by Larry EderThe meet truly got going with the Reeebok Girls Mile, and then, huge upset in the Elite Women’s Mile. Jenn Stuczynski cleared 14-9 on first attempt, 15-1 took two attempts and 15-9, she did not clear on attempt one. The crowd was all up on its feet with the Youth club relay when this two foot tall kid, running a better leg than some national teams, held off his pursuers, all several feet taller! The wunderkid was seven year old Davonte Burnett! USATF should get that kid a scholarship NOW!
Carolina Kluft of Sweden is warming up for the long jump!
It is all about one thing-the close races!
Reebok Girls One Mile Run
Smith flies through the field!
This race featured the best prep girl milers from the East coast and Canada. Hitting the quarter in 72, the half mile in 2:27, the crowd stayed close. Then, the race got interesting. Jessica Parry bolted to the lead, taking five meters on the field, with Jillian Smith following closely. Parry and Smith hit the one lap to go at 4:16 an Jillian Smith of Manahawkin, New Jersey took off, and built a five second lead over the last lap! Jillian Smith took first in a national leading mark of 4:48.83, with Jesica Parry of London, Ontario, Canada in second with a fine time of 4:53:05. In third, Mary Kate Champagne ran 4:55.57-Champagne is from Plattsburg, NY. In fourth, Kelly Maguire of Georgetown, MA ran 4:56.02.
And the sub five minute milers kept on coming! In fifth, Bridget Dahlberg of Newton South, MA ran 4:58.67 and in sixth, Sarah McCurdy of Bay Shore, NY ran 4:58.83!
Women’s One Mile Run
Deatherage Stuns Field! Wisconsin Residents win two races? Sign of the Apocalypse?
In a totally loaded mile, Jenelle Deatherage, who is completing her residency in nursing, ran the single best race of her life, taking alot of elite milers in the process of winning the RBIG women’s mile.
The pack hit the 400 meters in 66.1, the 800 meters in 2:17.3 and the 1200 in 3:26.6.
Tiffany McWilliams stayed near the front, with Sara Hall, Roisin McGettigan, Liliya Shobukova of Russia in tow.
Jennelle Deatherage and Lauren Fleshman just moved through the pack, and were perfectly positioned with 1200 meters to go. Deatherage took the lead just before 1200 and never looked back. Her last lap showed great strength for this early in the season and her 4:32.95 held on for the win. Lauren Fleshman made a wild sprint for the finish, ” And I just ran out of speed, ” noted Fleshman after the race, running a fine 4:33.46. In third, Roisin McGettingan of Ireland ran 4:33.96, with the world leading miler, Liliya Shobukhova, relegated to fourth in 4:35.54. Sara Hall of the US was fifth in 4:35.62, with Amy Mortimer, who was shadowing the leaders most of the race, finished sixth in 4:35.72.
Jen Toomey, a local favorite, who has been crushed by injuries for several years, finished eighth in 4:36.01, looking healthy, just not in race shape. Toomey is one of the most talentet women middle distance runners of her era, having won the 800meters and 1,500 meters at the US Indoor here in 2004, a double never done before.
In the end, it was Jennelle Deatherage’s night, and a nice elite win for her sponsor, Reebok. The women’s 1,500 meters team for Beijing, if this event is any indication, will be fraught with surprises.
Men’s 800 meters
Robinson Holds off Symmonds by the barest of margins!
This race was about one thing. The win. Khadevis Robinson and Nick Symmonds are the two best 800 meters runners in the country right now and they know it. Hitting the 400 meters in 57.93, Khadevis ran a 51 second last 400 meters to hold off Symmonds late, late charge.
Symmonds came off the final turn trying to grab the race from Robinson, but he would have nothing of it! Robinson won with a time of 1:50.92, with Symmonds in second in 1:51.16 and Said Ahmed in third in 1:51.57. Sam Burley, a talented, if inconsistent middle distance runner, took fourth, after having spent way too much time on the back of the pack and giving too much real estate away early for him to make a real charge at the leaders.
And Rich Kenah, one of the meet directors and 1997 World Champion bronze medalist at 800 meters continues to retain the meet record at the RBIG.
Women’s 3000 meters
Tirunesh Dibaba runs lukewarm 3k
We are spoilt at the RBIG. In her first race since the Osaka World Championships, Tirunesh Dibaba ran an excellent 8:33.37 for 3,000 meters. Ejegayehu Dibaba, the sister of Tirunesh, ran 8:36.59 and Megan Metcalfe of Canada ran 8:52.85 for third! Christin Wurth-Thomas of the US, who moved up from her normal 1,500 meter distance, took fourth in 8:54.97. Sally Kipyego, the NCAA XC champ, ran 9:05.45 for fourth.
The problem was that Tirunesh has always run near world records or world records here! And this year, she ran a human race, and looked to clutch her side real fast, with one lap to go.
Women’s Pole Vault
Stuczynski wins, no hurts
Jenn Stuczynski passed through 4.40 m, then cleared 4.50 on her first, 4.60m on her second, pass at 4.70 and missed three times a new American record of 4.82. Her winning height of 15-01.00 or 4.60 meterswon by seven inches!
In second was Jillian Schwartz in 4.40m or 14-05.25 and third was Lacy Jansen, also in 14-05.25.
After her competition, Jenn said, ” I am healthy and I am training to compete. I feel good. ”
Next update in half hour.
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