measure--pun intended!!
(Go with Burks, if you must!!)
(On my DDD) Burks, Saunders, Sow
SP (MR 63-5, 24th A-T Performer 59-0.25)
I've said this before, and I'll repeat myself--Raven Saunders could throw 55 feet---or 65 feet--and neither would completely surprise me!!
Luckily, she's come through more often than not, so look for Saunders to not only win, but take down her own MR too!!
After the Raven, watch for Danniel Thomas, Erin Farmer, and Jessica Woodard.
Emmonnie Henderson closed in on 59 feet recently.
Janeah Stewart, Brittany Mann, and Multi-Event Thrower Maggie Ewen will be in the mix for points!
(On my DDD) Saunders, Thomas, Farmer & Woodard
10000 (MR 32:28.57, 24th A-T Performer 32:29.89)
Check out how close the MR is to the 24th best Collegiate!!
Just like the Men!
And as with the men, it's sad that the ladies mostly choose to negative split their race, giving a MR shot 40-60 odds at best!!
Unless Anna Rohrer decides to make up for teammate Molly Seidel's absence!!
The Brit (who attends San Francisco State) Charlotte Taylor could surprise, but look for Alice Wright and Sharon Lokedi to provide the main challenge!
Erin Clark is good, and Bethan Knights has some speed.
Winny Koech, Annie Bothma, and Chelsea Blaase are others to watch!
(On my DDD) Rohrer, Blaase, Wright & Taylor
Heptathlon (MR 6527, 24th A-T Performer 6021)
As with the Men's fave, Lindon Victor, the Women have a strong fave too--likely to go on to the World Championships via the USATF meet!!
Thus, we must ask whether Kendell Williams might want to save something for the Nationals (and London!!), or decide she'd rather take that one final shot at the MR--which happens to be the Collegiate Record as well!!
Taliyah Brooks, Payton Stumbaugh, and Freshman Nina Schultz should all score 6000 points!
In fact, Schultz's PR of 6021 took away the Collegiate Frosh Class record held by---Kendell Williams!!
(On my DDD) Williams, Brooks, Stumbaugh & Schultz
HJ (MR 6-5, 24th A-T Performer 6-2.75)
As with the Men, one of the weakest events!
No MR in sight---not even close!
But key on Madeline Fagan and Tatiana Gusin as your likely winners!!
Logan Boss and Kaysee Pilgrim have cool names, but not enough oomph to do more than score a couple of points!
(On my DDD) NONE
DT (MR 210-10, 24th A-T Performer 198-2)
This is another of Maggie Ewen's point scorers, but the faves here are Kellion Knibb and Jamaican Shadae Lawrence, sister of Shardia Lawrence, a TJ'er!!
Both have exchanged the yearly lead, and are hard to choose between!
But I'll take Lawrence!
(On my DDD) Knibb, Lawrence, Ewen
4X100 Relay (MR 42.36, 24th A-T School 43.58)
Oh, those Ducks!!
What an INCREDIBLE race this COULDA been!!!
Then those Waddlers had to fuck up in that "meet" called the Regionals!!
So we're left with co-CR holders LSU to claim the SOLE CR of 42.12!
People are talking about a time in the 41's!
They're also questioning whether they go for safe (& slower!) exchanges, or hit the gas and ROAR, damn the torpedo's!!
I'm seeing a 41.9 here, folks!!
Texas A&M and San Diego State have solid anchors, but they're likely to be left in LSU's wake!!
(On my DDD) All the Relays have MANY Schools competing here who are on my list!!
TJ (MR 47-8, 24th A-T Performer 45-1)
I have a real conundrum here!
We have Keturah Orji, who owns this MR, as well as a PR of 48-3.25 from taking 4th in Rio!!
We also have Keturah Orji who has yet to top 47 feet this year!!
Yes, she's a 100% sure bet to win, but getting her own MR might be tough!!
Her closest competition has a PR over three feet less!!
Yanis David and Shardia Lawrence (See my DT Preview above!) each have 45 footers to their name!
(On my DDD) Orji
1500 (MR 4:06.19, 24th A-T Performer 4:10.55)
Here's a class field, but without that one clear favorite!
There's several who have recent PR's in the 4:11 to 4:14 range!
I'm taking a chance here, and going with Oregon Frosh Katie Rainsberger!
She has the genes, the record (Best Frosh, by far, in 2017---XC, INdoors & OUTdoors!!), and she'll have that home-grown Hayward Field MAGIC to propel her!!
But at the bell, expect a LARGE pack to include Kaela Edwards, Christine Aragon, Rhianwedd Price, Helen Schlactenhaufen, Nikki Hiltz, Dani Jones, Jessica Harris, and Kristin Nelson!!
Might want to watch for Amy Eloise-Neale, Millie Paladino, Megan Moye, and Christine's sister, Danielle Aragon!!
If they come by 1100 in 3:05 to 3:08, look for a BIG invasion of the A-T list!!
(On my DDD) Price
3000SC (MR 9:24.41, 24th A-T Performer 9:47.91)
Mountain Racer Allie Ostrander ran her 1st-ever SC in 9:55 awhile back!
Her 5 foot bod cleared each hurdle (and water jump) cleanly, and suddenly we had a new "find"!!
Despite Elinor Purrier's superior PR (9:47), I'm seeing Allie O as the NCAA Champion!!
But no MR---not yet!!
Vying for points only might be Claire Borchers, Paige Stoner, Sage Hurta, Brianna Ilarda, Tori Gerlach, and Sarah Edwards!
Watch for Maddie Boreman as a possible shocker!!
(On my DDD) Purrier
100H (MR 12.39, 24th A-T Performer 12.75)
The US (& the World!) won't be hurting for top-tier 100H'ers any time soon---not with THIS little group of wannabe's!
I'm not seeing a MR, but a 12.50-ish time isn't out of the question--wind legality depending!!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn might have a SLIGHT edge, but she can't falter if she wants to stay ahead of Tobi Amusan, Rochelle Burton, Devynne Charlton, Dior Hall, or Ebony Morrison!!
Stir in Ducks Alaysha Johnson and Sasha Wallace for good measure!
Might want to keep your eyes on Frosh Brittley Humphrey, Anna Cockrell, and HSR holder in the INdoor 60H, Tonea Marshall!!
(On my DDD) JCQ, Amusan, Hall & Johnson
100 (MR 10.78, 24th A-T Performer 11.05)
Are you missing key Duck (& Selfie Queen) Hannah Cunliffe??
Yeah, me too!
But not to fret---we have a top tier group of Women here, ready to rumble!!
And Aleia Hobbs, despite her amazing 10.85 PR, may NOT be the favorite here!!
The remaining UO gals, Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens, will be right up there, as should SD Stater Ashley Henderson, who's THIS close to a sub-11 time!!
Deanna Hill, Aliyah Brown, Teahna Daniels, and surprising Destiny Carter shouldn't be completely overlooked!!
And yes, given a max 2.0 wind (or high 1's), this venerable MR (and CR!!) could actually GO!!
(On my DDD) Hobbs, Stevens, Henderson & Carter
400 (MR 50.10, 24th A-T Performer 50.83)
Don't bet your last dollar on a MR, or a sub-50!
But this race could be one of the most exciting, as there're a few who could be forcing a photo inspection to determine who won!!
Kendell Ellis and Shakima Wimbley seem to be the top pair, but Chrisann Gordon is one to watch, as is Daina Harper!
And yes, that Old Duckie Magic might propel Elexis Guster and Mackenzie Dunmore to greater effort, making the likely UO team victory even more a sure bet!!
(On my DDD) Ellis, Wimbley, Gordon
800 (MR 1:59.11, 24th A-T Performer 2:01.37)
Home Girl Raevyn Rogers, CR holder at 1:59.10, seems an ironclad winner---right??
Not according to THIS blogger!!
If Jazmine Fray runs like she did INdoors (New 800 CR, a fast 1000, etc!), Rogers could have a real battle on her hands!
And Hanna Green has the cred for a sub-2 also!!
If they hit 400 in 58 or faster, look for these 3 to possibly ALL dip under the 2:00 barrier!!
Danae Rivers (Maybe better as a Miler?), Siofia Cleirigh-Buttner, Ruby Stauber, Shea Collinsworth, and Brooke Feldmeier should be close at the bell!
Watch especially for speedy Olivia Baker to shock and awe!!
(On my DDD) Rogers, Green, Baker
400H (MR 53.21, 24th A-T Performer 54.94)
Canadian Sage Watson has been HOT all year--INdoors & OUTdoors!!
She has the strength (INdoor 500 CR holder!) and the fastest Collegiate time this season---so far!!
But Amelie Iuel also has some wheels.
Jade Miller, Symone Black, and Ariel Jones are good too.
But I'd keep a VERY close eye on Frosh Anna Cockrell!!
If it weren't for Sydney McLaughlin, she would now be the co-HSR holder for this event!!
(On my DDD) Watson
200 (MR 22.04, 24th A-T Performer 22.42)
Here's another event where Hannah Cunliffe won't be TOO missed (except maybe by her fellow Duckies!!)---AND where a most venerable MR (AND Collegiate Record) COULD topple!!
Yes, Dawn Sowell just MIGHT lose BOTH of her historic CR's here!!
Up front should be the Eugene Faves--Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens---pick and choose!
But don't blink when watching Ashley Henderson, Kyra Jefferson, Aliyah Brown, Deanna Hill, or Brittany Brown!!
Of course, not ALL of the best will make the 8 lane final!!
So the Semi's will be all-important!
And that's where the rise (or fall!!) of ladies like Teahna Daniels, Kortnei Johnson, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, or Harvard Intelligentsia Gabrielle Thomas will happen!!
(On my DDD) Stevens, Washington, D Hill & Jefferson
5000 (MR 15:15.08, 24th A-T Performer 15:29.0)
Allie Ostrander is listed here too, and if she appears, will be a key person to watch!
But hard-kicker Karissa Schweizer is the consensus fave here, and after a fantastic TRI-Season (XC, INdoor & OUTdoor Track), seems headed for a clean win, and maybe a Meet Record!!
If she puts pedal to metal from the gun and never looks back, even the Collegiate Record of 15:07.64 (held by then Jenny Barringer--nee Simpson!!) is up for grabs!!
Erin Clark, Tessa Barrett, Allie Buchalski, Katherine Receveur, Gina Sereno, Sarah Disanza, and Fiona O'Keefe are ones to watch.
Key Duck points could be gotten from Samantha Nadel!!
(On my DDD) NONE
4X400 Relay (MR 3:24.21, 24th A-T School 3:29.41)
UO actually might win this---in MR time!!
Keep in mind that 800 gal Rogers split a 50.19 at Regionals!!
But USC has Kendell Ellis, while Miami has Shakima Wimbley, and Texas has Chrisann Gordon!
Nonetheless, I'm giving the MR 70-30 odds of going down---with the Ducks bringing a victorious meet to a glorious close!!
Hope you all enjoy the meet, and use these Previews as your main guide throughout!!
See you in a few days with all the great Records & Marks sure to come!!
Reason being, there's no need to repeat all the preliminary intro stuff here!
Just refer to my Men's Preview!
As for the schedule, it's basically exactly the same as the Men's, except on different days!!
There's no Multi on Day One!
Other than that, Thursday's schedule follows the Men's EXACTLY!!
The Women begin their Heptathlon on Friday--during the Men's Finals day!!
Then they follow the Men's Finals schedule (on Saturday!!) to the letter!!
Got that??
Good---so let's get to the MEAT!!
(Apologies to Vegetarians!! LOL)
HT (MR 234-8, 24th A-T Performer 220-11)
Maggie Ewen WILL become the first Collegiate to whip the Hammer out past the 240 foot line!!
She's been banging on the door all season, and should do it here!!
Even if she misses that mark, the MR's a GONER!!
Brooke Andersen had a good throw this year, but it's about 18 feet short of Ewen's best!
Julia Ratcliffe has a 230+ throw from years past, but nowhere near that in 2017!
She might surprise, however!
(On my DDD) Ewen, Ratcliffe, Andersen
PV (MR 15-5, 24th A-T Performer 14-7.25)
Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day---PLEASE!!
Predicted wet skies might stop the THREE 15 footers (Lexi Weeks, Emily Grove, Annie Rhodes)---FOUR if you include INdoor 15 foot gal Tori Weeks!!---from making this the BEST-EVER Collegiate competition!
Yes, the best, even considering the monumental duel between Sandi Morris and Demi Payne in 2015!!
There are no guaranteed winners here, not with the solid depth, which includes 14-11 Vaulters Olivia Gruver and Sydney Clute!!
While Lexi's Olympic Games experience might put her slightly ahead, she's been slow to get back to her 2016 form!!
But Eugene might be the venue where it happens!
Want a few MORE names---all of whom could surprise?
Add Kristina Owsinski, Desiree Freier, Helen Falda, Liz Quick, Kally Long, Lakan Taylor, and Duke's Madison Heath!!
No predictions here!
Just have a BLAST watching this incredible field of athletes!!
(On my DDD) L & T Weeks, Rhodes, Grove, Clute & Gruver
JT (MR 204-0, 24th A-T Performer 185-7)
Maggie Malone, the MR holder, is gone, but her sister Audrey is here.
However, she's not the favorite, as Rebekah Wales seems likely to win!
Don't bet your last dime on her, as the field is fairly level!
Watch for Eva Vivod, Irena Sediva, Mariya Vucevenic, and Katelyn Gochenour to provide some challenge!
Haley Crouser could join the fray!
No MR here!
(On my DDD) Sediva, Vucevenic, Vivod, Wales & A Malone
LJ (MR 22-9.25, 24th A-T Performer 22-0.75)
Here's another field event with FIVE solid contenders!!
Pick and choose among Quanesha Burks, Sha'Keela Saunders, TJ Master Keturah Orji, HSR holder Kate Hall, and TJ Icon Mike Conley's daughter Sydney!!
A shocker could be Rogui Sow!!
Add another classy TJ'er--Yanis David--for good measure--pun intended!!
(Go with Burks, if you must!!)
(On my DDD) Burks, Saunders, Sow
SP (MR 63-5, 24th A-T Performer 59-0.25)
I've said this before, and I'll repeat myself--Raven Saunders could throw 55 feet---or 65 feet--and neither would completely surprise me!!
Luckily, she's come through more often than not, so look for Saunders to not only win, but take down her own MR too!!
After the Raven, watch for Danniel Thomas, Erin Farmer, and Jessica Woodard.
Emmonnie Henderson closed in on 59 feet recently.
Janeah Stewart, Brittany Mann, and Multi-Event Thrower Maggie Ewen will be in the mix for points!
(On my DDD) Saunders, Thomas, Farmer & Woodard
10000 (MR 32:28.57, 24th A-T Performer 32:29.89)
Check out how close the MR is to the 24th best Collegiate!!
Just like the Men!
And as with the men, it's sad that the ladies mostly choose to negative split their race, giving a MR shot 40-60 odds at best!!
Unless Anna Rohrer decides to make up for teammate Molly Seidel's absence!!
The Brit (who attends San Francisco State) Charlotte Taylor could surprise, but look for Alice Wright and Sharon Lokedi to provide the main challenge!
Erin Clark is good, and Bethan Knights has some speed.
Winny Koech, Annie Bothma, and Chelsea Blaase are others to watch!
(On my DDD) Rohrer, Blaase, Wright & Taylor
Heptathlon (MR 6527, 24th A-T Performer 6021)
As with the Men's fave, Lindon Victor, the Women have a strong fave too--likely to go on to the World Championships via the USATF meet!!
Thus, we must ask whether Kendell Williams might want to save something for the Nationals (and London!!), or decide she'd rather take that one final shot at the MR--which happens to be the Collegiate Record as well!!
Taliyah Brooks, Payton Stumbaugh, and Freshman Nina Schultz should all score 6000 points!
In fact, Schultz's PR of 6021 took away the Collegiate Frosh Class record held by---Kendell Williams!!
(On my DDD) Williams, Brooks, Stumbaugh & Schultz
HJ (MR 6-5, 24th A-T Performer 6-2.75)
As with the Men, one of the weakest events!
No MR in sight---not even close!
But key on Madeline Fagan and Tatiana Gusin as your likely winners!!
Logan Boss and Kaysee Pilgrim have cool names, but not enough oomph to do more than score a couple of points!
(On my DDD) NONE
DT (MR 210-10, 24th A-T Performer 198-2)
This is another of Maggie Ewen's point scorers, but the faves here are Kellion Knibb and Jamaican Shadae Lawrence, sister of Shardia Lawrence, a TJ'er!!
Both have exchanged the yearly lead, and are hard to choose between!
But I'll take Lawrence!
(On my DDD) Knibb, Lawrence, Ewen
4X100 Relay (MR 42.36, 24th A-T School 43.58)
Oh, those Ducks!!
What an INCREDIBLE race this COULDA been!!!
Then those Waddlers had to fuck up in that "meet" called the Regionals!!
So we're left with co-CR holders LSU to claim the SOLE CR of 42.12!
People are talking about a time in the 41's!
They're also questioning whether they go for safe (& slower!) exchanges, or hit the gas and ROAR, damn the torpedo's!!
I'm seeing a 41.9 here, folks!!
Texas A&M and San Diego State have solid anchors, but they're likely to be left in LSU's wake!!
(On my DDD) All the Relays have MANY Schools competing here who are on my list!!
TJ (MR 47-8, 24th A-T Performer 45-1)
I have a real conundrum here!
We have Keturah Orji, who owns this MR, as well as a PR of 48-3.25 from taking 4th in Rio!!
We also have Keturah Orji who has yet to top 47 feet this year!!
Yes, she's a 100% sure bet to win, but getting her own MR might be tough!!
Her closest competition has a PR over three feet less!!
Yanis David and Shardia Lawrence (See my DT Preview above!) each have 45 footers to their name!
(On my DDD) Orji
1500 (MR 4:06.19, 24th A-T Performer 4:10.55)
Here's a class field, but without that one clear favorite!
There's several who have recent PR's in the 4:11 to 4:14 range!
I'm taking a chance here, and going with Oregon Frosh Katie Rainsberger!
She has the genes, the record (Best Frosh, by far, in 2017---XC, INdoors & OUTdoors!!), and she'll have that home-grown Hayward Field MAGIC to propel her!!
But at the bell, expect a LARGE pack to include Kaela Edwards, Christine Aragon, Rhianwedd Price, Helen Schlactenhaufen, Nikki Hiltz, Dani Jones, Jessica Harris, and Kristin Nelson!!
Might want to watch for Amy Eloise-Neale, Millie Paladino, Megan Moye, and Christine's sister, Danielle Aragon!!
If they come by 1100 in 3:05 to 3:08, look for a BIG invasion of the A-T list!!
(On my DDD) Price
3000SC (MR 9:24.41, 24th A-T Performer 9:47.91)
Mountain Racer Allie Ostrander ran her 1st-ever SC in 9:55 awhile back!
Her 5 foot bod cleared each hurdle (and water jump) cleanly, and suddenly we had a new "find"!!
Despite Elinor Purrier's superior PR (9:47), I'm seeing Allie O as the NCAA Champion!!
But no MR---not yet!!
Vying for points only might be Claire Borchers, Paige Stoner, Sage Hurta, Brianna Ilarda, Tori Gerlach, and Sarah Edwards!
Watch for Maddie Boreman as a possible shocker!!
(On my DDD) Purrier
100H (MR 12.39, 24th A-T Performer 12.75)
The US (& the World!) won't be hurting for top-tier 100H'ers any time soon---not with THIS little group of wannabe's!
I'm not seeing a MR, but a 12.50-ish time isn't out of the question--wind legality depending!!
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn might have a SLIGHT edge, but she can't falter if she wants to stay ahead of Tobi Amusan, Rochelle Burton, Devynne Charlton, Dior Hall, or Ebony Morrison!!
Stir in Ducks Alaysha Johnson and Sasha Wallace for good measure!
Might want to keep your eyes on Frosh Brittley Humphrey, Anna Cockrell, and HSR holder in the INdoor 60H, Tonea Marshall!!
(On my DDD) JCQ, Amusan, Hall & Johnson
100 (MR 10.78, 24th A-T Performer 11.05)
Are you missing key Duck (& Selfie Queen) Hannah Cunliffe??
Yeah, me too!
But not to fret---we have a top tier group of Women here, ready to rumble!!
And Aleia Hobbs, despite her amazing 10.85 PR, may NOT be the favorite here!!
The remaining UO gals, Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens, will be right up there, as should SD Stater Ashley Henderson, who's THIS close to a sub-11 time!!
Deanna Hill, Aliyah Brown, Teahna Daniels, and surprising Destiny Carter shouldn't be completely overlooked!!
And yes, given a max 2.0 wind (or high 1's), this venerable MR (and CR!!) could actually GO!!
(On my DDD) Hobbs, Stevens, Henderson & Carter
400 (MR 50.10, 24th A-T Performer 50.83)
Don't bet your last dollar on a MR, or a sub-50!
But this race could be one of the most exciting, as there're a few who could be forcing a photo inspection to determine who won!!
Kendell Ellis and Shakima Wimbley seem to be the top pair, but Chrisann Gordon is one to watch, as is Daina Harper!
And yes, that Old Duckie Magic might propel Elexis Guster and Mackenzie Dunmore to greater effort, making the likely UO team victory even more a sure bet!!
(On my DDD) Ellis, Wimbley, Gordon
800 (MR 1:59.11, 24th A-T Performer 2:01.37)
Home Girl Raevyn Rogers, CR holder at 1:59.10, seems an ironclad winner---right??
Not according to THIS blogger!!
If Jazmine Fray runs like she did INdoors (New 800 CR, a fast 1000, etc!), Rogers could have a real battle on her hands!
And Hanna Green has the cred for a sub-2 also!!
If they hit 400 in 58 or faster, look for these 3 to possibly ALL dip under the 2:00 barrier!!
Danae Rivers (Maybe better as a Miler?), Siofia Cleirigh-Buttner, Ruby Stauber, Shea Collinsworth, and Brooke Feldmeier should be close at the bell!
Watch especially for speedy Olivia Baker to shock and awe!!
(On my DDD) Rogers, Green, Baker
400H (MR 53.21, 24th A-T Performer 54.94)
Canadian Sage Watson has been HOT all year--INdoors & OUTdoors!!
She has the strength (INdoor 500 CR holder!) and the fastest Collegiate time this season---so far!!
But Amelie Iuel also has some wheels.
Jade Miller, Symone Black, and Ariel Jones are good too.
But I'd keep a VERY close eye on Frosh Anna Cockrell!!
If it weren't for Sydney McLaughlin, she would now be the co-HSR holder for this event!!
(On my DDD) Watson
200 (MR 22.04, 24th A-T Performer 22.42)
Here's another event where Hannah Cunliffe won't be TOO missed (except maybe by her fellow Duckies!!)---AND where a most venerable MR (AND Collegiate Record) COULD topple!!
Yes, Dawn Sowell just MIGHT lose BOTH of her historic CR's here!!
Up front should be the Eugene Faves--Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens---pick and choose!
But don't blink when watching Ashley Henderson, Kyra Jefferson, Aliyah Brown, Deanna Hill, or Brittany Brown!!
Of course, not ALL of the best will make the 8 lane final!!
So the Semi's will be all-important!
And that's where the rise (or fall!!) of ladies like Teahna Daniels, Kortnei Johnson, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, or Harvard Intelligentsia Gabrielle Thomas will happen!!
(On my DDD) Stevens, Washington, D Hill & Jefferson
5000 (MR 15:15.08, 24th A-T Performer 15:29.0)
Allie Ostrander is listed here too, and if she appears, will be a key person to watch!
But hard-kicker Karissa Schweizer is the consensus fave here, and after a fantastic TRI-Season (XC, INdoor & OUTdoor Track), seems headed for a clean win, and maybe a Meet Record!!
If she puts pedal to metal from the gun and never looks back, even the Collegiate Record of 15:07.64 (held by then Jenny Barringer--nee Simpson!!) is up for grabs!!
Erin Clark, Tessa Barrett, Allie Buchalski, Katherine Receveur, Gina Sereno, Sarah Disanza, and Fiona O'Keefe are ones to watch.
Key Duck points could be gotten from Samantha Nadel!!
(On my DDD) NONE
4X400 Relay (MR 3:24.21, 24th A-T School 3:29.41)
UO actually might win this---in MR time!!
Keep in mind that 800 gal Rogers split a 50.19 at Regionals!!
But USC has Kendell Ellis, while Miami has Shakima Wimbley, and Texas has Chrisann Gordon!
Nonetheless, I'm giving the MR 70-30 odds of going down---with the Ducks bringing a victorious meet to a glorious close!!
Hope you all enjoy the meet, and use these Previews as your main guide throughout!!
See you in a few days with all the great Records & Marks sure to come!!
2017 NCAA Preview--MEN
The Championship season is upon us!!
The NCAA, then the HS'ers at the New Balance Nationals, then the USATF/WC Trials, followed weeks later by the World Championships themselves!!
I'll provide the schedule, but with no times!
Wednesday
1st Day of Decathlon
TJ (MR 57-7.75, 24th A-T Performer 55-8.25)
1500 (MR 3:35.30, 24th A-T Performer 3:37.27)
Josh Kerr beat Mr Cheserek in a shocker!
In his breakout year, look for him to win this!
Blake Haney and Ben Saarel seems his strongest challengers.
Josh Thompson and Craig Engels are others to watch!
The NCAA, then the HS'ers at the New Balance Nationals, then the USATF/WC Trials, followed weeks later by the World Championships themselves!!
Year after year, we believe the best comes last!
Yet each year this Collegiate final produces the most drama, some of the greatest performances (several unexpected!), plus many who will later perform on the Big Stage--whether it be the WC's or the Olympic Games!!
The meet begins in less than 10 hours!
The meet begins in less than 10 hours!
Following is my Preview of the entire meet, divided into two posts--one for each gender!
The meet itself is divided by gender also--something I'm strongly against!!--but each gender's days look exactly the same--except that the Decathlon has 10 events, while the Heptathlon has seven!
I'll provide the schedule, but with no times!
As noted, the order of events are exactly the same, so I'll have just ONE schedule!
I'll Preview the events in order of the FINALS!
Each event will have the Meet Record, the 24th A-T Performer on my Collegiate DDD's, followed by my comments.
I'll Preview the events in order of the FINALS!
Each event will have the Meet Record, the 24th A-T Performer on my Collegiate DDD's, followed by my comments.
At the bottom of each event's Preview, I'll name those (if any!!) who are CURRENTLY on my DDD lists, but ONLY those who will be competing here!!
Okay, lots to do, so let's get started!
Okay, lots to do, so let's get started!
Wednesday
1st Day of Decathlon
HT Final
4X100 Relay Semi's
1500 Semi's
PV Final
3000SC Semi's
110H Semi's
JT Final
100 Semi's
4X100 Relay Semi's
1500 Semi's
PV Final
3000SC Semi's
110H Semi's
JT Final
100 Semi's
400 Semi's
LJ Final
800 Semi's
400H Semi's
SP Final
200 Semi's
10000 Final
4X400 Relay Semi's
Thursday
2nd Day of Decathlon
Friday (ALL Finals!)
HJ, DT, 4X100, TJ, 1500, 3000SC, 110H, 100, 400, 800, 400H, 200, 5000, 4X400
(Friday's events are listed in their scheduled order!!)
HT (MR 265-3, 24th A-T Performer 241-8)
While newcomer Gleb Dudarev has been consistent, Rudy Winkler has the best PR.
LJ Final
800 Semi's
400H Semi's
SP Final
200 Semi's
10000 Final
4X400 Relay Semi's
Thursday
2nd Day of Decathlon
Friday (ALL Finals!)
HJ, DT, 4X100, TJ, 1500, 3000SC, 110H, 100, 400, 800, 400H, 200, 5000, 4X400
(Friday's events are listed in their scheduled order!!)
HT (MR 265-3, 24th A-T Performer 241-8)
While newcomer Gleb Dudarev has been consistent, Rudy Winkler has the best PR.
I'm giving this one to Winkler, but the MR is safe!
Alexander Young and Denzel Comenentia are others to watch!
(On my DDD) Dudarev & Winkler
PV (MR 19-1, 24th A-T Performer 18-8.25)
Chris Nilsen should take this, and looks ready for his first 19 footer!
Alexander Young and Denzel Comenentia are others to watch!
(On my DDD) Dudarev & Winkler
PV (MR 19-1, 24th A-T Performer 18-8.25)
Chris Nilsen should take this, and looks ready for his first 19 footer!
But weather (predicted rain!) might hinder the PV's!
Devin King, Audie Wyatt, Matt Ludwig, and Jake Wooten could move in if Nilsen falters!
Devin King, Audie Wyatt, Matt Ludwig, and Jake Wooten could move in if Nilsen falters!
(On my DDD) Nilsen & King
JT (MR 268-7, 24th A-T Performer 258-6)
Ioannis Kyriazis had a monster throw in early season!
But in 2 meets, he threw the spear just once, then passed the remaining throws!
IF he's healthy, look for the MR to go the way of T-Rex!!
Curtis Thompson is another with a good PR, just a meter or so from MR level!
Matti Mortimore and Chris Mirabelli are 2 other strong men!
Lower place contenders include Sindri Gudmundsson, Reinhard Van Zyl, and Michael Shuey!
(On my DDD) Kyriazis & Thompson
LJ (MR 28-0, 24th A-T Performer 26-11.75)
JT (MR 268-7, 24th A-T Performer 258-6)
Ioannis Kyriazis had a monster throw in early season!
But in 2 meets, he threw the spear just once, then passed the remaining throws!
IF he's healthy, look for the MR to go the way of T-Rex!!
Curtis Thompson is another with a good PR, just a meter or so from MR level!
Matti Mortimore and Chris Mirabelli are 2 other strong men!
Lower place contenders include Sindri Gudmundsson, Reinhard Van Zyl, and Michael Shuey!
(On my DDD) Kyriazis & Thompson
LJ (MR 28-0, 24th A-T Performer 26-11.75)
Not the best event, there ARE 2 contenders to focus on--KeAndre Bates and Grant Holloway!!
Bates is a Double Dipper, as he's also one of the TJ favorites!
Holloway is one of the best Frosh, and is also one of the best at the 110H!!
Because Frosh are normally erratic, I'll go with Bates for the win!
But the MR is VERY safe!!
(On my DDD) NONE
SP (MR 72-2.25, 24th A-T Performer 67-11.50)
Mostafa Hassan is THIS close to 70 feet!
While no MR for the Egyptian, he could top the 70 barrier!
Filip Mihaljevic appears to be his strongest foe!
Bates is a Double Dipper, as he's also one of the TJ favorites!
Holloway is one of the best Frosh, and is also one of the best at the 110H!!
Because Frosh are normally erratic, I'll go with Bates for the win!
But the MR is VERY safe!!
(On my DDD) NONE
SP (MR 72-2.25, 24th A-T Performer 67-11.50)
Mostafa Hassan is THIS close to 70 feet!
While no MR for the Egyptian, he could top the 70 barrier!
Filip Mihaljevic appears to be his strongest foe!
Nicolai Ceban is one to watch.
Youngsters such as Willie Morrison, Matt Katnik, and Nick Ponzio might be ready to move up!
(On my DDD) Hassan & Mihaljevic
10000 (MR 28:01.30, 24th A-T Performer 27:58.3)
This COULD be a fast race!
After all, Mr Walk & Kick (aka Ed Cheserek) ain't here!
This leaves race strategy a mystery, although most Championship distance races follow King Ches's pattern!
One of the few events where 24th A-T is better than the MR!!
Marc Scott seems to be the consensus favorite, and I'll go along with that!
(On my DDD) Hassan & Mihaljevic
10000 (MR 28:01.30, 24th A-T Performer 27:58.3)
This COULD be a fast race!
After all, Mr Walk & Kick (aka Ed Cheserek) ain't here!
This leaves race strategy a mystery, although most Championship distance races follow King Ches's pattern!
One of the few events where 24th A-T is better than the MR!!
Marc Scott seems to be the consensus favorite, and I'll go along with that!
But watch for Alfred Chelanga, Jacob Choge, Gil Kirui, and Grant Fischer (NOT the Stanford guy named Grant FISHER!!) to contend!
Tanner Anderson is the dark horse!
(On my DDD) NONE
Decathlon (MR 8457, 24th A-T Performer 8126)
Once, Twice, THRICE???
Tanner Anderson is the dark horse!
(On my DDD) NONE
Decathlon (MR 8457, 24th A-T Performer 8126)
Once, Twice, THRICE???
Lindon Victor will win, barring some disaster!
But can he break the Collegiate Record a THIRD time in ONE season??
With the WC's yet to come, will he want to "just" win, saving his best for London?
I'm predicting ANOTHER Collegiate Record, possibly over 8600 points!!
One reason I'm saying that is named Devon Williams--Kendell's brother!!
DW seems ready to top 8500 also, which could push Victor to perform above and beyond!
With the WC's yet to come, will he want to "just" win, saving his best for London?
I'm predicting ANOTHER Collegiate Record, possibly over 8600 points!!
One reason I'm saying that is named Devon Williams--Kendell's brother!!
DW seems ready to top 8500 also, which could push Victor to perform above and beyond!
If both are ON, this could be the best Dec in Collegiate history!!
But watch for Brit Tim Duckworth, Luca Weiland, and Karl Saluri to be in the hunt!
With the Hayward Field crowd on his side, Duck Mitch Modin could surprise!
(On my DDD) Victor, D Williams, Wieland
HJ (MR 7-9.75, 24th A-T Performer 7-7)
But watch for Brit Tim Duckworth, Luca Weiland, and Karl Saluri to be in the hunt!
With the Hayward Field crowd on his side, Duck Mitch Modin could surprise!
(On my DDD) Victor, D Williams, Wieland
HJ (MR 7-9.75, 24th A-T Performer 7-7)
No MR, and probably no additions to the DDD list!!
Another weak event, Trey Culver, Clayton Brown, and Christoff Bryan should be the main podium contenders.
But watch for Kyle Landon!
Another weak event, Trey Culver, Clayton Brown, and Christoff Bryan should be the main podium contenders.
But watch for Kyle Landon!
(On my DDD) NONE
DT (MR 215-8, 24th A-T Performer 211-9)
Brian Williams has the best mark, and could hit a big one in MR territory!
The SP guy, Filip Mihaljevic is here, but look for Jordan Young as Williams's main foe!
DT (MR 215-8, 24th A-T Performer 211-9)
Brian Williams has the best mark, and could hit a big one in MR territory!
The SP guy, Filip Mihaljevic is here, but look for Jordan Young as Williams's main foe!
Reno Tuufuli is good, as is Macklin Tudor.
While not among the favorites, watch for brothers Reggie & Phil Jagers!!
(On my DDD) B Williams
While not among the favorites, watch for brothers Reggie & Phil Jagers!!
(On my DDD) B Williams
4X100 Relay (MR 38.04, 24th A-T School 38.99)
The old saw that one man a winning relay doesn't make should stand true here too!
Christian Coleman will likely anchor Tennessee's squad, but they don't have the needed back-ups!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake tops LSU's team, while Houston has Cameron Burrell!
Other teams with at least ONE stud are Alabama (Jereem Richards), Auburn (Odean Skeen), and Georgia (Kendel Williams).
Oregon will have Kyree King to watch for!
The MR will survive, but a School or 3 or 4 could see new Best Evers!
(On my DDD) MOST of the Schools here are on my list--too many to name!
The old saw that one man a winning relay doesn't make should stand true here too!
Christian Coleman will likely anchor Tennessee's squad, but they don't have the needed back-ups!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake tops LSU's team, while Houston has Cameron Burrell!
Other teams with at least ONE stud are Alabama (Jereem Richards), Auburn (Odean Skeen), and Georgia (Kendel Williams).
Oregon will have Kyree King to watch for!
The MR will survive, but a School or 3 or 4 could see new Best Evers!
(On my DDD) MOST of the Schools here are on my list--too many to name!
TJ (MR 57-7.75, 24th A-T Performer 55-8.25)
KeAndre Bates has been steady, and should win this--but no MR!
Clive Pullen went 56+ INdoors, but this is another season, and he hasn't come close to that OUTdoors!
Eric Sloan is solid, as is Jordan Scott.
Felix Obi and Clayton Brown are others to watch!
(On my DDD) NONE
Clive Pullen went 56+ INdoors, but this is another season, and he hasn't come close to that OUTdoors!
Eric Sloan is solid, as is Jordan Scott.
Felix Obi and Clayton Brown are others to watch!
(On my DDD) NONE
1500 (MR 3:35.30, 24th A-T Performer 3:37.27)
Josh Kerr beat Mr Cheserek in a shocker!
In his breakout year, look for him to win this!
Blake Haney and Ben Saarel seems his strongest challengers.
Josh Thompson and Craig Engels are others to watch!
The MR should be safe!
(On my DDD) Kerr
3000SC (MR 8:12.4, 24th A-T Performer 8:26.83)
Edwin Kibichiy seems the consensus favorite, and he'll probably win!
Other Africans to watch are Bernard Keter and Emmanuel Rotich!
HSR holder Bailey Roth is much improved, and could contend.
MJ Erb is another to watch!
(On my DDD) Kerr
3000SC (MR 8:12.4, 24th A-T Performer 8:26.83)
Edwin Kibichiy seems the consensus favorite, and he'll probably win!
Other Africans to watch are Bernard Keter and Emmanuel Rotich!
HSR holder Bailey Roth is much improved, and could contend.
MJ Erb is another to watch!
Jamaine Coleman might be another to sneak into the front pack!
I'm naming Aidan Tooker as a possible point man (or maybe even TWO points!).
(On my DDD) NONE
110H (MR 13.16, 24th A-T Performer 13.36)
Reuben Walters has a faster time, but I'm going with Grant Holloway for the Gold!
Walters is an unknown entity (at least to ME!!), so I'll stick to the fast-improving Frosh!
The MR will survive, but Holloway has a chance to reach the Top 24 A-T!!
Walters could shock, as could Chad Zallow, who was much better INdoors!!
Watch for Ameer Lattin, Aaron Mallett, Jamiel Trimble, Nick Anderson, and Misana Viltz!
(On my DDD) NONE
100 (MR 9.89, 24th A-T Performer 10.00)
This MR could go down!!
The main barrier would be excessive wind--with or against!
Christian Coleman is the Ace, but this could be VERY close at the line---a true photo-finish!!
Cameron Burrell, Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jaylen Bacon, Odean Skeen, Brandon Carnes, Senoj Jay-Givans and Kenzo Cotton are all FAST!!
Look for Oregon newcomer Kyree King to be pushed along by the Duck faithful!!
(On my DDD) Coleman, Mitchell-Blake, Bacon, Givans & Skeen
400 (MR 44.00, 24th A-T Performer 44.62)
Fred Kerley already took down the MR---except he didn't do it here!!
He did it in the HEATS at the Regionals!!
(Don't get me started on the "Regionals" BEING this meet!! Grrrrr!!!!)
Anyway, look for another Record Smasher here---maybe even 43.5 or faster!!
Following in his Jet-Stream should be Akeem Bloomfield, Nathan Allen, Michael Cherry, and Wil London!
Other possible sub-46's should come from Aldrich Bailey, Steven Gayle, Marcus Chambers, and Fred's brother Mylik!!
Want a REAL shocker??
Keep your eyes peeled on Michael Norman!!
(On my DDD) F Kerley & N Allen
(NOTE--Sorry for the length! The Women's Preview will be shorter!! Just 5 more events!! Hang in there!!)
800 (MR 1:43.55, 24th A-T Performer 1:45.24)
The big question here is whether Emmanuel Korir goes for time, or for the win!!
He has 44.5 speed--enough to allow for an "easy" 50.0 first lap!
That in turn could lead to a new Collegiate (and Meet!) Record!!
But Eliud Rutto, Isaiah Harris, and Andres Arroyo could challenge---at least through 600!!
Look for Drew Piazza, Strymar Livingston, and Carlton Orange to vie for points!
(On my DDD) Korir & Harris
400H (MR 47.56, 24th A-T Performer 48.59)
This could be a close race, despite Byron Robinson's fast time!
HS INdoor stud Rai Benjamin is going good, and should be Robinson's main challenger!
But Amir Lattin, TJ Holmes, Eric Futch, and Kenny Selmon aren't softies!
And watch for Sydney McLaughlin's brother Taylor to give solid chase!!
(On my DDD) Robinson
200 (MR 19.87, 24th A-T Performer 20.07)
Christian Coleman should be an easy victor, as he was INdoors!
And, given a good LEGAL wind, he could take down the MR!!
But Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake is ready to challenge.
Jereem Richards cut a fast one earlier this season, and Chris Belcher is close to the 19's too!
As noted earlier, watch for Duckie Kyree King to emerge from the dust!
(On my DDD) Coleman, Mitchell-Blake, Richards & Belcher
5000 (MR 13:18.36, 24th A-T Performer 13:25.19)
I could easily just say--check out my 10K Preview---and be done with it!!
No Ches here either (Didn't run Regionals due to injury, and has since turned Pro!!), so the same logistics apply!
The opportunity to RUN this race is open to all!!
(Ironic that Ches's PR came in LOSING the 2014 race to Lawi Lalang's MR!!)
Anyway, while Marc Scott is seen as the likely winner, I'll go with Grant Fisher!
Justyn Knight might complain, and should be in the lead pack at the bell!
Emmanuel Rotich, Jacob Choge, Aman Terer, and John Dressel are others to watch!
Add in Zach Perrin as a potential point contender!
(On my DDD) Knight
4X400 Relay (MR 2:59.59, 24th A-T School 3:02.47)
With Mylik & Fred Kerley, Texas A&M are the faves---for the win AND the MR!!
But Auburn has Nathan Allen and Akeem Bloomfield!!
Should be a Barn-Burner!!
Alabama has a good squad, but watch for USC, with Michael Norman probably anchoring!!
LSU has Michael Cherry!
A 2:57+??
Odds are 60-40!!
90-10 for the MR!!
(On my DDD) As with the other Relay, MOST of the teams here are on my DDD of Top 24 Schools!! But we could see a few revisions!!
OK, guys and gals, thanks for staying with me!!
As noted above, my Women's Preview will be shorter!!
Hopefully posted in a few hours!
I'm naming Aidan Tooker as a possible point man (or maybe even TWO points!).
(On my DDD) NONE
110H (MR 13.16, 24th A-T Performer 13.36)
Reuben Walters has a faster time, but I'm going with Grant Holloway for the Gold!
Walters is an unknown entity (at least to ME!!), so I'll stick to the fast-improving Frosh!
The MR will survive, but Holloway has a chance to reach the Top 24 A-T!!
Walters could shock, as could Chad Zallow, who was much better INdoors!!
Watch for Ameer Lattin, Aaron Mallett, Jamiel Trimble, Nick Anderson, and Misana Viltz!
(On my DDD) NONE
100 (MR 9.89, 24th A-T Performer 10.00)
This MR could go down!!
The main barrier would be excessive wind--with or against!
Christian Coleman is the Ace, but this could be VERY close at the line---a true photo-finish!!
Cameron Burrell, Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jaylen Bacon, Odean Skeen, Brandon Carnes, Senoj Jay-Givans and Kenzo Cotton are all FAST!!
Look for Oregon newcomer Kyree King to be pushed along by the Duck faithful!!
(On my DDD) Coleman, Mitchell-Blake, Bacon, Givans & Skeen
400 (MR 44.00, 24th A-T Performer 44.62)
Fred Kerley already took down the MR---except he didn't do it here!!
He did it in the HEATS at the Regionals!!
(Don't get me started on the "Regionals" BEING this meet!! Grrrrr!!!!)
Anyway, look for another Record Smasher here---maybe even 43.5 or faster!!
Following in his Jet-Stream should be Akeem Bloomfield, Nathan Allen, Michael Cherry, and Wil London!
Other possible sub-46's should come from Aldrich Bailey, Steven Gayle, Marcus Chambers, and Fred's brother Mylik!!
Want a REAL shocker??
Keep your eyes peeled on Michael Norman!!
(On my DDD) F Kerley & N Allen
(NOTE--Sorry for the length! The Women's Preview will be shorter!! Just 5 more events!! Hang in there!!)
800 (MR 1:43.55, 24th A-T Performer 1:45.24)
The big question here is whether Emmanuel Korir goes for time, or for the win!!
He has 44.5 speed--enough to allow for an "easy" 50.0 first lap!
That in turn could lead to a new Collegiate (and Meet!) Record!!
But Eliud Rutto, Isaiah Harris, and Andres Arroyo could challenge---at least through 600!!
Look for Drew Piazza, Strymar Livingston, and Carlton Orange to vie for points!
(On my DDD) Korir & Harris
400H (MR 47.56, 24th A-T Performer 48.59)
This could be a close race, despite Byron Robinson's fast time!
HS INdoor stud Rai Benjamin is going good, and should be Robinson's main challenger!
But Amir Lattin, TJ Holmes, Eric Futch, and Kenny Selmon aren't softies!
And watch for Sydney McLaughlin's brother Taylor to give solid chase!!
(On my DDD) Robinson
200 (MR 19.87, 24th A-T Performer 20.07)
Christian Coleman should be an easy victor, as he was INdoors!
And, given a good LEGAL wind, he could take down the MR!!
But Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake is ready to challenge.
Jereem Richards cut a fast one earlier this season, and Chris Belcher is close to the 19's too!
As noted earlier, watch for Duckie Kyree King to emerge from the dust!
(On my DDD) Coleman, Mitchell-Blake, Richards & Belcher
5000 (MR 13:18.36, 24th A-T Performer 13:25.19)
I could easily just say--check out my 10K Preview---and be done with it!!
No Ches here either (Didn't run Regionals due to injury, and has since turned Pro!!), so the same logistics apply!
The opportunity to RUN this race is open to all!!
(Ironic that Ches's PR came in LOSING the 2014 race to Lawi Lalang's MR!!)
Anyway, while Marc Scott is seen as the likely winner, I'll go with Grant Fisher!
Justyn Knight might complain, and should be in the lead pack at the bell!
Emmanuel Rotich, Jacob Choge, Aman Terer, and John Dressel are others to watch!
Add in Zach Perrin as a potential point contender!
(On my DDD) Knight
4X400 Relay (MR 2:59.59, 24th A-T School 3:02.47)
With Mylik & Fred Kerley, Texas A&M are the faves---for the win AND the MR!!
But Auburn has Nathan Allen and Akeem Bloomfield!!
Should be a Barn-Burner!!
Alabama has a good squad, but watch for USC, with Michael Norman probably anchoring!!
LSU has Michael Cherry!
A 2:57+??
Odds are 60-40!!
90-10 for the MR!!
(On my DDD) As with the other Relay, MOST of the teams here are on my DDD of Top 24 Schools!! But we could see a few revisions!!
OK, guys and gals, thanks for staying with me!!
As noted above, my Women's Preview will be shorter!!
Hopefully posted in a few hours!
Monday, June 5, 2017
High School Stunners
You EXPECT several HSR's to happen at meets like the New Balance Nationals and the Brooks PR.
And yes, at some State Championships---like California and New Jersey.
But WHOA there, Baby, don't get carried away!!
(Yeah, tell that to Sydney McLaughlin and Tara Davis---and several others!)
Davis ALMOST won the California State MEET!!
Not just an event or two or three, but the entire frigging meet!!!
Her 30 points JUST missed winning the STATE Championships!!
WOW!
Her first event (on the "finals" day) was the Long Jump!
So she bashes out a 22-1.75---but it's windy!!
UGH!
So she comes back and leaps 22-1---LEGAL!!!
Breaks a Marion Jones Meet Record, and moves her from 4th to 3rd A-T HS!!
Next came the 100H.
She crushes the field in just 12.83 seconds---BUT it's with a 3.7 wind!
Wind notwithstanding, it's the fastest EVER time run under all conditions!!
She ends her DAY----Yes, all the same day!!--with a victory in the TJ, although her winning mark couldn't match her Qualifier of 43-4 from the previous day, an OUTdoor PR!
But she remains 11th A-T HS!
As for Ms McLaughlin, what can one say?
She's simply a Non-Pro-PRO---at least performance-wise!!
She opened up her NJ meet with 400H in 54.03.
That breaks her own Age 17 record, her own HSR, and is the fastest time for anyone still a teenager!!
She's the 3rd fastest in the WORLD right now!!
It's the Senior Class record.
She remains 1st A-T HS, and moves from 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 16th!!
Then she ran the flat 400 in 51.88, missing her 2016 OUTdoor PR by 0.01 seconds!!
Oh yeah, she also sped 200 meters in 22.96, making her 17th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!!
Remember my recent correction about Katia Seymour's reported 22.89 being found to be wind-aided?
I said that Sanya Richards-Ross had been sent OFF the list by Seymour's supposed mark!
Then I added she was back ON---after finding Seymour's mark was windy!
Well, she's now OFF again---and this time for real---because of McLaughlin's entrance!!
I'm dizzy!
The HS "stunners" don't stop with these two---not by a long shot!!
Sammy Watson ran in the adidas Boston 800 against some solid Pro's!
Charlene Lipsey won the race in 1:59.57.
But Watson, who had come by 400 in 59.37, charged home in 61.41---final time a PR of 2:00.78!!
She moves from 4th to 3rd A-T HS!!
Two women she beat were Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia and Lynsey Sharp of Great Britain, no slouches they!!
The time wasn't super fast---unless you're a Freshman girl!!
Lexy Halladay outkicked Brie Oakley and Lauren Gregory in the adidas meet Mile---4:41.80 to Oakley's 4:41.95, and Gregory's 4:42.00.
Their times do NOT make my DDD!
But who cares, when you know that Halladay has just broken the Frosh Class record held by Mary Decker (Slaney), dating from 1973!!!
BTW, she misses my list by 0.49 seconds, while Oakley missed it by 0.64 seconds!!
Lauren Harris continues to out-walk her peers!
Her latest HSR was over 1500 meters, time of 6:17.20.
This broke her own mark!!
An All-Star 4X400 Relay team ran 3:03.35 at the Great Southwest meet.
Ty Cooper, Jamal Walton, and Thomas Burns of the state of Florida were joined by a Frosh from Louisiana (Don't have his name right now!) to run about 4 seconds faster than the official HSR of 3:07.40.
However, because they weren't from one school, it will only count as an exhibition, and not eligible for record or list purposes!!
A team from Texas ran 3:08 and change in 2nd!!
Caitlin Collier sped 800 meters in 2:03.32!
This 11th Grader is now 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Oh yes, she WON the race---against some Pro's & Collegians!!
Her splits were 60.98 and 62.34!
Brandon Miller ran 800 meters in 1:50.84, breaking the Frosh Class record held by Michael Granville since 1993!!
I mentioned Thomas Burns a bit ago.
He improved his 300H PR AGAIN!!
This time, it was 35.25--making him 2nd A-T HS, and gives him the Junior Class record!
Charles Brockman ran 35.62 in 2nd, making him 12th A-T HS!!
Shae Anderson continues to rock and roll!!
She won the 400 in 52.91.
Then PR'ed in the 300H with 40.31.
It was a good race, with Jurnee Woodward taking 2nd in 40.79, followed closely by Shante Robinson's 40.84!!
(If not for someone named Sydney....!!!)
Did I forget to mention that we have yet one MORE sub-4:00 HS Miler??
In the Festival of Miles race in St Louis, Australian Morgan McDonald won the race in 3:57.5.
In 3rd came Reed Brown, his 3:59.30 making him HS Miler Number Ten---but actually makes him 4th A-T HS, time-wise!!
His final lap took just 56.8 seconds!!
Other significant HS marks---
KC Lightfoot PV'ed 17-8.50, making him 16th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Alyssa Wilson threw the Discus 182-0, making her 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Dana Baker's 164-2 JT makes her 20th A-T HS!
Gianna Rao threw the Hammer 185-8, making her 21st A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Skylar Ciccolini had a JT of 164-9, making her 18th A-T HS!
Jacob Slate sent his Ball & Chain (HT!) out a HS-leading 231-1, making him 22nd A-T HS!
But Michael Feldman took the lead away, his 238-1 moving him from 17th A-T HS to 13th!!
Tyrese Cooper ho-hummed his way around the track in 45.38--a non-PR!
Joseph Anderson had a speedy 110H---13.33 (1.4)---making him 6th A-T HS!
Rachel Baxter missed her 3 tries at 14-5, but she won the CA State title with 14-0!!
The Men's HS Mile at the adidas meet produced some good times.
Patrick Parker won it in 4:03.99, beating Austin Hindman's 4:04.53, and Casey Clinger's 4:04.87!
Titiana Marsh got a big OUTdoor PR in the TJ, her 43-5 making her 8th A-T HS!
And Kathleen Young got a big OUTdoor SP PR---her 53-5 making her 11th A-T HS!!
I reported that Dathan Ritzenhein had won the Manchester (England) 10K in 28:06.
Well, Tirunesh Dibaba took the Women's race in 31:03.
BTW, Ancient Bernard Lagat took 2nd to Ritz, time of 28:13!!
He's just 42 years old!!
Sandi Morris Vaulted 15-10.50 on May 25th, taking over the World lead!
Three Women cleared 15-1 in the PV in Chula Vista.
Morgann LeLeux beat Katie Nageotte and Kristin Hixson!
Nageotte's mark matches her 2016 PR!
Kortney Ross got an OUTdoor PR with her 14-9!
The Adrian Martinez meet had some good marks.
David Torrence took the Men's Mile in 3:53.22, with Robert Domenic and Kyle Merber both running in the 3:54's!
Nicole Tully's 4:30.22 took the Women's race, beating Eleanor Fulton's 4:30.34!
Ce'aira Brown won the 800 in 2:01.10, with Cecilia Barowski in 3rd with 2:01.81.
Kemoy Campbell won the 3000 in 7:44.90, beating Thomas Curtin's 7:45.11.
Marielle Hall took the Women's race in 8:55.55, with Cally Macumber running her best race in awhile, finishing 2nd in 9:00.92!!
At the adidas meet, Michael Stigler took the 400H in 48.69, while Novlene Williams-Mills beat Courtney Okolo in the 400--51.69 to 51.93!
Buze Diriba won the 3000 in 8:45.44.
Brandon McBride beat Marcin Lewandowski in the 800--1:45.36 to 1:45.76.
Chris O'Hare won the 1500 in 3:39.31, with Drew Hunter ending in 5th, time of 3:40.35.
Muktar Idris won a solid 5000 in 13:01.04, with Cyrus Rutto in 2nd with 13:03.44!!
The Furman Elite 1500's were fast!
Izaic Yorks won the Men's race in 3:38.01.
Canadian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot was 2nd in 3:38.20, with Cory Leslie 3rd in 3:38.51, and Brannon Kidder's 3:38.79 taking 4th!!
The Women's race saw BIG PR's from Marta Freitas (4:05.71) in 1st, and Shannon Osika (4:06.17) in 3rd.
Stephanie Garcia's 4:05.98 was 2nd, while Nicole Sifuentes was 4th in 4:06.24!
A pair of SP marks from the Old Country (Europe!!) produced National Records!!
Tomas Stanek's 72-2.50 is the NR of the Czech Republic!!
The old mark was from 1987!!
He's now 24th A-T World!!
And Darlon Romani's 71-7.25 broke his own National Record of Brazil!!
Mutaz Barshim HJ'ed 7-9.25, to lead the World!
Yulimar Rojas TJ'ed 49-1.
It's not a PR, but it does give her the Age 21 record!!
Antonio Alkana ran the 110H in 13.11 in a meet in Prague, giving him the National Record of South Africa---and ALL of Africa!!
Gia Lewis-Smallwood had a DT of 215-11, beating the 210-10 of Valerie Allman!
Some "odd" events were run on a straightaway track set up on the streets of Boston on the last day of the adidas meet!
Shaunae Miller-Uibo took the 200 in 21.76.
To put that into perspective, note that Tommie Smith had run a straight 200 in 19.5, but 0.5 faster than his curve time!
So figure SMU's time might be REALLY worth about 22.26 if run on a REAL track around a curve!!
Tori Bowie took the 150 in a speedy 16.30!
Wayde Van Niekerk's 200 took 19.84. (See above!)
Shamier Little won the 200H in 26.00---also on the straightaway!!
The PV saw Alysha Newman's 15-1 beating the 14-9 of Jenn Suhr!!
Finally--in the marks department--I have the Women's 1500 at the Boston meet!
(Run on the REAL track!! LOL)
Emily Lipari---having HER year!!--won it in 4:12.32.
Dominique Scott-Erfurd & Eleanor Fulton were also under 4:13.
Then came Gabrielle Grunewald!!
She may have run "only" 4:17.75--but she WON the hearts of the World---delaying her cancer treatments trying to qualify for the USATF meet!
And DESPITE starting chemo treatments tomorrow (Tuesday), she said she's going to run ANOTHER 1500--this week!!
Words are not enough!
My deepest love and support for this strongest of Women!!
In other news---
Sara Hall won the Freihofer's 5K for Women--time of 15:49!
Aliphine Tuliamuk was 2 seconds back!
Camille Herron won the 56 mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa---a very hilly & tough course!
She's the first US Woman to win this race---the Women's division, that is!!
Her time was 6:27 & change---That's 6 hours and 27 minutes, folks!!---and she won by 4 minutes!!
You know that Ed Cheserek and Molly Seidel are NOT going to race at the NCAA meet this week!
But did you know that BOTH are now Profeshes??
Yep, both signed with the same agent, but no announcements of sponsors---yet!
Carmelita Jeter has NOT retired---but said she will NOT race in 2017!!
You've no doubt heard the Old Wives tale that twins do everything together--right?
Well, Lexi and Tori Weeks said both are getting married this summer!!
Okay, not on the same day, or at the same ceremony--but.....!!!
Tori will go down the aisle first, marrying Seth Hoggard on July 8th.
Lexi will follow on August 12th, marrying Derek Jacobus, an Arkansas Decathlete!
Hoggard is a LJ'er, as far as I can tell, and they've been dating since HS!
Both said they're committed to PV'ing too!!
I'll close with a Correction!
In my Gotzis report, I said that Grit Sadeiko had PR'ed with 6280!
True!
But I got her mixed up with her sister GRETA Sadeiko!!
And I was wrong about Greta's school too---she attended Florida State, not Florida!!
And her PR is 5815 points---not "stuck in the 5600-5700 range"!!
Sorry, Ladies!
BTW, Grit was born July 29, 1989, while Greta was born May 29, 1993!
Next post(s) will be my NCAA Previews!!
Most likely early on Wednesday, right before the meet begins!!
See you then!
And yes, at some State Championships---like California and New Jersey.
But WHOA there, Baby, don't get carried away!!
(Yeah, tell that to Sydney McLaughlin and Tara Davis---and several others!)
Davis ALMOST won the California State MEET!!
Not just an event or two or three, but the entire frigging meet!!!
Her 30 points JUST missed winning the STATE Championships!!
WOW!
Her first event (on the "finals" day) was the Long Jump!
So she bashes out a 22-1.75---but it's windy!!
UGH!
So she comes back and leaps 22-1---LEGAL!!!
Breaks a Marion Jones Meet Record, and moves her from 4th to 3rd A-T HS!!
Next came the 100H.
She crushes the field in just 12.83 seconds---BUT it's with a 3.7 wind!
Wind notwithstanding, it's the fastest EVER time run under all conditions!!
She ends her DAY----Yes, all the same day!!--with a victory in the TJ, although her winning mark couldn't match her Qualifier of 43-4 from the previous day, an OUTdoor PR!
But she remains 11th A-T HS!
As for Ms McLaughlin, what can one say?
She's simply a Non-Pro-PRO---at least performance-wise!!
She opened up her NJ meet with 400H in 54.03.
That breaks her own Age 17 record, her own HSR, and is the fastest time for anyone still a teenager!!
She's the 3rd fastest in the WORLD right now!!
It's the Senior Class record.
She remains 1st A-T HS, and moves from 17th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 16th!!
Then she ran the flat 400 in 51.88, missing her 2016 OUTdoor PR by 0.01 seconds!!
Oh yeah, she also sped 200 meters in 22.96, making her 17th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!!
Remember my recent correction about Katia Seymour's reported 22.89 being found to be wind-aided?
I said that Sanya Richards-Ross had been sent OFF the list by Seymour's supposed mark!
Then I added she was back ON---after finding Seymour's mark was windy!
Well, she's now OFF again---and this time for real---because of McLaughlin's entrance!!
I'm dizzy!
The HS "stunners" don't stop with these two---not by a long shot!!
Sammy Watson ran in the adidas Boston 800 against some solid Pro's!
Charlene Lipsey won the race in 1:59.57.
But Watson, who had come by 400 in 59.37, charged home in 61.41---final time a PR of 2:00.78!!
She moves from 4th to 3rd A-T HS!!
Two women she beat were Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia and Lynsey Sharp of Great Britain, no slouches they!!
The time wasn't super fast---unless you're a Freshman girl!!
Lexy Halladay outkicked Brie Oakley and Lauren Gregory in the adidas meet Mile---4:41.80 to Oakley's 4:41.95, and Gregory's 4:42.00.
Their times do NOT make my DDD!
But who cares, when you know that Halladay has just broken the Frosh Class record held by Mary Decker (Slaney), dating from 1973!!!
BTW, she misses my list by 0.49 seconds, while Oakley missed it by 0.64 seconds!!
Lauren Harris continues to out-walk her peers!
Her latest HSR was over 1500 meters, time of 6:17.20.
This broke her own mark!!
An All-Star 4X400 Relay team ran 3:03.35 at the Great Southwest meet.
Ty Cooper, Jamal Walton, and Thomas Burns of the state of Florida were joined by a Frosh from Louisiana (Don't have his name right now!) to run about 4 seconds faster than the official HSR of 3:07.40.
However, because they weren't from one school, it will only count as an exhibition, and not eligible for record or list purposes!!
A team from Texas ran 3:08 and change in 2nd!!
Caitlin Collier sped 800 meters in 2:03.32!
This 11th Grader is now 15th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Oh yes, she WON the race---against some Pro's & Collegians!!
Her splits were 60.98 and 62.34!
Brandon Miller ran 800 meters in 1:50.84, breaking the Frosh Class record held by Michael Granville since 1993!!
I mentioned Thomas Burns a bit ago.
He improved his 300H PR AGAIN!!
This time, it was 35.25--making him 2nd A-T HS, and gives him the Junior Class record!
Charles Brockman ran 35.62 in 2nd, making him 12th A-T HS!!
Shae Anderson continues to rock and roll!!
She won the 400 in 52.91.
Then PR'ed in the 300H with 40.31.
It was a good race, with Jurnee Woodward taking 2nd in 40.79, followed closely by Shante Robinson's 40.84!!
(If not for someone named Sydney....!!!)
Did I forget to mention that we have yet one MORE sub-4:00 HS Miler??
In the Festival of Miles race in St Louis, Australian Morgan McDonald won the race in 3:57.5.
In 3rd came Reed Brown, his 3:59.30 making him HS Miler Number Ten---but actually makes him 4th A-T HS, time-wise!!
His final lap took just 56.8 seconds!!
Other significant HS marks---
KC Lightfoot PV'ed 17-8.50, making him 16th A-T HS, tied with 3 others!
Alyssa Wilson threw the Discus 182-0, making her 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Dana Baker's 164-2 JT makes her 20th A-T HS!
Gianna Rao threw the Hammer 185-8, making her 21st A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
Skylar Ciccolini had a JT of 164-9, making her 18th A-T HS!
Jacob Slate sent his Ball & Chain (HT!) out a HS-leading 231-1, making him 22nd A-T HS!
But Michael Feldman took the lead away, his 238-1 moving him from 17th A-T HS to 13th!!
Tyrese Cooper ho-hummed his way around the track in 45.38--a non-PR!
Joseph Anderson had a speedy 110H---13.33 (1.4)---making him 6th A-T HS!
Rachel Baxter missed her 3 tries at 14-5, but she won the CA State title with 14-0!!
The Men's HS Mile at the adidas meet produced some good times.
Patrick Parker won it in 4:03.99, beating Austin Hindman's 4:04.53, and Casey Clinger's 4:04.87!
Titiana Marsh got a big OUTdoor PR in the TJ, her 43-5 making her 8th A-T HS!
And Kathleen Young got a big OUTdoor SP PR---her 53-5 making her 11th A-T HS!!
I reported that Dathan Ritzenhein had won the Manchester (England) 10K in 28:06.
Well, Tirunesh Dibaba took the Women's race in 31:03.
BTW, Ancient Bernard Lagat took 2nd to Ritz, time of 28:13!!
He's just 42 years old!!
Sandi Morris Vaulted 15-10.50 on May 25th, taking over the World lead!
Three Women cleared 15-1 in the PV in Chula Vista.
Morgann LeLeux beat Katie Nageotte and Kristin Hixson!
Nageotte's mark matches her 2016 PR!
Kortney Ross got an OUTdoor PR with her 14-9!
The Adrian Martinez meet had some good marks.
David Torrence took the Men's Mile in 3:53.22, with Robert Domenic and Kyle Merber both running in the 3:54's!
Nicole Tully's 4:30.22 took the Women's race, beating Eleanor Fulton's 4:30.34!
Ce'aira Brown won the 800 in 2:01.10, with Cecilia Barowski in 3rd with 2:01.81.
Kemoy Campbell won the 3000 in 7:44.90, beating Thomas Curtin's 7:45.11.
Marielle Hall took the Women's race in 8:55.55, with Cally Macumber running her best race in awhile, finishing 2nd in 9:00.92!!
At the adidas meet, Michael Stigler took the 400H in 48.69, while Novlene Williams-Mills beat Courtney Okolo in the 400--51.69 to 51.93!
Buze Diriba won the 3000 in 8:45.44.
Brandon McBride beat Marcin Lewandowski in the 800--1:45.36 to 1:45.76.
Chris O'Hare won the 1500 in 3:39.31, with Drew Hunter ending in 5th, time of 3:40.35.
Muktar Idris won a solid 5000 in 13:01.04, with Cyrus Rutto in 2nd with 13:03.44!!
The Furman Elite 1500's were fast!
Izaic Yorks won the Men's race in 3:38.01.
Canadian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot was 2nd in 3:38.20, with Cory Leslie 3rd in 3:38.51, and Brannon Kidder's 3:38.79 taking 4th!!
The Women's race saw BIG PR's from Marta Freitas (4:05.71) in 1st, and Shannon Osika (4:06.17) in 3rd.
Stephanie Garcia's 4:05.98 was 2nd, while Nicole Sifuentes was 4th in 4:06.24!
A pair of SP marks from the Old Country (Europe!!) produced National Records!!
Tomas Stanek's 72-2.50 is the NR of the Czech Republic!!
The old mark was from 1987!!
He's now 24th A-T World!!
And Darlon Romani's 71-7.25 broke his own National Record of Brazil!!
Mutaz Barshim HJ'ed 7-9.25, to lead the World!
Yulimar Rojas TJ'ed 49-1.
It's not a PR, but it does give her the Age 21 record!!
Antonio Alkana ran the 110H in 13.11 in a meet in Prague, giving him the National Record of South Africa---and ALL of Africa!!
Gia Lewis-Smallwood had a DT of 215-11, beating the 210-10 of Valerie Allman!
Some "odd" events were run on a straightaway track set up on the streets of Boston on the last day of the adidas meet!
Shaunae Miller-Uibo took the 200 in 21.76.
To put that into perspective, note that Tommie Smith had run a straight 200 in 19.5, but 0.5 faster than his curve time!
So figure SMU's time might be REALLY worth about 22.26 if run on a REAL track around a curve!!
Tori Bowie took the 150 in a speedy 16.30!
Wayde Van Niekerk's 200 took 19.84. (See above!)
Shamier Little won the 200H in 26.00---also on the straightaway!!
The PV saw Alysha Newman's 15-1 beating the 14-9 of Jenn Suhr!!
Finally--in the marks department--I have the Women's 1500 at the Boston meet!
(Run on the REAL track!! LOL)
Emily Lipari---having HER year!!--won it in 4:12.32.
Dominique Scott-Erfurd & Eleanor Fulton were also under 4:13.
Then came Gabrielle Grunewald!!
She may have run "only" 4:17.75--but she WON the hearts of the World---delaying her cancer treatments trying to qualify for the USATF meet!
And DESPITE starting chemo treatments tomorrow (Tuesday), she said she's going to run ANOTHER 1500--this week!!
Words are not enough!
My deepest love and support for this strongest of Women!!
In other news---
Sara Hall won the Freihofer's 5K for Women--time of 15:49!
Aliphine Tuliamuk was 2 seconds back!
Camille Herron won the 56 mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa---a very hilly & tough course!
She's the first US Woman to win this race---the Women's division, that is!!
Her time was 6:27 & change---That's 6 hours and 27 minutes, folks!!---and she won by 4 minutes!!
You know that Ed Cheserek and Molly Seidel are NOT going to race at the NCAA meet this week!
But did you know that BOTH are now Profeshes??
Yep, both signed with the same agent, but no announcements of sponsors---yet!
Carmelita Jeter has NOT retired---but said she will NOT race in 2017!!
You've no doubt heard the Old Wives tale that twins do everything together--right?
Well, Lexi and Tori Weeks said both are getting married this summer!!
Okay, not on the same day, or at the same ceremony--but.....!!!
Tori will go down the aisle first, marrying Seth Hoggard on July 8th.
Lexi will follow on August 12th, marrying Derek Jacobus, an Arkansas Decathlete!
Hoggard is a LJ'er, as far as I can tell, and they've been dating since HS!
Both said they're committed to PV'ing too!!
I'll close with a Correction!
In my Gotzis report, I said that Grit Sadeiko had PR'ed with 6280!
True!
But I got her mixed up with her sister GRETA Sadeiko!!
And I was wrong about Greta's school too---she attended Florida State, not Florida!!
And her PR is 5815 points---not "stuck in the 5600-5700 range"!!
Sorry, Ladies!
BTW, Grit was born July 29, 1989, while Greta was born May 29, 1993!
Next post(s) will be my NCAA Previews!!
Most likely early on Wednesday, right before the meet begins!!
See you then!
Sunday, May 28, 2017
From Around the World
Track and Field is truly a Global sport!
Unless you're in it solely as a fan of one nation, or one athlete, there are incredible performances from athletes (and nations) far and wide throughout the year!
This blog is dedicated to bringing you ALL the best Marks & Records from EVERYWHERE---even if I might focus more on my fellow Americans!
And that's why I waited until the Hypo Meeting at Gotzis in Austria was over to bring you this report.
The Heptathlon had it all--the biggest names, the most thrilling competition, and the greatest marks!!
Let's see what happened.
Day One ended in a virtual tie, as Katerina Johnson-Thompson had 4059 points, with Nafissatou Thiam 3 points behind, and Caroline Schafer another 3 back!
Laura Ikauniece-Admidina had 3843 points, with the lone American Erica Bougard 8th at 3798, and Claudia Salman-Rath at 3763 in 9th!
Thiam HJ'ed 6-6!!
After 5, Schafer and Thiam were tied at 5083, with KJT back by 7.
LIA led the 2nd pack with 4896, followed by CSR at 4888, and Bougard at 4834..
Then came the Javelin Throw!!
Geraldine Ruckstahl, a 19 year old from Switzerland, hauled the spear out to a Gotzis Hept record of 191-3, which was also a National Record!!
Then Thiam whipped her's out 194-7, breaking the Gotzis record again, and breaking the National Record of Belgium in the process!!
But maybe more importantly, it put Thiam on course for a possible 7000 points, something only 3 Women have ever done---JJK many times, Carolina Kluft twice, and Laura Nikitina once!
She needed to PR in the 800---but not by much!
This 22 year old proved her mettle by running 2:15.24, and finishing with 7013 points!!
It's the Age 22 record, and breaks her own National Record by over 200 points!!
She moves from 16th A-T World to 3rd!!
Schafer used her speed to end with 6836 points in 2nd, making her 16th A-T World!!
Ikauniece-Admidina scored 6815, breaking her own National Record of Latvia!
She's 18th A-T World!!
KJT bested her PR by 9 points, ending 4th with 6691.
This is the best 4th Place mark ever!!
Salman-Rath's 6580 became the best 5th Place mark!!
Bougard improved her PR also by over 200 points, her 6502 moving her from 20th A-T US all the way to 6th!!
Anouk Vetter claimed the best 7th Place mark with her 6497!
Yorgelis Rodriguez's 6446 points got her the best 8th Place mark!!
Ruckstahl's 6280 points is the new National Record of Switzerland!
And Grit Sadeiko---formerly a Florida athlete seemingly stuck around 5600-5700--finally broke through with 6280, and the National Record of Estonia!!
The Decathlon had 15 Men score 8000 or more points, but just 2 topped 8500!
Damian Warner won it with 8591, but it was Eelco Sintnicolaas's 8539 in 2nd that broke his own National Record of the Netherlands!!
Many (including me) believe the current system of "Regionals" as the Qualifier (or Prelims meet) for the NCAA Championships is---is, well, AWFUL!!
With the track races being merely the initial 1st round heats, athletes normally just do what they're there to do---move on to the next round!
And the field event people all want to make the final 12!
But once they make it, there are no more heights to attempt, and the throws are limited to three!!
If they nail a big one in round 1, they're done!
BORING!!
Well, then you have guys like Fred Kerley, Christian Coleman, or women like Kendell Ellis in the 400!
(Of course, on the macabre side, you want to see who's NOT going to advance to Eugene!!)
Kerley ran 44.09 in his heat at the SEC's, proving him to be one who just wants to run fast, no matter what's "needed" or asked for by his coaches!
So his SHATTERING the Collegiate Record in this "1st round heat" wasn't so shocking, if you knew his M.O.!
His 43.70 took 0.30 seconds off Quincy Watts's 1992 CR!!
And he did it with NO competition, as 2nd was just 45.02!
He also gets the Senior Class record!
He moves from 2nd to 1st on the A-T Collegiate list!
He moves from 11th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 6th!!
And he moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 7th!!
(He later ran a reported 43.35 on his team's 4X400 Relay!!)
Coleman was the best INdoors--and now he's the best OUTdoors!!
His 200 heat finished in just 19.85 seconds---AGAINST a breeze of 0.5!!
His 100-200 Combined Events total is now 29.81 (9.96 & 19.85), making him 10th A-T!!
He moves from 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
He's now 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others!
And he misses my World DDD by a mere 0.01 seconds!!
He'd run his 9.96 earlier, wind of 1.7.
This moved him from 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 8th, tied with 3 others!
Jereem Richards was a quick 2nd in 19.97, although he ran in a separate heat, wind of 0.2.
He's 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake's 20.04 wasn't a PR!
There were other decent marks--East and West--and here's the best of them--
Maggie Ewen threw the Hammer 232-3.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ran the 100H in 12.79--and again in 12.80!
Dewynne Charlton was 2nd in 12.87!
Reuben Walters ran the 110H in 13.39, with Grant Holloway 2nd in 13.47!
Akeem Bloomfield ran the 400 in 44.74!
Coleman had sped a 9.98 in his initial race, wind a MINUS 0.2!
Eight Women ran 800's between the 2:02.11 of Siofia Clairigh-Buttner and 2:03:00!!
Isaiah Harris ran his 800 in 1:45.92.
TJ Holmes and Kymber Payne ran 400H heats in 49.10 and 55.50, respectively.
Gabrielle Thomas sprinted her 2nd 200 in 22.60, but her initial round took 22.56, with a wind of 0.4.
Ashley Henderson ran her 100 in 11.01 (1.8).
She moves from 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to 12th, tied with 1 other!!
Chris Belcher's 20.06 (0.8) makes him 20th A-T Collegiate!
He beat Christian Coleman's 20.07 in that initial round!
As noted above, Kendell Ellis ran 400 meters in 50.45, moving her from 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th!!
Byron Robinson took just 48.58 for his 400H heat, becoming 20th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!!
Rai Benjamin's 48.91 in 2nd gave him the National Record of Antigua!!
Helen Schlachtenhaufen ran the 1500 meters in 4:11.15, with Jessica Harris next in 4:11.67.
Raven Saunders (59-2.25 in the SP) and Keturah Orji (TJ of 46-2.75) merely went through the motions!
Not quite the same with Emmonnie Henderson!
Her SP of 58-10 misses my Collegiate list by only 2.25 inches!!
Erin Farmer got a half-inch PR in the West meet, but her 59-5.50 keeps her 21st A-T Collegiate!
Some Relays were interesting!
LSU's 4X100 squad sped 42.32 for an easy win.
But Kentucky's 42.79 in 2nd moves them from 7th A-T School to 6th!
Alabama's 42.91 took 3rd, and moved them from 13th A-T School to 9th!
Clemson's 43.31 took 5th, but moved them from 17th A-T School to 15th!!
On the Men's side, Auburn won it in 38.74, beating LSU's 38.75!
But it was North Carolina A&T's 38.76 in 3rd that made them 18th A-T School!!
Tennessee was 4th in 38.92, but it was the 5th place time of Ohio State (39.01) that got them on the list, as 24th A-T School!!
In the West race, Arkansas's 38.77 nipped Texas A&M's 38.78!
But UO's 38.94 made them 21st A-T School, tied with 1 other!!
USC's Women's 4X400 team got a School PR of 3:26.09, but they remain 6th A-T!
UO's team ran 3:28.28, with Raevyn Rogers reportedly sprinting her leg in 50.19!!
Texas was next in 3:28.30.
Texas A&M's Men ran their's in 3:00.69!!
A couple of wind-aided marks were too good not to report--
Sydney Conley--daughter of the venerable TJ'er of yore Mike Conley!--LJ'ed 22-4.25, but a wind of 2.2 negated the mark!
Deajah Stevens sprinted the 100 in 10.89, but had a helping wind of 2.9!!
Now we come to the GORE & BLOOD!!
Who AIN'T gonna compete at Nationals in less than 2 weeks??
The most prominent are from the Championship hosts, the Ducks!!
You might have heard that a lower back sprain kept Ed Cheserek out of this meet, and thus ending his Collegiate career!!
Well, add the Selfie Goddess Hannah Cunliffe to that list of Non-Q's!!
Apparently hurting a bit from an old injury, she withdrew from the 2nd round of the 100, then apparently ended HER entire 2017 year, DNS'ing the 200.
Her tale of woe continued---though I'm not sure of the time sequence--in the 4X100 Relay!
They were DQ'ed for running out of their lane!
So was the USC Women's team!!
This is the 2nd year that "injury" has kept Cunliffe out of the NCAA's!!
Others include--
Elise Cranny in the 1500, as she faded badly on the last lap of her race!
UO's Sam Prakal & Austin Tamagno also failed to advance!
Katie Knight and Amy Eloise-Neale couldn't make it in the 5000!
Randall Cunningham didn't advance in the HJ!
From the East meet, Brandee Johnson failed to advance in the 400H.
Eliud Rutto is out of the 1500, and Myles Marshall won't be in the 800!
Bella Burda didn't make it in the 10000!
Molly Seidel was a DNS--though I'm not certain she was even entered!!
Adam Kelly didn't make it in the HT!
Mackenzie Shell won't be in the Pole Vault!
Angel Piccirillo won't be in the 1500.
Anna Rohrer (!!) was a DNF in the 5000, though I assume she'll still be in the 10K!
Freddie Crittenden failed to advance in the 110H!
I have some other marks---some from a few days earlier!
Shiying Liu threw the Javelin 218-1 to get the China National Record!!
This makes her 21st A-T World!
Radek Juska LJ'ed 27-2.50 to give him the National Record of the Czech Republic!!
Pam Dutkiewicz ran the 100H in a PR of 12.61, wind of 1.9!!
Stipe Zunic's SP of 70-5.75 breaks his own National Record of Croatia!!
In the Manchester (England) Street Games, Holly Bradshaw got an OUTdoor PR, her 15-9 making her 16th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
It also breaks her own National Record of Great Britain!!
(I can't find the full results from the Manchester 10K Road Race, but Dathan Ritzenhein won the Men's race in 28:06!!)
In HS news--
Rachel Baxter got an OUTdoor PR, PV'ing 14-4!!
This is a one inch PR!
But she remains 3rd A-T HS!
And keep the name of Trey Tintinger in your head!!
He's 6 foot 3 inches tall.
And he's the new Frosh Class record holder in the HJ, as his 7-1.50 leap broke the old Class Record by 1.50 inches!!
He had gone over 6-11 a week or more ago!
Thus he added 2.50 inches to his PR since then!!
I'll close with a Correction!!
In my blog of May 8th, I reported a 200 time of 22.89 for Katia Seymour!
I added that this removed Sanya Richards-Ross from my HS list, her 23.01 from 2002!
Well, put SRR back on the list--in 24th place!
And remove Seymour's mark, as it turns out there was an illegal wind!!
One more item of note--
Primo Youth PV'er Lisa Gunnarsson has signed on to compete for--Virginia Tech next year!!
Her PR of 14-11 will make her an instant threat to the Collegiate Frosh Class records of 15-2.25 (INdoors) and 15-2.75 (OUTdoors)!!
See you soon!
Unless you're in it solely as a fan of one nation, or one athlete, there are incredible performances from athletes (and nations) far and wide throughout the year!
This blog is dedicated to bringing you ALL the best Marks & Records from EVERYWHERE---even if I might focus more on my fellow Americans!
And that's why I waited until the Hypo Meeting at Gotzis in Austria was over to bring you this report.
The Heptathlon had it all--the biggest names, the most thrilling competition, and the greatest marks!!
Let's see what happened.
Day One ended in a virtual tie, as Katerina Johnson-Thompson had 4059 points, with Nafissatou Thiam 3 points behind, and Caroline Schafer another 3 back!
Laura Ikauniece-Admidina had 3843 points, with the lone American Erica Bougard 8th at 3798, and Claudia Salman-Rath at 3763 in 9th!
Thiam HJ'ed 6-6!!
After 5, Schafer and Thiam were tied at 5083, with KJT back by 7.
LIA led the 2nd pack with 4896, followed by CSR at 4888, and Bougard at 4834..
Then came the Javelin Throw!!
Geraldine Ruckstahl, a 19 year old from Switzerland, hauled the spear out to a Gotzis Hept record of 191-3, which was also a National Record!!
Then Thiam whipped her's out 194-7, breaking the Gotzis record again, and breaking the National Record of Belgium in the process!!
But maybe more importantly, it put Thiam on course for a possible 7000 points, something only 3 Women have ever done---JJK many times, Carolina Kluft twice, and Laura Nikitina once!
She needed to PR in the 800---but not by much!
This 22 year old proved her mettle by running 2:15.24, and finishing with 7013 points!!
It's the Age 22 record, and breaks her own National Record by over 200 points!!
She moves from 16th A-T World to 3rd!!
Schafer used her speed to end with 6836 points in 2nd, making her 16th A-T World!!
Ikauniece-Admidina scored 6815, breaking her own National Record of Latvia!
She's 18th A-T World!!
KJT bested her PR by 9 points, ending 4th with 6691.
This is the best 4th Place mark ever!!
Salman-Rath's 6580 became the best 5th Place mark!!
Bougard improved her PR also by over 200 points, her 6502 moving her from 20th A-T US all the way to 6th!!
Anouk Vetter claimed the best 7th Place mark with her 6497!
Yorgelis Rodriguez's 6446 points got her the best 8th Place mark!!
Ruckstahl's 6280 points is the new National Record of Switzerland!
And Grit Sadeiko---formerly a Florida athlete seemingly stuck around 5600-5700--finally broke through with 6280, and the National Record of Estonia!!
The Decathlon had 15 Men score 8000 or more points, but just 2 topped 8500!
Damian Warner won it with 8591, but it was Eelco Sintnicolaas's 8539 in 2nd that broke his own National Record of the Netherlands!!
Many (including me) believe the current system of "Regionals" as the Qualifier (or Prelims meet) for the NCAA Championships is---is, well, AWFUL!!
With the track races being merely the initial 1st round heats, athletes normally just do what they're there to do---move on to the next round!
And the field event people all want to make the final 12!
But once they make it, there are no more heights to attempt, and the throws are limited to three!!
If they nail a big one in round 1, they're done!
BORING!!
Well, then you have guys like Fred Kerley, Christian Coleman, or women like Kendell Ellis in the 400!
(Of course, on the macabre side, you want to see who's NOT going to advance to Eugene!!)
Kerley ran 44.09 in his heat at the SEC's, proving him to be one who just wants to run fast, no matter what's "needed" or asked for by his coaches!
So his SHATTERING the Collegiate Record in this "1st round heat" wasn't so shocking, if you knew his M.O.!
His 43.70 took 0.30 seconds off Quincy Watts's 1992 CR!!
And he did it with NO competition, as 2nd was just 45.02!
He also gets the Senior Class record!
He moves from 2nd to 1st on the A-T Collegiate list!
He moves from 11th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 6th!!
And he moves from 17th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 7th!!
(He later ran a reported 43.35 on his team's 4X400 Relay!!)
Coleman was the best INdoors--and now he's the best OUTdoors!!
His 200 heat finished in just 19.85 seconds---AGAINST a breeze of 0.5!!
His 100-200 Combined Events total is now 29.81 (9.96 & 19.85), making him 10th A-T!!
He moves from 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
He's now 13th A-T US, tied with 2 others!
And he misses my World DDD by a mere 0.01 seconds!!
He'd run his 9.96 earlier, wind of 1.7.
This moved him from 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 8th, tied with 3 others!
Jereem Richards was a quick 2nd in 19.97, although he ran in a separate heat, wind of 0.2.
He's 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake's 20.04 wasn't a PR!
There were other decent marks--East and West--and here's the best of them--
Maggie Ewen threw the Hammer 232-3.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ran the 100H in 12.79--and again in 12.80!
Dewynne Charlton was 2nd in 12.87!
Reuben Walters ran the 110H in 13.39, with Grant Holloway 2nd in 13.47!
Akeem Bloomfield ran the 400 in 44.74!
Coleman had sped a 9.98 in his initial race, wind a MINUS 0.2!
Eight Women ran 800's between the 2:02.11 of Siofia Clairigh-Buttner and 2:03:00!!
Isaiah Harris ran his 800 in 1:45.92.
TJ Holmes and Kymber Payne ran 400H heats in 49.10 and 55.50, respectively.
Gabrielle Thomas sprinted her 2nd 200 in 22.60, but her initial round took 22.56, with a wind of 0.4.
Ashley Henderson ran her 100 in 11.01 (1.8).
She moves from 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to 12th, tied with 1 other!!
Chris Belcher's 20.06 (0.8) makes him 20th A-T Collegiate!
He beat Christian Coleman's 20.07 in that initial round!
As noted above, Kendell Ellis ran 400 meters in 50.45, moving her from 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th!!
Byron Robinson took just 48.58 for his 400H heat, becoming 20th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!!
Rai Benjamin's 48.91 in 2nd gave him the National Record of Antigua!!
Helen Schlachtenhaufen ran the 1500 meters in 4:11.15, with Jessica Harris next in 4:11.67.
Raven Saunders (59-2.25 in the SP) and Keturah Orji (TJ of 46-2.75) merely went through the motions!
Not quite the same with Emmonnie Henderson!
Her SP of 58-10 misses my Collegiate list by only 2.25 inches!!
Erin Farmer got a half-inch PR in the West meet, but her 59-5.50 keeps her 21st A-T Collegiate!
Some Relays were interesting!
LSU's 4X100 squad sped 42.32 for an easy win.
But Kentucky's 42.79 in 2nd moves them from 7th A-T School to 6th!
Alabama's 42.91 took 3rd, and moved them from 13th A-T School to 9th!
Clemson's 43.31 took 5th, but moved them from 17th A-T School to 15th!!
On the Men's side, Auburn won it in 38.74, beating LSU's 38.75!
But it was North Carolina A&T's 38.76 in 3rd that made them 18th A-T School!!
Tennessee was 4th in 38.92, but it was the 5th place time of Ohio State (39.01) that got them on the list, as 24th A-T School!!
In the West race, Arkansas's 38.77 nipped Texas A&M's 38.78!
But UO's 38.94 made them 21st A-T School, tied with 1 other!!
USC's Women's 4X400 team got a School PR of 3:26.09, but they remain 6th A-T!
UO's team ran 3:28.28, with Raevyn Rogers reportedly sprinting her leg in 50.19!!
Texas was next in 3:28.30.
Texas A&M's Men ran their's in 3:00.69!!
A couple of wind-aided marks were too good not to report--
Sydney Conley--daughter of the venerable TJ'er of yore Mike Conley!--LJ'ed 22-4.25, but a wind of 2.2 negated the mark!
Deajah Stevens sprinted the 100 in 10.89, but had a helping wind of 2.9!!
Now we come to the GORE & BLOOD!!
Who AIN'T gonna compete at Nationals in less than 2 weeks??
The most prominent are from the Championship hosts, the Ducks!!
You might have heard that a lower back sprain kept Ed Cheserek out of this meet, and thus ending his Collegiate career!!
Well, add the Selfie Goddess Hannah Cunliffe to that list of Non-Q's!!
Apparently hurting a bit from an old injury, she withdrew from the 2nd round of the 100, then apparently ended HER entire 2017 year, DNS'ing the 200.
Her tale of woe continued---though I'm not sure of the time sequence--in the 4X100 Relay!
They were DQ'ed for running out of their lane!
So was the USC Women's team!!
This is the 2nd year that "injury" has kept Cunliffe out of the NCAA's!!
Others include--
Elise Cranny in the 1500, as she faded badly on the last lap of her race!
UO's Sam Prakal & Austin Tamagno also failed to advance!
Katie Knight and Amy Eloise-Neale couldn't make it in the 5000!
Randall Cunningham didn't advance in the HJ!
From the East meet, Brandee Johnson failed to advance in the 400H.
Eliud Rutto is out of the 1500, and Myles Marshall won't be in the 800!
Bella Burda didn't make it in the 10000!
Molly Seidel was a DNS--though I'm not certain she was even entered!!
Adam Kelly didn't make it in the HT!
Mackenzie Shell won't be in the Pole Vault!
Angel Piccirillo won't be in the 1500.
Anna Rohrer (!!) was a DNF in the 5000, though I assume she'll still be in the 10K!
Freddie Crittenden failed to advance in the 110H!
I have some other marks---some from a few days earlier!
Shiying Liu threw the Javelin 218-1 to get the China National Record!!
This makes her 21st A-T World!
Radek Juska LJ'ed 27-2.50 to give him the National Record of the Czech Republic!!
Pam Dutkiewicz ran the 100H in a PR of 12.61, wind of 1.9!!
Stipe Zunic's SP of 70-5.75 breaks his own National Record of Croatia!!
In the Manchester (England) Street Games, Holly Bradshaw got an OUTdoor PR, her 15-9 making her 16th A-T World, tied with 1 other.
It also breaks her own National Record of Great Britain!!
(I can't find the full results from the Manchester 10K Road Race, but Dathan Ritzenhein won the Men's race in 28:06!!)
In HS news--
Rachel Baxter got an OUTdoor PR, PV'ing 14-4!!
This is a one inch PR!
But she remains 3rd A-T HS!
And keep the name of Trey Tintinger in your head!!
He's 6 foot 3 inches tall.
And he's the new Frosh Class record holder in the HJ, as his 7-1.50 leap broke the old Class Record by 1.50 inches!!
He had gone over 6-11 a week or more ago!
Thus he added 2.50 inches to his PR since then!!
I'll close with a Correction!!
In my blog of May 8th, I reported a 200 time of 22.89 for Katia Seymour!
I added that this removed Sanya Richards-Ross from my HS list, her 23.01 from 2002!
Well, put SRR back on the list--in 24th place!
And remove Seymour's mark, as it turns out there was an illegal wind!!
One more item of note--
Primo Youth PV'er Lisa Gunnarsson has signed on to compete for--Virginia Tech next year!!
Her PR of 14-11 will make her an instant threat to the Collegiate Frosh Class records of 15-2.25 (INdoors) and 15-2.75 (OUTdoors)!!
See you soon!
The 2017 Prefontaine Memorial
If you survived my Preview's hyperbolic overdrive, maybe you'll understand why I had to think a bit about whether I'd give the Pre DL its own post!
It was an excellent (lower case) meet---even if my Preview had seen abundant use of ALL CAPS in ramming home the message that THIS Prefontaine meet MIGHT be the greatest of them all!!
Put simply, it wasn't.
But combined with the fact there WERE many great marks is the fact that OTHER meets were better than expected, and needed more space than trying to cram EVERYTHING into one post would provide!!
(Following this post---in a few hours---will come my report on the NCAA Regionals, the Gotzis Multi's, and whatever else I might have---other than Pre!)
What made this year's edition weren't so much the Records & Marks, but the Competition!!
And nowhere else could you find better than in the Men's Triple Jump or the Women's 200.
Christian Taylor and Will Claye have been friends & rivals (or both!) since their years as teammates at Florida!
The pattern continued here!
Taylor opened with 58-5.75--which would've been a Meet Record, but for the wind!
Claye's 3rd round saw him close in---57-11.25.
Taylor responded with the ultimate winner--his giant 59-5---and a legal wind!!
Claye came back with a 58-5.75, legal wind!
Then in round 5, Claye ripped a huge 59-2.75 (windy!), but that was it!
A Taylor foul, and a Claye 58-3 in round 6 were anticlimactic!
That said, FIVE of Claye's attempts were 57 feet or longer!
Taylor had four of those!
In the end, Taylor's 59-5 is the Age 26 record!
He breaks his own Pre Meet Record!
Claye's 58-5.75 PR moves him up one place on the A-T US list, from 7th to 6th!
He also moves from 22nd to 15th on the A-T World list!!
The 200 lived up to expectations---but not quite in the "WHO" department!!
Most (especially some rabid Jamaica Firsters on the T&FN Message Board!!) expected Elaine Thompson to win---maybe even easily!!
(To be honest, I did too!!)
Tell that to Tori Bowie, a woman who tends to run hot OR cold!!
She was VERY HOT here!!!
Ripping the curve found her already in front coming to the straight!
She merely extended her lead, leaving an All-Everything field behind her!!
Her 21.77 dominated a field that saw 2 others come in under 22 seconds!
She improved her 100-200 Combined Events totals on the World & US lists!
Her 10.78 & 21.77 add to 32.55.
She's 7th on my World list, and 4th on the US list!
It's also the Pre Meet Record!!
She moves from 9th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 1 other.
On the A-T World list, she moves from 23rd, tied with 3 others, to 15th, tied with 1 other!!
Miller-Uibo's 21.91 breaks her own National Record of the Bahamas!
It makes her 21st A-T World!
Knocked OFF my World DDD were 3 historic names!!
Marie Jose-Perec (1993), Kerron Stewart (2008), and Chandra Cheeseborough (1983) all had marks of 21.99!!
They're all GONE!!
After ET's 21.98 came Dafne Schippers's 22.30, Allyson Felix's 22.33, Marie Josee Ta Lou's 22.37, and Hayward's fave, Jenna Prandini, who ended 7th in 22.54!
The distances---as should be in a meet honoring Mister Prefontaine!!--were all competitive---and somewhat speedy!
Let's take them in order of schedule, since none really stood out by themselves!!
The Women's "B" 800 saw Charlene Lipsey finally get an OUTdoor sub-2:00!!
Her 1:59.87 gave her an easy win over Chrishuna Williams's 2:00.62.
But all eyes were on the lanky NY'er, Sammy Watson, finishing her HS career in style!!
In the pack at 58-high, she stayed on the outside, giving her room to move.
And she wasn't shy about trying!
But alas, her quest to join Mary Cain in the sub-2 HS crowd fell short.
Still, her OUTdoor PR of 2:01.47 moved her from 9th A-T HS to 4th!!
She said she'll be trying again---maybe at USATF!!
She DID beat Kendra Chambers and Laura Roesler, both in the high 2:01's!
Sheila Reid was a late scratch from the "B" 1500 on Friday, citing allergies!!
(Eugene is famous---or INfamous!!--for that!!)
In her absence, her Canadian compatriot, Gabrielle Stafford, won in 4:07.43.
Katie Mackey started her sprint late, but took 2nd in 4:07.79.
Emily Lipari PR'ed again, in 4:08.29!
Alexa Efraimson improved to 4:09.03 in 5th.
In 9th came Gabe Grunewald!
Her time of 4:15.04 didn't really matter---though she wants to qualify for USATF!!
What mattered was that she ran DESPITE being in the prison of cancer, and delaying treatment (!!!) so she can try for London!!
There are no words!
Bless you, Gabe---for being YOU!!
Then came the 3000SC on Joan Samuelson Night!!
WOW!
Celiphine Chespol--all of 18 years of age!!--was in a 3-pack with WR holder Ruth Jebet and Beatrice Chepkoech as the penultimate water jump approached!
As she came off the water, her shoe slipped, and she STOPPED to get it back on!!
This took about 4 seconds!!
About 200 meters later (or less!), she was right back in front!!
And she remained there, sprinting hard (with both shoes on!) to the line, and getting the Meet Record and her own Age 18 record with her time of 8:58.78!!
She also nabbed the Kenyan National Record!
It moves her from 7th A-T World to 2nd!!
Chepkoech went past the fading Jebet to take 2nd in 9:00.70.
She remains 5th A-T World.
Jebet finished 3rd in 9:03.52.
Surprising herself (and others), Emma Coburn came THIS close to breaking her own National Record, but her 9:07.96 fell 0.33 seconds short!
Courtney Frerichs, fully recovered from her Doha food poisoning (See my Preview post!), took a second off her PR, her 9:19.09 taking 5th, and moving her from 6th to 4th on the A-T US list!!
If you looked closely, you could see Genzebe Dibaba wasn't going to break the WR in the 5000!!
She didn't have her usual smooth running form---at least not AS smooth as usual!
And when the pacer fell off the needed pace after just 2 laps, the WR chase was over!
But not the race!
Dibaba's 14:25.22 gave her the Age 26 record!
Lilian Rengerek ran 14:36.80 in 2nd, with Sifan Hassan's 14:41.24 in 3rd taking down Lornah Kiplagat's old Netherlands National Record!!
When the pace took off, Molly Huddle decided she didn't have it, so deliberately stayed well back, leading the US contingent to a series of 15:10'ish times--Huddle's 15:09.09 and Emily Sisson's 15:10.91 being the best.
The Men's 5K BEGAN in 12:55-pace mode!
But after about a mile, that idea died, and born was the usual (and boring!!) Follow Sir Mo Parade to the Execution Chamber!!
Viewers yawned while Mo sped away to a 13:00.70 win over Yomif Kejelcha and Geoff Kamworor, both of whom finished less than a second (but might as well have been an HOUR!) behind!!
Paul Chelimo's 13:10.11 in 7th was the best of the Americans!
The Men's Mile's produced its normal queue of sub-4's.
This time, they included 3 under 3:50, one US HS'er CLOSE to a sub-4, and THREE Norwegian brothers breaking 4---but in separate races!!
The Ingebrigtsens (Henrik, Filip, and the Kid, Jakub) became the "Borlees of the Mile", and history was made!
But it was Jakub who stole the show, as his 3:58.07 (11th in the "B" Mile) became the Age 16 record!!
No one---not even Jim Ryun!!--ran under 4:00 when 16!!
Brazil's Thiago Do Andre won it in 3:51.99.
Chris O'Hare was 2nd in 3:53.34.
In 7th came Andy Wheating in 3:55.67.
DJ Principe ran a steady pace, but missed his sub-4 goal by 0.74 seconds!!
His 4:00.73 is 13th A-T HS!!
Knocked OFF my HS list was a real oldie---Rich Kimball's 4:02.4, dating from 1974!!
Ron Kwemoi (3:49.04) missed my World list by 0.64 seconds!
Elijah Managoi's 3:49.08 missed it by 0.68 seconds!
And Tim Cheruiyot's 3:49.64 missed it by 1.24 seconds!
Clay Murphy showed he has Mile wheels, his 3:51.99 in 5th making him 20th A-T US!!
Ben Blankenship ran good in 7th, time of 3:53.04.
Filip Ingebrigtsen was 8th in 3:53.23.
Asbel Kiprop said a virus was the reason he finished just 13th in 3:58.24!
The other Women's 1500 had all the Names, but not the needed pacing!!
(Or at least no one willing to follow her!!)
Thus, we instead found a MOB of star runners all together at the bell!!
When the dust had settled, it was the sub-60 (!!) laps of Faith Kipyegon and Helen Obiri that prevailed!
Kip's 59.55 took her home in 3:59.67, while Obiri's 59.99 gave her a 4:00.46.
Right behind her came Laura Muir in 4:00.47.
(She said afterward she needs to work on her "finishing dip"!!)
Brenda Martinez surprisingly (But maybe not so much!!) led the strong US contingent!!
Her 4:03.56 outleaned Kate Grace's PR of 4:03.59.
Grace is now 24th A-T US!!
Jenny Simpson beat her "rival", Shannon Rowbury, 4:04.16 to 4:04.59, in 8th and 9th!
Shelby Houlihan's 4:06.43 followed in 11th!
The WOMEN's 800 saw Habitam Alemu winning in 1:59.19 over Selina Buchel's 1:59.46, and Melissa Bishop's 1:59.52.
There were 3 Nameless humans in front.
The pair of High School 200's gave us things to talk about!
In the Men's race, Ty Cooper won in a PR of 20.51.
This breaks his own Soph Class record!!
And he moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 17th!!
Kalon Barnes took 2nd in 20.54, making him 20th A-T HS!!
I'd never heard of him, and when checking my 2017 HS Track book, couldn't find his name anywhere!!
A real shocker!!
Another to raise your hair (& eyebrows!!) was Tamari Davis!!
She won the Women's HS 200 in 23.21--wind legal!
Oh, almost forgot!
She's a 14 year old EIGHTH GRADER!!
This breaks her own Age 14 record!!
Everyone she beat were established High Schoolers, several of them Seniors!!
(Symone Mason, the favorite, ended in 4th, running 23.49!!)
The Women's 400H became one of the best events of the meet--unexpectedly!!
Glasses-wearing (& sass-talking Twitter Ace) Shamier Little came off the last turn in front!
But Ashley Spencer---a few lanes to her right--steadily cut her lead, then took it---winning in a PR of 53.38!!
Her Combined Events for the 400 & 400H is now 1:43.66 (50.28 & 53.38)
She remains 3rd on that US list!
She misses the World DDD by 0.16 seconds!!
She also moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 11th!!
Little also PR'ed--to 53.44.
She remains in 4th on the US Combined Events list, times of 51.06 & 53.44 adding to 1:44.50!.
She misses the World Top 24 Performers list by 0.22 seconds!!
And she remains 12th A-T US!
Georgeanne Moline took 3rd in a slight 2017 best of 54.09!
The High Hurdles were taken by Omar McLeod (13.01) and Jasmine Stowers (12.59).
Behind McLeod came Ron Levy's 13.10, Devon Allen's 13.11, and Aries Merritt's 13.13!!
Queen Harrison (Will Claye's fiancee) took 2nd in 12.64, with DHN 3rd in 12.66, with Christina Manning getting the same time in 4th, followed by Sharika Nelvis's 12.68!!
Morolake Akinosun---whom yours truly recognized as the potential winner in the recent Jamaica meet---and in my Preview here!!--took the 100 in 10.94, but a "wind" of 2.1 negated the time as her new PR!!
It beat Murielle Ahoure's 10.96, Michelle Lee-Ahye's 10.97, and VCB's 11.00!!
LaShawn Merritt took a weak 400 in a weak 44.79.
Ronnie Baker used a wind of 2.4 to blast a 9.86 in the 100!!
Left behind was Bingtian Su's 9.92!!
Left WAY behind were Andre DeGrasse's 9.96 and Justin Gatlin's 9.97!!
Ryan Crouser took advantage of an "off" day for 74 footer Joe Kovacs, his 73-7.25 giving him the Pre Meet Record, and the Age 24 record!!
But it wasn't a PR!
Tom Walsh was second with 71-2.25, while Kovacs could find just 70-4.25 with his 16 pound orb!!
Tatsiana Kholodovich opened the meet on Friday with a JT of 217-6.
This held on to be the winner, although China's Shiying Liu was good in 2nd with her 213-11, while Rio winner Sara Kolak took 3rd with a throw of 212-1.
Brittney Reese got out to 23-0 in the LJ, decisively beating Tianna Bartoletta's 22-5!!
It's another World Leader for the entertaining Reese!!
The Women's HJ needs a mea culpa disclaimer from your friendly blogger!!
You read my Preview, right?
Did you "see" the name of Maria Lasitskene anywhere?
I mean, who's ever heard of MARIA LASITSKENE??
Well, maybe her NEW HUSBAND has!!!
You see, Mariya Kuchina--who HJ'ed 6-8 INdoors this year to lead the World!!--got married in March!!
So it was Maria (Kuchina) Lasitskene who won the HJ here---with a leap of--6-8!!
It's her OUTdoor PR, and got her the Meet Record!!
It also REMOVED a certain Ruth Beitia---who competed here, but didn't do so well!!--from my World list, her 6-7.50 from 2007 now gone!!
Kamila Licwinko and Vashti Cunningham both cleared a good 6-4.75, but Licwinko got 2nd!
Cunningham's mark wasn't a PR!
Well, that about wraps-----OH WAIT!!!!
You thought I'd forgot all about MONDO!!!
HA!
NO ONE lost sight of Mr Duplantis---all of 17 years old!!---as he fought side-by-side with Titans Sam Kendricks, Thiago Braz, Pietr Lisek, and---Renaud Lavillenie---among others!!
In fact, after the first 3 bars, Mondo was the ONLY ONE with NO MISSES!!
That didn't last!
Even though he's the KING of the Youth movement, the presence of PV gods Lavillenie and Kendricks et al---and maybe the adoring and LOUD crowd of Hayward clappers---got to him just a wee bit!!
Enough that he failed to clear anything over 18-8.75---which left him in 4th!!
Winning was Kendricks (19-2.75---3 misses at 19-4.75), followed by Renaud and Lisek, both of whom cleared 19-0.75!
Shawn Barber, formerly one of Mondo's young precursors, bombed out early!
As promised, I'll have my "other" report---Gotzis, the Regionals, and more--up in a few hours!!
It was an excellent (lower case) meet---even if my Preview had seen abundant use of ALL CAPS in ramming home the message that THIS Prefontaine meet MIGHT be the greatest of them all!!
Put simply, it wasn't.
But combined with the fact there WERE many great marks is the fact that OTHER meets were better than expected, and needed more space than trying to cram EVERYTHING into one post would provide!!
(Following this post---in a few hours---will come my report on the NCAA Regionals, the Gotzis Multi's, and whatever else I might have---other than Pre!)
What made this year's edition weren't so much the Records & Marks, but the Competition!!
And nowhere else could you find better than in the Men's Triple Jump or the Women's 200.
Christian Taylor and Will Claye have been friends & rivals (or both!) since their years as teammates at Florida!
The pattern continued here!
Taylor opened with 58-5.75--which would've been a Meet Record, but for the wind!
Claye's 3rd round saw him close in---57-11.25.
Taylor responded with the ultimate winner--his giant 59-5---and a legal wind!!
Claye came back with a 58-5.75, legal wind!
Then in round 5, Claye ripped a huge 59-2.75 (windy!), but that was it!
A Taylor foul, and a Claye 58-3 in round 6 were anticlimactic!
That said, FIVE of Claye's attempts were 57 feet or longer!
Taylor had four of those!
In the end, Taylor's 59-5 is the Age 26 record!
He breaks his own Pre Meet Record!
Claye's 58-5.75 PR moves him up one place on the A-T US list, from 7th to 6th!
He also moves from 22nd to 15th on the A-T World list!!
The 200 lived up to expectations---but not quite in the "WHO" department!!
Most (especially some rabid Jamaica Firsters on the T&FN Message Board!!) expected Elaine Thompson to win---maybe even easily!!
(To be honest, I did too!!)
Tell that to Tori Bowie, a woman who tends to run hot OR cold!!
She was VERY HOT here!!!
Ripping the curve found her already in front coming to the straight!
She merely extended her lead, leaving an All-Everything field behind her!!
Her 21.77 dominated a field that saw 2 others come in under 22 seconds!
She improved her 100-200 Combined Events totals on the World & US lists!
Her 10.78 & 21.77 add to 32.55.
She's 7th on my World list, and 4th on the US list!
It's also the Pre Meet Record!!
She moves from 9th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 1 other.
On the A-T World list, she moves from 23rd, tied with 3 others, to 15th, tied with 1 other!!
Miller-Uibo's 21.91 breaks her own National Record of the Bahamas!
It makes her 21st A-T World!
Knocked OFF my World DDD were 3 historic names!!
Marie Jose-Perec (1993), Kerron Stewart (2008), and Chandra Cheeseborough (1983) all had marks of 21.99!!
They're all GONE!!
After ET's 21.98 came Dafne Schippers's 22.30, Allyson Felix's 22.33, Marie Josee Ta Lou's 22.37, and Hayward's fave, Jenna Prandini, who ended 7th in 22.54!
The distances---as should be in a meet honoring Mister Prefontaine!!--were all competitive---and somewhat speedy!
Let's take them in order of schedule, since none really stood out by themselves!!
The Women's "B" 800 saw Charlene Lipsey finally get an OUTdoor sub-2:00!!
Her 1:59.87 gave her an easy win over Chrishuna Williams's 2:00.62.
But all eyes were on the lanky NY'er, Sammy Watson, finishing her HS career in style!!
In the pack at 58-high, she stayed on the outside, giving her room to move.
And she wasn't shy about trying!
But alas, her quest to join Mary Cain in the sub-2 HS crowd fell short.
Still, her OUTdoor PR of 2:01.47 moved her from 9th A-T HS to 4th!!
She said she'll be trying again---maybe at USATF!!
She DID beat Kendra Chambers and Laura Roesler, both in the high 2:01's!
Sheila Reid was a late scratch from the "B" 1500 on Friday, citing allergies!!
(Eugene is famous---or INfamous!!--for that!!)
In her absence, her Canadian compatriot, Gabrielle Stafford, won in 4:07.43.
Katie Mackey started her sprint late, but took 2nd in 4:07.79.
Emily Lipari PR'ed again, in 4:08.29!
Alexa Efraimson improved to 4:09.03 in 5th.
In 9th came Gabe Grunewald!
Her time of 4:15.04 didn't really matter---though she wants to qualify for USATF!!
What mattered was that she ran DESPITE being in the prison of cancer, and delaying treatment (!!!) so she can try for London!!
There are no words!
Bless you, Gabe---for being YOU!!
Then came the 3000SC on Joan Samuelson Night!!
WOW!
Celiphine Chespol--all of 18 years of age!!--was in a 3-pack with WR holder Ruth Jebet and Beatrice Chepkoech as the penultimate water jump approached!
As she came off the water, her shoe slipped, and she STOPPED to get it back on!!
This took about 4 seconds!!
About 200 meters later (or less!), she was right back in front!!
And she remained there, sprinting hard (with both shoes on!) to the line, and getting the Meet Record and her own Age 18 record with her time of 8:58.78!!
She also nabbed the Kenyan National Record!
It moves her from 7th A-T World to 2nd!!
Chepkoech went past the fading Jebet to take 2nd in 9:00.70.
She remains 5th A-T World.
Jebet finished 3rd in 9:03.52.
Surprising herself (and others), Emma Coburn came THIS close to breaking her own National Record, but her 9:07.96 fell 0.33 seconds short!
Courtney Frerichs, fully recovered from her Doha food poisoning (See my Preview post!), took a second off her PR, her 9:19.09 taking 5th, and moving her from 6th to 4th on the A-T US list!!
If you looked closely, you could see Genzebe Dibaba wasn't going to break the WR in the 5000!!
She didn't have her usual smooth running form---at least not AS smooth as usual!
And when the pacer fell off the needed pace after just 2 laps, the WR chase was over!
But not the race!
Dibaba's 14:25.22 gave her the Age 26 record!
Lilian Rengerek ran 14:36.80 in 2nd, with Sifan Hassan's 14:41.24 in 3rd taking down Lornah Kiplagat's old Netherlands National Record!!
When the pace took off, Molly Huddle decided she didn't have it, so deliberately stayed well back, leading the US contingent to a series of 15:10'ish times--Huddle's 15:09.09 and Emily Sisson's 15:10.91 being the best.
The Men's 5K BEGAN in 12:55-pace mode!
But after about a mile, that idea died, and born was the usual (and boring!!) Follow Sir Mo Parade to the Execution Chamber!!
Viewers yawned while Mo sped away to a 13:00.70 win over Yomif Kejelcha and Geoff Kamworor, both of whom finished less than a second (but might as well have been an HOUR!) behind!!
Paul Chelimo's 13:10.11 in 7th was the best of the Americans!
The Men's Mile's produced its normal queue of sub-4's.
This time, they included 3 under 3:50, one US HS'er CLOSE to a sub-4, and THREE Norwegian brothers breaking 4---but in separate races!!
The Ingebrigtsens (Henrik, Filip, and the Kid, Jakub) became the "Borlees of the Mile", and history was made!
But it was Jakub who stole the show, as his 3:58.07 (11th in the "B" Mile) became the Age 16 record!!
No one---not even Jim Ryun!!--ran under 4:00 when 16!!
Brazil's Thiago Do Andre won it in 3:51.99.
Chris O'Hare was 2nd in 3:53.34.
In 7th came Andy Wheating in 3:55.67.
DJ Principe ran a steady pace, but missed his sub-4 goal by 0.74 seconds!!
His 4:00.73 is 13th A-T HS!!
Knocked OFF my HS list was a real oldie---Rich Kimball's 4:02.4, dating from 1974!!
Ron Kwemoi (3:49.04) missed my World list by 0.64 seconds!
Elijah Managoi's 3:49.08 missed it by 0.68 seconds!
And Tim Cheruiyot's 3:49.64 missed it by 1.24 seconds!
Clay Murphy showed he has Mile wheels, his 3:51.99 in 5th making him 20th A-T US!!
Ben Blankenship ran good in 7th, time of 3:53.04.
Filip Ingebrigtsen was 8th in 3:53.23.
Asbel Kiprop said a virus was the reason he finished just 13th in 3:58.24!
The other Women's 1500 had all the Names, but not the needed pacing!!
(Or at least no one willing to follow her!!)
Thus, we instead found a MOB of star runners all together at the bell!!
When the dust had settled, it was the sub-60 (!!) laps of Faith Kipyegon and Helen Obiri that prevailed!
Kip's 59.55 took her home in 3:59.67, while Obiri's 59.99 gave her a 4:00.46.
Right behind her came Laura Muir in 4:00.47.
(She said afterward she needs to work on her "finishing dip"!!)
Brenda Martinez surprisingly (But maybe not so much!!) led the strong US contingent!!
Her 4:03.56 outleaned Kate Grace's PR of 4:03.59.
Grace is now 24th A-T US!!
Jenny Simpson beat her "rival", Shannon Rowbury, 4:04.16 to 4:04.59, in 8th and 9th!
Shelby Houlihan's 4:06.43 followed in 11th!
The WOMEN's 800 saw Habitam Alemu winning in 1:59.19 over Selina Buchel's 1:59.46, and Melissa Bishop's 1:59.52.
There were 3 Nameless humans in front.
The pair of High School 200's gave us things to talk about!
In the Men's race, Ty Cooper won in a PR of 20.51.
This breaks his own Soph Class record!!
And he moves from 19th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 17th!!
Kalon Barnes took 2nd in 20.54, making him 20th A-T HS!!
I'd never heard of him, and when checking my 2017 HS Track book, couldn't find his name anywhere!!
A real shocker!!
Another to raise your hair (& eyebrows!!) was Tamari Davis!!
She won the Women's HS 200 in 23.21--wind legal!
Oh, almost forgot!
She's a 14 year old EIGHTH GRADER!!
This breaks her own Age 14 record!!
Everyone she beat were established High Schoolers, several of them Seniors!!
(Symone Mason, the favorite, ended in 4th, running 23.49!!)
The Women's 400H became one of the best events of the meet--unexpectedly!!
Glasses-wearing (& sass-talking Twitter Ace) Shamier Little came off the last turn in front!
But Ashley Spencer---a few lanes to her right--steadily cut her lead, then took it---winning in a PR of 53.38!!
Her Combined Events for the 400 & 400H is now 1:43.66 (50.28 & 53.38)
She remains 3rd on that US list!
She misses the World DDD by 0.16 seconds!!
She also moves from 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 11th!!
Little also PR'ed--to 53.44.
She remains in 4th on the US Combined Events list, times of 51.06 & 53.44 adding to 1:44.50!.
She misses the World Top 24 Performers list by 0.22 seconds!!
And she remains 12th A-T US!
Georgeanne Moline took 3rd in a slight 2017 best of 54.09!
The High Hurdles were taken by Omar McLeod (13.01) and Jasmine Stowers (12.59).
Behind McLeod came Ron Levy's 13.10, Devon Allen's 13.11, and Aries Merritt's 13.13!!
Queen Harrison (Will Claye's fiancee) took 2nd in 12.64, with DHN 3rd in 12.66, with Christina Manning getting the same time in 4th, followed by Sharika Nelvis's 12.68!!
Morolake Akinosun---whom yours truly recognized as the potential winner in the recent Jamaica meet---and in my Preview here!!--took the 100 in 10.94, but a "wind" of 2.1 negated the time as her new PR!!
It beat Murielle Ahoure's 10.96, Michelle Lee-Ahye's 10.97, and VCB's 11.00!!
LaShawn Merritt took a weak 400 in a weak 44.79.
Ronnie Baker used a wind of 2.4 to blast a 9.86 in the 100!!
Left behind was Bingtian Su's 9.92!!
Left WAY behind were Andre DeGrasse's 9.96 and Justin Gatlin's 9.97!!
Ryan Crouser took advantage of an "off" day for 74 footer Joe Kovacs, his 73-7.25 giving him the Pre Meet Record, and the Age 24 record!!
But it wasn't a PR!
Tom Walsh was second with 71-2.25, while Kovacs could find just 70-4.25 with his 16 pound orb!!
Tatsiana Kholodovich opened the meet on Friday with a JT of 217-6.
This held on to be the winner, although China's Shiying Liu was good in 2nd with her 213-11, while Rio winner Sara Kolak took 3rd with a throw of 212-1.
Brittney Reese got out to 23-0 in the LJ, decisively beating Tianna Bartoletta's 22-5!!
It's another World Leader for the entertaining Reese!!
The Women's HJ needs a mea culpa disclaimer from your friendly blogger!!
You read my Preview, right?
Did you "see" the name of Maria Lasitskene anywhere?
I mean, who's ever heard of MARIA LASITSKENE??
Well, maybe her NEW HUSBAND has!!!
You see, Mariya Kuchina--who HJ'ed 6-8 INdoors this year to lead the World!!--got married in March!!
So it was Maria (Kuchina) Lasitskene who won the HJ here---with a leap of--6-8!!
It's her OUTdoor PR, and got her the Meet Record!!
It also REMOVED a certain Ruth Beitia---who competed here, but didn't do so well!!--from my World list, her 6-7.50 from 2007 now gone!!
Kamila Licwinko and Vashti Cunningham both cleared a good 6-4.75, but Licwinko got 2nd!
Cunningham's mark wasn't a PR!
Well, that about wraps-----OH WAIT!!!!
You thought I'd forgot all about MONDO!!!
HA!
NO ONE lost sight of Mr Duplantis---all of 17 years old!!---as he fought side-by-side with Titans Sam Kendricks, Thiago Braz, Pietr Lisek, and---Renaud Lavillenie---among others!!
In fact, after the first 3 bars, Mondo was the ONLY ONE with NO MISSES!!
That didn't last!
Even though he's the KING of the Youth movement, the presence of PV gods Lavillenie and Kendricks et al---and maybe the adoring and LOUD crowd of Hayward clappers---got to him just a wee bit!!
Enough that he failed to clear anything over 18-8.75---which left him in 4th!!
Winning was Kendricks (19-2.75---3 misses at 19-4.75), followed by Renaud and Lisek, both of whom cleared 19-0.75!
Shawn Barber, formerly one of Mondo's young precursors, bombed out early!
As promised, I'll have my "other" report---Gotzis, the Regionals, and more--up in a few hours!!
Friday, May 26, 2017
Prefontaine DL Preview
It's here!
When thinking of my intro, I wanted to avoid saying the fields are STACKED or LOADED---or this could be the GREATEST PRE EVER!
Really, I did!
But I CAN'T!!
Because the 2017 edition of this Memorial meet just might BE the greatest ever!!
The POTENTIAL at least is there!!
So enough of this bullshit!
I will Preview the entire meet (tonight and tomorrow) event-by-event--in the order of the schedule!!
I'll give you the time the event starts (Pacific Time), the Meet Record, the entrants to watch, and just a general overview!
NOTE: Two athletes withdrew---Sergey Shubenkov from the 110H, because of visa approval delays, and Matthew Centrowitz from the Bowerman Mile, because of either an "illness" or "slight" injury problems. (He said he'd attend & watch & root for the other athletes!!)
BTW, you might notice that EVERY Friday event is a Women's event!!
That's to honor Joan Benoit Samuelson, who just turned 60 years young!!
Friday
7:34 p.m. Women's JT (222-1)
I'll be saying this a LOT, but the MR could fall! 65-35 odds!
While WR holder Barbora Spotakova is here, she's not the favorite, IMO!
Instead, watch for new China NR holder Shiying Liu to steal the show.
Also Tatsiana Khalodovich, Sara Kolak, Kathy Molitor, Kara Winger, and Canadian Liz Gleadle, who's been hot lately!
7:37 p.m. Women's LJ (23-11.75)
Brittney Reese.
If she's ON (Meaning, she doesn't foul out!!), this MR is in danger!
She recently went 6.98, so she's ready.
But give her 35-65 odds.
Tianna Bartoletta might challenge, but watch also for Lorraine Ugen, Christobel Nettey, Darya Klishina, Shara Proctor, and Blessing Okagbare.
7:59 p.m. High School Women's 200 (No MR!)
Even without HS PRO Candace Hill, or the injured Lauren Rain Williams, this is a (Ahem!) LOADED field!!
You need a 23.01 to make my HS list.
While just 1 girl is in that range (Symone Mason), by race's end, we could see a few!!
EVERY girl in the race is capable of 23.5 or (MUCH!) faster!!
8:06 p.m. Women's 800 (Won't list MR! (See Saturday's 800 for the reason why!)
Sammy Watson!
No, she's NOT the fastest gal here!
But she just might break Mary Cain's HSR of 1:59.51---while losing!!
Laura Roesler has been sub-2 this year already.
Charlene Lipsey had that 1:58.64 INdoors!
Chrishuna Williams and Chanelle Price could be close!
If Watson comes through 600 in 1:28.5 or faster, watch the clock!!!
8:14 p.m. Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
You'll have to wait for tomorrow's 1500 to see a potential MR challenge!
Tonight, watch for comebacking Canadian rebel Sheila Reid to win!
Maybe sub-4:05...or even sub-4:03!!
Katie Mackey is ready, and Emily Lipari just cut 4 seconds off her PR!
Alexa Efraimson might surprise.
But for me, I WANT Gabe Grunewald to WIN!!
Battling cancer, she's delaying treatments so she can race a few more times this year!!
Watch her, and stand in sheer AWE!
8:25 p.m. Women's 3000SC (8:59.97)
Ruth Jebet should challenge this MR!
Give her 70-30 odds!
But watch for teen sensation Celiphine Chespol, Purity Kirui, and Beatrice Chepkoech!!
Emma Coburn could get her own AR here, but probably won't, as she'd want to peak at USATF!
Germany's Gesa Krause is always fast.
Besides Coburn, Americans include Stephanie Garcia, Courtney Frerichs, Leah O'Connor, and Oiselle's Mel Lawrence, who was added late!!
BTW, discount Frerichs's slow Doha time--she had food poisoning there!!
8:41 p.m. Women's 5000 (14:19.76)
Will Genzebe Dibaba's promised WR attempt unfold as planned?
Oh, how I'd LOVE to say YES!!!
But I'm giving her just 25-75 odds!
It might be too hot--or the pacing won't be good--or she's just not ready!!
That said, I expect her to give it the old college try!!
She'll have Geleta Burka for company---up to a point!!--but after halfway, it will be G-D vs The CLOCK!!
She needs to AVERAGE 68 second 400's---all the way!!
Sifan Hassan might surprise.
Other Africans (past or present! LOL) are Belaynesh Oljira, Getytom Gebreslase, Dera Dida, and Meref Bahta!
Will we see multiple sub-15's from the Americans??
I'll give THAT 60-40 odds!!
Molly Huddle should lead the way, but Emily Sisson could SHOCK!!
Kim Conley and Marielle Hall are 2 other USA gals to watch!
NOTE: The MR's for 3000 meters and 2 Miles are 8:34.47 and 9:13.27.
It would be SWEET if official splits were taken at those two points!
Genzebe could smash BOTH enroute!!
Saturday
12:45 p.m. Men's PV (19-10.25)
Mondo!
Yes, we'll be in thrall over seeing Renaud Lavillenie, Thiago Braz, and Sam Kendricks renew their Rio podium fight!
And 2 or 3 others will be there to keep things lively!
But---MONDO DUPLANTIS IS HERE!!!
And he says he's ready to PR!!
Can he split up the "Rio 3"---and even WIN???
I'll give THAT just 30-70 odds!
The MR is given 60-40 odds, with Renaud seen as the leading light!
But who will really care about anything other than the fact we are seeing High School HISTORY in the making!
Savor the moment!
12:49 p.m. Men's TJ (58-3.25)
While Jonathan Edwards's WR of 60-0.25 hasn't been challenged since 2015--and won't be challenged here--I believe this MR is GONE!!
Give it 90-10 odds!!
Christian Taylor and Will Claye should control the action, but watch for China's Bin Dong!
Alex Copello is also good.
12:53 p.m. High School Men's 200 (No MR!)
Unlike the Women's HS 200 (See above!), the guys have "just" 3 real SuperStuds!!
And the US's own Tyrese Cooper might NOT win!!
Japan's Abdul Sani-Brown is 18, and fast!
So is Jamal Walton!
In fact, their 3 PR's are within one-tenth of a second of each other!
It could be THAT close!
1:03 p.m. Women's 400H (53.03)
They're BACK!!
Meaning those then-Collegiate WonderGals Georgeanne Moline and Kori Carter.
Carter ran 54.53 to lead the world, then Moline topped that with 54.10!
Based on that, I'd settle Delilah Muhammed, Zuzana Hejnova, and Ashley Spencer on the back burner somewhere!
Shamier Little might surprise, as could Sara Petersen and Janeive Russell.
No MR (20-80 odds), but should be interesting!
1:08 p.m. Women's HJ (6-7.50)
Seems like a fairly easy MR target, but 2.00 (6-6.75) has been hard to come by the past 2 years, so it should survive to 2018!
(30-70 odds)
Vashti Cunningham (19) will face Ruth Beitia (38) in an Ageless face-off!
But it could be 3XMom Chaunte Lowe (33) who splits them apart!
Kamila Licwinko and steady Lavern Spencer are also here.
1:13 p.m. Men's 5000 (12:56.98)
PLEASE, Guys, CRUSH that Meet Record!!
Sir Mo Farah is the NAME!
But he may NOT be the main TALENT!!
He was out-kicked by Centro at Oxy in the 1500 (See earlier post!), but that might not matter here.
What WILL matter is if anyone tries to take it out---FAST!!
Geoff Kamworor has vowed to go after Mo, but he'll have to push out steady 62's to do it!
That's a pace of about 12:55, folks!
While Yomif Kejelcha, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Isaiah Koech, Albert Rop, Caleb Ndiku, and Paul Tanui might seem (in addition to Kamworor) Mo's most serious rivals, watch for the North Americans!!
Paul Chelimo, Len Korir, Ben True, Ryan Hill, Eric Jenkins, Mo Ahmed, and Hassan Mead could---in a FAST race---challenge the American Record!!
Give the MR 60-40 odds!
1:33 p.m. Women's 100H (12.24)
Another---Pardon me!---LOADED field!!
Kendra Harrison and Brianna Rollins are NOT here!
So no MR!
Odds are 20-80!
But with MOST of America's (and therefore, the World's!!) best here, this should be a BLAZER!!
Toss a coin to see if Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin, Sharika Nelvis, Jasmine Stowers, Christina Manning, Queen Harrison, or Dawn Harper-Nelson will take USA honors!!
But watch for Alina Talay to mix it up with the US crew!
1:41 p.m. Men's 110H (12.90)
NO Meet Record today, folks!!
Not unless Omar McLeod finds the perfect wind and the perfect race!
Aleec Harris and Devon Allen are a pair to watch!
Super Vets David Oliver and Aries Merritt are here.
Give Merritt the odds over Oliver---but it won't matter!
Dimitri Bascou and Andrew Pozzi are potential threats!
1:50 p.m. Women's 100 (10.70)
No MR!
And no English Gardner!
She scratched, and was replaced by Barbara Pierre.
But watch for recent Jamaica victor Morolake Akinosun to snatch the win.
Tianna Bartoletta, doubling back from the LJ (See above!) is here, as is Michelle Lee-Ahye, who was a VERY close 2nd to Akinosun in that Jam race!
Murielle Ahoure and Veronica Campbell-Brown might surprise!
1:56 p.m. Men's SP (73-6.25)
They're ALL here!
Tom Walsh, David Storl, Konrad Bukowiecki, Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill.
Yawn.
The two to REALLY watch are OG Gold winner Ryan Crouser and HOT-HOT Joe Kovacs, who just topped 74 feet!!
If Joey does that here, it's Bye-Bye MR!!
Give him/it 70-30 odds!!
2:00 p.m. Men's International Mile (For MR, see Bowerman Mile below!)
While not quite the same as it was in 2001, with Alan Webb getting the HSR, this year's "B" Mile has DJ (David) Principe, one of a FEW High Schoolers knocking on the sub-4 door this year!!
He'll get his chance to become OUTdoor sub-4 guy Number Ten here!
He says he's rested and in TOP shape, sooooo....!!
Chris O'Hare, John Gregorek, Lopez Lomong, an in shape Andy Wheating, plus two of Norway's Ingebrigtsen family of Milers should help Principe with the pacing!
Jakub Ingebrigtsen, BTW, is just 16 years old!!
Would he be the YOUNGEST to ever go sub-4??
That's what some sources are saying!!
2:09 p.m. Men's 400 (43.92)
Sorry, friends, but without Wayde Van Niekerk and Collegiate Stormer Fred Kerley, this field is one of the LEAST interesting!!
Tell that to Lashawn Merritt, who should prevail over a couple of young pretenders--Baboloki Thebe (just turned 20) and Karabo Thibanda (19 on July 2nd), both with low 44.2-ish PR's!
Tony McQuay has run 44.24, but not too recently!
Vernon Norwood and Pavel Maslak are here too!
MR odds are 40-60.
2:16 p.m. Women's 800 (The "MR" is held by Francine Niyonsaba, and is 1:56.72. As I have "banned" Niyonsaba, as well as Margaret Wambui and Caster Semenya from any & all consideration for my Record Book's records & lists, I am saying this MR is NOT Niyonsaba's!! So no odds will be given! Sorry!!)
Other than "those 3", we have Melissa Bishop, Habitam Alemu, Lynsey Sharp, Joanna Jozwik, and Selina Buchel to vie for the podium!
Kendra Chambers could be in the mix too!
Watch for Marina Arzamosova!
2:24 p.m. Men's 100 (9.80)
Normally, with Justin Gatlin in the field, I'd just print his name on the medal and leave it at that!
But his season opener---and general "quiet" year so far---makes me have SOME doubts!
At his "normal", Gatlin should win, and even challenge the MR---given Eugene's quixotic winds!!
Andre De Grasse is another with a mixed-2017.
Ronnie Baker just went 9.98---legal wind!
Mike Rodgers, Bingtian Su, and Adam Gemili are others to watch!
2:32 p.m. Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
Sorry (Again!!), but this is a VERY LOADED field, folks!!
No truer words have been said!
Except for WR holder Genzebe Dibaba (In Friday's 5000! See above!), EVERYONE is here!!
Laura Muir!
Jenny Simpson & Shannon Rowbury!!
Faith Kipyegon & Dawit Seyaum!!
Helen Obiri!!
Then we have two Americans who have the TALENT to run 3:59 or faster, and who---in the perfect race, COULD do it here!!
Kate Grace & Brenda Martinez!
Add the Brit Laura Weightman--stir--and VOILA!---maybe the BEST Women's 1500 EVER!!
Odds for the MR?
70-30!!
2:46 p.m. Women's 200 (21.81)
THIS is the race---and the field--everyone & their Grandmothers are talking about!!
Place your bets!!
Elaine Thompson, the "ET" who's come home--and then some!!
Tori Bowie, the American who might/could/will??
Dafne Schippers, the Dutch beauty who is, um, slightly FAST?
Allyson Felix, the Veteran?
The Hyphenates??
(Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Ivet Lalova-Collio, Shaunae Miller-Uibo)
Or even Eugene Darling Jenna Prandini??
Line 'em up, and say the words---On your marks....!!
MR odds---given Hayward's wicked winds---are 60-40!
2:52 p.m. Men's Bowerman Mile (3:47.32--and 3:32.72 for 1500 meters!)
Centro has scratched! (See above!)
But despite his recent win over Sir Mo at Oxy, he'd just be one of the crowd!
The main question is---Will it go like last year's--SLOW---or like it did in 2014, when the MR was set?
If the latter, watch for Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat, Elijah Manangoi, MR holder Ayanleh Souleiman, and Ronald Kwemoi to be the decisive factors!
The 3rd Ingebrigtsen (Filip) is here too, as is Australia's Ryan Gregson, but the Africans should prevail.
Interesting for Americans will be to see if Clay Murphy has Mile wheels---in addition to his prowess at half the distance!!
If any American is to challenge Centro for supremacy, it could be Murphy!
Ben Blankenship is the other American.
I hope the meet lives up to my hyperbolic Preview!
And I hope my Preview helps you in enjoying the meet!!
Greatest Pre ever??
We shall see!
When thinking of my intro, I wanted to avoid saying the fields are STACKED or LOADED---or this could be the GREATEST PRE EVER!
Really, I did!
But I CAN'T!!
Because the 2017 edition of this Memorial meet just might BE the greatest ever!!
The POTENTIAL at least is there!!
So enough of this bullshit!
I will Preview the entire meet (tonight and tomorrow) event-by-event--in the order of the schedule!!
I'll give you the time the event starts (Pacific Time), the Meet Record, the entrants to watch, and just a general overview!
NOTE: Two athletes withdrew---Sergey Shubenkov from the 110H, because of visa approval delays, and Matthew Centrowitz from the Bowerman Mile, because of either an "illness" or "slight" injury problems. (He said he'd attend & watch & root for the other athletes!!)
BTW, you might notice that EVERY Friday event is a Women's event!!
That's to honor Joan Benoit Samuelson, who just turned 60 years young!!
Friday
7:34 p.m. Women's JT (222-1)
I'll be saying this a LOT, but the MR could fall! 65-35 odds!
While WR holder Barbora Spotakova is here, she's not the favorite, IMO!
Instead, watch for new China NR holder Shiying Liu to steal the show.
Also Tatsiana Khalodovich, Sara Kolak, Kathy Molitor, Kara Winger, and Canadian Liz Gleadle, who's been hot lately!
7:37 p.m. Women's LJ (23-11.75)
Brittney Reese.
If she's ON (Meaning, she doesn't foul out!!), this MR is in danger!
She recently went 6.98, so she's ready.
But give her 35-65 odds.
Tianna Bartoletta might challenge, but watch also for Lorraine Ugen, Christobel Nettey, Darya Klishina, Shara Proctor, and Blessing Okagbare.
7:59 p.m. High School Women's 200 (No MR!)
Even without HS PRO Candace Hill, or the injured Lauren Rain Williams, this is a (Ahem!) LOADED field!!
You need a 23.01 to make my HS list.
While just 1 girl is in that range (Symone Mason), by race's end, we could see a few!!
EVERY girl in the race is capable of 23.5 or (MUCH!) faster!!
8:06 p.m. Women's 800 (Won't list MR! (See Saturday's 800 for the reason why!)
Sammy Watson!
No, she's NOT the fastest gal here!
But she just might break Mary Cain's HSR of 1:59.51---while losing!!
Laura Roesler has been sub-2 this year already.
Charlene Lipsey had that 1:58.64 INdoors!
Chrishuna Williams and Chanelle Price could be close!
If Watson comes through 600 in 1:28.5 or faster, watch the clock!!!
8:14 p.m. Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
You'll have to wait for tomorrow's 1500 to see a potential MR challenge!
Tonight, watch for comebacking Canadian rebel Sheila Reid to win!
Maybe sub-4:05...or even sub-4:03!!
Katie Mackey is ready, and Emily Lipari just cut 4 seconds off her PR!
Alexa Efraimson might surprise.
But for me, I WANT Gabe Grunewald to WIN!!
Battling cancer, she's delaying treatments so she can race a few more times this year!!
Watch her, and stand in sheer AWE!
8:25 p.m. Women's 3000SC (8:59.97)
Ruth Jebet should challenge this MR!
Give her 70-30 odds!
But watch for teen sensation Celiphine Chespol, Purity Kirui, and Beatrice Chepkoech!!
Emma Coburn could get her own AR here, but probably won't, as she'd want to peak at USATF!
Germany's Gesa Krause is always fast.
Besides Coburn, Americans include Stephanie Garcia, Courtney Frerichs, Leah O'Connor, and Oiselle's Mel Lawrence, who was added late!!
BTW, discount Frerichs's slow Doha time--she had food poisoning there!!
8:41 p.m. Women's 5000 (14:19.76)
Will Genzebe Dibaba's promised WR attempt unfold as planned?
Oh, how I'd LOVE to say YES!!!
But I'm giving her just 25-75 odds!
It might be too hot--or the pacing won't be good--or she's just not ready!!
That said, I expect her to give it the old college try!!
She'll have Geleta Burka for company---up to a point!!--but after halfway, it will be G-D vs The CLOCK!!
She needs to AVERAGE 68 second 400's---all the way!!
Sifan Hassan might surprise.
Other Africans (past or present! LOL) are Belaynesh Oljira, Getytom Gebreslase, Dera Dida, and Meref Bahta!
Will we see multiple sub-15's from the Americans??
I'll give THAT 60-40 odds!!
Molly Huddle should lead the way, but Emily Sisson could SHOCK!!
Kim Conley and Marielle Hall are 2 other USA gals to watch!
NOTE: The MR's for 3000 meters and 2 Miles are 8:34.47 and 9:13.27.
It would be SWEET if official splits were taken at those two points!
Genzebe could smash BOTH enroute!!
Saturday
12:45 p.m. Men's PV (19-10.25)
Mondo!
Yes, we'll be in thrall over seeing Renaud Lavillenie, Thiago Braz, and Sam Kendricks renew their Rio podium fight!
And 2 or 3 others will be there to keep things lively!
But---MONDO DUPLANTIS IS HERE!!!
And he says he's ready to PR!!
Can he split up the "Rio 3"---and even WIN???
I'll give THAT just 30-70 odds!
The MR is given 60-40 odds, with Renaud seen as the leading light!
But who will really care about anything other than the fact we are seeing High School HISTORY in the making!
Savor the moment!
12:49 p.m. Men's TJ (58-3.25)
While Jonathan Edwards's WR of 60-0.25 hasn't been challenged since 2015--and won't be challenged here--I believe this MR is GONE!!
Give it 90-10 odds!!
Christian Taylor and Will Claye should control the action, but watch for China's Bin Dong!
Alex Copello is also good.
12:53 p.m. High School Men's 200 (No MR!)
Unlike the Women's HS 200 (See above!), the guys have "just" 3 real SuperStuds!!
And the US's own Tyrese Cooper might NOT win!!
Japan's Abdul Sani-Brown is 18, and fast!
So is Jamal Walton!
In fact, their 3 PR's are within one-tenth of a second of each other!
It could be THAT close!
1:03 p.m. Women's 400H (53.03)
They're BACK!!
Meaning those then-Collegiate WonderGals Georgeanne Moline and Kori Carter.
Carter ran 54.53 to lead the world, then Moline topped that with 54.10!
Based on that, I'd settle Delilah Muhammed, Zuzana Hejnova, and Ashley Spencer on the back burner somewhere!
Shamier Little might surprise, as could Sara Petersen and Janeive Russell.
No MR (20-80 odds), but should be interesting!
1:08 p.m. Women's HJ (6-7.50)
Seems like a fairly easy MR target, but 2.00 (6-6.75) has been hard to come by the past 2 years, so it should survive to 2018!
(30-70 odds)
Vashti Cunningham (19) will face Ruth Beitia (38) in an Ageless face-off!
But it could be 3XMom Chaunte Lowe (33) who splits them apart!
Kamila Licwinko and steady Lavern Spencer are also here.
1:13 p.m. Men's 5000 (12:56.98)
PLEASE, Guys, CRUSH that Meet Record!!
Sir Mo Farah is the NAME!
But he may NOT be the main TALENT!!
He was out-kicked by Centro at Oxy in the 1500 (See earlier post!), but that might not matter here.
What WILL matter is if anyone tries to take it out---FAST!!
Geoff Kamworor has vowed to go after Mo, but he'll have to push out steady 62's to do it!
That's a pace of about 12:55, folks!
While Yomif Kejelcha, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Isaiah Koech, Albert Rop, Caleb Ndiku, and Paul Tanui might seem (in addition to Kamworor) Mo's most serious rivals, watch for the North Americans!!
Paul Chelimo, Len Korir, Ben True, Ryan Hill, Eric Jenkins, Mo Ahmed, and Hassan Mead could---in a FAST race---challenge the American Record!!
Give the MR 60-40 odds!
1:33 p.m. Women's 100H (12.24)
Another---Pardon me!---LOADED field!!
Kendra Harrison and Brianna Rollins are NOT here!
So no MR!
Odds are 20-80!
But with MOST of America's (and therefore, the World's!!) best here, this should be a BLAZER!!
Toss a coin to see if Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin, Sharika Nelvis, Jasmine Stowers, Christina Manning, Queen Harrison, or Dawn Harper-Nelson will take USA honors!!
But watch for Alina Talay to mix it up with the US crew!
1:41 p.m. Men's 110H (12.90)
NO Meet Record today, folks!!
Not unless Omar McLeod finds the perfect wind and the perfect race!
Aleec Harris and Devon Allen are a pair to watch!
Super Vets David Oliver and Aries Merritt are here.
Give Merritt the odds over Oliver---but it won't matter!
Dimitri Bascou and Andrew Pozzi are potential threats!
1:50 p.m. Women's 100 (10.70)
No MR!
And no English Gardner!
She scratched, and was replaced by Barbara Pierre.
But watch for recent Jamaica victor Morolake Akinosun to snatch the win.
Tianna Bartoletta, doubling back from the LJ (See above!) is here, as is Michelle Lee-Ahye, who was a VERY close 2nd to Akinosun in that Jam race!
Murielle Ahoure and Veronica Campbell-Brown might surprise!
1:56 p.m. Men's SP (73-6.25)
They're ALL here!
Tom Walsh, David Storl, Konrad Bukowiecki, Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill.
Yawn.
The two to REALLY watch are OG Gold winner Ryan Crouser and HOT-HOT Joe Kovacs, who just topped 74 feet!!
If Joey does that here, it's Bye-Bye MR!!
Give him/it 70-30 odds!!
2:00 p.m. Men's International Mile (For MR, see Bowerman Mile below!)
While not quite the same as it was in 2001, with Alan Webb getting the HSR, this year's "B" Mile has DJ (David) Principe, one of a FEW High Schoolers knocking on the sub-4 door this year!!
He'll get his chance to become OUTdoor sub-4 guy Number Ten here!
He says he's rested and in TOP shape, sooooo....!!
Chris O'Hare, John Gregorek, Lopez Lomong, an in shape Andy Wheating, plus two of Norway's Ingebrigtsen family of Milers should help Principe with the pacing!
Jakub Ingebrigtsen, BTW, is just 16 years old!!
Would he be the YOUNGEST to ever go sub-4??
That's what some sources are saying!!
2:09 p.m. Men's 400 (43.92)
Sorry, friends, but without Wayde Van Niekerk and Collegiate Stormer Fred Kerley, this field is one of the LEAST interesting!!
Tell that to Lashawn Merritt, who should prevail over a couple of young pretenders--Baboloki Thebe (just turned 20) and Karabo Thibanda (19 on July 2nd), both with low 44.2-ish PR's!
Tony McQuay has run 44.24, but not too recently!
Vernon Norwood and Pavel Maslak are here too!
MR odds are 40-60.
2:16 p.m. Women's 800 (The "MR" is held by Francine Niyonsaba, and is 1:56.72. As I have "banned" Niyonsaba, as well as Margaret Wambui and Caster Semenya from any & all consideration for my Record Book's records & lists, I am saying this MR is NOT Niyonsaba's!! So no odds will be given! Sorry!!)
Other than "those 3", we have Melissa Bishop, Habitam Alemu, Lynsey Sharp, Joanna Jozwik, and Selina Buchel to vie for the podium!
Kendra Chambers could be in the mix too!
Watch for Marina Arzamosova!
2:24 p.m. Men's 100 (9.80)
Normally, with Justin Gatlin in the field, I'd just print his name on the medal and leave it at that!
But his season opener---and general "quiet" year so far---makes me have SOME doubts!
At his "normal", Gatlin should win, and even challenge the MR---given Eugene's quixotic winds!!
Andre De Grasse is another with a mixed-2017.
Ronnie Baker just went 9.98---legal wind!
Mike Rodgers, Bingtian Su, and Adam Gemili are others to watch!
2:32 p.m. Women's 1500 (3:56.41)
Sorry (Again!!), but this is a VERY LOADED field, folks!!
No truer words have been said!
Except for WR holder Genzebe Dibaba (In Friday's 5000! See above!), EVERYONE is here!!
Laura Muir!
Jenny Simpson & Shannon Rowbury!!
Faith Kipyegon & Dawit Seyaum!!
Helen Obiri!!
Then we have two Americans who have the TALENT to run 3:59 or faster, and who---in the perfect race, COULD do it here!!
Kate Grace & Brenda Martinez!
Add the Brit Laura Weightman--stir--and VOILA!---maybe the BEST Women's 1500 EVER!!
Odds for the MR?
70-30!!
2:46 p.m. Women's 200 (21.81)
THIS is the race---and the field--everyone & their Grandmothers are talking about!!
Place your bets!!
Elaine Thompson, the "ET" who's come home--and then some!!
Tori Bowie, the American who might/could/will??
Dafne Schippers, the Dutch beauty who is, um, slightly FAST?
Allyson Felix, the Veteran?
The Hyphenates??
(Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Ivet Lalova-Collio, Shaunae Miller-Uibo)
Or even Eugene Darling Jenna Prandini??
Line 'em up, and say the words---On your marks....!!
MR odds---given Hayward's wicked winds---are 60-40!
2:52 p.m. Men's Bowerman Mile (3:47.32--and 3:32.72 for 1500 meters!)
Centro has scratched! (See above!)
But despite his recent win over Sir Mo at Oxy, he'd just be one of the crowd!
The main question is---Will it go like last year's--SLOW---or like it did in 2014, when the MR was set?
If the latter, watch for Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat, Elijah Manangoi, MR holder Ayanleh Souleiman, and Ronald Kwemoi to be the decisive factors!
The 3rd Ingebrigtsen (Filip) is here too, as is Australia's Ryan Gregson, but the Africans should prevail.
Interesting for Americans will be to see if Clay Murphy has Mile wheels---in addition to his prowess at half the distance!!
If any American is to challenge Centro for supremacy, it could be Murphy!
Ben Blankenship is the other American.
I hope the meet lives up to my hyperbolic Preview!
And I hope my Preview helps you in enjoying the meet!!
Greatest Pre ever??
We shall see!
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