by Alfonz Juck
Molly Huddle wins 4th 10,000m in row, June 20, 2018, photo by PhotoRun.net
Lopez Lomong wins first 10,000m title, USATF Outdoors, June 21, 2018, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mike Rodgers runs 9.89 in prelims, June 21, 2018, photo by PhotoRun.netRodgers WL in heats
DES MOINES (USA, Jun 21): Molly Huddle won her fourth successive 10,000m title on the first day of the USATF Championships in 31:52.32 ahead of Marielle Hall in 31:56.68 while former 1500m winner Lopez Lomong won a tactical men’s 10,000m title in 28:58.38 ahead of Shadrack Kipchirchir in 28:59.67. At the age of 33, Mike Rodgers set a world lead of 9.89 in the 100m heats with Isiah Young (9.93) and Cameron Burrell (9.93) also breaking the sub-10 barrier in legal wind conditions while Noah Lyles set a wind-aided 9.92 in the fourth heat. Ashley Henderson (10.91) and Jenna Prandini (10.95) set wind-assisted sub-11 clockings in the women’s 100m heats followed by Aleia Hobbs (10.97) and Dezerea Bryant (10.99) whose times were both wind legal. Notable non-qualifiers included Kimberlyn Duncan (11.34), Kaylin Whitney (11.37) and Jeneba Tarmoh (11.40). Valarie Allmann won the women’s discus title with 63.55m from Maggie Ewen (61.13m) and Kara Winger won the javelin with 62.88m, winning by more than six metres. Keturah Orji set a meeting record of 14.59m to win the triple jump from Tori Franklin’s 14.52m. Zach Ziemek leads the first day of the decathlon with 4169 points.
RunBlogRun opines: Molly Huddle is one of the toughest American distance runners, 27 titles, 14 championship races over 25 laps, Huddle is a distance goddess. Her final three laps, 72, 71, 64.5, with a 2:13.52 last 800 meters pushed all but Marielle Hall, who final succumbed on the last lap. Excellent race by Ms.Huddle. Lopez Lomong use his 1,500m speed (titles in 2008, 2009) and won his first 10,000m. Lopez modestly noted, ” I am still learning about the 10,000m”, after he ran a 100 meter final sprint that put one second between Lopez and Shadrack Kipchirchir in final meters.
