Prefontaine Blog

Men's 400 Hurdles - Bershawn Jackson wins a deep hurdle field by making a strong move down the backstretch after hitting hurdle #2. Winning time of 48.38 was close to the yearly lead but still a bit from the 47 second range that we would expect from this level of hurdlers which included yearly leader Isa Phillips in second, Kerron Clement in third and Olympic Champion Angelo Taylor in fourth.

Women's 1500 - The field went out in 2:08 behind the pace setter with no one really wanting to make a move in the first half of the race. Geleta Burka (ETH) took over before the bell lap and Shannon Rowbury followed her at the bell. Burka really began to extend the lead with 200 to go with Jenny Barringer coming off the final turn and turning it on down the stretch. She gained on Burka with each step right up to the line with Burka just holding her off in 3:59.89! Barringer was only .01 behind and murdered her own PR as well as the collegiate record as she ran her first sub 4 with an outstanding 3:59.90! The two Anna's (Alminova of Russia and Willard of the US) ran to a pair of 4:01.44's with Alminova wtaking 3rd by .007). Kristin Wurth Thomas set a huge PR in 5th in 4:01.72. Fantastic race.

Men's 3000 Steeplechase -The race separated early as Luke Watson set the pace with Paul Koech (KEN) and Roba Gary (ETH) tucking in behind and putting 25 meters between them and the following pack in the first couple of laps. With a mile to go, Koech and Gary ran away from the field and Koech put 10 meters between he and Gary. Koech ran away from Gary in the next half mile putting about 80 meters between he and Gary. And finished well clear of the field in 8:13.44 over Gary's 8:21.22. Total domination.

Men's Long Jump - On his first jump Phillips jumps 27' 8" to Saladino's 27' 2.5". Both fouled in the second round before Phillips hit a huge 28' 8.25" to move to +#5 all time! Saladino responded with a 28'.75" jump of his own. Saladino jumped out to 28'4.25 in the fourth round, but Phillips big jump was good enough here for the win.

Men's 100, Section I - An unspectacular race unless you paid attention to the start. Junior College Champion and Record Holder got a horrible start in lane one - almost as if he was not expecting the gun to go off at all! He ran the field down and still nearly took second in 10.18 - the same time as 2nd place Leroy Dixon and 3rd place Ivory Williams (winner was Rae Edwards in 10.10). Bailey is tall and smooth and ran a sub10 quality race to get back in this one. He could be a threat to make the US team in at the end of the month and get a spot on the team to Berlin.

Women's 100 hurdles - Damu Cherry was out fast. Olympic Champion Dawn Harper flinched came out late and hit the first two hurdles before going down to the track. Cherry continued on down the track with first Priscilla Lopes Schliep (CAN) then Michelle Perry in hot pursuit. The three went into the line together with Perry (12.74) getting the narrow win over Cherry (12.74) and Lopes Schliep (12.75)

Men's 3000 - Pacemakers Julius Achon and Steve Scherer took the pace out with Eliud Kipchoge and Bernard Lagat tucking in behind them. Achon dropped off after half mile as Scherer took the field through the mile in 4:03. From there it was Kipchoge and Lagat with Saif Shaheen (QAT) joining them with Craig, Tegenkamp and Solinski in tow. The string of 6 headed into the bell lap and continued in line until they hit the backstretch. Lagat took over down the backstretch then was challenged going into the turn by Shaheen. Coming off the turn Bernard Lagat battled back then ran away down the stretch to victory in 7:35.92 . Shaheen continued on to take second in 7:36.87 with Solinski charging to third in 7:37.05. Only the times from the big Doha race earlier in the season are faster this year.

Women's 400 - Sanya Richards out very fast in the first 200 easily making up the stagger to her outside. She lead by 10 meters coming off the turn and ran alone down the stretch to a world leading 49.86 victory. Shericka Williams (JAM) was a far back second in 50.72. This race was never in doubt from the gun.

Men's 800 - Matt Scherer took the field thru 400 in 51.65 with the field 5 meters back. With 200 to go Nick Symmonds made his move. Christian Smith gave chase for about 30 meters before Symmonds continued on for a 1:45.86 win without too much trouble.

Women's 100 - Kerron Stewart (JAM) and Shelly Ann Fraser (JAM) were out quick from the gun. Stewart began to pull away from Fraser on the left side of the track as Carmelita Jeter began moving up on the right side of the track. Jeter's final 50 was superb as she edged away from world leader Stewart to clock 10.85w ahead of Stewart's 10.90w. Jeter gave Stewart her first loss of the season while remaining unbeaten herself. Muna Lee closed well to take 3rd in 11.02 as she went past Fraser's 11.10.

Men's 100, Section II - Mike Rogers got an excellent start and lead this race from start to finish in a world leading 9.94 (+1.7)! Asafa Powell (JAM) was out well but never pulled away as is his trademark. Beside him Walter Dix was out a hair behind but pulled up on Powell mid race as these two ran together to the line in 10.07 with Powell getting second and Dix third. Rogers has confirmed that he is going to be a factor at Nationals in a couple of weeks and could threaten for a medal in Berlin!

Women's 800 - Pamela Jelimo(KEN) followed the pacemaker through a 56 second first lap as the rest of the field trailed far behind. With 200 to go the rest of the field came on strong as Jelimo went into reverse. Coming off the turn Sinclair took the lead until Maggie Vessey ran by her in the stretch to win going away in 2:00.18. Jelimo is clearly lacking in endurance as she was looked good for 500 meters before fading badly here.

Women's 2000 - Sarah Vaughn took the field through a 2:12 800. marina Muncken took over to continue the pace with Maryam Jamal (BAHRAIN) settling in to 2nd. With 2 laps to go Muncken dropped out and Jamal took over. Jamal continued through the bell lap with Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) taking over down the backstretch.Off the turn Jamal challenged one more time but Cheruiyot held her off in 5:31. 52 - fastest time ever run in the US.

Men's 300 - Merritt out fast from the gun making up the stagger on two athletes outside him. Merritt entered the final 100 with a huge lead and maintained down the straight to win in 31.30. Incredibly the quarter miler went out faster than the sprinters as he ran the #2 time in history. Xavier Carter was stronger than everyone else in the stretch as he took second in 31.93 ahead of Wallace Spearmon's 32.14.

Men's Mile - Moise Joseph took the first lap went out in a blistering 55 seconds and continued through 1:52 at 800 meters! At that point a string of Kenyans 5 deep headed to the bell lap with Haron Keitani (KEN) and Asbel Kiprop (KEN)heading off on the final lap. These two pulled away from the rest of the field at this point as they raced to the final 100 where Kiprop took over and passed the line waving in 3:48.50! Keitany also finished well in 3:48.78. Nate Brannen of Canada was a far back 3rd in 3:52.63 - an excellent time but not enough today. Great finish to an outstanding meet.

Full results can be found here.