by Alfonz Juck
Morris 493 WL, Okolo 35.74 WL
HOUSTON (USA, Jul 23): Second and final American Track League meet here saw Sandi Morris in superb pole vault shape. In only her second meet since Ostrava injury she cleared 435, 450, 460, 470 in first, then needed two attempts at 480 and cleared World leading with US all-time outdoor best 493 in first try. Morris ended with three attempts at world record height of 507. Only Yelena Isinbayeva in 7 outdoor competitions jumped ever higher than 493.
Another World lead in women 300 m as Courtney Okolo clocked 35.74, also 7th fastest ever ahead of Kendall Baisden 36.39. Canadian champion Andre De Grasse win 10.02 (-0.3) beat over 100 m Asafa Powell 10.08 (he was faster in heats 10.05 +0.1), third Dexter Lee 10.14 PB. Vernon Norwood won the 400 m in 45.19, in this race Ashton Eaton was 5th in 45.63, he also managed 60.46 as 7th in javelin, both results 2016 bests for him. Cyrus Hostetler topped the event with 80.84. In expected 1000 m Clayton Murphy in 2:20.12 beat Matt Centrowitz 2:20.20.
Jenna Prandinin also showed top sprinting shape with 11.21 (+0.1) and 22.42 (+0.1) wins, here second Phyllis Francis (Rio bound at 400 m) 22.50 PB. In women hurdles Sharika Nelvis got 12.83 (-0.3) over Christina Manning 12.88, World champion Danielle Williams 12.89 and heptathlon star Brianne Theisen-Eaton 13.04. From rest of the events to note Wallace Spearmon 20.31 (+0.3) in the 200 m, Jamaican Andrew Riley 13.47 (-0.3) hurdles, also Jeshua Anderson 49.48 in the 400 m hurdles and Canadian Chanice Taylor-Chase women 400 m hurdles 55.55. The 800 m winner Ajee Wilson clocked 1:59.98 ahead of Jamaican Natoya Goule 2:00.33.
