2016 Pre Meet

QT #2: What’s next for Hunter?

This was the first race in which Hunter was totally outclassed this year, but we knew that was the case coming in. Guys like Leo Manzano were in the “B” mile here. 3:58 is very good for a high schooler, and with better pacing Hunter would have likely run faster. A race like this might be good for Hunter as it reminds him how far he has to go to be a factor as a pro. Succeeding on that level is the ultimate goal for Hunter; now he has to figure out the best way to do that as his high school career is almost over.

Bowerman Mile 1 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:51.54 2 Iguider , Abdalaati MAR 3:51.96 3 Manangoi , Elijah Motonei KEN 3:52.39 4 Kibet , Vincent KEN 3:52.71 5 Makhloufi , Taoufik ALG 3:52.95 6 Wote , Aman ETH 3:53.23 7 Blankenship , Ben USA 3:53.83 8 Jager , Evan USA 3:54.21 9 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 3:56.60 10 Magut , James Kiplagat KEN 3:56.89 11 Holuša , Jakub CZE 3:58.34 12 Hunter , Andrew USA 3:58.86 Kivuva , Jackson Mumbwa KEN DNF Rotich , Andrew Kiptoo KEN DNF

*Note- post race interviews with Kiprop and Blankenship and Hunter here

Women’s 1500: Faith Kipyegon Breaks the Kenyan Record Again

Faith Kipyegon is on another level in the women’s 1500 right now, at least until world indoor champ Sifan Hassan or world outdoor champ Genzebe Dibaba decide to open up. Just as she did two weeks ago in Shanghai, Kipyegon destroyed the field over the final lap, winning in 3:56.41, 1.69 seconds up on runner-up Dawit Seyaum. World indoor bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia was third in 4:00.18, while Jenny Simpson was the best of the rest in fourth in 4:01.57. American record holderShannon Rowbury struggled and was only 10th in 4:04.65.

The pace went out quickly, with rabbit Chanelle Price towing the field through in just under 63 seconds at 400 and 2:07 at 800 (all splits from this race are approximate as the NBC camera was all over the place during the race). By the time Price dropped out at 1000 meters, Kipyegon, Tsegay and Seyaum were running 1-2-3 in single file and had six meters on the chase pack, led by Rowbury. By the bell, that lead had almost doubled as Simpson moved up into fourth ahead of Rowbury. On the backstretch, Kipyegon and Seyaum pulled away from Tsegay, opening up a massive gap on the chasers as Kipyegon hit 1200 in 3:11 (around 64 for the last 400). Seyaum was still on Kipyegon’s shoulder on the back stretch, but began to crack on the final turn. That crack turned into a major fissure on the home stretch as Kipyegon pulled away with ease to earn another dominant victory in 3:56.41 thanks to a 60-second last lap. That makes two Kenyan records in two races for Kipyegon this year.

Further back, Simpson, Brenda Martinez and surprising Aussie Linden Hall rounded the final turn three-wide in the battle for fourth; Simpson came out on top, just holding off Hall, 4:01.57 to 4:01.78.

QT #1: American medal hopes in this event in Rio may hinge on which other athletes show up

Kipyegon soundly beat everyone today and Seyaum and Tsegay (medallists in the 1500 at World Indoors this year) were also well ahead of the top American, Simpson, in fourth. And it’s very hard to envision any American beating Sifan Hassan (world indoor champ, bronze at world outdoors last year) or Genzebe Dibaba if both are in top shape in Rio.

Now Diamond League 1500s are not the same as Olympic 1500s, but when you crush the field by as much as Kipyegon has in the last two weeks (2.52 seconds and 1.69 seconds), it doesn’t really matter. The silver lining for Simpson and the other Americans is that Dibaba has been dealing with a toe injury this year and even if she is close to 100% in Rio, she may not even run the 1500. Likewise, Hassan has not raced since world indoors, but we don’t know whether that’s because she’s hurt or merely resting. If either Dibaba or Hassan isn’t in the field in Rio, the medal chances for Simpson, Rowbury and others go way up. Overcoming the Ethiopians is tough, but beating Dibaba is close to impossible.

QT #2: A step in the right direction for Jenny Simpson

The three women who beat Simpson today all beat her in Shanghai two weeks ago as well, but it’s clear that this was a much better effort by Simpson overall. She was 4th today vs. 6th in Shanghai and ran almost three seconds faster (4:04.56 to 4:01.57). The gaps between Simpson and the women in front of her also shrunk considerably. Check it out:

Faith Kipyegon

Time ahead of Simpson in Shanghai: 7.74 seconds

Time ahead of Simpson in Eugene: 5.16 seconds

Dawit Seyaum

Time ahead of Simpson in Shanghai: 4.69 seconds

Time ahead of Simpson in Eugene: 3.47 seconds

Gudaf Tsegay

Time ahead of Simpson in Shanghai: 1.83 seconds

Time ahead of Simpson in Eugene: 1.39 seconds

The gap to Kipyegon is still massive and she’s still a fair amount behind Seyaum, but with 11 weeks to go until the Olympics, Simpson has some time to dig into that deficit. Simpson afterwards said she’s moving in the right direction and noted in season’s past she’s opened in the 4:08 range. She wants to be at a point where she can run in front of a race but isn’t there yet. *Post race interviews here

QT #3: Linden Hall’s breakout 2016 continues

Hall was only 8th at NCAAs last year for Florida State and entered 2016 with a pb of 4:10.41. Good for a collegian but not competitive on the global stage. But she was 2nd at the Australian Championships in April, ran a massive PB of 4:04 at Payton Jordan in May and went even faster today, running 4:01.78 to become the third-fastest Australian of all time. After two huge PRs, shaving off any more time will be tough, but Sarah Jamieson’s 10-year-old national record of 4:00.93 should certainly be on Hall’s radar.

QT #4: A bad outing for Shannon Rowbury

Rowbury so rarely has bad races that it’s jarring when she runs poorly. But she did today, as she fell apart over the final 400, finishing a well-beaten 10th in 4:04.65. Not counting Oxy the last two years (where Simpson was coming back on tired legs due to a same-day double), this was the first time Rowbury had lost to an American other than Jenny Simpson in a 1500/mile since April 2014. Of course, most Americans would kill for Rowbury’s “bad day” time of 4:04 but the world indoor bronze medallist will hold herself to a higher standard.

1500 Metres - Women Pts 1 Kipyegon , Faith Chepngetich KEN 3:56.41 10 2 Seyaum , Dawit ETH 3:58.10 6 3 Tsegay , Gudaf ETH 4:00.18 4 4 Simpson , Jennifer USA 4:01.57 3 5 Hall , Linden AUS 4:01.78 2 6 Weightman , Laura GBR 4:03.04 1 7 Houlihan , Shelby USA 4:03.39 8 Martinez , Brenda USA 4:03.57 9 Reid , Sheila CAN 4:03.96 10 Rowbury , Shannon USA 4:04.65 11 Moser , Treniere USA 4:07.04 12 Efraimson , Alexa USA 4:08.81 Embaye , Axumawit ETH DNF Plis , Renata POL DNF Price , Chanelle USA DNF

Men’s 5000m: Muktar Edris Turns Back Kamworor; Mo Ahmed (!) Takes the Lead at the Bell

This one went out fast (2:04 at 800, 4:10 for 1600) and then slowed a little (8:22 at 3200). By 2 miles, the pace was taking its toll as American Bernard Lagat stepped off the track (hetold reporters afterwards he was suffering from a cold). There was a pack of 12 up front that included all the main contenders, plus Americans Hassan Mead and Ben True, who was struggling to stay on the back.

With 800 to go (11:01), the pack was down to 9 and still included Mead. Geoffrey Kamworor had been leading since the rabbits dropped out. At the bell, there was a huge surprise. Mo Ahmed, the Canadian and former University of Wisconsin runner seized the lead. Only Kamworor and Mutkar Edriscould go with him. Ahmed led until halfway around the final bend when both Edris and Kamworor went by him. They would battle down the homestretch for the win with Edris pulling away to win in 12:59.43, a 2016 world leader (barely ahead of his 12:59.96 from Shanghai).

QT #1: The 10,000m is the Event Kamworor Might Challenge Mo Farah In, Not the 5000

Kamworor tried to push the pace here a little bit, but this race reminded everyone he’s a longer distance runner. If he’s going to win the Olympics on the track it will be at 10,000 not 5,000m.

QT #2: Huge PB for Ahmed

Ahmed, who is a member of Jerry Schumacher’s Bowerman Track Club, already had the Canadian record of 13:10.00 but his 13:01.74 today was way, way more impressive than that. Not only was this race in worse conditions (sunny, middle of the day, temps in mid-to-high 60s), but he was actually battling for the win against a couple of studs, making a huge move that left DL veterans Thomas Longosiwa, Edwin Soi and Yenew Alamirew in the dust. The 25-year-old Canadian reached a totally new level at Pre.

QT #3: Is It Time for Ryan Hill Fans to Worry?

This was Hill’s first race since his silver medal at World Indoors and he definitely wasn’t sharp, only managing a 13:35. Ben True managed a more respectable 13:12 here (.02 behind Caleb Ndiku), but Hassan Mead continues to be the top American distance runner outdoors in 2016 as he followed up his Oxy 1500 win with a 13:04 here.

5000 Metres - Men Pts 1 Edris , Muktar ETH 12:59.43 10 2 Kamworor , Geoffrey Kipsang KEN 12:59.98 6 3 Ahmed , Mohammed CAN 13:01.74 4 4 Longosiwa , Thomas Pkemei KEN 13:02.91 3 5 Soi , Edwin Cheruiyot KEN 13:03.26 2 6 Mead , Hassan USA 13:04.17 1 7 Alamirew , Yenew ETH 13:04.29 8 Cheptegei , Joshua Kiprui UGA 13:07.53 9 Koech , Isiah Kiplangat KEN 13:08.34 10 Ndiku , Caleb Mwangangi KEN 13:12.25 11 True , Ben USA 13:12.67 12 Tanui , Paul Kipngetich KEN 13:15.22 13 Chelimo , Paul Kipkemoi USA 13:21.61 14 Levins , Cameron CAN 13:26.79 15 Hill , Ryan USA 13:35.74 16 Chelanga , Samuel Kiprono USA 13:46.84 Haji , Yasin ETH DNF Kangogo , Cornelius Kipruto KEN DNF Lagat , Bernard USA DNF Langat , Clement Kiprono KEN DNF Gebrhiwet , Hagos ETH DNS

“B” Mile –National mile: High Schooler Michael Slagowski Goes Sub-4:00 Again, Beats Leo Manzano; Charlie Grice Wins in Second PR in Two Weeks

2015 World Championship finalist Grice’s U.S. tour continued in fine fashion, as he dominated the field to win in 3:52.64, slicing almost two seconds off his pb. That came on the heels of a 1:46.96 800 pb at the Hoka One One meet last weekend. Perhaps Grice’s only complaint is that he didn’t get to face the best of the best at either meet (he was in the third-best heat at Oxy and the B heat here). Perhaps after those results, he’ll be able to get into some better races when he heads back to Europe.

Both high schoolers in the race, Slagowski (4th in 3:59.78, .25 off his pb) and Austin Tamagno (6th in a pb of 4:01.04) acquitted themselves well. Two-time U.S. champ Manzano improved slightly on his last place finish at Oxy last week, finishing fifth in 4:00.27, but he still has a lot of work to do between now and the Olympic Trials.

Quick Take #1: NBCSN did not show this race for reasons beyond comprehension

Rather than show the race, NBCSN aired a live interview with USATF CEO Max Siegel. And as if that weren’t enough, you could see snippets of the race in the background as Lewis Johnson interviewed him. NBCSN, it’s simple: anyone who decided to spend the Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend watching track and field wants to see races, not a pointless interview with Max Siegel. At a bare minimum, at least show the video of the race while the audio of the interview plays on top of it. Not showing the race at all is inexcusable.

One Mile - Men Race 1 1 Grice , Charlie GBR 3:52.64 2 Wolde , Dawit ETH 3:55.80 3 McNamara , Jordan USA 3:58.28 4 Slagowski , Michael USA 3:59.78 5 Manzano , Leonel USA 4:00.27 6 Tamagno , Austin USA 4:01.04 7 Hughes , Matthew CAN 4:01.98 8 Cabral , Donald USA 4:02.29 9 Fleet , Mac USA 4:06.10 10 Sawe , Jonathan Kiplimo KEN 4:08.22 Kemboi , Edward Kibet KEN DNF Wieczorek , Mark USA DNF Casey , Patrick USA DNS

Women’s 100 Hurdles: Keni Harrison Breaks the AR, Gives the WR a Scare and Moves to #2 All-Time

When someone gets on a tear in the high hurdles, they’re usually tough to beat and Harrison has certainly done that in 2016. Her 12.36 opener on April 8 tied her for ninth all-time and since then, Harrison had added victories at the Drake Relays (12.56) and Cayman Invitational (12.42). Conditions were near-perfect for hurdling today with a slight tailwind (0.7) and Harrison responded by running a near-perfect race, taking down Brianna Rollins’ American record by running 12.24 to get the win today.

Harrison got a great start and her form was immaculate over every hurdle as she stormed away from the field. Only Bulgaria’s Yordanka Donkova has ever run faster (she set the world record of 12.21 in 1988). It’s up to you if you want to believe whether a world record by a Bulgarian in the 1980s is legitimate.

QT #1: A truly amazing run for Harrison, but she’s still not a lock for the U.S. Olympic team

If we were to pick a favorite for gold in Rio right now in the women’s hurdles, it would definitely be Harrison, but to even make it out of the U.S. trials will still be a challenge. Remember, last year Sharika Nelvis ran 12.34 (then #7 all-time) in the prelims at USAs and came within .01 of missing out on the team entirely. Jasmin Stowers, who was setting the world on fire early in 2015 (running 12.35 in Doha last may, which was then #7 all-time), was only 5th in the final at USAs. When one hit hurdle could be the difference between a U.S. championship and staying home for the summer, it doesn’t take much for a favorite like Harrison to be upset.

100 Metres Hurdles - Women Wind: +0.7 m/s Pts 1 Harrison , Kendra USA 12.24 10 2 Rollins , Brianna USA 12.53 6 3 Stowers , Jasmin USA 12.55 4 4 Ali , Nia USA 12.72 3 5 Nelvis , Sharika USA 12.82 2 6 Talay , Alina BLR 12.85 1 7 Porter , Tiffany GBR 12.90 8 Harper Nelson , Dawn USA 13.01

More coming below. Flash recaps.

Women’s 200: Tori Bowie Gets a Big PB, Takes Down Dafne Schippers in 21.99

World champ Schippers got off to a good start, but coming off the turn it was Bowie in the lead just ahead of world silver medallist Elaine Thompson of Jamaica. Schippers, to their outside, tried her best to run them down and wound up getting Thompson before the line, but Bowie was too good, getting the victory in 21.99. A friendly +1.9 wind helped shed .19 of a second from her personal best as Bowie set a new world leader.

Bowie was extremely pleased with the victory, telling Lewis Johnson afterwards that her coach was “sick and tired of seeing me run 22 seconds.”

200 Metres - Women Wind: +1.9 m/s Pts 1 Bowie , Tori USA 21.99 10 2 Schippers , Dafne NED 22.11 6 3 Thompson , Elaine JAM 22.16 4 4 Prandini , Jenna USA 22.61 3 5 Atkins , Joanna USA 22.62 2 6 Whitney , Kaylin USA 23.17 1 7 Duncan , Kimberlyn USA 23.20

This may not have been the fastest women’s steeplechase ever, but it was the greatest.

Kenyan-born Ruth Jebet of Bahrain became the second woman to crack the 9:00 barrier, running 8:59.97, just holding off a furious challenge on the final lap by world champ Hyvin Kiyeng, who was 2nd just .04 back in 9:00:01. American Emma Coburn broke the American record in third in 9:10.76.

Shalaya Kipp rabbited this one until 5 laps to go and then Ruth Jebet did just what she did in Shanghai: she took the lead and pushed the pace. In Shanghai, Jebet kept the lead until she fell apart the final lap, falling on the homestretch but still finishing second in 9:15.98.

Here Jebet was going even faster than she was in Shanghai as she was on world record pace. She started to slow a little and after roughly a 73-second penultimate lap, Jebet had 3.5 seconds on Kiyeng in second and needed roughly a 68-second final lap to get the 8:58.81 world record of Russia’s Gulnara Samitova-Galkina.

The chase was on, Jebet for the world record and Kiyeng for the win. Jebet’s hurdle form is not the best, and though she held up well here, Kiyeng was closing like a rocket. After the final barrier, Jebet still led but Kiyeng was closing. Jebet just managed to beat her to the line. Another two meters and the win would have been Kiyeng’s. However the race is 3000m long, not 3002.

Jebet rested her head on a hurdle just past the finish and then thrust her hands into the air to celebrate her first Diamond League win and the second sub-9:00 clocking ever. Her bravery was rewarded here. Kiyeng just missed getting the win and the sub-9:00 as the clock showed 9:00.01 for her.

Coburn moved up well for 3rd and her 9:10.76 was not only an American record (Jenny Simpson held the old mark of 9:12.50) but the the fastest ever run by an American (Coburn ran 9:11.42 in Glasgow in 2014 but did not take a drug test afterwards, so it could not be ratified as an AR).

QT #1: What a Steeple

A sub-9:00 in a super competitive race. You can’t do better than that. Jebet and Kiyeng are pushing each other and the event to a new level this year.

QT #2: AR for Coburn

The American record is officially Emma Coburn’s. Not only did Coburn run fast here, she did it in her first steeple of the year. She said to NBC, “I feel like I’m going to cry. I’m so happy…I really had an interrupted fall and winter with injury, so to come out here and set the American record in my first steeple is just something I could not have hoped for.”

She told LRC after that her coach though sub 9:20 would be a good performance but that she got out there and felt great. “I felt really good. I felt I could have gone another lap,”

If World Indoor champ Boris Berian was distracted at all after being served a lawsuit by Nike last week, he didn’t show it. Berian ran a superb race to beat a solid field in 1:44.20 to earn his first-ever DL victory.

Berian tried to get out into second behind rabbit Harun Abda during the first 200 meters, but Kenya’s Ferguson Rotich, who won in Shanghai two weeks ago, beat him to the punch. Instead, Berian merely waited until the home straight to move into the lead, and he passed 400 in front in 50.4 seconds with Rotich in second.

With 300 to go, 2013 world champ Mo Aman moved into second. Adam Kszczot, who was extremely impressive indoors, was toward the back of the field and had to drift out into lane three on the backstretch to start moving up.

Coming into the home stretch, Berian still led with Aman second; Kszczot, with great effort, had managed to move up into third. Berian remained a step or two ahead of Aman until the final 40 meters, when he began to open a gap, powerfully striding to victory in 1:44.20. Rotich, moved up well to pass Aman for second in the final meters but was never close to threatening Berian in the home straight. Kszczot, who had spent a lot of energy getting in position to kick at the end of the race, did not have anything left to challenge for the victory over the final 100.

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Drew Hunter at start

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