Ben True, BAA 5k, April 19, 2014, photo by PhotoRun.net
Superb running with 4 World leads
PALO ALTO (USA, May 4): In wonderfully cool and dry conditions for distance running, athletes achieved fast times –including four world leads– at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford University. Informs RRW. In the much-anticipated men’s 5000m, former Dartmouth standout Ben True came away with a narrow victory in a world-leading 13:02.74, a personal best. Hassan Mead finished second in a huge personal best 13:02.80. Lopez Lomong got third in 13:07.95, Chris Derrick fourth in 13:08.18, and steepler record holder Evan Jager fifth in 13:08.63. Also to note 6th Briton Andy Vernon 13:11:50 PB and 9th miler Matt Centrowitz also PB 13:20.06. Seventeen men ran 13:30.00 or faster, by far the most of any race in the world so far this year.
The women’s 5000m played out in a similar fashion. Twenty-one year old Sifan Hassan –who represented Ethiopia until last November but now runs for the Netherlands– won an all-out last-lap sprint 14:59.23 WL and national U23 record against another former African, Meraf Bahta of Sweden (originally from Eritrea) 14:59.49 NR. Behind them, both Katie Mackey (15:04.74) and Laura Thweatt (15:04.98) set big personal bests, as did Britain’s Emelia Gorecka in fifth place (15:07.45) and Stanford’s Aisling Cuffe (15:11.13).
Sally Kipyego, Payton Jordan, 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net
In the women’s 10,000m, there were also world-leading mark. Kenya’s Sally Kipyego, also part of the Oregon Track Club Elite, made a largely solo run to win in 30:42.26. American Molly Huddle trailed Kipyego through the entire race, but keyed off of her and clocked a personal best 30:47.59, making her the second-fastest American of all-time behind Shalane Flanagan. Finishing third was former Iowa State star Kenyan Betsy Saina, who also clocked a career best time of 30:57.30.
Molly Huddle, photo by PhotoRun.net
The other world-leading time came in the men’s steeplechase, where Olympian Billy Nelson –now sporting a full beard– clocked 8:28.49.
In the men’s 10 000 m Mexican Olympian Juan Luis Barrios, who dusted the field in the last 200 meters won in 27:34.40. Canadian Olympian Cam Levins got second (27:36.00), followed by Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (27:36.40 PB). Italian Daniele Meucci ended up fourth in 27:36.53 and last under 27:40 was Kenyan Shadrack Kipchirchir 27:36.79 PB.
In other middle and long distance events, Middle Tennessee State’s Kenyan Eliud Rutto recorded the fastest time in the men’s 800 m 1:45.37 PB. Canada’s Karine Belleau-Beliveau had the fastest women’s time in the two-lap race: 2:01.46.
The top sections of the 1500m were won by Kate Grace in 4:07.35 and Riley Masters in 3:38.42 ahead of European champion Henrik Ingebrigtsen 3:38.53.
Shalaya Kipp of the University of Colorado won the women’s steeplechase in 9:39.12.
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Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."
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