WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA, May 26–27 — Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji was ready. Still only 21, the ’18 World Junior (U20) 800 champion and 4th-placer in the senior event last summer in Eugene already had a sub-4 clocking under her belt this season, running 3:59.34 in Doha. This would be no cakewalk by any stretch, as Brit Kate Snowden and American hopeful Josette Andrews would keep her honest.
Pacesetter Anna Camp-Bennett led Welteji, Andrews and Kenyan Susan Ejore through 800 in 2:10 before stepping off at 1000.
At the bell, Welteji had a step on Andrews, Ejore, Canadian Lucia Stafford and Dani Jones and stretched that lead to 3m as they crossed 1200 in 3:14. The lead increased as Welteji pulled away on the backside and continued the trend as she entered the home stretch. She finished in an outdoor world-leading 3:57.84, well ahead of a PR by Snowden (4:00.04), whose 60.96 final circuit picked off Andrews (4:00.77, AL), Stafford (4:02.03) and Ejore (4:02.20).
Maggie Ewen amped up the already lively U.S. shot picture. Though her dog was ill at home and she had to work through a flight cancellation en route to LA — the Arizona State alum threw a huge PR to steal the victory from ’22 world champion Chase Ealey. Her 67-1¼ (20.45) world lead was a 2 foot-plus improvement over her previous best, 64-11¼ (19.79), thrown indoors in ’22. The No. 5 all-time throw by an American, it jumped Ewen up to No. 3 performer on the all-time U.S. list.
Jamaican Danniel Thomas-Dodd, the ’19 Worlds silver medalist, was 3rd with 64-10½ (19.77).
“I’m still speechless,” winner Ewen declared later on Instagram.
The deep 100H had all you could want for a final, with World Record holder Tobi Amusan heading the field in lane 4, Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn next to her in 5 and former recordholder Keni Harrison in 6.
Camacho-Quinn was challenged by Harrison for nearly the whole race, but the Puerto Rican didn’t flinch as she crossed in a world-leading 12.31, 0.04 ahead of Harrison in 12.35 (AL), with Tia Jones 3rd in 12.50.
The question that remained was, Where’s Amusan? The Nigerian was second out of the blocks to Camacho-Quinn, but never a factor, finishing in an unaccustomed last in 12.69.
The women literally came out of the blocks ablazing to start Saturday’s program as Sha’Carri Richardson blasted through the field in heat 1 of the 100 in 10.90, well ahead of Morolake Akinosun (11.12), Jamaican high schooler Alana Reid (11.12) and Celera Barnes (11.13).
Heat 2 was next and Marie-Josée Ta Lou upped the ante when the Ivoirian clocked 10.88, followed closely by Aleia Hobbs (10.95), with Jamaican Shashalee Forbes (11.20) and Mikiah Brisco rounding out the finals field.
When they lined up for the final American Melissa Jefferson, who’d come in 5th in heat 1 had been added to the field, while the middle two lanes were empty. Richardson and Ta Lou were now listed as DNS, but there was no sign nor mention of Hobbs on the start list. It was later reported that Richardson and Ta Lou cited cramps for their non-start.
A representative of Hobbs’ Global Athletics Marketing management team told T&FN, “After the heat and while warming up for the final, she felt some pain in her knee and just decided to play it safe. Let’s hope that’s as far as it goes.”
With the breath knocked out of the final, Akinosun took the trophy in 10.97, 0.10 ahead of Jefferson in 11.07, with Reid 3rd in 11.08.
Dominican Marileidy Paulino topped the field in the 400 with her world-leading 48.98 NR ahead of Bahrain’s ’19 world champion Salwa Eid Naser, whose 50.27 was her fastest since her championship year and recently ended 2-year ban. Third was covered by American Lynna Irby-Jackson in 50.38.
Ajee’ Wilson toyed with the 800 field. She waited until the last 100 to make her move to pass ’19 world champion Halimah Nakaayi 50m from the line. Wilson’s 1:59.01 was a season best, as was Nakaayi’s 1:59.35.
In other throwing action, Camryn Rogers took down reigning hammer world champion Brooke Andersen and Andersen’s predecessor as global titlist, DeAnna Price, with a Canadian Record 257-11 (78.62). Andersen’s 249-6 (76.06) was good for 2nd, while Price’s 248-11 (75.89) took 3rd.
Valerie Allman’s 224-4 (68.39) was more than enough for the win in the discus.
LAGP WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.2): 1. Morolake Akinosun (US) 10.97; 2. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.07; 3. Alana Reid (Jam) 11.08; 4. Celera Barnes (US) 11.11; 5. Shashalee Forbes (Jam) 11.13; 6. Mikiah Brisco (US) 11.18;… dnc—Sha’Carri Richardson (US), Aleia Hobbs (US), Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI).
Heats: I(-0.8)–1. Richardson 10.90. II(1.3)–1. Ta Lou 10.88; 2. Hobbs 10.95.
200(0.5): 1. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.34; 2. TeeTee Terry (US) 22.44 PR; 3. Anavia Battle (US) 22.57; 4. Gabby Thomas (US) 22.85; 5. Kyra Jefferson (US) 23.02; 6. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 23.36; 7. Kortnei Johnson (US) 23.44.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 48.98 NR (WL) (12, x W);
2. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 50.27; 3. Lynna Irby-Jackson (US) 50.38; 4. Sada Williams (Bar) 51.00; 5. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 51.69; 6. Alexis Holmes (US) 51.74; 7. Kendall Ellis (US) 51.85; 8. Fiordaliza Cofil (DR) 51.91.
800: 1. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:59.01 (AL);
2. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:59.35; 3. Kaela Edwards (US) 2:00.22; 4. Allie Wilson (US) 2:00.57; 5. Sammy Watson (US) 2:00.84; 6. McKenna Keegan (US) 2:01.34; 7. Susan Aneno (Uga) 2:01.65 PR; 8. Lindsey Butterworth (Can) 2:03.09; 9. Olivia Baker (US) 2:04.63.
1500: 1. Diribe Welteji (Eth) 3:57.84 (out WL);
2. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:00.04 PR;
3. Josette Andrews (US) 4:00.77 (AL);
4. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:02.03 PR; 5. Susan Ejore (Ken) 4:02.20 PR; 6. Emma Coburn (US) 4:05.35; 7. Netsanet Desta (Eth) 4:05.86; 8. Whittni Morgan (US) 4:05.97; 9. Dani Jones (US) 4:09.74; 10. Taryn Rawlings (US) 4:13.85.
100H(-0.2): 1. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 12.31 (WL); 2. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.35 (AL) (x, =11 A);
3. Tia Jones (US) 12.50; 4. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.52; 5. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.55; 6. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.59; 7. Nia Ali (US) 12.65; 8. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.69.
(best-ever mark-for-place: =6)
Field Events
PV(5/26): 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-1½ (4.61) (14-9½ [2], 15-1½, 15-5½ [xxx]) (4.51 [2], 4.61, 4.71 [xxx]); 2. Alysha Newman (Can) 15-1½ (14-5½ [3], 14-9½, 15-1½ [3], 15-5½ [xxx]) (4.41 [3], 4.51, 4.61 [3], 4.71 [xxx]); 3. Rachel Baxter (US) 14-9½ (4.51); 4. Bridget Williams (US) 14-5½ (4.41); 5. Emily Grove (US) 14-5½;… nh—Anicka Newell (Can), Gabriela Leon (US), Katie Moon (US).
SP: 1. Maggie Ewen (US) 67-1¼ (20.45) PR (WL) (3, 5 A) (63-9, 63-¼, 67-1¼, f, 66-¼, 64-9¾) (19.43, 19.21, 20.45, f, 20.12, 19.75);
2. Chase Ealey (US) 65-6¾ (19.98) (63-1¼, 63-6, 64-2¼, f, 65-6¾, f) (19.23, 19.35, 19.56, f, 19.98, f); 3. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 64-10½ (19.77) NR; 4. Jiayuan Song (Chn) 63-7½ (19.39); 5. Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZ) 62-11¼ (19.18); 6. Linru Zhang (Chn) 60-10½ (18.55); 7. Adelaide Aquilla (US) 57-9¾ (17.62).
DT(5/26): 1. Valarie Allman (US) 224-4 (68.39) (224-4, 220-1, f, f, f, 221-3) (68.39, 67.09, f, f, f, 67.45); 2. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 209-9 (63.93); 3. Lagi Tausaga-Collins (US) 197-11 (60.34); 4. Chioma Onyekwere (Ngr) 195-7 (59.63); 5. Elena Bruckner (US) 195-1 (59.47); 6. Shadae Lawrence (Jam) 195-0 (59.44); 7. Micaela Hazlewood (US) 181-3 (55.25).
HT: 1. Camryn Rogers (Can) 257-11 (78.62) NR (5, x W) (246-6, 233-6, 240-9, 236-5, 257-11, f) (75.15, 71.19, 73.38, 72.07, 78.62, f);
2. Brooke Andersen (US) 249-6 (76.06); 3. DeAnna Price (US) 248-11 (75.89); 4. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 240-3 (73.23); 5. Sara Fantini (Ita) 234-3 (71.40); 6. Janeah Stewart (US) 230-8 (70.31); 7. Alyssa Wilson (US) 225-6 (68.75); 8. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 223-6 (68.12); 9. Jillian Weir (Can) 213-6 (65.07).
JT: 1. Xiaomei Sun (Chn) 182-7 (55.67); 2. Ariana Ince (US) 182-4 (55.58); 3. Shiying Liu (Chn) 181-5 (55.30); 4. Qiaohui Gai (Chn) 179-9 (54.80); 5. Maggie Malone (US) 177-0 (53.97); 6. Rebekah Wales (US) 174-2 (53.09).
