by Rich Sands
After almost 2 decades of being a signature stop on the indoor circuit, the Armory Collegiate Invitational got a makeover this year, being rechristened the Dr. Sander Invitational in honor of the late Norb Sander, who led the movement to refurbish New York’s 168th Street Armory into a state of the art indoor track facility.
The men’s 800 was expected to be a great battle among several top Americans, but nobody joined Erik Sowinski when he surged to the front after 300m.
He cruised home in 1:46.98, nearly 2 seconds clear of the field. “I came here to run fast, I’m still chasing the indoor standard,” he said, referring to the World Indoor Q-mark of 1:46.50.
“I was hoping some of those guys would come with me, but I’m happy to run this time solo.”
BYU’s Abraham Alvarado (1:48.70) was the surprise runner-up, while Robby Andrews (5th in 1:50.02) and Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy (7th in 1:50.47) never factored in the race.
Ajee’ Wilson won the women’s 800 wire to wire in 2:00.90, though Jamaican Natoya Goule made it interesting, closing fast for 2nd in 2:01.07.
The meet-within-ameet Columbia Challenge featured some top NCAA programs, led by Oregon, which easily won both the men’s and women’s divisions, and Ohio State, BYU, South Carolina and UCLA.
The Ducks swept the DMRs (9:31.87 for the men, 11:00.13 for the women), while the top individual performances came in the mile.
Oregon walk-on Mick Stanovsek won the fastest collegiate section in 3:57.90.
Despite intentions for a quick time, the open mile turned tactical, with the field coming though halfway just under 2:03.
Craig Engels edged into the lead with a little more than a lap and a half left.
He covered the final 400 in 55.23 to cap a 3:57.35 win, a 10th ahead of New Zealand’s Julian Oakley.
“We came out here to run under 3:55, but it didn’t happen,” Ole Miss alum Engels said. “It’s always nice to come out with a win, but it’s hard not to focus on the time.”
Pro Kate Van Buskirk won the top women’s mile in a Canadian Record 4:26.92. Missouri’s Karissa Schweizer finished 3rd in a PR 4:27.54 to move to No. 4 all-time on the collegiate list.
A quartet of Kyra Jefferson, Deajah Stevens, Daina Harper and Asha Ruth broke the American Record in the rarely-run 4×2 with a 1:32.67, well under the 1:33.24 set by a national team back in ’94.
| — Sander Invitational — |
|---|
|
New York City, January 26–27 (200m banked) Teams: 1. Oregon 132; 2. Ohio State 96. 60: 1. *Cravon Gillespie (Or) 6.64. 400: 1. Lalonde Gordon’ (Tri) 47.07. 500: 1. ***Brian Faust (Vill) 1:02.33. 800: 1. Erik Sowinski (Nik) 1:46.98. Mile: IV–1. **Mick Stanovsek (Or) 3:57.90 (U.S. sub- 4:00 #495). V–1. Craig Engels (Nik) 3:57.35. 3000: 1. Reid Buchanan (Skech) 7:51.98. 60H: 1. *Chad Zallow (Young) 7.66. 4 x 200: 1. Jamaica’ 1:25.63 NR. 4 x 400: 1. Ohio State 3:12.26. DisMed: 1. Oregon 9:31.87 (Prakel 3:58.73). HJ: 1. Alexander Bowen’ (Pan) 7-1 (2.16). LJ: 1. Zack Bazile (OhSt) 25-2¾ (7.69). TJ: 1. Donald Scott (US) 55-6¼ (16.92). TJ: 1. Bazile 51-5½ (15.68). SP: 1. Ryan Whiting (Nik) 65-7 (19.99). Wt: 1. Aaron Zedella (OhSt) 70-7¼ (21.52). Hept: 1. Trevor Knowles (Lehigh) 5596. Women: 60: 1. *Gabrielle Thomas (Harv) 7.26. 200: 1. *Gabrielle Thomas (Harv) 23.04. 400: 1. Courtney Okolo (Nik) 51.89. 800: 1. Ajee’ Wilson (adi) 2:00.90. Mile: 1. Kate Van Buskirk’ (Can) 4:26.92 NR (4:10.06); 2. Rachel Schneider (UArm) 4:27.30 (4:10.38); 3. Karissa Schweizer (Mo) 4:27.54 (4, 4 C; 3, 3 AmC; in/out: 4, 4 C; 3, 3 AmC) (4:10.68—3, 3 C; 2, 2 AmC). 3000: IV–1. Lauren Paquette (Brk) 8:53.09. 60H: 1. *Alaysha Johnson (Or) 8.10. 4 x 200: 1. USA 1:32.67 AR (old AR 1:33.24 National Team ’94) (Kyra Jefferson, Deajah Stevens, Daina Harper 23.25, Asha Ruth 23.31) (6W). 4 x 400: 1. Oregon 3:32.92 (DesRosiers 54.09, Waller 53.00, Anderson 53.68, Dunmore 52.15). DisMed: 1. Oregon 11:00.13 (Burdon 3:23.13, Waller 52.68, Southerland 2:05.73, Hull 4:38.59). HJ: 1. Amina Smith (GSTC) 6-1¼ (1.86). PV: 1. Taylor Amann (Wis) 13-11¼ (4.25). LJ: 1. Chantel Malone’ (BVI) 21-1½ (6.44). TJ: 1. Thea LaFond’ (Dom) 44-11¾ (13.71). SP: 1. ***Alyssa Wilson (UCLA) 54-11½ (16.75). Wt: 1. *Sade Olatoye (OhSt) 70-4¼ (21.44). Pent: 1. Kendall Gustafson (UCLA) 4065. |
