Owen Powell's shot at the American high school mile record falls short, but runs 3:58.12...
EUGENE--Mercer Island HS graduate Owen Powell's (Paul Merca photo) shot at Alan Webb's American high school record came up a little short in the men's International Mile at the Nike Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on a sunny Saturday afternoon with temperatures in the low 80s.
Powell, who will be an incoming freshman at the University of Washington, where his parents Andy and Maurica coach, started in the middle of the pack. However, things did not go according to plans early when Seattle resident Sam Prakel, who is part of Andy Powell's pro group, went down in the first 100 meters of the race.
Whether or not Prakel's fall affected the younger Powell's race is open to conjecture, but he dropped back after the fall, but was still in solid position to take a shot at Alan Webb's 3:53.43, set at this meet in 2001.
In the end, he finished 11th in 3:58.12. This was Powell's third sub-4 minute mile this season.
Former Husky Sam Tanner was at or near the front, leading through 1200 in 2:52.66 after the pacer dropped out.
Tanner finished sixth in 3:52.63, two spots ahead of Washington alum Luke Houser's 3:55.32.
Prakel never was able to link up to the pack, and finished last in 4:10.12.
New Zealand's Sam Ruthe, the youngest man to break 4 minutes in the mile, was 13th in 4:00.65.
In the men's 400 hurdles, Washington State alum CJ Allen finished sixth in 49.58.
The women's 3000 steeplechase saw former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell set a new personal best, finishing eighth in 9:08.66.
Bear Creek School alum Olivia Markezich finished 13th in a season best 9:17.95.
The meet was highlighted by world records in the women's 5000 and the mile.
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet (Paul Merca photo), last year's double Olympic champion at 5000 and 10000 meters, became the first woman to break 14 minutes in the 5000, running away from former world record holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia in the final lap to run 13:58.06.
Tsegay faded in the final lap, as she was passed by Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya, who finished in 14:01.29, the third fastest time in history.
"I'm so happy to become the first woman to run under 14 minutes," said Chebet. "After Rome (where she ran 14:03.69), I knew that I was capable of running a world record. I told myself, 'if Faith is trying for a world record in Eugene, why not me too?'"
Faith Kipyegon (Paul Merca photo) of Kenya, just over a week removed from her Breaking 4 moon shot in the mile in Paris, broke the world record in the 1500 meters, crossing the line in 3:48.68.
Kipyegon was on the heels of pacemaker Sage Hurta-Klecker, who took the Kenyan through 800 in 2:03.17, before dropping out just over a hundred meters later.
The double Olympic champion in this event, however had company in the form of Oregon alum Jessica Hull of Australia. Hull was still just a stride or two behind Kipyegon going into the final lap, but the multiple world record-holder kicked hard on the back straight to break free.
There was no catching Kipyegon as she charged down the home straight, crossing the line in 3:48.68 to win by almost three seconds. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji came through for second (3:51.44) ahead of Hull (3:52.67).
Afterwards, Kipyegon told reporters in the mixed zone, "For me, I try to be consistent. I try to follow what my coach is telling me to do, to be better and better every year, so I'm grateful that I've started to break the four minutes like in Paris last week and coming here and running the 1500. This is the road to Tokyo and I would say I am in the right direction."
NOTE: The Nike Prefontaine Classic, World Athletics, and the Wanda Diamond League 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