A QUICK LOOK at what proved to be an impressive weekend of indoor track action for early January in the U.S.
Junior 300 Record By Jacory Patterson
He came to Virginia Tech with solid all-around dash credentials of 10.42, 20.99/20.65w & 46.98, but that didn’t prepare us for Jacory Patterson’s collegiate debut. The Hokie frosh blasted the 300 in 32.49, a World Junior Record that topped Brian Herron’s 32.84 from last year. “Right now, it really hasn’t sunk in,” the 18-year-old South Carolina native said. “But I’m really excited because I didn’t know that I was going to run that fast. It hasn’t sunk in. I still can’t believe it. I really just wanted to go 32.60, but I had a loaded heat, and I let lane 6 pull me the whole race. When I got past the 200, I just gave it all I got.”
Said Tech sprint coach Tim Vaught, “I knew from the intrasquad that we ran in December… he ran 32.80, and after the race, he told me, ‘Coach, I could have run faster. I didn’t get out that hard in the beginning.’ “I said, ‘Guess what? In this first meet, don’t hold back.’ I told him to go for it, and let’s see what happens.”
Collegiate Kilo Record For Danae Rivers
Penn State junior Danae Rivers blasted the Collegiate Record in the 1000 on her home track with a 2:38.58 at the Nittany Lion Invitational. That was more than 2 seconds under the old best of 2:40.79 set by Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards in ’17. Anna Shields of NAIA school Point Park took 2nd in 2:42.51. A 2:02.53 performer in the 800 outdoors, Rivers was 8th in last year’s NCAA.
Said Nittany Lion coach John Gondak, “I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I’ve watched this team practice for so long and I’ve seen a lot of individuals take their training to another level, their fitness, their approach, their mentality. It’s something I was really excited to see and today it really played out.”
Junior Vault Standard To Nastassja Campbell
Pro Morgann LeLeux’s 14-6¾ (4.44) won the women’s vault at the Nelson Invitational, but the big news came from runner-up Nastassja Campbell, who claimed the American Junior Record with her 14-4¾ (4.39). Last year’s No. 3-rated HS All-America, the 18-year-old Texan opened with a make at 12-9 (3.89), needed 3 shots at 13-1 (3.99), was perfect at 13-5 (4.09) and needed another 3 at 13-9 (4.19) before attempting a PR 14-¾ (4.29), which she made on second attempt. Next up was the AJR of 14-3¼ (4.35), set by Nebraska’s Natalie Willer in ’09. Second time was again the charm for the Stephen F. Austin frosh as she cleared 14-4¾ (4.39). She finished her day with 3 misses at 14-6¾.
Trey Knight Claims HSR In Weight
He’s still just an 11th-grader, but Trey Knight (Ridgefield, Washington) can throw his weight around with the big boys quite well, thank you. Last year’s top-rated hammer thrower didn’t win the 35-pounder here, but he did crush the High School Record with his third-round toss of 67-11¾ (20.72). The old mark, 65-8¼ (20.02) was set by Davis Fraker (McIntosh, Peachtree City, Georgia) in ’10. Knight’s series: 61-2¾ (18.66), 62-5¼ (19.03), 67-11¾ (20.72), 62-7¼ (19.08), 62-9¼ (19.13), foul.
Kejelcha Doubles 2:18.34/3:52.61 In An Hour
The big star of the UW Preview was Yomif Kejelcha, now training with the Nike Oregon Project. The 21-year-old Ethiopian put together a solid double on Washington’s big 307m track. First came a 2:18.34 in the 1000 that beat Clayton Murphy (2:18.64) and Brannon Kidder (2:19.18). Then, some 50 minutes later, a 3:52.61 mile. Runner-up Amos Bartelsmeyer, a Georgetown alum, clocked a PR 3:55.32. Logan Orndorf—3:59.94 in 5th—became the 523rd American to break the four-minute barrier. Britain’s Josh Kerr easily took the 800 in 1:49.61 while the 600 was captured by Stanford’s Louis Stenmark in a meet record 1:17.59. Craig Engels won the 3000 in 7:50.79, leading 8 others under 8:00.
On the women’s side, Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen did the same double, winning the 1000 in 2:43.07 before beating Katie Mackey in the mile, 4:29.06–4:30.02. Eleanor Fulton edged a comebacking Shannon Rowbury in the 3000, 9:02.84-9:03.00. Said Rowbury, “It was good to face my fears. Better to rip off the Band-Aid and see what I was facing. It did feel hard, but everything does these days, and most of all, it was just fun to be back.” Katie Nageotte won the vault with her 15-3 (4.65).
Good Jumping In Lubbock
Jeron Robinson won the high jump with his 7-5¼ (2.27) at Texas Tech’s Corky Classic. He beat Trey Culver and JaCorian Duffield, who both went 7-4¼ (2.24). For Duffield it was his first competition since the ’17 USATF Outdoor meet. The long jump also produced solid marks: Odaine Lewis 26-2¾ (7.99) and Charles Brown 26-¾ (7.94).
Vaulters Go High In Arkansas
The women’s pole vault sparkled the best at the Arkansas Invitational, Lexi Jacobus clearing 14-8¾ (4.49) and twin Tori Hoggard 14-6¾ (4.44). Desiree Freier gave the Razorbacks a potent 1-2-3 with her 14-2¾ (4.34) in 4th. Said Jacobus, “It’s been 6 months, so that first meet of the season is always kind of a little bit different, but it’s exciting to be starting my senior year and giving it a last hurrah. I’ve still got my eye on some records that I’m chasing.”
Michigan’s Fast Miles
Milers Shannon Osika and Amanda Eccleston battled to the line at the Wolverine Invitational in identical 4:33.41 clockings. Donald Scott took the triple with his 53-5½ (16.29) and Grant Cartwright the weight at 74-9¾ (22.80).
2 Good Meets In Birmingham
At the Blazer Invitational Georgia’s Lynna Irby blasted 37.14 for 300 but was topped by the 37.01 of Alabama’s Tamara Clark in another section. Jeneva Stevens threw 75-0 (22.86) in the weight, beating Stamatia Scarvelis of Tennessee (73-11½/22.54). Daniel Haugh threw the men’s weight 78-11¼ (24.06).
On the next day’s Vulcan Invitational on the same track, Sha’Carrie Richardson (7.23) led a 1-2-3 LSU sweep of the 60. The Tigers also swept the hurdles, led by Tonea Marshall (8.16). □