by Larry EderThe 2020 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix was held on January 25, 2020 at the Reggie Lewis Center, the home of the NBindoor since its beginning some 25 years ago. I have missed the meet one time, in 2018, due to a crazy flight schedule from the Middle East. Now, I fly all night from Dubai, get to Boston a few hours before the meet. The meet is that good.
Elle Purrier gave meet sponsor a big win, just a bit of a surprise, photo by Mike Deering / The Shoe Addicts
This was one of the finest meets that I have ever seen, and I come back here each year out of respect to the team that puts on the event. Mark Wetmore, CEO of Global Athletics & Marketing, and his amazing team not only put the meet together, but, have to have the meet taken down as there is always a big high school meet the very next day. The Reggie Lewis Center is a sanctuary of sport, and puts on 70-80 indoor track meets, and daily high school workouts abound.
We did a podcast on the meet already, and we hope that you listen to it. What follows is my top six deep thoughts on the meet! Thanks to Mark Wetmore, Matt McCarron and Sandra Nel for their kind assistance.
1. Most impressive future: Cruz Culpepper took the Junior Boy’s Mile in 4:11.44. But look at how he controlled the race! 66.09 for a 400 m split. At the 800m in 2:12.19 (a 65.26 split), the pack was on 4:24 pace, which would have been, well, ho-hum. Then, Cruz gently showed a hint of his speed, going 63.12 for the third 400m, hitting 1200m in 3:15.30. Then, Cruz took off, using a 56.14 final 400m, putting 3 seconds between Culpepper and Will Coogan, who ran 4:14.93 for second. Cruz ran with the experience of a veteran racer. His parents, mother is Shayne Culpepper, and father is Alan Culpepper, both Olympians, both talented athletes, obviously influenced this young athletes’ development. This guy could go the whole way.
Cruz Culpepper won the Boys Junior mile negative splitting and cruising a 56.2 last 400m to win in 4:11.44. His first 800m was 2:12! His folks are Shayne and Alan Culpepper. at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, , #nbigp, @gamupdates, pic.twitter.com/AvkQ8GBIaz
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
2. Biggest upset: Elle Purrrier takes the two mile. Emma Coburn is an WC gold medalist and WC silver medalist in the steeplechase. She has also won the Olympic silver medal in the steeplechase. Her outdoor racing is her focus. She comes to Boston to test herself and to support her sponsor, New Balance. ” I had not run a 2 mile since high school, and I think I dropped out of it.” noted Emma Coburn in the presser. Emma Coburn was hoping for a fast time in the 2 mile, as were Dominique Scott and Elle Purrier. A fatigued Emma Coburn (third, 9:32.81) was passed first by Elle Purrier, who took the win (9:29.17 PB) and Dominique Scott in second (9:31.98 PB). Emma was expected to win, but Elle Purrier, has one of the most dangerous final furlongs in the business.
Elle Purrier, in middle of women’s 2 mile, at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, @nbindoorgpr, #nbigp, #newbalance, @gamupdates pic.twitter.com/vTiMEICmg5
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
3. Most entertaining: Two tough middle distance runners, Hoppel and Wightman, entertain in the 1000m. Jake Wightman is one of GBR’s most promising 1,500m men, with bronze medals in European Outdoors (2018), and Commonwealth Games (2018), with 5th in London 2017 WC and 6th in Birmingham WIC. He has wheels, and still loves the 800m. Bryce Hoppel is the NCAA champion 2019, and had 18 meet winning streak, then, in Doha, had fastest final 150 in the men’s 800m final, taking 4th.
In Boston, the 1000m is a roller derby race. There is no way in hell this race would not be close. Hazam Miawad, the pacer took the field through 200m in 26.59, 400m in 53.87 and 600m in 1:22.42. On his back was Bryce Hoppell (USA), then Jake Wightman, (GBR), then Saul Ordonez (ESP). Saul Ordonez battled to the 800m, which Wightman hit 1:49.76. Ordonez awas in second (1:50.05) and Hoppell was a close third in 1:50.32.
Jake Wightman was not giving this race up and looked to be the winner until the final 70 meters. Wightman had gone 26.81 in the fourth 200m, and was holding on for dear life in the final 200m (27.76). Bryce Hoppell is fascinating, as he did not give up, going 27.10 in the last 200m, going by Jake Wightman, with Hoppell going a PB of 2:17.41 PB with Jake Wightman setting an NR in 2:17.52.
A very proud athlete manager, Mark Wetmore, CEO of Global Athletics, after seeing Hoppell, Wightman and Brazier running that night, told this writer, ” you know, Global Athletics has some pretty good 800m runners.” I could only smile.
Bryce Hoppel and Jake Wightman battled to the final steps in the 1000m, 2:17.41 PB to 2:17.51 NR, at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, @nbindoorgpr, #nbigp, #newbalance, @gamupdates, @britathletics, @mwgam, pic.twitter.com/0O7BScCPFM
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
4. Close finish: Jessica Hull takes Konstanze Klosterhalfen in Women’s 1,500m. This race was fast and furious. Seven women set PBs in the 1500m field. Konstanze Klosterhalfen, 2019 Doha 5000m bronze medalist was pushing the pace from the 800m point. Right behind her, head bobbing, was Aussie Jessie Hull, who had won the NCAA 1,500 in June 2019, and run an outdoor PB of 4:01.80 finishing 8th in semifinal 2 in Doha this past October 3.
Lindsday Butterworth took the field through the 400m in 65.70 with Konstanze taking the lead at 800m in 2:12.84 and 1200m in 3:16.40. Klosterhalfen pushed and Hull just kept her head down, and stayed put. Jessica Hull knows how to race. She stayed close to Klosterhalfen, and sensing a chance, moved on the final straight, taking the win in a PB of 4:04.14 to Klosterhalfen’s 4:04.38.
What was cool about the race? As the fans in the Reggie began to stand up, sensing something very special, Jessica Hull began to push by and Klosterhalfen did not give up, not a centimeter, as Hull took her win and PB.
An ebullient Jessica Hull takes the Women’s 1,500m in a nice upset, setting PB of 4:04.14, an Aussie National record, at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, @nbindoorgpr, #nbigp, #newbalance, @gamupdates pic.twitter.com/Cv07Og4LSs
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
5. The WOW event of the night: Donavan Brazier takes the 600m. Donavan Brazier is one of my favorites. The self revelation that he has had, in winning the 800m in Doha, and now being a WC and AR holder, Donavan seems relaxed. That 600m scared the hell out of me. Hitting the 200m in 24.52 and the 400m in 49.62, Donavan blazed away. About 500m in, rhe looked back, knowing that he was leading. He let up on the gas a bit, and when he hit the finish in 1:14.39, the second fastest time in indoor History. He did this ho-hum look. Afterwards he said, ” anytime I race, I need to be able to run 1:44 or better.” He also hinted at a little interest in Mr. Rudisha’s WR.
How good is Donavan Brazier? He’s not good, he’s amazing. He has more leg speed that anyone active, and his racing is getting so much better. His level of fitness is fantastic for February, and under the watchful eye of Pete Julian, he will develop just fine in 2020.
After running the 2nd fastest 600m ever, @donavanbrazier was non plused, he told us that he let up a bit, with a 1:14.39? Darn! at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, @nbindoorgpr, #nbigp, #newbalance, @gamupdates, @mwgam, pic.twitter.com/nRfdhLlK9i
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
6. The Crowdpleaser: The Tommy Leonard Men’s Mile. Chris O’Hare battles Nick Willis in a tactical yet pleasing mile. The field was formidable. And yet, no one wanted to lead. Chris O’Hare bronze medalist in the Euro 1,500m (2014), and Euro Indoor (2015) 1,500m, plus a silver in the Euro 3000m indoor (2019). Chris O’Hare is one of that handful of guys who can be competitive in any mile race he runs. Then, there is Nick Willis. Two time Olympic medalist, one of finest finishers in the sport, having gone sub 4 minutes for 18 straight years (only John Walker is his equal). Watching Willis in the hunt is a thing of beauty. O’Hare pushed the pace and got a few steps on the Kiwi, but Willis came back, having hit the half in 2:04, the guys ran a 1:55, with O’Hare getting the win in 3:59.62 to 3:59.89.
Chris O’Hare is coming along in 2020. He is tough and he has committed his young family to the global challenges that is a career in athletes. His kick reminds me of Steve Ovett, who I believe, won a few major races.
I felt bad for Nick Willis, who was about to puke for minutes, and patiently followed up with me on an interview. Nick Willis is one of the finest athletes in our sport, he is also a good man. I love watching him with his wife, and his two sons, who are growing up on the track.
I thank Nick Willis for his patience and Sandra Nel for trying to let Nick breathe again before he spoke.
Chris O’Hare battles Nick Willis, @chrisohare1500 taking the win in 3:59.62 in the Tommy Leonard Memorial Mile, at the NB Indoor GP, January 25, 2020, photo by Mike Deering/ #theshoeaddicts, @nbindoorgpr, #nbigp, #newbalance, @gamupdates, @mwgam, pic.twitter.com/WdzPnKSYQ0
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) January 31, 2020
