Kejelcha shocks the house by running 3:52.61 in the mile to highlight the UW Indoor Preview...
Kejelcha, the two-time IAAF world indoor champion at 3000 meters, who trains as part of the Beaverton-based Nike Oregon Project, ran a Dempsey Indoor facility record of 3:52.61, easily the fastest time in the world this season, and the fastest mile ever run this early in the calendar year.
In the process, he towed four other runners under the magical 4-minute mile mark, including Georgetown alum Amos Bartelsmeyer, who was second in a personal best 3:55.32, which was under the previous meet record of 3:56.72 set by US Olympian Nick Symmonds; Sam Atkin of Great Britain, who ran at Lewis-Clark State, and finished third in 3:57.97; Southern Oregon alum Eric Avila, who was fourth in 3:59.43; and Cedarcrest HS alum and current Portland Pilot Logan Orndorf, who ran 3:59.94 to take fifth.
UPDATE: Here's the link to the video of the race, courtesy media partner Flotrack (this may not be available for free very long).
To put some perspective on Kejelcha’s mark, it came about 50 minutes after he won the 1000 meters in a Dempsey Indoor record 2:18.34, holding off Oregon Project teammate and 2016 Olympic 800m bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, who ran 2:18.64, and Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts, who was third in 2:19.18.
All three were under the previous Dempsey Indoor record of 2:19.53 set by 2016 Olympic 1500m champ Matthew Centrowitz in 2015.
Ducking under 2:20 was Husky volunteer assistant coach Sam Prakel, as the first year pro and Oregon alum ran 2:19.87.
All four ran under the previous fastest time in the world this season of 2:21.05 by Konstantin Kholmogorov of Russia, set five days ago.
New Husky Mick Stanovsek, the transfer from Oregon ran 2:21.25, the fastest time in Washington history.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhöfen, Kejelcha’s teammate at the Nike Oregon Project, made an impressive debut, winning both the 1000 and the mile, except that hers was done with only a 25 minute break.
Klosterhöfen won the 1000 in a time of 2:43.07 to beat Oregon’s Susan Ejore (2:44.84) and Husky alum Baylee Mires (2:45.62), then turned around to win the mile in a world leading 4:29.06 to beat Husky alum Katie Mackey of the Brooks Beasts, who ran a US leading 4:30.02.
In fact (pending the outcome of other meets from around the world), Canada’s Lindsey Butterworth (4:33.08), Washington alum Mel Lawrence (4:33.74), and Canada’s Regan Yee (4:36.11) all went under the previous world best this year of 4:37.43, set by Yolanda Ngarambe of Sweden on Friday at Clemson.
Katie Rainsberger of the Huskies in sixth ran 4:37.30, the fastest collegiate time so far this season.
She needed two tries to make her opening height of 14-9 (4.50m) before clearing 15-3 (4.65m) on her second attempt.
After making 15-3, which was a season opening personal best for her, she then went and attempted 15-7.25 (4.76m), with only her third attempt being the best. She said in a social media post that she blew through the biggest pole in her arsenal, which translates to more confidence and higher jumps as the season progresses.
Other highlights:
—In the women’s 3000, Washington alum Eleanor Fulton held off a late charge by Nike Oregon Project’s Shannon Rowbury to win in a personal best 9:02.84, the second fastest time by an American this season, with Rowbury second in 9:03.00.
Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat ran 9:07.05 to take third, with the mark a new NCAA Division II record.
—In the men’s 35 pound weight throw, Alex Young, a 2017 world championships team member, threw 75-2.5 (22.92m).
Complete results of the UW Indoor Preview are available here.
In Moscow, Idaho, Eastern Washington’s Keshun McGee scored a double victory in the men’s long and triple jumps at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open meet at the Kibbie Dome Saturday hosted by the University of Idaho.
McGee jumped 24-1 (7.34m) to win the long jump, and followed it up with a mark of 51-1 (15.57m) to take the triple jump.
Central Washington’s Mariyah Vongsaveng won the women’s 60 hurdles in 8.77, while teammate Erykah Weems won the women’s 400 in 57.97. Weems anchored the Wildcats to victory in the 4 x 400 relay in 4:00.98.
Dominique Butler from Eastern Washington won the women’s pentathlon Friday with a school record score of 3549 points.
Complete results of the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open are available here.
In Nampa, Idaho, athletes from Washington State saw success in the sprints at the Bronco Invitational hosted by Boise State University Saturday.
The Cougars took wins in both men’s and women’s 60 dashes, both 200 dashes, and the 400 dashes.
Complete results of the Bronco Invitational are available here.
NOTE: The IAAF and TFRRS.org provided statistical data for this report. The sports information offices of the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and Boise State University contributed to this report.
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