BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, February 04 — The New Balance GP, the first major meet at “the Track at New Balance,” a gleaming new indoor edifice replete with a concert venue and multiple eateries, produced some performances as sparkling as the facility’s steeply banked red oval.
In premeet interviews, Noah Lyles, twice a world champion at the outdoor half-lapper, declared his desire to run, and win, the 100/200 double in this summer’s WC.
And if his 60 performance here was any indication, Lyles could very well become the first global men’s sprint double champ since Usain Bolt at Rio ’16.
Never the greatest starter, Lyles was not especially quick out of the blocks in his heat here, but exhibited impressive top speed to take his section in 6.56, just 0.01 off his PR from his win in last year’s Birmingham WIT.
Trayvon Bromell is 7 years removed from his World Indoor title, yet still exhibited the form that took him to the 100 bronze last summer. While he did not rocket out of the blocks, he accelerated powerfully before easing to a controlled 6.61 in the second heat, setting up an intriguing final 90 minutes later.
Bromell, in lane 5, got out well, and had a visible early lead. Lyles, to Brommel’s left in lane 4, started better than in his heat, but still found himself a meter down. But Lyles, who is accustomed to being in the lead early in a 200, did not panic. He let his high-end speed come out, just catching Bromell at the line, the pair only separated by 0.002, as both were given a time of 6.51.
Said the ecstatic winner, “I’ve been waiting on this PR for a long time. Now I’ve got a PR that is that close to the 6.40s. Next meet I feel like I can definitely get below that.”
Just 8 days and about one mile removed from his AR 5000 at BU, Woody Kincaid was back in Beantown, this time in the 3000. And while there was some premeet buzz about another possible record attempt, Kincaid himself put that idea to rest at the presser, stating that his goal was simply to win, not divulging until after the meet that he’d tweaked his hamstring in a treadmill mishap a few days prior.
The entire field looked reluctant to go with the pacemakers’ early quick tempo, leaving Brian Fay, of Washington by way of Ireland, to push the pace after a modest 3:56 first half.
Michigan State grad Morgan Beadlescomb made a move with 300 to go, but, Kincaid simply unloaded approaching the bell, exhibiting some of the most devastating American indoor finishing speed in recent memory, running 12.6 for the penultimate 100 as part of a 25.7 final circuit to easily outdistance ‘21 DII Indoor champ Christian Noble 7:40.71–7:42.55. Brit James West closed well to nip Beadlescomb by 0.01 for 3rd, in 7:42.89. Fay ended up 6th (7:43.85).
Said the victorious Portland alum, “My finish is always there. It’s just a matter of being close enough to take advantage of it.”
Grant Holloway, the reigning World Indoor and Outdoor straightaway hurdles champ, picked up where he left off last season, cruising to a world-leading 7.39 in the heats before going 0.01 better in the final, to easily best Daniel Roberts (7.46). Last year’s WC runner-up Trey Cunningham was a well-beaten 5th (7.67).
NEW BALANCE GP MEN’S RESULTS
(200 banked)
60: 1. Noah Lyles (US) 6.51 PR; 2. Trayvon Bromell (US) 6.51; 3. Benjamin Azamati (Gha) 6.62; 4. Miles Lewis (PR) 6.62; 5. Kendal Williams (US) 6.64; 6. Demek Kemp (US) 6.67; 7. Michael Campbell (Jam) 6.79;… dnc—Terrance Laird (US).
Heats: I–1. Lyles 6.56; 2. Williams 6.68; 3. Lewis 6.69; 4. Kemp 6.71. II–1. Bromell 6.61; 2. Azamati 6.65; 3. Laird 6.69; 4. Campbell 6.73 PR;… fs—Josephus Lyles (US).
400: 1. Noah Williams (US) 45.88; 2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 45.88; 3. Vernon Norwood (US) 45.92; 4. Alex Haydock-Wilson (GB) 46.29 PR; 5. Javon Francis (Jam) 47.61.
800: 1. Mariano García (Spa) 1:45.26;
2. Isaiah Jewett (US) 1:45.75 PR (AL) (9, x A);
3. Mark English (Ire) 1:46.57; 4. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:46.58; 5. Daniel Rowden (GB) 1:46.75 PR; 6. Kyle Langford (GB) 1:47.73; 7. Drew Piazza (US) 1:51.56… rabbit—Erik Sowinski (US) (50.54).
Mile: 1. Neil Gourley (GB) 3:52.84 PR (WL) (3:38.06);
2. Sam Tanner (NZ) 3:52.85 PR (3:37.87);
3. Sam Prakel (US) 3:53.58 (AL) (3:38.32 AL);
4. Andrew Coscoran (Ire) 3:53.64 =PR (3:37.95); 5. Johnny Gregorek (US) 3:53.99 (3:38.57); 6. Luke McCann (Ire) 3:54.91 (3:38.28 PR); 7. Jochem Vermeulen (Bel) 3:59.32 PR; 8. Charlie Da’Vall Grice (GB) 4:00.31; 9. Cruz Culpepper (US) 4:02.08; 10. Hobbs Kessler (US) 4:05.01; 11. Josh Hoey (US) 4:05.58.
3000: 1. Woody Kincaid (US) 7:40.71 PR; 2. Christian Noble (US) 7:42.55 PR; 3. James West (GB) 7:42.89 PR; 4. Morgan Beadlescomb (US) 7:42.90 PR; 5. Ben Flanagan (Can) 7:43.49 PR; 6. Brian Fay (Ire) 7:43.85 PR; 7. Darragh McElhinney (Ire) 7:45.79 PR; 8. Thomas Keen (GB) 7:48.99 PR; 9. Mason Ferlic (US) 7:49.62;…rabbit—Sowinski.
60H: 1. Grant Holloway (US) 7.38 (WL, AL);
2. Daniel Roberts (US) 7.46; 3. Freddie Crittenden (US) 7.55; 4. Robert Dunning (US) 7.61; 5. Trey Cunningham (US) 7.67; 6. Jaylan McConico (US) 7.78; 7. Josh Braverman (US) 7.85;… dq—Louis Rollins (US).
Heats: I–1. Holloway 7.39 (WL, AL);
2. Crittenden 7.59; 3. Dunning 7.60 PR; 4. Braverman 7.74; 5. Rollins 7.74. II–1. Roberts 7.52; 2. Cunningham 7.62; 3. McConico 7.77; 4. Damion Thomas (Jam) 7.82; 5. Joshua Zeller (GB) 8.00.
HJ: 1. Tejaswin Shankar (Ind) 7-5 (2.26); 2. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-3¾ (2.23); 3. Darryl Sullivan (US) 7-2¼ (2.19);… nh—Darius Carbin (US).