BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, May 23 — Annually a chance for fans to assess elite sprinter/hurdler form on a raised straight down Boylston Street, the adidas Boost Boston meet was eyed with heightened attentiveness less than 4 weeks ahead of the Olympic Trials. Dash vet Isiah Young placed himself high on the 100 watch list as he sprinted 9.94 for a clear-of-the-field win over world 200 champion Noah Lyles (10.10).
“The weather and the track gave it to us, and the fans,” said the 31-year-old Mississippi alum of his run just 0.02 off his PR from ’18. “I’m just grateful I’m healthy and I thank my coach [Dennis Mitchell] who put me in this great position to come out here and execute and do the things I was able to do today.”
Although ’18 USATF champ Lyles was fastest in the heats displaying solid form with a 10.03, Young sprung efficiently from his blocks in the final and Lyles this time could not produce his trademark late-race punch.
“Man, the Trials are just around the corner,” Young told NBC, “so everybody’s trying to put their race together before we get there. We’re just gonna show up and everybody’s gonna be ready so we gotta be ready too.”
In a separate “Future Stars” 100, 17-year-old Erriyon Knighton continued his tear, lowering his best to 10.16 (wind -0.3) and holding off Jamaican Rylem Forde (10.18). Pro-though-he’s-a-prep Knighton moved to No. 2 on the Youth all-time list. His time was just 0.01 off the WYR/AYR set by Anthony Schwartz in ’17
Hurdlers Grant Holloway and Keni Harrison showed marked readiness for the Trials. World titlist Holloway stormed to a 13.20 win in the 110H, 0.51 ahead of two-time Worlds finalist Shane Brathwaite. Women’s 100H WR holder Harrison pushed through a -0.9 wind to clock 12.49 as she held off ’19 Worlds 4th-placer Tobi Amusan of Nigeria.
Although the straightaway 200 is virtually never run in modern times, Wayde van Niekerk’s presence in the men’s race drew notice as the 400 WR holder’s first outing since joining U.S. coach Lance Brauman’s group just a few weeks ago. As Jerome Blake fired to a 19.89 — 0.49 faster than the Canadian has ever run around a curve — with Brit Zharnel Hughes 2nd in 19.93, van Niekerk stayed in it with the field until about 150m. Suddenly with a grimace and a hop in his gait, WVN slowed. The South African carried on to the end (4th in 20.65).
Limping afterwards in obvious pain, van Niekerk pointed to his right thigh. Thankfully, his follow on Twitter later assuaged concerns: “Thanks for the care — I am well. Nothing serious. 👍🏽 I tightened up a bit so didn’t push it.”
The Boost meet always showcases intriguing “off distance” events as well. The most betwixt and between of these is the 200 hurdles. While long hurdler Shamier Little has been on a hot streak this spring and started as favorite in this race of unfamiliar step patterns, she could not catch 22-year-old Shiann Salmon for the win.
Jamaican Salmon held off Little 24.86–24.91. Her time cut 0.19 from the former world best and Little’s mark was an “AR,” usurping Dalilah Muhammad’s 25.20 from ’18.
ADIDAS BOOST MEN’S RESULTS
(street meet with raised sprint straight)
100(0.5): 1. Isiah Young (US) 9.94; 2. Noah Lyles (US) 10.10; 3. Nickel Ashmeade (Jam) 10.17; 4. Josephus Lyles (US) 10.19 PR; 5. Jaylen Bacon (US) 10.21.
Heats: I(-0.6)–1. Young 10.15; 2. J. Lyles 10.28; 3. Kyree King (US) 10.29; 4. Brandon Carnes (US) 10.38; 5. Kendal Williams (US) 10.43.
II(0.3)–1. N. Lyles 10.03; 2. Bacon 10.12; 3. Ashmeade 10.18; 4. Demek Kemp (US) 10.30.
Future Stars 100(-0.3): 1. Erriyon Knighton (US) 10.16 PR (2, 2 WY, AY);
2. Ryiem Forde (Jam) 10.18 PR; 3. Jelani Walker (Jam) 10.34; 4. Michael Stephens (Jam) 10.35.
150(0.1): 1. Jereem Richards (Tri) 14.75 ; 2. Yohan Blake (Jam) 14.94; 3. Andrew Hudson (US) 14.94 ; 4. Jon Okoye (Ngr) 15.57 ; 5. Maurice Eaddy (US) 15.65 .
200(-0.3): 1. Jerome Blake (Can) 19.89; 2. Zharnel Hughes (GB) 19.93; 3. Aldrich Bailey (US) 20.45; 4. Wayde van Niekerk (SA) 20.86; 5. Jaron Flournoy (US) 20.87.
Road 600: 1. Marco Arop (Can) 1:15; 2. Sam Ellison (US) 1:16; 3. Jamie Webb (GB) 1:16; 4. Josh Hoey (US) 1:17.
Mile: 1. Clayton Murphy (US) 4:01; 2. Sam Prakel (US) 4:01; 3. Eric Avila (US) 4:01; 4. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) 4:02; 5. Rob Napolitano (PR) 4:02 PR; 6. Sam Parsons (Ger) 4:03; 7. Jordan Gusman (Mlt) 4:03; 8. Jeff Thies (US) 4:03 PR; 9. Abraham Alvarado (US) 4:04; 10. Joshua Lay (GB) 4:05 PR; 11. Robby Andrews (US) 4:10.
110H(0.0): 1. Grant Holloway (US) 13.20; 2. Shane Brathwaite (Bar) 13.71; 3. Valdó Szűcs (Hun) 13.72; 4. Milan Trajkovic (Cyp) 14.14; 5. Aries Merritt (US) 14.26.
200H(-0.6): 1. Alison Dos Santos (Bra) 22.12; 2. Amere Lattin (US) 22.18; 3. CJ Allen (US) 22.58; 4. Quincy Hall (US) 23.61; 5. TJ Holmes (US) 23.71.
ADIDAS BOOST WOMEN’S RESULTS
100: I(0.5)–1. Aleia Hobbs (US) 11.05; 2. Gabby Thomas (US) 11.16; 3. Morolake Akinosun (US) 11.17; 4. Dafne Schippers (Neth) 11.38; 5. Murielle Ahouré (CI) 11.44. II(0.4)–1. Kiara Parker (US) 11.07; 2. Ashanti Moore (Jam) 11.18; 3. Hannah Cunliffe (US) 11.23; 4. Gina Lückenkemper (Ger) 11.49. III(-0.5)–1. Michelle-Lee Ahye (Tri) 11.22; 2. Kristal Awuah (GB) 11.46; 3. Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Tri) 11.56; 3. Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Tri) 11.56.
150(-1.5): 1. Lynna Irby (US) 16.53; 2. Brittany Brown (US) 16.65; 3. Dezerea Bryant (US) 17.13; 4. Ashley Henderson (US) 17.13.
200(-0.1): 1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.08; 2. Kortnei Johnson (US) 22.40 PR; 3. Wadeline Jonathas (US) 22.57 PR; 4. Michelle-Lee Ahye (Tri) 22.62 PR; 5. Tynia Gaither (Bah) 22.96
600: 1. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:24; 2. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:26; 3. Allie Wilson (US) 1:26; 4. Jazmine Fray (Jam) 1:27; 5. Síofra Cléirigh Büttner (Ire) 1:27; 6. Brooke Feldmeier (US) 1:28; 7. Brenna Detra (US) 1:28; 8. Sammy Watson (US) 1:28.
Mile: 1. Nikki Hiltz (US) 4:31; 2. Rebecca Mehra (US) 4:33 PR; 3. Dominique Scott Efurd (SA) 4:35; 4. Dana Giordano (US) 4:36 PR; 5. Charlene Lipsey (US) 4:48 PR; 6. Lianne Farber (US) 4:50.
100H(-0.9): 1. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.49; 2. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.62; 3. Christina Clemons (US) 12.72; 4. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.92; 5. Payton Chadwick (US) 13.15.
200H(0.1): 1. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 24.86 “WR” (old best 25.05 Meghan Beesley [GB] ’14); 2. Shamier Little (US) 24.91 “AR” (old best 25.20 Dalilah Muhammad ’18); 3. Rhonda Whyte (Jam) 25.71; 4. Ebony Morrison (US) 25.83;… dnf—Ashley Spencer (US).