by Alfonz Juck
Start of the Kim McDonald 10,000m, May 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net
5 World leads
PALO ALTO (USA, May 1): The usual long distance paradise at Payton Jordan Invitational brought also this year 5 World leading marks, plenty of Olympic standards, also some national records and many personal bests. On the men side Bernard Lagat debuted in the 10 000 m with big masters World record 27:49.35 over Japanese Suguru Osako 27:50.27 and two Eritreans with personal bests Futsum Zienasellasie 27:52.70 and Abraham Habte Ghebrezghi 27:53.38. Sixth Luis Fernando Ostos national record for Peru 27:54.80. Canadian Matt Hugues clocked steeple World lead 8:22.31 ahead of Kenyan Stanley Kebenei 8:22.85 PB. Kenyan 5000 m winner was Shadrack Kipchirchir 13:18.52 ahead of Briton Andrew Butchart 13:18.96 PB, David Torrence 13:19.42 and Australian Sam McEntee 13:20.72 life-time best. Also Kenyan Eliud Rutto won the 800 m 1:46.24 and Izaic Yorks 1500 m in 3:37.74 PB over European Champion Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway 3:38.33 and US steeple record holder Evan Jager 3:38.67. Australian Linden Hall surprised with 1500 m World lead 4:04.47 (also PB) ahead of Canadian Gabriela Stafford 4:07.91. Kenyan World leads in 5 and 10 km. Sally Kipyego 14:58.60 followed by personal bests by other runners within top five. Nicole Tully 15:04.08, Dutch Maureen Koster 15:07.20 and Brits Laura Whittle 15:08.57 with Eilish McColgan 15:09.94. Irene Cheptai posted 31:15.38 in the 10 000 m ahead of Caroline Chepkoech 31:16.38, Japanese Ayuko Suzuki 31:18.16, Marielle Halla 31:37.45 and Norway´s Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal 31:37.91. For all in top 5 life-time bests, in total 18 runners went sub 32 minutes. Among them Greek record 31:46.85 by Alexi Pappas as 11th and Burundi record 31:57.99 by Diane Nukuri as 16th. Last WL in women steeple by Courtney Frerichs who improved her personal best to 9.29.31. In the 800 m Chrishuna Williams 2:00.58 PB over French Justine Fedronic 2:00.64 and Maggie Vessey 2:00.82. Talented junior Alexa Efraimson was 6th 2:01.64. Daye Shon Robinson won the 400 m in 51.42 and was second in 22.65 PB over the 200 m. Here the winner Ashley Henderson 22.64 (+1.0) personal best.
