by Jim Spier

Men

100 Meters Semi-Finals

(First 3 of each heat (Q) qualify to Final)

Gary Card (Jamaica) was the overwhelming favorite coming into this meet, but we’re not so sure any more. Tate Taylor (USA), with an unimpressive start, led the qualifiers with a strong finishing 10.06. Kyler Brown (USA) the Ohio State soon-to-be sophomore, looked strong as well and is a definite contender for a medal. We cannot discount US high schooler Jake Odey-Jordan, representing Great Britain, who had run 10.01 in winning the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

5000 Meters Final

The Americans, Juan Gonzalez (Fremont, NE)/U of Oregon and Jack Bidwell (Marshall, MI)/U of Michigan were competitive in the early stages of the race but could not keep up with the East Africans.

Kenyan teammates Franklin Kibet and Nehemiah Kipngeno were alone for the last four laps, almost sprinting the entire time.Kibet’s last 1600 meters was 3:59.94!  Kipngeno’s was 4:01.63! It was 13:28.27 for Kibet and 13:30.09 for Kipngeno. Gonzalez finished 12th in 13:59.00 and Bidwell 16th in 14:18.90.

Shot Put Final (6kg)

The favorite, Park Si-Hoon of Korea, led after round three, throwing 66-07,5. Alessandro Borges (Brazil), second until then, threw the ultimate winner of 66-09 in round five. Si-Hoon could not respond and finished second. It was a PB for Borges. Jan Van Dyk (South Africa) also got a PB finished third with 64-11. American Michael Kpomassy was 11th at 61-10.

Women

100 Meters Semi-Finals

First 3 of each heat (Q) qualify to Final

It will be Jamaica vs the U.S. in the finals, with both nations qualifying both of their athletes. Mia Maxwell (Atascocita, Humble, TX) was the leading qualifier at 11.13, tantalizingly close to her PB of 11.09. Twin Mariah was 5th overall at 11.25.

Prohibitive favorite Shanoya Douglas of Jamaica was third overall at 11.21, with her teammate Theianna-Lee Terrelonge matching that time. Xania Buri of Switzerland got her country’s national record with a time of 11.23, the fourth overall qualifying time.

5000 Meters Final

Charity Cherop (Uganda) broke the Kenya-Ethiopia stranglehold winning in 15:03.98. Shito Gumi (Ethiopia, 15:07.91) was second with Joyline Chepkemoi (Kenya, 15:09.08) third. All three passed 3000 meters in 9:16.xx, as did Cynthia Chepkirui (Kenya) who finished 4th and Carmen Cernjul (Sweden) who was 5th. American Emily Wisniewski (North Carolina State U), the only American to qualify, withdrew with an injury.

3000 Meters Steeplechase Round 1

(First 8 of each heat (Q) qualify to Final)

The favorite, Mercy Chepngeno Koskey of Kenya, who has run 9:3047 this year, was the leading qualifier at 9:36.19. Then it was Ethiopia, Kenya, Ethiopia with those three under 9:57.

Sierra Wall (Fairview, Boulder, CO/Colorado Mines U, the NCAA Division II runner-up was the 12th overall qualifier at 10:14.92, about 6 seconds off her PR. Bella Nelson (Owasso, OK)/Oklahoma State U has had better days, ran 10:44.05 and did not advance.

Pole Vault Qualifying

(Automatic qualifying mark 13-11.25 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final)

Thirteen qualifiers cleared 13-05.25 including both Americans Kylie Neira (Deland, FL)/Florida International and Katherine Blue (Grand Ledge, MI). The favorite, Nicole Krutilova of Czechia with a best of 14-09.75, was one of them, but 14-9 vaulter Ansume de Boer of South Africa, a 14-09 competitor, did not start.

Discus Qualifying

(Automatic qualifying mark 180-05 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final)

The favorite and world leader at 197-09, Jaslene Massey (Alisa Niguel, Aliso Viejo, CA) automatically qualified on her first throw with a toss of 181-09. Su Yixin of China, coming in with a best of 195-00, was the leading qualifier at 190-05. Jillian Scully (Miller Place, NY)/LSU was the best non-auto qualifier, throwing 175-09 and finishing 5th overall.

Heptathlon, Session Two (Shot Put and 200 Meters)

The top 3 are separated by 44 points. Enni Virjonen (Finland, 3676 points) leads with Zola Ndouma-Mona (France, 3669) in second and Thea Brown (Great Britain, 3632) in third.

Ndouma-Mona took the lead after her leading shot put mark of 48-06.25. Enni Virjonen then took the lead from her after her 23.99 200 meter victory.

Americans Chiora Enyinna-Okeigbo (Sunnyvale, TX) are 16th (3229 points) and Destiny Look (Mid-Pacific Institute, Honolulu, HI) and 23rd (3033) after Day 1 of the heptathlon.

Mixed 4x100 Meter Relay

The US and Jamaica were close after the first leg, with Joshua Shelton (Pearland, TX) edging Jamaican Jabari Matheson, 46.22 to 46.28. Taylor-Nicole Overton (Vero Beach, FL) of the US broke the race open with a 51.70 split, and the US pulled away from then on. Jaelen Hunter (Servite, Anaheim, CA) ran 45.57 and Olivia Harris (Buford, GA) anchored in 51.82. The team set a meet record of 3:15.31

Czechia, with a strong anchor leg by Linda Botkova, brought her team from 6th to 2nd running 51.59, the fastest female split of the race. They ran a national record time of 3:18.16. Third was Australia with 3:18.45, also a national record for that country.