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(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. EUGENE, ORE. (24-Jun) -- On a frenetic night at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field, Cole Hocker and Elle St. Pierre won their events to secure their second Olympic berths, while a chaotic women’s 800 saw a team of newbies book their spots for Paris. The 800 was the final event of the evening at Hayward Field, a showcase for defending Olympic champion Athing Mu. But just as the pack reached the 200-meter mark, with Kristie Schoffield leading, Mu's long legs tangled with Raevyn Rogers's as she moved towards the rail and the New Jersey native fell to the track. By the time she got to her feet she was more than three seconds behind the leaders. Sage Hurta-Klecker had to sidestep the carnage, losing her balance, but staying upright. "I just knew somebody went down, and I was just tunnel vision focused on finishing the race," said reigning national champion Nia Akins who had fallen in the 2021 Olympic Trials. Michaela Rose took control from Schoffield before 400 (57.68) and held the lead as they headed down the backstretch. Just before 600 meters Akins grabbed the lead and steadily pulled away. None of the other women could mount a challenge and the Penn grad won in a personal best of 1:57.36. "I honestly wasn't even thinking," said Akins.  "I just felt it in my spirit to just go for it, and then went. I was like, I hope that works and we were able to pull it off." In the final 100 meters, Allie Wilson and NCAA champion Juliette Whittaker of Stanford battled for the runner-up spot, with Wilson prevailing, 1:58.32 to 1:58.45. Both women got under the Olympic qualifying standard (1:59.30) for the first time. Rose (1:59.32) finished fourth, while Hurta-Klecker (2:00.38) rallied for fifth. Schoffield (2:01.04) finished sixth, ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers (2:01.12) and Kate Grace (2:02.37). Mu jogged the final 200 meters, crossing the line tearfully in 2:19.69. In the men's 1500 final, American-record holder Yared Nuguse used a front-running strategy he believed best suited his strength, pushing the tempo through 400 (56.64) and 800 (1:55.73). Behind him, Hobbs Kessler and Vincent Ciattei established --and protected-- their positions. Nuguse still led at 1200 (2:51.33), but moments later Hocker stormed down the backstretch and jumped to a lead he would not surrender. Hocker’s winning time of 3:30.59 smashed the meet record. Nuguse (3:30.86) and Kessler (3:31.53 PB) took the next two spots on the team.  Ciattei (3:31.78), Nathan Green (3:32.20), Henry Wynne (3:32.94), Joe Waskom (3:33.74) and Elliott Cook (3:33.84) followed, all setting PBs. "I was kinda floating in the outside of lane one, I was comfortable there," said Hocker, a former University of Oregon star who finished sixth in the Tokyo Olympics. "I was like, if this is the pace that we're going, I'm happy being here." He defeated Nuguse for the first time since the 2021 Olympic Trials. "I like to win and I definitely want to be the fastest American at the very least," said Hocker, who will contest the 5000 later in the week. "It just happens that one of the best guys in the world is American. But it feels good to win for sure." Nuguse had no regrets for his tactics, even if he couldn't find the final gear needed to win. "I wanted to run a race that I felt like was my race, and I think just really going out and hammering it was the way to go," said Nuguse, who qualified for the Tokyo Games but had to withdraw at the last minute due to a freak quadricep injury he suffered in Japan. "Today Cole got the better of me, but it just shows how good a team is going to be heading into Paris." Kessler, who competed at the 2021 Trials as a high school phenom, was grateful to fulfill the expectations that had followed him the past three years. "I just felt like ever since I signed pro, this is the race that we were all looking to, [that we] figured I would be developed enough and it was my time to start competing on the world stage," he said. "It was a lot of pressure. I'm really proud of how I managed it. The race was hard, Vince was close, but I'm super happy, super relieved, couldn't wait to get this over with." In the women’s 5000, NCAA standout Parker Valby set an honest early tempo through the 1000 (3:00.23) and 2000 (5:58.89), stringing out the field. By 3000 (8:57.57) the pack was down to six: Valby, Elle St. Pierre, Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer, Rachel Smith and Whittni Morgan.  They were on pace to all get below the Olympic Games qualifying standard of 14:52.00. As the pace steadily picked up, Smith and Morgan drifted back and it was down to a four-woman race for three Olympic spots. Valby still led at 4000 (11:56.14), but less than 200 meters later, with two laps to go, St. Pierre surged to the front, pulling Cranny and Schweizer with her. Cranny unsuccessfully tried to pass St. Pierre on the final backstretch, so she waited until the final 100 meters to try again. The pair ran side by side to the finish until St. Pierre (14:40.34) held on for the win by a mere two hundredths of a second. "I was relying a bit on my 1500-meter speed," said St. Pierre, who returned from a maternity break this season to resume her status as the top American miler. "I knew it was gonna be a sit-and-kick race, so I had confidence going into the last lap that I could be right there for the finish no matter how fast it went." In addition to her 1500/mile dominance, St. Pierre has flexed her distance muscles this year by winning the gold medal in the 3000 at the world indoor championships in March and lowering her 5000 personal best to 14:34.12 in May (making her the fifth fastest American of all time). Given that the 5000 and 1500 are spaced out at the Trials, a double is feasible. "I had a bit of a change of heart, I didn't originally want to (double)," she admitted. "I think it was a great opportunity. I made my first world team in the 5000 in Doha [in 2019] and to be able to do both here is pretty awesome. I didn't want to give up the opportunity. I think it would have been hard to sit home and watch the 5000 go by. There are enough days to recover and I'm just happy to do both." Though Cranny's string of three straight U.S. titles in the event came to an end, she was pleased to be on her second Olympic team. "It was incredible to race against her," she said of St. Pierre. "We've been watching her run so fast earlier this year, and just the season she's been having, getting the gold medal indoors I was excited to race her because she’s definitely elevating women’s distance running." Schweizer (14:45.12) held on to the third spot on the team, while Valby was rewarded for her hard work with a personal best (14:51.44). Significantly, she dipped under the Olympic qualifying time (14:52.00). Should any of the top three qualify in another event over the second weekend of the Trials, a spot in the 5000 could open up. The women’s 3000-meter steeplechase prelims, also held on Monday, were without 10-time national champion Emma Coburn and Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs, who suffered injuries earlier in the year. In their absence, all the key contenders in a well-matched field moved on to Thursday's final. Kaylee Mitchell won the first heat in 9:29.54, followed by 2021 Olympian Valerie Constien (9:29.61) and Courtney Wayment (9:29.66). Gabbi Jennings (9:23.88) took the second section, followed by Marisa Howard (9:26.38) and Olivia Markezich (9:26.67). Defending U.S. champion Krissy Gear finished sixth after fading mid-race, but grabbed one of the time qualifiers (9:30.92). PHOTO: Cole Hocker winning the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m in a Trials record 3:30.59 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. EUGENE, ORE. (21-Jun) -– Grant Fisher surged to the front with less than three laps to go to decisively break open the men's 10,000 meters on the first night of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field. The American record holder was followed across the line at Hayward Field by Woody Kincaid and Nico Young, who will join him in Paris. It was an honest race from the start with Conner Mantz --already on the Olympic team in the marathon-- setting the tempo. He was followed by a single file procession of Young, Fisher, Kincaid, Paul Chelimo and Andrew Colley.  In the early laps, Mantz was towing the field at a sub-27:00 pace. Chelimo briefly went to the lead after 4200 meters, but Mantz surged ahead half a lap later. By halfway the pace had slowed enough to allow the main chase pack of Sam Chelanga, Drew Hunter, Casey Clinger and Ryan Ford to latch onto back of the lead group. Chelanga, 38, went to the lead at 6600 meters and opened up a small gap, but a kilometer later Young was up front. Chelimo briefly took control with three laps to go, but his challenge was short lived. With two and a half laps remaining, Fisher made his move and the field was unable to respond. As the pack broke apart, Kincaid, Young and Hunter remained in the hunt for the final two roster spots. Hunter, who does not have the Olympic qualifying standard, was the odd man out in the final half lap. Fisher won in 27:49.47, well clear of a fast-closing Kincaid (27:50.74) and Young (27:52.40). Hunter, the former high school record holder in the indoor mile, was fourth in 27:53.35, followed by Clinger (27:59.71) and Mantz (28:00.90). Chelimo, a two-time Olympic medalist in the 5000, faded badly and came home 10th in 28:18.31. "This definitely is validation," Fisher said, referring to his decision to part ways with the Bowerman Track Club last year and reunite with his former high school coach, Mike Scannell. "When I mapped out the year with my coach, we had an indoor plan, we had an outdoor plan, the overarching goal was to get on the team." At last year's USA championships, Fisher was fighting an injury and finished fourth, one spot off making the team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. "I missed the team last year, super disappointing to watch Budapest from the couch. So to be back on the team feels really good. We targeted this race not as a qualifier, but I wanted to win. And I wanted to do it dominantly, and I wanted to show myself that I'm still the best guy in the country." He will also attempt to make the team in the 5000 meters when that event begins next week. Kincaid said he missed about 10 days of training in late April with an injury, so wasn't sure what to expect in this race. "Nobody likes coming into the Olympic Trials having not raced in three months," he said. "Even at 31 I thought I would be more confident coming in, but nope, still nervous." Still, he knew his closing speed was his not-so-secret-weapon (he closed in 55.8 seconds). "I would like to have not relied on the kick, but that's what it comes down to when you're trying to make an Olympic team," said Kincaid, the 2021 Trials champion. "When it got to 200 to go and I saw out of the corner of my eye on the screen who was still with me I was like, it's time to burn it." Young, who like Kincaid is coached by Northern Arizona University's Mike Smith, was pleased with his effort, capping off a year that saw him win NCAA indoor titles in the 3000 and 5000 and set collegiate records in the 5000 (12:57.14 indoors) and 10,000 (26:52.72). "I kinda wish I felt better out there today," he said. "It was good enough for today, so I'm happy with that." Earlier in the evening there were first round heats in the women's 800 and 5000 and the men's 1500 and 3000-meter steeplechase. Athing Mu, the defending Olympic champion in the women's 800, looked comfortable in her first race since September. The New Jersey native, who had been struggling with hamstring issues, opened her 2024 season with a third-place finish in her heat (the top six advanced) in 2:01.73. "The main thing is just competing with other athletes," she said. "Here being three rounds, that's plenty of time to get acquainted with the event once again and just feel for what it's like to be in a fast 800." Louisiana State University's Michaela Rose had the fastest time of the day (1:59.57), running a blistering opening lap of 56.50 and holding on to win her heat easily. Also advancing were Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers (a crowd favorite thanks to her time at the University of Oregon), defending U.S. champion Nia Akins, two-time Olympian Ajee' Wilson, reigning national indoor champion Allie Wilson, Sage Hurta-Klecker, and NCAA champion Juliette Whittaker of Stanford (representing On Running here). Northern Arizona's Colin Sahlman (3:38.67) and world road mile champion Hobbs Kessler (3:37.50) won the first two tightly bunched heats, while Cole Hocker asserted a bit more authority on his section, winning from the front in 3:34.54. Kessler was at or near the lead for most of his race, with defending U.S. champion Yared Nuguse taking over in the second half. "I'm comfortable in the lead, especially at 60-second pace, it's pretty chill," said Kessler, who made his professional debut at the 2021 Trials at age 18, fresh out of high school. "Just trying to work on my positioning through these rounds. Happy with a little experience leading and happy that Yared took over for a little bit too, to practice my positioning relative to someone. I have a habit of getting stuck to the rail, and that leaves you with nowhere to go, so trying to break that habit." Matthew Centrowitz, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, was a late scratch. "Unfortunately I won't be having the fairytale ending I was hoping to have this week at my fourth Olympic Trials," he wrote in a social media post that revealed an illness after the Los Angeles Grand Prix in May, followed by a hamstring strain. "I ran out of time. My hamstring still won't allow me to run race pace intervals. But I am able to jog now. It's not goodbye. It's see ya later." After letting NCAA champion Parker Valby do most of the leading in the first heat of the women's 5000, world indoor 3000 champion Elle St. Pierre blasted to the front and won in 15:13.82, followed by Karisa Schweizer (15:15.42) and Valby (15:17.56). Though St. Pierre is heavily favored to make her second Olympic team in the 1500, she chose to do the double following an impressive personal best (14:34.12) in May. "It was going to be hard to sit back and watch the 5K go by and then show up for the 15," she said. "You should take every opportunity that you have, and I did well in the 5K this year and had fun doing it, and so I wanted to come out here and do the 5K and 15. It's full circle, because I made my first world team in the 5K [in 2019] and then I went to the Olympics [in 2021] in the 1500." The second section was considerably slower, but Elise Cranny (16:02.33) looked impressive in covering the final 1600 meters in 4:29.32. That heat was also notable for the return of Katelyn Tuohy, who was racing for the first time since November's NCAA cross country championships. The former N.C. State star advanced with a 16:09.22 clocking and was pleased with her effort after battling a series of injuries over the last eight months. "It was an interesting race, probably the hardest 16-minute 5K of my life," she said. "I was happy with how I hung on. It's hard to run that way. I'm still not sure what kind of shape I'm in." The men's steeplechase semis were won by Matthew Wilkinson (8:20.61) and defending U.S. champion Kenneth Rooks (8:26.90). Also moving on was 2016 Olympic silver medalist Evan Jager and 2021 Olympian Benard Keter. NCAA champion Parker Stokes of Georgetown finished 10th in his heat and did not advance. Mason Ferlic, an Olympian three years ago, was a late scratch, revealing a hamstring tear in an Instagram post. "This is not the first time I've been knocked down," he wrote, "and won't be the last time I get back up." PHOTO: Grant Fisher wins the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m title in Eugene, Ore. (Photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved NEW YORK (09-Jun) -– The USATF NYC Grand Prix, a World Athletics Continental Gold-level meeting, was a sprint showcase, but also featured three exciting middle-distance races on what turned out to be a warm and windy afternoon at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island. Great Britain's Jake Wightman, the 2022 world champion in the 1500 meters, won his specialty with a well-timed kick, while American Sage Hurta-Klecker and Mexico's Tonatiu Lopez took the 800s. The men’s 1500 set off at a modest pace, passing 800 meters in 1:57. The entire 12-man field was separated by just one second at the bell, with Eric Holt, an unsponsored athlete with the local Empire Elite Track Club, in the lead (2:41.1) as he aimed to win this race for the second year in a row. But Wightman, who missed the 2023 season due to a foot injury, continued his comeback campaign by timing his finishing kick perfectly. He cranked out a 52.6-second last lap to win in 3:34.01.  Holt was rewarded for his aggressive running with a personal best 3:34.05, while Hobbs Kessler, bronze medalist at March's World Athletics Indoor Championships, took third in 3:34.41. "I was trying to work out the wind," Wightman told Race Results Weekly. "I knew it was going to be in the home straight. So, my hope was that I could be strong enough that no one else could run into the wind. But, Holt ran fast. He was there all the time. If I could have asked for that, I would have wanted it. It was a good simulation for the [upcoming British] Trials which is what I need." Holt had been hoping the early pace would have been quicker so he might hit the Olympic qualifying standard of 3:33.50. "Unfortunately, it was really slow, but it is what it is," said the SUNY Binghamton grad. "I thought I was gonna win the race. But [Wightman] is a world champion for a reason and today my effort wasn't good enough." He then lamented his status without a sponsorship deal. "Every race I step on the track I just want to show the sponsors that I deserve to be a pro, that I'm not just some schmuck, that I work really hard," said Holt, who finished 4th at the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships. Vincent Ciattei (3:34.62) came home fourth, while 5000/10,000-specialist Grant Fisher ran a personal best of 3:34.90 for fifth and Eduardo Herrera set a Mexican national record 3:35.29 in sixth. The women's 800 field was towed through the first lap in 59.0, with Sammy Watson taking over for the pacer and leading through 600 meters and into the final turn. Coming into the straightaway, Hurta-Klecker surged to the lead and broke the tape in 2:00.33. Olivia Baker swung wide and mounted a late challenge, but couldn't quite close the gap, finishing second in 2:00.73. Watson placed third in 2:00.91. "My first couple of races were super, super fast, and this was just a good racing experience," said Hurta-Klecker, who ran a season's best of 1:58.48 to finish seventh at the Prefontaine Classic in May. "It's a little bit different from a Diamond League where everything is lined up, strung out, so I needed a little bit of practice of getting into position and going for the win." Baker was also pleased with her run. "The goal was just to take another step forward. I ran 2:01 last week, two-flat today," she said. "So, I'm moving in the right direction. I'm really happy with where I am going into the Trials." The men's 800 also featured a frantic sprint to the line. Lopez had trailed the pacer through an opening 400 of 50.9, and refused to relinquish the lead, despite Isaiah Jewett’s best efforts. Lopez, who won the silver at the Pan American Games last fall, held his form and clocked 1:44.96 for the win, holding off a rush of challengers. Lopez, who was targeting the Olympic qualifying standard (1:44.70), didn't realize that the field was quickly gaining ground down the homestretch. "I didn't know that they were so close to me," he said. [There was] no screen to see. I don't feel the steps [behind me].  So, I was thinking it was only me. But I'm very happy that I finished first." NCAA Division II champion Wes Ferguson of Nebraska Wesleyan, just seventh with 100 meters to go, closed well for second in a personal best 1:45.06. Josh Hoey (1:45.35) also set a PB after passing Jewett (1:45.41) a step before the line. Clayton Murphy (1:45.75), the Olympic bronze medalist in 2016, placed fifth. Ferguson, who won his third-straight Division II outdoor title on May 25, was pleased to be the top American in the field but had some regrets over his tactics. "I'm really happy and I wouldn't say that I'm ticked off, but if I had started that kick any time sooner, that would have been mine," he said. "So, a good lesson to learn going into the Trials. A big PR, so I guess I can't be too upset." PHOTO: Jane Wightman (right) just edged Eric Holt in the 1500m at the 2024 USATF NYC Grand Prix (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)  

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved NEW YORK (08-Jun) -- Like the conductor of a world class symphony, Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia controlled today's 52nd edition of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K simply by swinging her arms.  The 29 year-old Olympian, who represents adidas, pushed to the lead early, stayed at the front through all of Central Park's ups and downs, then flattened the competition by running a 4:32 sixth mile to put the race away.  With the finish line bathed in sunshine, she clocked 30:47 to win her third consecutive Mini title and vowed to come back to try to win again next year. "God willing, I would love to come back," the smiling Teferi told Race Results Weekly through a translator.  "It's a great race, the organizers are great, and the fans are great.  So, I would love to always be able to come back." Two Kenyan women, Sharon Lokedi (Under Armour) and Sheila Chepkirui (adidas), kept today's race honest.  Both women ran close behind Teferi through the halfway point (15:38), and were right on her heels through the four-mile mark (20:01).  Lokedi, the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion, was determined to keep up the pressure on her Ethiopian rival. "I knew this was like 2022 back again," said Lokedi, referring to the 50th edition of this race where she finished second to Teferi.  "I felt so strong, but I just didn't have the speed in me.  So, I just wanted to fight as much as I can and stay there as long as I could." As the race crossed over from the east to the west side of the Central Park during the fifth mile, Teferi picked up her pace slightly.  That was enough for Chepkirui to fall back and she had to settle for third in 31:09.  Lokedi held on as long as she could, but with the clock showing 26 minutes and 27 seconds Teferi put in a powerful surge.  In just a few strides, Lokedi was dropped. "We went up that hill and all of a sudden she took off, and I just couldn't cover it," lamented Lokedi, who finished second in 31:04. Teferi wasn't looking at her watch.  Running on feel and using her experience with the course, she knew Lokedi was a strong athlete and only a truly savage move would assure victory. "I could sense from the way she was breathing that she was falling back," Teferi said of Lokedi.  "At that point I just kicked." A little farther back, American Amanda Vestri (ZAP Endurance) was having the race of her life.  The 24 year-old, who ran a personal best 31:10.53 for 10,000m exactly three weeks ago in London, used the trio of Africans to gauge her pace right from the start.  Through 5 km she was only two seconds behind them, and about four seconds back at 4 miles.  She faced a critical decision. "Not like I was getting nervous, but there are a lot of Americans still here right now," Vestri said, describing the situation before halfway when Jessica McClain (Brooks), Dakotah Lindwurm (Puma/Minnesota Distance Elite), and Emily Durgin (adidas) were still near the front.  She continued: "My goal was to be top American in the race, so there was a moment in time when it was either stay back with the chunk of the Americans or go ahead with the faster women at the front." Vestri ended up running the second half alone, but she was ready for that.  She finished fourth in a personal best 31:17, comfortably ahead of McClain in fifth (31:22) and Durgin in sixth (31:49).  Vestri clocked the fourth-fastest Mini ever by an American, although times are not completely comparable because the race has used several courses, "It was like at 16 minutes when I was like, geez Amanda, you either have to pay the price and go with them and suffer a little bit... or stay back, stay comfortable and see what happens, I guess," Vestri continued.  "Honestly, I'd rather rely on me suffering than me kicking at the end of the race.  So, I decided to suffer." While Teferi earned the largest check ($10,000 for the win), Vestri also had a good day for her bank account.  She earned $2,500 for fourth place plus another $5,000 for being the top American. For the two Americans who will run the 2024 Olympic Marathon who raced here today, Lindwurm and Emily Sisson (New Balance), their results were solid.  Lindwurm, who was running just her first Mini, finished eighth in 31:58, a personal best.  Sisson, who was running her third Mini, finished ninth in 32:08.  Lindwurm loved her race experience. "Oh my gosh, it was like nothing else," said Lindwurm.  "It was a fun race.  I PR'd in the 5K (15:45) in the middle of a 10K.  I'll be back for sure; this was electric." While official results were not available as of this writing, the race likely had a record number of finishers.  The previous record was 8,885 from 2019, but with over 12,500 entries this year the record was likely broken. PHOTO: Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia wins her third consecutive Mastercard Mini 10K in 30:47; the tapeholder is 2024 USA Olympic Trials Women's Marathon champion Fiona O'Keeffe (Photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)