ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, February 18 — The USATF Indoor Championships suffered from badly watered-down men’s fields, with many of the sport’s big draws opting to head back into training with their eyes on the Diamond League season and World Championships.
Bryce Hoppel, for one, didn’t focus his training on indoors, saying that he hadn’t done speedwork yet this season. Still, he had enough kick to run down Isaiah Harris at the end of the 800. Harris had led at 600 (1:18.40), with Hoppel, Vincent Crisp and Clayton Murphy close behind. But Hoppel’s 27.36 closer for a 1:45.92 was the fastest in the race, as Harris struggled to finish in 1:46.42 for 2nd and Crisp took 3rd (1:46.74 PR). Murphy faded to last.
Said Hoppel of his kick, “You always hope that’s going to be there at the end of the race.”
Despite a PR 45.48 in the heats, Justin Robinson didn’t get the best lane in the 400 final; starting from lane 3, with his 21.42 he ran well behind both defending champion Trevor Bassitt (20.88) and Noah Williams (21.04) at halfway. But the Arizona State soph’s closing power could not be denied as he swept past them both for the win in another PR, 45.40, Williams taking 2nd in 45.69 and Bassitt slipping to 4th in 46.13.
The best of the final day’s field events was the vault, where comebacking Sam Kendricks needed to clear 19-4¾ (5.91) to turn back the PR 19-2¾ (5.86) by Jacob Wooten. KC Lightfoot also cleared 19-2¾ in 3rd.
The 1500 went off at a slow pace as expected, but delivered a study in contrasts as well as a surprise ending. Sam Prakel, the winner of the previous day’s 3000, stayed near the back of the 11-man field while Josh Thompson stayed up front for much of the distance, just off the shoulder of early leader Andrew Hunter. Then Kasey Knevelbaard and Henry Wynne made a long play for the win, Knevelbaard going from 10th to the lead with 2 to go.
At the bell, Wynne took over the lead but Thompson and Prakel were both coming fast. Thompson passed Wynne on the last curve and continued pulling away for the win in 3:42.31. However, a judge took offense at the way the Nike Bowerman athlete cut in, despite there being little discernable contact (though Wynne raised a hand to defend his space), and Thompson was DQed (rule 163.4, jostling). Prakel at 3:42.62 was named the winner.
The hurdles was ultra-close, with Freddie Crittenden getting out faster than Robert Dunning in the adjoining lane and holding a lead most of the race before Dunning closed with a rush. Still, the Syracuse alum hit the line 0.004 ahead of Dunning, 7.485-7.489. For both, the resulting 7.49 would be a PR.
Said Crittenden, “I wanted to make sure the gains and achievement I made last year roll over into this year.”
The flat 60’s semis promised an intriguing final, with unheralded J.T. Smith of Texas A&M–Commerce producing a faster time (6.55) than Noah Lyles in the next semi. But the adidas superstar, saying that his hip flexor was too tight, scratched from the final.
The 25-year-old collegian, who is unable to compete in Div. I this season as his school moves up from Div. II, went even faster in the final race of the day, hitting a PR 6.53 to beat Kendal Williams and his 6.59.
USATF INDOOR MEN’S RESULTS, DAY 3
60: 1. J.T. Smith (AMC) 6.53 PR; 2. Kendal Williams (adidas) 6.59; 3. Isaiah Trousil (NnIa) 6.61 PR; 4. Cravon Gillespie (Nike) 6.66; 5. Sam Blaskowski (WiLC) 6.67 =PR; 6. Coby Hilton (unat) 6.68; 7. Jalen Drayden (AzSt) 6.69 =PR;… dnc—Noah Lyles (adidas).
Heats: I–1. Lyles 6.60; 2. Williams 6.66; 3. Blaskowski 6.69; 4. Jaylan Mitchell (unat) 6.71; 5. Mason Phillips (Northw) 6.76; 6. Gavin Colley (MooreEl) 6.88; 7. Dominic Artis (Shocker) 7.71.
II–1. Kirk Wilson (unat) 6.66; 2. Trousil 6.68 PR; 3. Hilton 6.68; 4. Gillespie 6.71; 5. Deondre Spruill (SHARKS) 6.80; 6. Dimeji Adekanbi (unat) 6.86.
III–1. Brandon Carnes (unat) 6.59; 2. Smith 6.59; 3. Drayden 6.71 PR; 4. Bryan Sosoo (CPTC) 6.71 =PR; 5. Emmanuel Wells (unat) 6.72; 6. Demarius Smith (unat) 6.73.
Semis: I–1. Smith 6.55 PR; 2. Williams 6.66; 3. Blaskowski 6.67 PR; 4. Drayden 6.69 PR; 5. Wells 6.72; 6. Spruill 6.88; 7. Carnes 7.54.
II–1. Lyles 6.56; 2. Trousil 6.62 PR; 3. Gillespie 6.66; 4. Hilton 6.67; 5. Wilson 6.70; 6. Smith 6.71; 7. Phillips 6.73; 8. Sosoo 6.74.
400: 1. Justin Robinson (AzSt) 45.40 PR; 2. Noah Williams (adidas) 45.69; 3. CJ Allen (unat) 46.11; 4. Trevor Bassitt (adidas) 46.13; 5. Brycen Spratling (NYAC) 46.34;… dnc— Kahmari Montgomery (Nike).
Heats: I–1. Williams 45.42; 2. Robinson 45.48 PR; 3. Malcum Tatum (CPTC) 47.96; 4. Devonte Fletcher (unat) 48.39.
II–1. Bassitt 45.96; 2. Allen 46.07 PR; 3. Chance Tanner (unat) 47.05 PR; 4. Jacob Samford (unat) 47.12 PR; 5. Hunter Woodhall (Lulu) 48.00 (prosthetics).
III–1. Montgomery 46.71; 2. Spratling 46.93; 3. Paris Simmons (unat) 48.39; 4. Cole Krehnbrink (App) 48.48 PR;… dnf—Brian Faust (Ky).
800: 1. Bryce Hoppel (adidas) 1:45.92; 2. Isaiah Harris (BrkB) 1:46.42; 3. Vincent Crisp (UArm) 1:46.74 PR; 4. Devin Dixon (BrkB) 1:46.77; 5. Colin Schultz (unat) 1:46.82 PR; 6. Clayton Murphy (Nike) 1:48.33.
Heats: I–1. Schultz 1:47.03; 2. Christian Harrison (adiGCTC) 1:48.42; 3. Shane Streich (AtlTC) 1:48.56; 4. David Timlin (unat) 1:49.88 PR; 5. Luca Chatham (TSTxEl) 1:57.42.
II–1. Hoppel 1:47.86; 2. Brett Meyer (TS) 1:48.94 PR; 3. Jared Gilley (unat) 1:49.19 PR; 4. John Lewis (unat) 1:49.52 PR; 5. Matt Wisner (OTC) 1:50.98.
III–1. Dixon 1:47.27; 2. Murphy 1:47.27; 3. Kameron Jones (TS) 1:47.74; 4. Daniel Nixon (AtlTC) 1:50.20.
IV–1. Harris 1:46.72; 2. Crisp 1:47.67; 3. Drew Piazza (NBal) 1:48.81; 4. Abraham Alvarado (AtlTC) 1:50.38; 5. Derek Gross (CPTC) 1:54.23.
1500: 1. Sam Prakel (adidas) 3:42.62; 2. Henry Wynne (BrkBB) 3:42.90; 3. John Reniewicki (UArm) 3:44.09; 4. Austen Dalquist (TS) 3:44.80; 5. David Ribich (UAC) 3:45.36; 6. Kasey Knevelbaard (UArm) 3:45.43; 7. Jack Yearian (OTC) 3:46.55; 8. Reed Brown (OTC) 3:47.75; 9. Cruz Culpepper (Hoka) 3:48.01; 10. Andrew Hunter (adidas) 3:49.35;… dq—Josh Thompson (BowTC).
60H: 1. Freddie Crittenden (PhxTS) 7.49 PR (7.485); 2. Robert Dunning (adidas) 7.49 PR (7.489); 3. Louis Rollins (unat) 7.63; 4. Paris Williams (unat) 7.64; 5. Joshua Braverman (unat) 7.64 PR; 6. Jaylan McConico (unat) 7.74; 7. Tyrin Lewis (unat) 7.79; 8. Taylor Rooney (unat) 7.86.
Heats: I–1. Crittenden 7.68; 2. Dunning 7.69; 3. Williams 7.73; 4. Lewis 7.77; 5. Parker Bowden (TS) 7.92; 6. Sierra Hendrix-William (unat) 7.95 PR.
II–1. Rollins 7.68; 2. Braverman 7.69 =PR; 3. Rooney 7.81; 4. McConico 7.85; 5. Benjamin Doucette (unat) 7.88; 6. Derrick Olsen (unat) 7.90.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Shelby McEwen (Nik) 7-4¼ (2.24) (6-10¾, 7-½, 7-1¾, 7-3, 7-4¼ [2], 7-5¼ [xxx]) (2.10, 2.15, 2.18, 2.21, 2.24 [2], 2.27 [xxx]);
2. Darius Carbin (Nik) 7-3 (2.21); 3. Jordan Wesner (unat) 7-3; 4. tie, Darryl Sullivan (unat) & Justin Lewis (unat) 7-3 (2.21) (Lewis PR); 6. Kyle Rollins (GardStTC) 7-1¾ (2.18); 7. Ethan Harris (unat) 7-½ (2.15); 8. Roderick Townsend-Roberts (unat) 6-10¾ (2.10);… nh—Jeremy Cody (AzSt).
PV: 1. Sam Kendricks (Nik) 19-4¾ (5.91) (=AL) (17-11, 18-4¾, 18-8¾, 19-¾ [2], 19-2¾ [xxp], 19-4¾, 19-6½ [xxp]) (5.46, 5.61, 5.71, 5.81 [2], 5.86 [xxp], 5.91, 5.96 [xxp]);
2. Jacob Wooten (unat) 19-2¾ (5.86) PR (=10, x A) (17-11, 18-4¾, 18-8¾, 19-¾, 19-2¾, 19-4¾ [xxx]) (5.46, 5.61, 5.71, 5.81, 5.86, 5.91 [xxx]);
3. KC Lightfoot (Puma) 19-2¾ (5.86) (17-11 [2], 18-4¾ [2], 18-8¾ [2], 19-2¾, 19-4¾ [xpp], 19-6½ [xx]) (5.46 [2], 5.61 [2], 5.71 [2], 5.86, 5.91 [xpp], 5.96 [xx]);
4. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19-¾ (5.81); 5. Luke Winder (unat) 18-8¾ (5.71 PR; 6. Carson Waters (unat) 18-8¾ PR; 7. Branson Ellis (SFA) 18-4¾ (5.61); 7. Austin Miller (unat) 18-4¾; 9. Clayton Fritsch (unat) 18-4¾ 9. Cole Walsh (unat) 18-4¾; 11. Caleb Witsken (BYU) 17-11 (5.46).
LJ: 1. Will Williams (unat) 26-11 (8.20) PR (26-4½, 26-¾, 26-11, 25-8¾, p, 26-8¼) (8.04, 7.94, 8.20, 7.84, p, 8.13);
2. Jalen Seals (unat) 25-2¾ (7.69); 3. Rayvon Grey (unat) 25-1¾ (7.66); 4. Frank Royal (unat) 25-1¾ (7.66) PR; 5. Justin Moore (unat) 24-10½ (7.58) PR; 6. R’Lazon Brumfield (unat) 24-8¼ (7.52); 7. Cameron Hart (unat) 24-3¾ (7.41); 8. Josh Colley (AthLab) 24-1¾ (7.36); 9. Hunter Price (unat) 24-1 (7.34); 10. Matthew Su (GardStTC) 22-10 (6.96); 11. Charles Brown (unat) 22-9¼ (6.94).
SP: 1. Joe Kovacs (NikeNYAC) 70-8½ (21.55) (68-3, 67-2¾, 68-8¾, 69-½, 69-9, 70-8½) (20.80, 20.49, 20.95, 21.04, 21.26, 21.55);
2. Jordan Geist (Az) 70-1 (21.36) (67-7½, f, 68-3¼, f, 70-1, f) (20.61, f, 20.81, f, 21.36, f); 3. Tripp Piperi (unat) 69-¾ (21.05); 4. Roger Steen (Vel) 67-9 (20.65); 5. T’Mond Johnson (GarS) 65-3¼ (19.89); 6. Jeff Kline (Md) 62-9½ (19.14); 7. Tyler Blalock (unat) 62-4½ (19.01); 8. Lucas Warning (GarS) 62-1¾ (18.94); 9. Trevor Otterdahl (NDSt) 58-11¼ (17.96).