SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, March 6 — Set up as de facto time trials, spirited races broke out in a pair of dazzling 5000s at the Sound Running Invite as Grant Fisher smashed his PR with a world-leading 13:02.53 and Emily Sisson proved she still has notable track gears with her 14:55.82 PR.
The men’s race was the culmination of the evening and looked like a dual meet between Nike Bowerman and On Running. Kieran Tuntivate paced for the first 6 laps before handing over to Woody Kincaid, who sped things up a bit, passing 3000 in 7:54.29.
Kincaid looked full of run himself, and with 3½ to go, started leaving the field behind. Frantic waving from coach Jerry Schumacher got him to allow the others to catch up. A lap later, Kincaid signed out.
With 2 to go, Sean McGorty led Marc Scott, Fisher, Joe Klecker and 1500 world leader Olli Hoare, who slipped off the train shortly after. Approaching the bell, Fisher caught the jump on his teammates, racing into the final circuit perhaps still burned over Scott’s outkicking him in the 10K on the same track two weeks earlier.
Scott was the only one who could stay near Fisher on the backstretch, but that didn’t last long, as the Michigander kept throwing coal into the engine. Entering the final straight he had a 15m gap, closing the race with a 55.38.
His 13:02.53 cut 9.15 off the best he set last June during the WA pause on Olympic standards; it was also his first win as a pro. Behind him, a stunning parade of Olympic qualifying marks as every finisher set a PR: Scott 13:05.13, McGorty 13:05.13, Klecker 13:06.67, Kirubel Erassa 13:12.71 and so on.
“Surprised myself out there,” said Fisher. “A lot of guys got PRs in the field, so I’m happy. Feeling good, got the standard.”
The women’s race played out in atypical fashion by pandemic standards, in that Sisson ran much of the race well back of the leaders. Britain’s Eilish McColgan did most of the pacing, and at 3000 (9:02.32), she and Weini Kelati appeared to be in the process of leaving the field behind.
But McColgan ran into trouble and Kelati took over at 3100. Sisson, leading the second pack, was moving faster, and reeled her in with 3 laps left, pulling Allie Buchalski along with her.
Sisson, in her first track race since her 10th in the Doha 10,000, never relented, pulling away on the final lap to hit her PR 14:55.82. Buchalski cut nearly 25 seconds off her best in holding off Kelati, 14:57.54–14:58.24, with Alicia Monson (15:07.65) and Gwen Jorgensen (15:08.28) also dipping under the Olympic standard.
Earlier in the night, Sinclaire Johnson outkicked teammate Elise Cranny in the 1500, 4:05.91–4:06.23. In the men’s race, Josh Kerr ran away from the field with a 55.85 final lap to win by 20m with a 3:35.78.
SOUND RUNNING INVITE MEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Josh Hoey (adi) 1:47.72; 2. Drew Windle (BrkB) 1:48.65.
1500: 1. Josh Kerr’ (GB) 3:35.78; 2. Amos Bartelsmeyer’ (Ger) 3:38.54; 3. Johnny Gregorek (Asics) 3:38.76; 4. Nick Willis’ (NZ) 3:38.93; 5. Ryan Adams (Furm) 3:39.52; 6. Sam Prakel (adi) 3:39.57; 7. Nanami Arai’ (Jpn) 3:40.00; 8. Matthew Centrowitz (NikBowTC) 3:40.31; 9. Pat Casey (UArm) 3:40.92; 10. Eric Avila (adi) 3:41.22; 11. Henry Wynne (BrkB) 3:41.53; 12. Izaic Yorks (BrkB) 3:42.82.
5000: 1. Grant Fisher (NikBowTC) 13:02.53 PR; 2. Marc Scott’ (GB) 13:05.13 PR; 3. Sean McGorty (NikBowTC) 13:06.45 PR; 4. Joe Klecker (OnAC) 13:06.67 PR; 5. Kirubel Erassa (Hoka) 13:12.71 PR; 6. Biya Simbassa (unat) 13:19.12 PR; 7. Olli Hoare’ (Aus) 13:22.16 PR; 8. Sydney Gidabuday (TinE) 13:22.66 PR; 9. Robert Brandt (Gtn) 13:24.31 PR.
SOUND RUNNING WOMEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Nia Akins (BrkB) 2:03.17; 2. Brooke Feldmeier (adi) 2:03.52; 3. Kendra Chambers (Ois) 2:03.53; 4. Mariela Real’ (Mex) 2:04.63.
1500: 1. Sinclaire Johnson (NikBowTC) 4:05.91; 2. Elise Cranny (NikBowTC) 4:06.23; 3. Laura Galván’ (Mex) 4:08.14; 4. Hannah Green (NikOTC) 4:10.56; 5. Amanda Eccleston (Brk) 4:10.60; 6. Emily Lipari (adi) 4:10.88; 7. Dani Aragon (EmpE) 4:11.32; 8. Courtney Frerichs (NikBowTC) 4:14.75; 9. Karisa Nelson (BrkB) 4:15.72.
5000: 1. Emily Sisson (NBal) 14:55.82 PR; 2. Allie Buchalski (BrkB) 14:57.54 PR; 3. Weini Kelati’ (Eri) 14:58.24 PR; 4. Alicia Monson (OnAC) 15:07.65 PR; 5. Gwen Jorgensen (NikBowTC) 15:08.28 PR; 6. Kellyn Taylor (HokaNnAz) 15:12.61; 7. Danielle Shanahan (HokaNnAz) 15:17.62 PR; 8. Kim Conley (NBal) 15:17.66; 9. Fiona O’Keefe (Puma) 15:48.63; 10. Grace Barnett (MammTC) 15:53.75; 11. Taylor Werner (Puma) 16:22.70.
