Drew Windle does it again and comes from behind to make his first national team...
SACRAMENTO—If it worked once, why not try it again?
Drew Windle (left/photo by Paul Merca) of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts used the same strategy of running at the back of the pack for the first 600 meters and worked his way up much like Beasts teammate Nick Symmonds did in his prime to secure a spot on his first USA national team on the final day of competition at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sunday at Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State.
The field was missing defending national champion and Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, who experienced some hamstring issues in yesterday’s 1500 finals.
At the 400 meter mark, Windle found himself in seventh with a split of 52.37, about 1.2 seconds behind leader Erik Sowinski.
Through the 600, Windle was still in last, but was moving up rapidly, then somehow found some space to make that charge, as he ran 52.59, the fastest split amongst the seven finalists to secure the final spot to London for the world championships in August.
Afterwards, Windle told reporters in the mixed zone, “I said after the semi that I wanted to be more up in the mix. It’s a high stress race and people make mistakes, so I just wanted to be there in the last 100m. This makes all the stress and wanting to puke after practice and races all worth it.”
Though it was a bit closer than he would have liked, former Puget Sound area resident Devon Allen, the reigning US national champion, finished third in the men’s 110 hurdles, running 13.34, as Aleec Harris won the national title in 13.24, with world record holder Aries Merritt second at 13.31.
Allen was second to Harris in the semis contested a few hours earlier, running 13.54, to Harris’ 13.44.
in other highlights involving Washington athletes, former Issaquah resident Katie Burnett was fourth in the women’s 20k race walk in 1:38:40.
Forrmer Spokane prep standout Britney Henry was seventh in the women’s hammer with a best of 224-3 (68.37m), as Gwen Berry won with a best of 245-3 (74.77m).
Saint Martin’s Mikel Smith finished in a tie of tenth with a clearance of 7-1 (2.16m).
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