EUGENE, OREGON, July 04 — It had been more than 5 years since Faith Kipyegon, who has won 3 Olympic 1500 golds, had lost a race over 1500 or a mile. On the Fourth of July, before a sellout of 12,452, she was beaten by an American at the Prefontaine Classic.
Nikki Hiltz didn’t see it coming, even if the 31-year-old once envisioned it.
“I’ve always thought it would be so cool to see if I could outkick her in the last 100,” Hiltz said. “But she’s always so far ahead.
“It was one of those moments. I was like, ‘I think this is the only time in my career with 100m to go I can go head-to-head.’ I got excited. Obviously, it wasn’t just me and her. The whole field was there.”
Hiltz finished first in 4:17.49, fastest in the world this year indoors or outdoors, in what developed into tactical race more than record chase. Nevertheless, 8 ran under the Hayward Field and Pre Record of 4:21.25 set by Mary Slaney in ’88.
World silver medalist Dorcus Ewoi and Kipyegon, both of Kenya, were 2nd and 3rd in 4:17.62 and 4:17.80. It was a year ago that Kipyegon lowered her 1500 WR to 3:48.68 here.
“It’s a little tough. I wanted just to follow the ladies,” Kipyegon said. “That’s why I’m not going crazy. At the same time, nobody knows behind the scenes of everything.”
Klaudia Kazimierska was 4th in a Polish Record 4:17.90 and Australia’s Jessica Hull 5th in 4:18.03. Both represented Oregon collegiately, as did Hiltz for one season before transferring to Arkansas.
Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell, a bronze medalist behind Kipyegon and Hull at the ’24 Olympics, faded to 8th in 4:18.52.
Sinclaire Johnson retained the American Record of 4:16.32 from London last year.
“If you were going to ask me if you would rather win or get the American Record, I would say win every time,” Hiltz said. “So yeah, maybe it was a little bit slower than I was expecting. But man, that last 100. I just want to relive that over and over.”
You know what is happening over and over?
Masai Russell running the 100H in the 12.20s… or faster.
The Olympic champion beat the WR holder, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, 12.24–12.34. Russell’s training partner, the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, was 3rd in 12.41, the same time as Grace Stark in 4th.
Russell tied the MR set in ’16 by Keni Harrison, who, a decade later, finished 8th in 12.66. Russell is 7-0 this year, clocking 12.25, 12.14 (American Record), 12.26 and 12.24 over her past four races.
“My boyfriend says all the time, ‘You’re ruining the sport. You running all these crazy fast times is making 12.20 not seem 12.20,’” Russell said.
In the women’s 100, the top three were separated by just 0.02. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden edged training partner Sha’Carri Richardson, 10.78–10.79, in a duel between the ’25 and ’23 world champions. World leader Adaejah Hodge, the T&FN Collegiate AOY for Georgia, was 3rd in 10.80.
“It was a fight literally to the finish, but I wanted it more, so I got it,” Jefferson-Wooden said.
In two other races between global gold medalists:
•World champion Lilian Odira of Kenya overtook Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain in the 800, 1:56.19–1:56.73. Addy Wiley, a 22-year-old American coming off her first DL win at Doha, passed three runners in the last 100 and was 3rd in 1:57.70.
•World champion Faith Cherotich of Kenya beat Olympic champ Winfred Yavi of Bahrain in the steeplechase, 8:51.74–8:52.84. Kenya’s Doris Lemngole, who skipped the steeple at NCAAs, clocked 8:57.89 for the fastest 4th ever. She also ran faster than the 8:58.15 Collegiate Record she set for Alabama last year — though T&FN does not give record consideration to marks made outside the collegiate season.
In a long jump that can be compared for quality and depth to just one previous comp in DL history, world and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall triumphed over Larissa Iapichino by a quarter-inch 23-4¾ (7.13) to 23-4½ (7.12).
Iapichino leapt to the lead in round 1 with her long mark, which broke the Italian Record held by her mother, Fiona May, since ’98. Davis-Woodhall struck back with her winner in frame 2.
Monae Nichols was 3rd with a wind-aided 23-1¾ (7.05) and NCAA champion Alyssa Jones 4th with 22-11¼ (6.99).
Only the Doha DL competition of ’13 won by event great Brittney Reese is comparable in series history through the first 3 places. The marks for place in that clash were 1. Reese 23-9½ (7.25); 2. Blessing Okagbare 23-5¼w (7.14); 3. Janay DeLoach Soukup 23-2¾w (7.08). Funmi Jimoh placed 4th at 22-8½ (6.92).
Two-time world champion Chase Jackson won the shot with an opening distance of 67-5½ (20.56). Jessica Schilder, the Netherlands’ world champion and world leader, was next at 65-11¾ (20.11).
China’s 19-year-old hammer prodigy Jiale Zhang improved her PR to 255-8 (77.94) in the last round to win and climb to No. 8 on the all-time list. Canada’s Camryn Rogers, winner of the past three global golds, was 2nd at 255-3 (77.81).
PRE SECOND-DAY WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.0): 1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (US) 10.78; 2. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 10.79; 3. Adaejah Hodge (BVI) 10.80; 4. Jonielle Smith (Jam) 10.89 PR; 5. Tina Clayton (Jam) 11.00; 6. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 11.02; 7. Shawnti Jackson (US) 11.02; 8. Favour Ofili (Ngr) 11.07.
800: 1. Lilian Odira (Ken) 1:56.19 (56.4/59.8); 2. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:56.73 (56.3/60.4); 3. Addy Wiley (US) 1:57.70 (56.8/60.9); 4. Sanu Jallow (Gam) 1:58.12; 5. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:58.21; 6. Anaïs Bourgoin (Fra) 1:58.66; 7. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:58.79; 8. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:59.37; 9. Hayley Kitching (Aus) 1:59.56;… rabbit—Paris Peoples (US) (53.6).
Mile: 1. Nikki Hiltz (US) 4:17.49 (WL) (x, 9 A)
(65.9, 64.9 [2:10.8], 64.8 [3:15.6], 61.9 [109m]) (metric finish splits: 14.1, 29.0);
2. Dorcus Ewoi (Ken) 4:17.62 PR (14.0); 3. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 4:17.80 (14.4) (first 1500/mile loss since 6/10/21); 4. Klaudia Kazimierska (Pol) 4:17.90 NR; 5. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:18.03;
6. Emily Mackay (US) 4:18.18 PR (9, x A);
7. Sarah Healy (Ire) 4:18.49; 8. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 4:18.52 PR; 9. Gabija Galvydytė (Lit) 4:21.43 NR; 10. Laura Muir (GB) 4:22.31;
11. Saron Berhe (Eth) 4:22.50 PR (3, 4 WJ);
12. Heather MacLean (US) 4:26.13;… rabbit—Taryn Parks (US) (64.30, 62.91 [2:07.21]).
St: 1. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 8:51.74 (5:57.82); 2. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 8:52.84;
3. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 8:54.32 NR (7, x W);
4. Doris Lemngole (Ken) 8:57.89 PR; 5. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 9:05.39; 6. Gesa-Felicitas Krause (Ger) 9:07.50; 7. Lea Meyer (Ger) 9:09.13 PR; 8. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (US) 9:13.33; 9. Emma Coburn (US) 9:15.97; 10. Gabrielle Jennings (US) 9:18.12; 11. Angelina Napoleon (US) 9:19.41; 12. Angelina Ellis (US) 9:20.30 PR; 13. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:20.90; 14. Gracie Hyde (US) 9:25.19; 15. Olivia Markezich (US) 9:32.13;… dnf—Norah Jeruto (Kaz);… rabbit—Taylor Lovell (US) (2:54.68).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 4)
2M: 1. Aleshign Baweke (Eth) 9:20.02 PR (WL) (7:08.01);
2. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 9:20.20 PR (8:16.70);
3. Shelby Houlihan (US) 9:21.42 PR (AL);
4. Marta Alemayo (Eth) 9:21.42 PR; 5. Margot Appleton (US) 9:22.52 PR; 6. Karissa Schweizer (US) 9:22.79 PR… 9. Elise Stearns (US) 9:24.24 PR;… 11. Ella Donaghu (US) 9:44.15;… rabbit—Mia Barnett (Swe) (68.64, 2:16.69, 3:24.53, 4:33.07).
100H(0.8): 1. Masai Russell (US) 12.24 (x, =10 W; x, 8 A);
2. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.34; 3. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.41; 3. Grace Stark (US) 12.41; 5. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.51; 6. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.63; 7. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.65; 8. Keni Harrison (US) 12.66; 9. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.86.
Field Events
LJ: 1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-4¾ (7.13) (21-8¾, 23-4¾, 23-2w, 22-9, 22-4½, 23-4½w) (6.62, 7.13, 7.06w, 6.93, 6.82, 7.12w);
2. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 23-4½ (7.12) NR (23-4½, f, p, f, f, 22-8) (7.12, f, p, f, f, 6.91); 3. Monae’ Nichols (US) 23-1¾w (7.05) (22-4½/6.82); 4. Alyssa Jones (US) 22-11¼ (6.99); 5. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 22-8½ (6.92); 6. Maja Åskag (Swe) 22-3¾ (6.80) PR; 7. Hilary Kpatcha (Fra) 22-1½ (6.74); 8. Lex Brown (US) 21-8¼ (6.61); 9. Claire Bryant (US) 21-7¼ (6.58).
SP: 1. Chase Jackson (US) 67-5½ (20.56) (67-5½, 66-8¾, 65-6¼, 66-6½, 65-2, 64-2½) (20.56, 20.34, 19.97, 20.28, 19.86, 19.57); 2. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 65-11¾ (20.11); 3. Fanny Roos (Swe) 64-7¾ (19.70) PR; 4. Sarah Mitton (Can) 64-4 (19.61); 5. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 62-9½ (19.14); 6. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 62-6½ (19.06); 7. Axelina Johansson (Swe) 61-9¾ (18.84); 8. Jaida Ross (US) 61-5¾ (18.74); 9. Maggie Ewen (US) 60-7¼ (18.47).
Non-DL HT: 1. Jiale Zhang (Chn) 255-8 (77.94) PR (8, x W) (247-7, 246-8, 252-3, 248-3, 250-0, 255-8) (75.47, 75.18, 76.90, 75.66, 76.21, 77.94);
2. Camryn Rogers (Can) 255-3 (77.81); 3. DeAnna Price (US) 252-5 (76.95); 4. Rachel Richeson (US) 249-11 (76.18); 5. Jie Zhao (Chn) 248-1 (75.63); 6. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 244-4 (74.47); 7. Anita Włodarczyk (Pol) 240-2 (73.20); 8. Erin Reese (US) 235-1 (71.65); 9. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 231-9 (70.65).
