by Alfonz Juck
EUGENE (USA, May 25): Great edition of Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field. Women distances produced expected 10 000 m World record (not by Tsegay), and superb 800, 1500, 5000 and Steeple marks. Except for WR, there are also 7 World leads. British wins by Kerr and Hodkingson made them favorites for coming championships. Without Crouser, still 23 m in shot. Surprise wins for Samba-Mayela and Grove. Richardson, Colemand, and Bednarek showed US sprint domination.
Short reviews by event
Men
100m: Coleman defended his position after the usual strong first part in 9.95 (+1.2), but Omanyala closed at 9.98.
200 m: WL holder Bednarek ruled 19.89 (+1.8), Lindsey clear second 20.09.
Bowerman Mile: The top highlight was Kerr’s superb WL, NR 3:45.34 to 3:45.60, which saw Kerr beat Jakob. Kerr is the sixth-best performer and the second-best European. Nuguse 3:46.22 third over 22 World champ Wightman 3:47.83.
10,000m (non-DL): Mateiko, in 26:50.81 PB/WL, topped the Kenyan Olympic Trials ahead of Kipkorir (26:50.94 PB) in a race full of personal bests.
110mh: World champ Holloway another WL 13.03 ahead of Roberts 13.13 and Crittenden 13.16.
400mH: Costarican winner Drummond 48.56 followed by Estonian Magi 48.85.
SP: Kovacs offered the first outdoor 23 m efforts with 23.03 and 23.13 WL. Otterdahl 22.16 and Nigerian record for Enekwechi 21.91.
Women
100m: Sha´Carri was at her best, winning with 10.83 (+1.5), followed by Alfred with 10.93 and DAS with 10.98. Olympic winner Elaine placed only 9th with 11.30.
800 m: Hodgkinson displayed a great display of shape, destroying the field in the last curve with 1:55.78 WL, followed by Moraa at 1:56.71 and Reekie at 1:57.45.
1500 m: Welteji was not that far from a sub-3:50 pace and, in the end, won with 3:53.75. The Hull Oceanian record is 3:55.97, with St. Pierre 3:56.00 and Muir 3:56.35.
5000 m: Gebreselama offered in Ethiopian domination 14:18.76 WL might be good for Olympic selection. 2nd Taye 14:18.92 and third Freweyni Hailu 14:20.61. Haylom U20 WR 14:23.71 and Hassan only 7th 14:34.38,
10,000m (non-DL): World Record was smashed, B.Chebet took the lead with three laps remaining and became the first woman under 29 mins (28:54.14), ahead of Tsegay (29:05.92, third all-time), and Kenya’s Olympic candidates Rengeruk (29:26.89) and Kipkemboi (29:27.59), personal bests for all, deeper in the field ninth Sarah Chelangat with NR for Uganda (30:24.04). Splits: 3000m/8:42.19, 5000m/14:31.08, and last lap for Chebet in 63.7.
100mh: The French record holder, Samba-Mayela, was a surprise winner, 12.52 (-0.9, equaling her NR) ahead of JCQ 12.54 and fast starter Marshall 12.55. Indoor WR holder Charlton was fourth, 12.63, and World champ Williams was sixth, 12.65.
Steeple: Olympic winner Chemutai was back with 8:55.09 NR and WL and 6th best ever performer, Chepkoech brave 2nd 8:56.51. Yavi 9th, World champ Jeruto 10th.
PV: Surprise winner Grove 463 over Olympic winner Moon 453 (passed 453 and tried at 473). Morris was a non-starter.
TJ: In the NACAC field, Cuban Perez’s 14.73 (+2.1, legal 14.56) was the best score over LaFond’s 14.62 in the last round and Ricketts’s 14.55.
DT: Olympic winner Allman 67.36 in the last round ahead of Cuban Perez, who attacked in the last round 67.25.
HT (non-DL): Rogers was at her best, with 77.76 DLR/MR in the final series. Price (76.74) kept the top US position ahead of Andersen (76.34).
