PORTLAND, OREGON, June 14–15 — The runner-friendly setting of Griswold Stadium on the campus of Lewis & Clark College once again produced an outstanding array of results for those in search of USATF or World Champs qualifying standards.
Not the least among the many was ‘19 world 800 champ Donovan Brazier, whose 1:44.70 victory in Nashville on June’s first weekend signaled that something was afoot. Sidelined since ’22 by misfortune, injuries and surgeries, his jaunt indicated his running woes might be a thing of the past.
In Portland, Brazier confirmed that Nashville was no fluke, putting the 2-lap world on notice that he is back.
Brazier had company in the likes of Mexico’s 1:43 man, Jesús López, Penn State’s Handal Roban and Allon Clay plus Washington Husky teammates Kyle Reinheimer and Justin O’Toole.
At 400, Roban trailed the pacer in 51.87 with Villanova’s Daniel Watcke, Puerto Rico’s John Rivera, Reinheimer and Brazier strung behind. Once on the backstraight, Brazier wasted no time and by 600 was 2m clear of Roban.
He continued his acceleration, extending his lead beyond 10m before crossing the line in 1:43.81, negative-splitting the race 52.74/51.07.
Roban finished 2nd in 1:45.05, followed by Reinheimer (1:45.73) and O’Toole (1:46.29).
On getting back into the fray, Brazier said, “It was a real warm welcoming back. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been surreal because, you know, when you’re in the trenches of this whole recovery process, you don’t ever think you’ll kind of make it out at some points.”
Looking to the future with anticipation, Brazier added, “The way that I left the 800, it was in a different shape than it is now. I have a lot of great guys to compete with in American 800-meter running, specifically. It’s gotten so great these last few years, so I’m just trying to keep up with these guys at this point.”
As good as it was seeing Brazier back in the saddle, he summed it up best, saying, “It’s been really fun to see familiar faces again.”
The men’s 1500 provided lots to cheer about after Oklahoma State’s Fouad Messaoudi led the charge with his 3:33.93 PR, followed by Harvard’s NCAA 3rd-placer Ferenc Kovács, whose 3:34.79 was a Hungarian Record. Sam Prakel (3:35.28) and Sam Ellis (3:35.40) followed, with preps Owen Powell (Mercer Island, Washington) and Josiah Tostenson (Crater, Central Point, Oregon) finishing 11th and 12th to become Nos. 2 & 3 on the all-time HS list behind Hobbs Kessler.
Drew Hunter took the 5000 in 13:14.95, running down Amon Kemboi (13:15.22) with his 56.2 closer, ahead of Thomas Ratcliffe (13:16.59) and Olin Hacker (13:17.80). Paris steeple silver medalist Kenneth Rooks was also in the field, finishing 12th in a PR 13:26.65.
Another prep, Tostenson’s Crater teammate, Tayvon Kitchen, was on pace to challenge Daniel Simmons’ 13:25.86 High School Record when he got entangled and tumbled into the infield after passing 3000 in 8:07.14. He would eventually finish in 13:59.11.
The steeple saw Isaac Updike blast a 61.92 final circuit to win. His 8:13.64 was not only a PR. It also bettered the 8:15.00 Tokyo standard. Updike trailed Derek Johnson at the bell, but took off down the backstretch, dusting Johnson and the other chasers to the line, with Gable Sieperda (8:20.95) getting a PR ahead of Duncan Hamilton (8:21.86). Johnson faded to 8th.
You might say Jessica Hull set the table for Brazier with a convincing 800 win of her own.
In the 2-lapper, the Paris 1500 runner-up was joined by fellow sub-2:00 performer Sammy Watson, Honour Finley, Oklahoma State junior Kaylie Politza, MaLeigha Menegatti and Sadi Henderson.
Hull stayed on the heels of the pacer, going through halfway in 58.64, with Watson, Finley and Henderson in tow.
Hull covered the second half unpressed, finishing with a 60.06, crossing in a near-PR 1:58.69. Watson was 2.04 back in 2:00.73, followed by Politza (2:00.94) and Finley (2:01.26).
A solid performance, yet Hull knows there’s more to be had, saying, “It felt strong. It didn’t feel comfortable.”
Duck alum and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers was a last-minute addition to the meet, but not in the Hot Window section because she had decided in the last minute to compete. She won her section comfortably in 2:00.45.
She said, “Six minutes before this race, I was thinking about not running. I hadn’t competed since April. Whatever happened, I would have been OK with.”
Sinclaire Johnson handled the women’s 1500 with ease, following the rabbit through 800 in 2:10.5 before taking over herself. Simone Plourde and BYU’s Riley Chamberlain followed.
Johnson led Plourde and Chamberlain through 1100 in 2:59.69, finishing in 61.77 for a 4:01.46 final time. That put her 2.37 ahead of Plourde (4:03.83) with Chamberlain next in 4:03.98.
Other action saw Katelyn Tuohy open her outdoor season with a respectable 15:04.07 for 5000. The former NC State star parted company with Ella Donaghu and the rest once she passed 3000 in 9:11.06. Tuohy threw in progressively faster laps, capping her run with 68.65 for a 3.96 advantage over Donaghu (15:08.03). Katie Izzo (15:08.54) and Lucy Nodler Jenks (15:09.91) finished close behind.
Gracie Hyde took the steeple in 9:24.62, while Abby Nichols outlasted Alessia Zarbo in the 10,000, 31:52.94–31:56.94.
PORTLAND MEN’S RESULTS
800: I–1. Donavan Brazier (Nike) 1:43.81; 2. *Handal Roban’ (PennSt-StV) 1:45.05; 3. Kyle Reinheimer (Wa) 1:45.73 PR; 4. Justin O’Toole (Wa) 1:46.29 PR. II–1. Patrick Tuohy (NCSt) 1:46.01 PR; 2. Hassan Abidi’ (Tun) 1:46.05 PR.
1500: I–1. Fouad Messaoudi’ (OkSt-Mor) 3:33.93 PR; 2. Ferenc Kovács’ (Harv-Hun) 3:34.79 NR; 3. Sam Prakel (adidas) 3:35.28; 4. Sam Ellis (On) 3:35.40 PR; 5. Nick Plant (VaT) 3:35.57 PR; 6. Wes Porter (unat) 3:35.65; 7. Alexander Stitt’ (OkSt-Aus) 3:35.71 PR;…
11. Owen Powell (WaHS) 3:36.49 PR (2, 2 HS; 3, 3 AJ); 12. Josiah Tostenson (OrHS) 3:36.85 PR (3, 3 HS; 4, 5 AJ).
II–1. Sair Salgado (UArmDS) 3:35.48 PR; 2. Leo Young (unat) 3:35.96 PR; 3. Rhys Hammond (Wa) 3:36.86 PR.
St: 1. Isaac Updike (UArmDS) 8:13.64 PR; 2. Gable Sieperda (FitS) 8:20.95 PR; 3. Duncan Hamilton (Swoosh) 8:21.86; 4. Hibiki Obara’ (Jpn) 8:22.64 PR; 5. Parker Stokes (BrkB) 8:24.96; 6. Yasin Sado (UAC) 8:25.14; 7. Daniel Michalski (USAF) 8:27.06; 8. Derek Johnson (NBal) 8:28.63.
5000: I–1. Drew Hunter (adidas) 13:14.95; 2. Amon Kemboi’ (Ken) 13:15.22; 3. Thomas Ratcliffe (Swoosh) 13:16.56 PR;
4. Olin Hacker (HokaNnAz) 13:17.80; 5. Sam Parsons’ (Ger) 13:19.22 PR; 6. Kasey Knevelbaard (UArmDS) 13:20.63; 7. Eric van der Els (Zap) 13:25.00; 8. Justyn Knight’ (Can) 13:25.28; 9. Theo Quax’ (NZ) 13:25.42; 10. Said Mechaal’ (Spa) 13:25.66 PR; 11. Acer Iverson (unat) 13:25.68 PR; 12. Kenneth Rooks (Nike) 13:26.65 PR.
10,000: 1. Chris Maxon (HiPtAC) 28:19.17 PR; 2. Aidan Reed (Roots) 28:20.01; 3. Davin Thompson (BYU) 28:20.29 PR.
PORTLAND WOMEN’S RESULTS
800: I–1. Jessica Hull’ (Aus) 1:58.69; 2. Sammy Watson (adidas) 2:00.73; 3. Kaylie Politza (OkSt) 2:00.94 PR; 4. Honour Finley (unat) 2:01.26 PR; 5. MaLeigha Menegatti (unat) 2:01.92 PR. II–1. Raevyn Rogers (Nike) 2:00.45.
1500: I–1. Sinclaire Johnson (Nike) 4:01.46; 2. Simone Plourde’ (Can) 4:03.83 PR; 3. Riley Chamberlain (BYU) 4:03.98 PR; 4. Grace Fetherstonhaugh’ (Can) 4:06.76 PR; 5. Grace Boone (unat) 4:07.53 PR; 6. Katie Camarena (Sauc) 4:07.92 PR. II–1. Alexina Teubel (unat) 4:05.99; 2. Claire Yerby (unat) 4:07.78 PR.
St: 1. Gracie Hyde (Puma) 9:24.62 PR; 2. Fetherstonhaugh’ 9:31.08 PR; 3. Calli Doan (unat) 9:44.37 PR; 4. Colett Rampf Cribbs (USAr) 9:46.82; 5. Amy Cashin’ (Aus) 9:57.09; 6. Maisie Grice’ (GB) 9:59.54.
5000: 1. Katelyn Tuohy (adidas) 15:04.07; 2. Ella Donaghu (Swoosh) 15:08.03; 3. Katie Izzo (adidas) 15:08.54 PR; 4. Lucy Jenks (EnclDC) 15:09.91 PR; 5. Regan Yee’ (Can) 15:10.61 PR; 6. Amaris Tyynismaa (UArmDS) 15:11.95 PR; 7. Jessica McClain (Brk) 15:12.57 PR; 8. Courtney Frerichs (Nike) 15:13.65.
10,000: 1. Abby Nichols (HokaNnAz) 31:52.94 PR; 2. Alessia Zarbo’ (Fra) 31:56.94; 3. Laura Galván’ (Mex) 32:16.06; 4. Cailie Logue Hughes (PumaMnDE) 32:28.18.
