A Record-Breaking Saturday Of Track & Field Action

Miles Batty (©Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE)

The headline says it all. I’ll do my best to recap some of the best action from around the country from this epic Saturday, February 11.

Millrose Games: (results)

• Bernard Lagat broke Galen Rupp’s 5000 meter American record, running 13:07.15 to take over four seconds off the existing mark. On Lagat’s heels was Arizona’s Lawi Lalang who ran 13:08.28 and crushed Rupp’s collegiate record by nearly ten seconds. Lalang’s Wildcat teammate Stephen Sambu also finished under the existing NCAA record in 13:13.74. Chris Derrick of Stanford ran 13:19.58, an Olympic ‘A’ standard and personal best by ten seconds.
• In the same race, high schooler Edward Cheserek ran 13:57.04 to take down the prep national record previous held by Lukas Verzbicas.
• Matt Centrowitz won the Wanamaker Mile in his professional mile debut in an Armory record 3:53.92. Miles Batty of BYU was close behind in 3:54.54, breaking German Fernandez’s collegiate record of 3:55.02. Five other collegiates broke the four minute barrier.
• World champion Jenny Simpson held off a challenge from Shannon Rowbury in the 1500 meters, 4:07.27 to 4:07.66.
• Sanya Richards-Ross dominated in her first major competition of 2012 by running 50.89 seconds in the 400 meters, about a second ahead of Natasha Hastings.

USA Track & Field Classic: (results)

• While his American and collegiate records at 5k were broken in New York City, Rupp exacted some revenge by breaking Lagat’s two mile American record in a time of 8:09.72. Rabbit Craig Miller led Rupp through half-way in about 4:07, forcing the Oregon grad to close his final 1600 meters in 4:00.92.
• The hyped match-up between Allyson Felix and Veronica Campbell-Brown in the 60 meters was ultimately won by Tianna Madison in 7.02 seconds. Campbell-Brown was second in 7.08 seconds while Felix finished fourth in 7.11 seconds.
• Jill Camarena-Williams broke her own American record in the shot put with a throw of 65 feet, 3 ¼ inches (19.89 meters).
• In her first race in nearly four years, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes finished sixth in the women’s 60 meter hurdles in 8.34 seconds. Ginnie Crawford won the race in a time of 7.97 seconds.
• Moroccan countrywomen Siham Hilali and Btissam Lakhouad went one-two in the 1500 meters in 4:09.36 and 4:09.72, respectively. American Brenda Martinez continued her strong indoor season with a third place finish after leading the majority of the race.
• Silas Kiplagat won the men’s mile in 3:52.63 ahead of fellow Kenyan Caleb Ndiku, the New Balance 3k winner from a week ago.

Husky Classic: (results)

• Washington sophomore Katie Flood doubled back from her 8:55 3k two weeks ago with a 4:28.48 mile, the fourth fastest time in NCAA history, to finish second to Sally Kipyego. She is now the NCAA leader in both the mile and 3000 meters. Three other collegiates – Anne Kesselring of Oregon, Cory McGee of Florida and Morgane Gay of Virginia – all hit the NCAA auto standard.
• Ryan Hill of NC State ran 7:43.08 to win the 3000 meters, crushing the Dempsey facility record by four seconds. Northern Arizona’s Diego Estrada was second in 7:44.63.
• Lopez Lomong won the 800 meters in 1:47.87, just one-hundreth of a second ahead of Georgia’s Aaron Evans.
• Peter Callahan of Princeton broke the four minute barrier for the second straight week to win the mile in 3:58.76. Penn State freshman Robby Creese ran 3:59.52 to break four for the first time.
• Kim Conley continued the momentum from a strong fall road racing season as she kicked away from Cal’s Chelsea Reilly and OTC’s Lisa Uhl to win the 3000 meters in a personal best 8:57.62.

Tyson Invitational: (results)

• Five men broke 3:59 in the men’s mile lead by Wisconsin’s Alex Hatz whose 3:58.68 was his first sub-four minute effort.
• New Oklahoma Sooner Riley Masters edged out Maverick Darling of Wisconsin the 3000 meters, 7:54.20 to 7:54.70.

USA Cross Country Championships: (results)

• Sara Hall upset Molly Huddle in a photo finish to win her first U.S. title in the women’s 8k. The victory sets Hall up well to make the Olympic team in the steeplechase or 5000 meters.
• NC State grad Bobby Mack ran away from McMillan Elite’s Aaron Braun to win the men’s 12k. It was also the first American title for Mack.

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