Kerr's victory in 1500 at Grand Slam Track Philly stop not enough to overcome Marco Arop...
PHILADELPHIA--Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts (photo courtesy Grand Slam Track), who needed a win in the 1500 meters for a shot at the overall victory in the short distance (800/1500) category in day 2 of the Grand Slam Track stop at Franklin Field, did exactly what he needed to do Sunday and got the win.
Reigning Paris Olympic 1500 meter champion Cole Hocker made it an honest race from the get-go, taking the field of four true milers and four 800 meter types through the first 400 in 56.50 in an effort to neutralize the 800 runners.
Hocker continued to push the pace, going through 800 in just under 1:56, and through the bell at 1100 meters.
Josh Hoey jumped to the lead steps after the bell, but his lead lasted less than 200 meters, as defending world 800 meter champion Marco Arop of Canada went to the outside and grabbed the lead, daring the field to go after him.
Arop, who won yesterday's 800, was going for the sweep, the 24 total points in the two events, and the $100,000 first place overall finish.
As they came off the turn, both Hocker and Kerr went outside of Arop and passed him, but the race was far from over.
Kerr's momentum and lean across the finish line carried the Brooks Beast to the win in a season best 3:34.44, just ahead of Hocker's 3:34.51.
Hobbs Kessler, who was fifth in the 1500 at the Olympics last year got third, just ahead of Arop's personal best of 3:35.38.
For a moment, Kerr and the spectators at Franklin Field thought he'd won the $100,000 first prize for the second meet in a row after winning in Miami, but Arop's fourth place finish was enough to give him the overall title, as his fourth place finish worth 5 points offset Kerr's fifth place finish in yesterday's 800, worth 4 points.
Arop's two day point total was 17 to Kerr's 16.
For finishing second over the weekend, Kerr took home $50,000, while Josh Hoey was third overall with twelve points after finishing second in the 800 and fifth in Sunday's 1500.
Courtesy of Grand Slam Track, here are highlights of that race:
In the long hurdles category, Washington State alum CJ Allen finished sixth overall with 5 points.
Allen finished eighth in the flat 400, running 48.34, as Trevor Bassitt won the race in 45.47.
Alison dos Santos of Brazil, who was leading the short hurdles category after winning the 400 hurdles Saturday, finished third in a time of 45.63. The third place finish cost dos Santos the overall title and the $100,000 first place payout as he finished with 18 points to Bassitt's 20, after Bassitt finished second in the 400 hurdles Saturday.
Allen, who as a challenger, did not race the Miami stop, earned $15,000 for his two days of racing.
Grand Slam Track finishes up its inaugural four-meet campaign June 27-29 in Los Angeles at Drake Stadium on the UCLA campus.
NOTE: Grand Slam Track contributed to this report.
paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. You can also support the site by clicking the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" link below.
Comments