Sam Prakel wins second national title in two days, taking USA 1500m title...
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico--University of Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel (Paul Merca photo) was the beneficiary of a foul committed by Josh Thompson on Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts, as the Oregon grad won his second national title of the weekend, adding the 1500 meter crown Saturday to the 3000 championship he won Friday at the USATF Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
In a very tactical race, Prakel, who was feeling some of the effects of winning the 3000 Friday, started at the back of the pack, running the first 700 meters in 1:47.54, or roughly high 2:02 pace for 800 meters.
The pace stayed relatively the same, until with two laps to go, Kasey Knevelbaard made a sudden move to the front from 11th place in an attempt to steal the race from the rest of the field.
Knevelbaard was well on his way, but Prakel, Thompson and Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts all covered the move and found themselves in good position entering the last lap.
All three caught the fading Kneverbaard, but as they entered the final straight, Wynne had the advantage over Thompson, but Thompson bumped Wynne as he passed on the outside.
Thompson was the first across the line in 3:42.31, with Prakel second at 3:42.62, and Wynne third at 3:42.90.
After the NBC broadcast went off the air, the results were changed with Prakel getting credit for the win, and Wynne second, with Thompson disqualified for impeding Wynne's progress under USATF rule 163.4, which says an athlete “shall be liable to disqualification” if they are responsible for “jostling” “or “obstructing another competitor”.
UPDATE: LetsRun.com's Robert Johnson explains the foul and gives his take on it. I agree with him that the call should have been made immediately.
According to knowledgable sources in Albuquerque, there was no protest initiated by anyone from the Brooks Beasts, but it was initiated by a competition official who saw the infraction.
Former Brooks Beast David Ribich was fifth in 3:45.36, while Bellarmine Prep alum Jack Yearian was seventh in 3:46.55, and one time Husky Cruz Culpepper was ninth in 3:48.01.
Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts won her first US national title, taking the women's 800 in an indoor personal best 2:00.16, while teammate and training partner Laurie Barton was fifth in a season best 2:02.03.
In the women's pole vault, former Pullman resident Katie Moon, who got off the plane after competing Wednesday night in Lieven, France, won yet another national title, clearing 15-9 (4.80m) on her second attempt.
Capital HS/Olympia's Hana Moll, the reigning world U20 champ, was fifth at 14-9.5 (4.51m), while twin sister and current national high school record holder Amanda was eighth at the same height.
The men's 800 saw Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts finish second in 1:46.42, while teammate Devin Dixon was fourth in 1:46.77.
Washington State alum CJ Allen was third in the men's 400, running 46.11.
In the women's 1500, Washington alum Eleanor Fulton finished tenth in 4:26.09, while UW volunteer coach Alli Cash was 11th in 4:27.17.
Washington State alum Emmanuel Wells finished fifth in his semi final heat of the 60 in 6.72.
Bellingham native Ben Doucette was fifth in his heat of the men's 60 hurdles in 7.88, just missing a time qualifier for the finals, while Eastern Washington alum Parker Bowden was fifth in his heat in 7.92.
One result we missed from Friday was that of Emerald Ridge HS sophomore JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, who finished fifth in the women's high jump, clearing a personal best of 6-0.5 (1.84m).
In Bathurst, Australia, University of Washington freshman Evan Jenkins finished 53rd in the men's U20 8k race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Saturday.
Jenkins was the sixth finisher for the USA, crossing the line in a time of 28:00, as the USA earned a team bronze in sweltering heat on a hilly, muddy course at Mount Panorama Farm.
Scoring 81 points, the American men nabbed bronze behind Kenya and Ethiopia’s 22 and 23, the first team medal since 1982.
In the senior women's 10k, Washington alum Izzi Batt-Doyle of Australia, competing on home turf, finished 29th in 36:17, while Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts, was 33rd in 36:37.
The host Australians finished fourth with 92 points, while the USA was fifth with 103 points. Kenya (16), Ethiopia (25), and Uganda (41) took the team medals, while Beatrice Chebet of Kenya took the individual title in 33:48.
In the men's 10k race, Lake Washington HS alum Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts finished 60th in 32:46.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda ran away with the individual title, winning in 29:17. In a close team race, Kenya won yet another world championship with 22 points, followed by Ethiopia's 33, and Uganda's 37 points. The USA was sixth with 134 points.
In the mixed 4 x 2K relay, former Husky Sam Tanner ran the leadoff leg for New Zealand, running 5:49 to put the Kiwis in fifth place.
However, New Zealand ended up finishing tenth in 25:08.
Kenya won the mixed relay title in a time of 23:14, followed by Ethiopia's 23:21, and host Australia's 23:26.
The United States was fifth in 24:32.
NOTE: USA Track & Field, LetsRun.com and World Athletics contributed to this report.
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