FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, January 31 — Itching to build on the momentum that brought him an impressive 1:43.23 absolute best last summer, Bryce Hoppel seized his chance in the ATL II meet-capping event and with a sparkling last lap cranked out a 1:44.37 undercover PR. The Kansas alum’s time, inferior among Americans only to Donavan Brazier’s AR from last year (see chart), carried him to No. 6 all-time world. It was also the No. 9 time ever run.
Rabbit Jim Warren got on it from the gun splitting 25.31 and 51.91 for the first two laps leading a strong field. Third at 400, Hoppel rushed decisively to the lead just before 600 and opened a chasm from Brit miler Charlie Grice (1:45.62) and Erik Sowinski (1:45.69 PR for a share of No. 6 on the all-time U.S. list).
Rio medalist Clayton Murphy (1:48.40) ran at the back of the pack for the first 3 laps before fading on the last.
“You never know what’s going to come with that first race of the season,” said Hoppel after a 52.23/52.14 negative-split performance. “My coach was saying to ‘get out there and compete, you’re going against Clayton, Craig [Engels] and all these guys and they’re incredible athletes.’ So that was kind of what was going through my head.
“I was feeling good going into 300 [to go]. I was like, ‘Alright! Let’s take it.’ And the time just kind of comes along with that, just competing and doing the best you can out there.”
Brazier had been scheduled to run the 600, but he and Raevyn Rogers in the women’s race were both scratched after coming in contact with someone who had turned in a positive C19 test. Both Brazier and Rogers subsequently tested negative.
Another Amazing Series For Crouser
Affirming his consistency in a range where no shotputter has ever shown same, Ryan Crouser managed everything at ATL II save for an improvement on his World Record from the previous week. In a comp in which Payton Otterdahl placed 2nd at 69-9½ (21.27), the Olympic champion opened with 70-2½ (21.40). He launched his second monster out to 74-4¼, equal to the former WR Crouser broke 7 days before. Now it’s “just” the =3 all-time distance.
And Crouser just kept bombing, with his fifth-rounder flying just a centimeter shorter than his second: 72-9¾/22.19, 73-½/22.26, 74-3¾/22.65, 73-7¼ (22.43). With an unparalleled 5 throws over 22m, he averaged 73-¾ (22.27).
“I was actually really happy with today,” Crouser told ESPN. “I came back after the big throw last week, and that’s difficult to do, coming off a big throw. It’s really easy when you know more’s there to force it. I threw a really consistent series — all but one over 22 [meters] with a couple throws in the 22.60s. So consistency-wise, this week was better. I didn’t feel quite as good, I would say, as I had hoped. Just the first meet of the year kind of took a little bit out of me so I’m excited to see where I can go from here.
“I had the energy last week, I had the execution today. We’re off next weekend, we’ll be back in two weeks and hoping we can put those two together.”
Shaunae Miller-Uibo was the star on the women’s side, her Bahamian Record 22.40 moving her to =No. 9 on the all-time world 200 list. Shamier Little’s 23.40 PR left her a distant 2nd.
AMERICAN TRACK LEAGUE II MEN’S RESULTS
(200 banked)
60: 1. Maurice Eaddy (US) 6.63; 2. Marvin Bracy (US) 6.66; 3. Mario Burke (Bar) 6.68; 4. Jaylen Bacon (US) 6.71;
5. Jak Ali Harvey (Tur) 6.79; 6. Rodney Rowe (US) 6.80; 7. Kendal Williams (US) 6.85; 8. Davon Demoss (US) 6.86.
200: I–1. Deon Lendore (Tri) 20.89; 2. Vernon Norwood (US) 21.20. II–1. Jereem Richards (Tri) 20.74; 2. Rowe 20.95; 3. Chidi Okezie (Ngr) 21.15.
600: 1. Nick Hilson (US) 1:19.14; 2. James Gilreath (US) 1:19.15; 3. Travean Caldwell (US) 1:19.35; 4. Cameron Laverty (US) 1:21.26.
800: 1. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:44.37 PR (6, 9 W; 2, 2 A) (25.82, 26.41 [52.23], 26.34 [1:18.57], 25.80) (52.23/52.14);
2. Charlie Da’Vall Grice (GB) 1:45.62 PR (52.47/53.15);
3. Erik Sowinski (US) 1:45.69 PR (=6, x A) (52.15/53.54);
4. Craig Engels (US) 1:46.10 PR (52.68/ 53.42); 5. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:48.40 (52.44/55.96;… rabbit—Jim Warren (US) (25.31, 26.60 [51.91]).
60H: 1. Trevor Bassitt (US) 7.71; 2. Jason Joseph (Swi) 7.92; 3. DaShaun Jackson (US) 7.99; 4. Isaiah Moore (US) 8.07; 5. Tyler Brendel (US) 8.20.
SP: 1. Ryan Crouser (US) 74-4¼ (22.66) (x, =3 W, A) (70-2½, 74-4¼, 72-9¾, 73-½, 74-3¾ [x, 5 W, A] 73-7¼ [x, 10 W; x, 9 A]) (21.40, 22.66, 22.19, 22.26, 22.65, 22.43) (avg—73-¾/22.27);
2. Payton Otterdahl (US) 69-9½ (21.27); 3. Nick Ponzio (US) 66-2½ (20.18); 4. Roger Steen (US) 64-11½ (19.80).
ATL II WOMEN’S RESULTS
60: 1. Mikiah Brisco (US) 7.17; 2. Hannah Cunliffe (US) 7.26; 3. Caitland Smith (US) 7.28; 4. Candace Hill (US) 7.52; 5. Tianna Bartoletta (US) 7.61.
200: 1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.40 NR (=9, x W);
2. Shamier Little (US) 23.40 PR.
600: 1. Sammy Watson (US) 1:28.29; 2. Gabby Scott (PR) 1:28.30; 3. Sparkle McKnight (Tri) 1:29.32.
Mile: 1. Heather MacLean (US) 4:27.54 (30.71); 2. Dani Jones (US) 4:30.56 (33.36); 3. Mackenzie Andrews (Aus) 4:33.39 PR; 4. Sammy George (US) 4:39.25; 5. Julia Rizk (US) 4:45.23; 6. Kaitlin Ryan (US) 5:08.52.
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-9¼ (4.81) (14-11, 15-3, 15-5, 15-9¼, 16-3¼ [xxx]) (4.55, 4.65, 4.70, 4.81, 4.96 [xxx]);
2. Anicka Newell (Can) 14-11 (4.55); 3. Megan Clark (US) 14-7¼ (4.45); 4. Kortney Oates (US) 14-7¼; 5. Lauren Martinez (US) 14-3¼ (4.35); 6. Jill Marois (US) 14-3¼ PR; 7. Robin Bone (Can) 13-11¼ (4.25); 8. Marissa Kalsey (US) 13-5¼ (4.10).
LJ: 1. Kendell Williams (US) 21-8 (6.60); 2. Chanice Porter (Jam) 21-4¾ (6.52); 3. Yanis David (Fra) 20-9 (6.32); 4. Aries Sanchez (Ven) 20-2½ (6.16); 5. Baileh Simms (Can) 20-¼ (6.10); 6. Bartoletta 19-½ (5.80).