Women’s 100: Surprising Sturgis All The Way
Our formchart projected USC’s TeeTee Terry for the win. The undefeated Trojan senior led the collegiate list at 10.89 and had finished 3rd at the meet’s last edition in ’19. Solid credentials for favorite status. But credentials were not going to stop Cambrea Sturgis.
The North Carolina A&T soph, 5th in her semi two years ago, rushed through the final pushed by a 2.2mps wind for a gun-to-tape victory in 10.74w over Terry (10.79w) Alabama’s Tamara Clark (10.88w) and Indoor 60 champion Kemba Nelson of Oregon (10.90w).
Her time was the fastest all-time all-conditions mark in collegiate history, 0.01 under Sha’Carri Richardson’s wind-legal 10.75 from the ’19 NCAA that remains the Collegiate Record. The Big Gold Book equates Sturgis’s time to a 10.86 with zero wind.
The 22-year-old champ approached her title moment from under the radar — up until she blasted a 10.92/22.26 double at the East Regional. In semi III here, Sturgis was timed in 11.20 as she placed 2nd to Nelson (11.13). Terry (11.03) and Clark (11.16) produced the other top semis times.
Listed as 5-foot-7 (1.70), Sturgis in lane 3 next to the other sprinters in the final looked, if anything, shorter than that. Then the gun fired. She sprang from the blocks with the fastest reaction time (0.124) and into a certain lead by 10m. For the next 40 at least she lengthened that lead.
Terry (lane 5) used the straight’s first half to eke out a margin on the rest of the field, with Nelson (6) and Clark (7) a foot or less in arrears. But not until 70m or so did the red head-banded Trojan start to close on the Aggie with the sewing machine stride.
Throwing her left arm high in the step that carried her across the line, Sturgis’s win was clear cut. /Sieg Lindstrom/
WOMEN’S 100 RESULTS
(June 12; wind +2.2)
1. **Cambrea Sturgis (NCAT) 10.74w (a-c: =11, x W; =7, x A; 1, 1 C, NCAA);
2. TeeTee Terry (USC) 10.79w (a-c: 4, 4 C, NCAA);
3. *Tamara Clark (Al) 10.88w (a-c: x, =9 C; 6, 6 NCAA;
4. *Kemba Nelson’ (Or-Jam) 10.90w (a-c: =10, x C; =7, =7 NCAA);
5. Alfreda Steele (Mia) 11.11w;
6. *Jayla Kirkland (FlSt) 11.22w;
7. *Lanae-Tava Thomas (USC) 11.24w;
8. Celera Barnes (Ky) 11.31w;
9. ***Ackera Nugent’ (Bay-Jam) 11.37w.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 1–4w)
Semis (June 10)
I(0.5)–1. Terry 11.03; 2. Clark 11.16; 3. Barnes 11.39; 4. Nugent’ 11.39; 5. *Symone Mason (LSU) 11.39; 6. ***Camille Rutherford (Hous) 11.40; 7. **Kamaya Debose-Epps (NCAT) 11.43; 8. ***Melissa Jefferson (CCar) 11.43.
II(-0.9)–1. Kirkland 11.30; 2. Steele 11.40; 3. Maia McCoy (Tn) 11.46; 4. *Jada Baylark (Ar) 11.47; 5. *Brianne Bethel’ (Hous-Bah) 11.49; 6. *Jasmin Reed (Or) 11.60; 7. ***Joella Lloyd’ (Tn-Ant) 11.68;… dnc—**Tiana Wilson (Ar).
III(-0.5)–1. Nelson’ 11.13; 2. Sturgis 11.20; 3. Thomas 11.35; 4. Anavia Battle (OhSt) 11.43; 5. Cassondra Hall (UNLV) 11.46; 6. **Caisja Chandler (Cinc) 11.57; 7. ***Alexa Rossum (Stan) 11.65; 8. *Wurrie Njadoe (KsSt) 11.67.
Women’s 200: Double Dash Titles For Sturgis
Though it cannot be easy to race in a championship 100, win, and then turn around to sprint for the 200 title 45 minutes later, there’s a sense under the current brisk NCAA final-day schedule that teams and individuals can get on a roll and keep riding.
Cambrea Sturgis sure seemed to as she bounced from the century to the deuce to become the first winner of the double since Oregon’s Ariana Washington in ’16.
The race, which went to Sturgis in 22.12 from favored Tamara Clark of Alabama’s 22.17, moved the A&T sprinter to No. 4 all-time on the collegiate list. Clark’s time was the equal-7 all-time collegiate performance, as the first two finished decisively ahead of Anavia Battle of Ohio State (22.42) and the rest of a field that included two-time titlist Anglerne Annelus of USC (6th at 22.72).
Slotted in lane 7, Sturgis flew through the turn to share the lead at halfway with Clark (lane 5) inches in front of Battle (6) and LSU frosh Favour Ofili (8). Sturgis and Clark split 11.5 for the first 100.
Clark, the SEC’s double sprint champion, appeared to pull ahead by inches early in the straight, but Sturgis’s cadence was unrelenting and she drew past her Crimson Tide opponent 25–30m out to win by close to a foot.
“The last 60 I knew that I had to just keep focusing on my lane even though I knew Tamara was right beside me and was pushing just like I was,” said a smiling Sturgis, 3rd in Austin 2 years ago. “I just had to stay with the plan and patient, just keep pushing all the way through.”
Of claiming two titles for Duane Ross’s HBCU, non-Power-Five program, Sturgis said, “It means that even though people don’t consider us an elite school, we show people that we don’t need money or like extra academics to be No. 1.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
WOMEN’S 200 RESULTS
(June 12; wind +0.2)
1. **Cambrea Sturgis (NCAT) 22.12 PR (CL) (4, 4 C; 3, 3 NCAA);
2. *Tamara Clark (Al) 22.17 (x, =7 C; =5, =5 NCAA);
3. Anavia Battle (OhSt) 22.42;
4. ***Favour Ofili’ (LSU-Ngr) 22.45;
5. TeeTee Terry (USC) 22.69;
6. Anglerne Annelus (USC) 22.72;
7. Alfreda Steele (Mia) 22.77 =PR;
8. ***Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 22.78 PR;
9. Cassondra Hall (UNLV) 22.94.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: =2, 8–9)
Semis (June 10)
I(0.9)–1. Sturgis 22.55; 2. Annelus 22.70; 3. Davis’ 23.00; 4. ***Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Tx-Ire) 23.16; 5. *Lanae-Tava Thomas (USC) 23.17; 6. ***Melissa Jefferson (CCar) 23.46; 7. *Symone Mason (LSU) 23.56;… dns—**Tiana Wilson (Ar).
II(0.4)–1. Clark 22.56; 2. Terry 22.76; 3. *Jada Baylark (Ar) 23.19; 4. **Caisja Chandler (Cinc) 23.26; 5. Maia McCoy (Tn) 23.44; 6. **Kamaya Debose-Epps (NCAT) 23.46; 7. ***Thelma Davies (LSU) 23.80;… dns—*Brianne Bethel’ (Hous-Bar).
III(-0.5)–1. Battle 22.50; 2. Ofili’ 22.59; 3. Steele 22.79; 4. Hall 23.04; 5. **Kynnedy Flannel (Tx) 23.15; 6. ***Jonah Ross (NCAT) 23.36; 7. **Kennedy Blackmon (Ok) 23.37; 8. ***Alexa Rossum (Stan) 23.69.
Women’s 400: More Records For Mu
Was there any event in this meet more predictable than the women’s 400? With Athing Mu (pronounced “mo”) crushing Collegiate and American Junior Records at multiple distances with seeming effortlessness, only injury or maybe a lightning strike could have prevented the inevitable outcome. The perfect Eugene weather on this day ruled out the latter.
The only real questions were: could the Texas A&M frosh lower her 400 record, and by how much? The answer to the first, of course, was yes. The answer to the second was 0.11, down to a new standard of 49.57, surpassing her own 49.68.
Oh, on paper, there was perhaps the illusion of drama. Mu had only the fourth-fastest semifinal time. But she had her heat well in hand and hit the brakes long before the line, her 51.04 merely a light warmup.
In the final, the verdict was immediately apparent.
Running in the friendly curve of lane 7, Mu made up the stagger on USC’s Bailey Lear before entering the backstretch. She hit halfway in 23.8, about 0.2 up on in-state rival Stacey Ann Williams of Texas.
The final stretch, so often the bane of fast-starting quartermilers, was only yet another advantage for Mu — her lead of approximately 5m grew to nearly 10.
Mu has dipped under 50 three times now (three other collegians have done it only once each). If she had stepped back on the track 10 minutes later for her other favorite event, the 800, another win would have been unsurprising. Instead, she saved herself for the 4×4 anchor in another hour and a half.
“I’m really happy with the performance,” Mu said. “I’ve been dying to have the 400 title since the indoor season [she suffered a very rare loss at the NCAA] so I’m happy I could pull it through out here. I just wanted to run my race, and if a PR came with it, I was very thankful for it.”
At least one question went unanswered, though: Will Mu’s first season with A&M be her last? She didn’t say, but certainly, there are no mountains left for her to conquer at this level. /Lee Nichols/
WOMEN’S 400 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. ***Athing Mu (TxAM) 49.57 CR, AJR (old records 49.68 Mu ’21) (AL) (9, x A; 4, 6 WJ) (23.8, 36.2) (23.8/25.8);
2. ***Talitha Diggs (Fl) 50.74 PR (=6, x AJ);
3. Kyra Constantine’ (USC-Can) 50.87 PR;
4. Nicole Yeargin’ (USC-GB) 51.02;
5. ***Charokee Young’ (TxAM-Jam) 51.13;
6. **Stacey Ann Williams’ (Tx-Jam) 51.34;
7. *Bailey Lear (USC) 51.36;
8. *Taylor Manson (Fl) 51.55;
9. Brittany Aveni (Duke) 51.77.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 1, =5, 6–9)
Semis (June 10)
I–1. Mu 51.04; 2. Williams’ 51.75; 3. Aveni 51.92; 4. **Tierra Robinson-Jones (TxAM) 52.05; 5. Kaelin Roberts (USC) 52.39; 6. **Kennedy Simon (Tx) 52.66; 7. ***Kimberly Harris (USC) 52.66; 8. ***Megan Moss’ (Ky-Bah) 53.26.
II–1. Diggs 51.45; 2. Constantine’ 51.93; 3. Meleni Rodney’ (UCLA-Grn) 52.02; 4. Natassha McDonald’ (Al-Can) 52.13; 5. ***Amber Anning’ (LSU-GB) 52.36; 6. Aliyah Abrams’ (SC-Guy) 52.43; 7. *Taiya Shelby (Vand) 52.63; 8. ***Isabella Whittaker (Penn) 53.42.
III–1. Yeargin’ 50.96 PR; 2. Lear 51.02 PR; 3. Manson 51.04 PR; 4. Young’ 51.29; 5. Aaliyah Birmingham (OkSt) 52.18; 6. ***Ziyah Holman (Mi) 52.64; 7. *Stephanie Davis (SC) 52.98; 8. Olivia Bechtel (MiaO) 53.33.
Women’s 800: Meyer Was Hungry For It
With Baylor’s Aaliyah Miller, No. 2 in the formchart, failing to make the final, one might have thought that favored Michaela Meyer’s road to a championship would be a bit easier. Well, that didn’t happen, as Meyer was challenged all the way to the finish.
Frontrunning Arkansas senior Shafiqua Maloney led the field through 400 in a quick 57.63, with Georgia’s SEC champ Amber Tanner, the fastest qualifier out of the semis, a step back, followed by formchart No. 3 Laurie Barton (Georgia) and Meyer.
Down the backstretch the order hadn’t changed, but at 600m Tanner edged ahead of Maloney for a brief moment.
Suddenly both Maloney and Tanner were swallowed by the charging herd, with Barton taking the lead, followed by Meyer and sophs Gabrielle Wilkinson (Florida) and Claire Seymour (BYU).
With 100 to go it was Barton with Meyer a meter back, but Meyer’s strength prevailed, as she passed Barton with 25m remaining and took the title in 2:00.28, followed by Barton (2:00.65), Wilkinson (2:01.20) and Seymour (2:01.91), as the first 4 all claimed lifetime bests. The winner moved to No. 9 on the all-time collegiate list.
Motivation was not an issue with Meyer, after coming in a disappointing 3rd at her conference meet, she recalled, “The ACC made me hungry, it made me want it more. I just trust the coach and coaching staff and I just wanted to put it all on the line today.”
With 200 to go, all the 22-year-old Meyer could think about was, “Just kick as hard as I can and don’t look back.”
And that she did, as she became the first Virginia woman to win an individual NCAA title. /Brian Russell/
WOMEN’S 800 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Michaela Meyer (Va) 2:00.28 PR (9, x C; 7, x AmC; 8, 9 NCAA) (58.01/62.27);
2. *Laurie Barton (Clem) 2:00.65 PR (57.96/62.69) (11, x NCAA);
3. **Gabrielle Wilkinson (Fl) 2:01.20 PR (58.18/63.02);
4. **Claire Seymour (BYU) 2:01.91 PR (58.30/63.61);
5. **Sarah Hendrick (KennSt) 2:02.59 (58.45/64.14);
6. **Lindsey Butler (VaT) 2:02.83 (58.22/64.61);
7. *Avi’ Tal Wilson-Perteete (UNLV) 2:02.85 (58.27/64.58);
8. *Brooke Fazio (Rich) 2:02.97 (58.52/64.45);
9. Shafiqua Maloney’ (Ar-StV) 2:04.09 (57.63/66.46);
10. Amber Tanner (Ga) 2:04.27 (57.79/66.48).
Semis (June 10)
I–1. Tanner 2:01.82; 2. Barton 2:02.25; 3. Seymour 2:02.58 PR; 4. Maloney’ 2:03.88; 5. **Aurora Rynda’ (Mi-Can) 2:04.91; 6. Samantha Huerta (CSF) 2:06.73; 7. Fazio 2:15.90 (advanced on appeal);… dq—**Katy-Ann McDonald’ (LSU-GB).
II–1. Hendrick 2:03.17; 2. Butler 2:03.53; 3. Wilson-Perteete 2:03.65; 4. Kaytlyn Larson (OkSt) 2:04.29; 5. *Kayla Johnson (Mia) 2:04.92; 6. Astrid Rosvall’ (UCSB-Swe) 2:05.14; 7. ***Stephanie Moss’ (OkSt-GB) 2:05.95; 8. ***Wilma Nielsen’ (Brad-Swe) 2:07.78.
III–1. Wilkinson 2:03.50; 2. Meyer 2:03.63; 3. Anna Camp (BYU) 2:03.95; 4. *Aaliyah Miller (Bay) 2:04.26; 5. McKenna Keegan (Vill) 2:04.48; 6. ***Sivan Auerbach’ (OkSt-Isr) 2:06.27; 7. Gemma Finch’ (Troy-GB) 2:06.90; 8. *Kristie Schoffield (Boise) 2:07.20.
Women’s 1500: Who Needs The Formchart?
For Anna Camp, winning her first NCAA title was all about positioning. The BYU senior had placed 8th in the 800 back in ’19 and was the fastest non-qualifier in the 2-lapper on Thursday. But at the longer distance, despite more than 6 seconds of PRs this season, she had not won in more than 2 years. She was not even mentioned in our formchart’s Top 10, though she said, “I knew I had a chance.”
Here, she tucked herself behind the front pack as Alabama frosh Amaris Tyynismaa took it out slowly. The field was so congested on the first turn that Camp had to throw her arms out to stay on her feet in the crush.
Tyynismaa passed 400 in 69.24 with favored Sage Hurta of Colorado and Danae Rivers of Penn State running side-by-side behind, Camp in 4th. Over the next lap Tyynismaa stayed in front, Hurta following closely. By 800 (2:17.04), Stanford’s Christina Aragon had moved into 3rd. In all the jockeying, Camp rarely slipped farther back than 5th.
Hurta edged ahead to take the lead before the bell. Aragon chased her through the turn, with Camp responding quickly. On the backstretch, Camp went big, passing a fading Aragon and moving to Hurta’s shoulder.
That’s how they ran around the last turn, with Camp catching Hurta with 100 left, Stanford’s Ella Donaghu and Rivers close behind. On the straight Camp sprinted best, moving ahead with 80 to go and flying to a 7-meter win in a PR 4:08.53. Her last lap took 62.10, while Hurta closed in 63.38 for a 4:09.42.
The next two finishers, Donaghu (4:09.66) and Rivers (4:10.47), ran lifetime bests.
Said the 23-year-old winner, “I knew that Sage is crazy fast… My goal was just to sit on her shoulder for as long as I could and when my legs felt good and I felt any kind of push, to just go and hope she didn’t have a response.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
WOMEN’S 1500 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Anna Camp (BYU) 4:08.53 PR (8, x AmC; 8, 8 NCAA) (62.10, 2:07.63, 3:17.12);
2. Sage Hurta (Co) 4:09.42 (9, 10 NCAA) (63.38, 2:08.73, 3:18.12);
3. *Ella Donaghu (Stan) 4:09.66 PR (63.10, 2:08.51, 3:17.75);
4. Danae Rivers (PennSt) 4:10.47 PR (64.08, 2:09.52, 3:19.20);
5. *Krissy Gear (Ar) 4:11.01 (63.30, 2:09.60, 3:19.17);
6. Micaela Degenero (Co) 4:11.26 (63.90, 2:09.93, 3:19.69);
7. ***Amaris Tyynismaa (Al) 4:11.56 (65.34, 2:10.96, 3:20.42);
8. *Christina Aragon (Stan) 4:12.63 (66.42, 2:11.85, 3:20.86);
9. Kelsey Harris (In) 4:13.93; 10. ***Olivia Howell (Il) 4:15.56; 11. Lauren Berman (VaT) 4:16.37; 12. *Maudie Skyring’ (FlSt-Aus) 4:21.04.
Semis (June 10)
I–1. Hurta 4:08.88; 2. Camp 4:09.22; 3. Degenero 4:09.38; 4. Howell 4:09.71; 5. Tyynismaa 4:09.80; 6. Skyring’ 4:09.83; 7. Gear 4:10.84; 8. Sarah Anderson (MiSt) 4:13.36; 9. Kaley Richards (MaL) 4:13.39; 10. *Kate Hunter (BYU) 4:13.45; 11. *Presley Weems (Aub) 4:14.61; 12. Lotte Black (RI) 4:15.20.
II–1. Donaghu 4:13.89; 2. Rivers 4:14.06; 3. Berman 4:14.36; 4. Aragon 4:14.52; 5. Harris 4:14.65; 6. Whittni Orton (BYU) 4:14.99; 7. *Madison Heisterman (Wa) 4:15.58; 8. Petronela Simiuc’ (Tol-Rom) 4:16.64; 9. ***Tori Herman (Ky) 4:19.56; 10. **Sami Corman (Gtn) 4:21.16; 11. *Rachel McArthur (Co) 4:22.75; 12. *Julia Heymach (Stan) 4:24.82.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 6, =7)
Women’s Steeple: Norris Wins Rookie Of The Year
Mahala Norris had never competed in an NCAA Outdoor track final before. She had never run a steeple before this year. She had never been mentioned in our formcharts for the event.
Yet the Air Force senior ran like the wiliest of veterans in her fifth race ever, kicking to victory by mere inches in a PR 9:31.79, a quantum improvement on her best coming into the meet, the 9:44.10 she set in winning the Mountain West.
After 11 of 12 finalists PRed in the heats, it appeared that no one had the appetite for a fast final. Joyce Kimeli of Auburn led early, with favored Courtney Wayment of BYU running alongside. All along the way, the diminutive Norris, 4th in both the NCAA XC and Indoor 5K in March, tried to stay in 3rd, running just behind Wayment and generally on the lane line or in lane 2. She explained that as a 4-foot-11 newcomer to the race, she liked to see what she was jumping over.
At the bell, 5 were left: Kimeli, Wayment, Norris and Washington’s Katie Rainsberger, along with ’19 runner-up Charlotte Prouse of New Mexico.
On the backstretch, Rainsberger made her move and charged to the front. Norris stayed on her as Kimeli fought hard to hold onto the inside. The 3 leaders broke contact with Wayment and Prouse. And it appeared that Kimeli and Rainsberger had lost Norris at the final barrier when she landed a stride behind.
However, Norris sprinted past Rainsberger and crossed the line inches ahead of Kimeli, her 9:31.79 making her the No. 6 performer on the all-time collegiate list. Kimeli crossed in a PR 9:31.84, and Rainsberger’s PR 9:32.12 beat Wayment (9:32.93) to the line.
“A win on my home turf is what I always wanted,” said the newly commissioned Space Force officer, who grew up some 70M south of Eugene after being adopted from a Haitian orphanage as an infant.
“The last 2 laps I was just focusing on anyone who made a move, I would just follow. Coming around that last one, I didn’t think I’d be there, but when I was, I thought I definitely had a shot.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
WOMEN’S STEEPLE RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Mahala Norris (AF) 9:31.79 PR (6, 10 C; 4, 6 NCAA) (68.13, 2:24.13, 3:41.01, 4:57.33);
2. *Joyce Kimeli’ (Aub-Ken) 9:31.84 PR (7, 11 C; 5, 7 NCAA) (68.35, 2:24.45, 3:41.30, 4:57.60);
3. Katie Rainsberger (Wa) 9:32.12 PR (8, =12 C; 7, =11 AmC; 6, 8 NCAA) (68.21, 2:24.22, 3:41.06, 4:57.44);
4. *Courtney Wayment (BYU) 9:32.93 (69.38, 2:25.47, 3:42.34, 4:58.63);
5. Charlotte Prouse’ (NM-Can) 9:34.25 PR (10, x C) (70.48, 2:26.64, 3:43.28, 4:59.78);
6. ***Ceili McCabe’ (WV-Can) 9:37.39 PR (72.22, 2:28.67, 3:45.85, 5:02.14);
7. Gabrielle Jennings (Furm) 9:38.24 PR (73.64, 2:30.01, 3:46.93, 5:03.41);
8. Summer Allen (Web) 9:40.37 (74.40, 2:30.46, 3:47.52, 5:04.46);
9. *Aneta Konieczek’ (Or-Pol) 9:44.67; 10. ***Olivia Markezich (NDm) 9:48.73; 11. Abby Kohut-Jackson (Mn) 9:50.89; 12. Alissa Niggemann (Wi) 10:12.13.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 3–11)
Semis (June 10)
I–1. Kimeli’ 9:35.57 PR (7, x C; 6, 8 NCAA) (fastest qualifier ever); 2. Rainsberger 9:36.71 PR (8, x C; 7, x AmC); 3. Allen 9:37.48 PR (10, x C);
4. Niggemann 9:41.12 PR; 5. Kohut-Jackson 9:41.20 PR; 6. Markezich 9:42.41 PR; 7. *Hannah Steelman (NCSt) 9:46.09 (fastest NCAA non-Q ever); 8. Judi Jones (Nb) 9:58.14; 9. *Alice Hill (Mi) 10:04.21; 10. Leah Hanle’ (Al-Ger) 10:15.39; 11. Lauren Sapone (NDm) 10:23.94.
II–1. Wayment 9:32.52 (4, 6 NCAA) (fastest qualifier ever); 2. Konieczek’ 9:34.37 PR (7, x C); 3. Prouse’ 9:37.05 PR (10, x C); 4. Norris 9:37.53 PR (9, x AmC);
5. Jennings 9:38.88 PR; 6. McCabe’ 9:39.27 PR; 7. **Annabelle Eastman’ (GM-Aus) 9:45.22 PR (fastest NCAA non-Q ever); 8. Madie Boreman (Co) 9:49.28; 9. *Sara Musselman (BYU) 9:55.61 PR; 10. Emma Gee (Tem) 9:56.19 PR; 11. Grace Mancini (LaS) 9:56.46; 12. *Angelina Ellis (Butler) 10:06.78.
Women’s 5000: A Mother/Daughter Connection
For Elly Henes, it was a “fairytale ending” to a collegiate career, as she won the title her mother/coach had 30 years before, storming through the last lap to victory in 15:28.05.
The final chapter for the NC State senior opened with favored Whittni Orton of BYU trying to lead from the start. She bolted out to a big early margin and stayed in front through 3K in 9:22.04 before fading to an eventual 18th.
Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat, the 10K runner-up, caught Orton and brought along Henes and Notre Dame senior Katie Wasserman. Soon Henes would take over in front but she made no sudden moves. By the time the bell sounded, a second pack had bridged the gap with the leaders, bringing Bethany Hasz of Minnesota, Julie Heymach of Stanford and Jenna Magness of Michigan State into contention.
Right about then, Henes struck, explaining, “I told myself before the race that there wasn’t a race plan other than to take the lead last. Going into that last lap I decided that the time was right. I decided not to look back.”
She went hard, pursued closely by Wasserman. Driving powerfully and confidently through the final 200, it was apparent that the race might be close, but Henes could not be beaten.
She crossed in 15:28.05, as 5 of the next 6 behind her ran PRs. Wasserman in 15:28.68, Hasz in 15:30.57 and Magness in 15:32.91 all finished before 5th-placer Chelangat (15:33.20).
It didn’t take long for Henes to find her mother, who as Laurie Gomez in ’91 was the last NC Stater to win a 5000 title. “I gave her a big hug,” she said. “I think just us soaking that in together, there are no words for how special this is to the both of us.”
Added Henes, 22, who says she has eligibility remaining but will now pursue a pro career, “She’s prepared me really well for moments like this.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
WOMEN’S 5000 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Elly Henes (NCSt) 15:28.05 (4, 5 NCAA) (64.29, 2:17.42, 4:51.47);
2. Katie Wasserman (NDm) 15:28.68 PR (5, 6 NCAA) (64.95, 2:17.98, 4:51.90);
3. Bethany Hasz (Mn) 15:30.57 PR (6, 7 NCAA) (66.51, 2:19.37, 4:51.45);
4. *Jenna Magness (MiSt) 15:32.91 PR (7, 8 NCAA) (68.32, 2:21.66, 4:53.59);
5. **Mercy Chelangat’ (Al-Ken) 15:33.20 (8, 9 NCAA) (69.00, 2:22.31, 4:56.71);
6. *Julia Heymach (Stan) 15:33.62 PR (9, 10 NCAA) (69.37, 2:22.19, 4:53.77);
7. *Emily Mackay (Bing) 15:42.38 PR (68.23, 2:24.13, 5:00.36);
8. Clare O’Brien’ (Boise-Aus) 15:44.44 (72.25, 2:28.74, 5:02.51);
9. ***Amelia Mazza-Downie’ (NM-Aus) 15:45.74; 10. Haley Herberg (Wa) 15:47.46; 11. **Maddy Denner (NDm) 15:49.71 PR; 12. *Ella Donaghu (Stan) 15:53.25; 13. *Joyce Kimeli’ (Aub-Ken) 15:54.11; 14. Esther Gitahi’ (Al-Ken) 15:58.59; 15. *Nicole Fegans (GaT) 15:59.72; 16. ***Savannah Shaw (NCSt) 16:02.90; 17. Abby Nichols (Co) 16:04.74; 18. Whittni Orton (BYU) 16:05.33; 19. ***Ericka Vanderlende (Mi) 16:09.09; 20. Jessica Drop (Ga) 16:10.19; 21. **Lauren Gregory (Ar) 16:13.49; 22. Poppy Tank’ (Ut-GB) 16:15.88; 23. Aoibhe Richardson’ (USF-Ire) 16:33.99; 24. ***Gabby Hentemann (OkSt) 16:56.70.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 3–10)
Women’s 100H: Cockrell Starts Her Double
Anna Cockrell’s win in the straightaway hurdles was so commanding it may not have mattered that the event featured the biggest curve thrown on the track.
What was certain was that when overwhelming favorite Tonea Marshall — the national leader and the fastest qualifier — scratched out as a precautionary measure because of a tweaked hamstring from the 4×1 some 40 minutes earlier, LSU’s title hopes were mortally wounded.
Tiger head Dennis Shaver prioritized the health of an athlete over a chase for a championship and Cockrell and USC took maximum advantage.
The upshot was that the 23-year-old Cockrell, who had PRed at 12.54 behind Marshall’s 12.44 in the semis, had the race to herself for the final 50m. Although she sported only the fifth-fastest reaction time out of the blocks, she never significantly trailed, had the lead by the fifth hurdle and stretched it to a comfortable 0.24 margin over Ryniah Jones of UCF.
That set up a double-gold day. Cockrell didn’t take any time to celebrate, as she immediately left the track to begin preparing for the long hurdles.
Cockrell’s 12.58, run out of lane 7, came without anyone pushing her for the final four barriers. Baylor’s Ackera Nugent was 3rd in 12.84, behind Jones’s 12.82, as nobody in the final notched a PR.
Second through 5th were just 0.08 apart, and that would have been even more crowded if TeJyrica Robinson of North Carolina A&T hadn’t tripped on the final hurdle while battling for a medal. /Bret Bloomquist/
WOMEN’S 100H RESULTS
(June 12; wind +0.4)
1. Anna Cockrell (USC) 12.58 (x, =13 NCAA);
2. ***Rayniah Jones (UCF) 12.82;
3. ***Ackera Nugent’ (Bay-Jam) 12.84;
4. *Grace Stark (Fl) 12.89;
5. Madeleine Akobundu (NCAT) 12.90;
6. **Masai Russell (Ky) 12.97;
7. Cha’Mia Rothwell (Duke) 13.14;
8. TeJyrica Robinson (NCAT) 29.11;
… dnc—Tonea Marshall (LSU).
Semis (June 10)
I(-0.5)–1. Nugent’ 12.84 (x, =7 WJ);
2. Robinson 12.90; 3. Russell 12.93; 4. ***Jasmine Jones (USC) 12.94; 5. ***Daszay Freeman’ (Ar-Jam) 12.95; 6. ***Alia Armstrong (LSU) 13.17; 7. ***Jayla Hollis (Ar) 13.31; 8. ***Aasia Laurencin (Tx) 13.43.
II(1.1)–1. Marshall 12.48 (x, =6 C; x, =4 AmC; =3, =4 NCAA); 2. Cockrell 12.54 PR (8, =12 C; 6, =9 AmC; =6, =8 NCAA);
3. Jones 12.85; 4. Akobundu 12.93; 5. Faith Ross (Ky) 12.94; 6. Mecca McGlaston (USC) 13.01 PR; 7. Brittany Brown (TCU) 13.53;… dnf—*Trishauna Hemmings’ (Clem-Jam).
III(0.1)–1. Stark 12.73 PR; 2. Rothwell 13.07; 3. *Paula Salmon (NCAT) 13.09; 4. *Kaylah Robinson (TxAM) 13.14; 5. Summer Thorpe (TxAM) 13.34; 6. Jernaya Sharp (SMU) 13.49; 7. ***Rosealee Cooper’ (MsSt-Jam) 13.65;… dnf—**Yoveinny Mota’ (Ar-Ven).
Women’s 400H: Cockrell Finishes Her Double
Premeet, the event had lost some of its luster when UCLA’s Shae Anderson fell in the West Regional. Before that the final race in Eugene was expected to be a colossal rematch between Anderson and her crosstown rival from USC, Anna Cockrell.
Both had raced to PRs at the Pac-12, with Cockrell getting the win in a year-leading 54.77 to Anderson’s 55.21. Cockrell’s mark was a school record at an institution that boasts the current WR holder, Dalilah Muhammad, as an alum.
Coming off of her impressive 100H win that had started just 45 minutes earlier, favored Cockrell drew lane 6 for the final and a win here would almost certainly seal a team victory for the Women Of Troy.
Down the final straight, the defending champ — who hurdles comfortably with either leg — was able to stay clear of another Pac-12 competitor in Shannon Meisberger of Arizona. Cockrell won in a new PR 54.68 with Meisberger, No. 6 in the final formchart, 2nd with a PR 55.70. Andrenette Knight of Virginia was 3rd. Overall, 7 of the 9 finalists claimed PRs.
After the race, her double complete, the fifth-year senior said, “Ever since I came to college, this was my dream. Only one other person had ever done it and that was Queen [Harrison of Virginia Tech in ’10]. So, it hasn’t really sunk in all the way yet but it feels great.”
Cockrell, 23, is a woman of many talents as she regularly sings the national anthem before USC’s home meets. She also comes from a highly accomplished athletic family as her brother, Ross, won a Super Bowl ring playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. In addition, her sister Ciera was an all Atlantic-10 volleyball player at Davidson.
When asked if she thought she could make the Olympic team, the energetic and effervescent Cockrell did not need many words. “Yes” was her one-word response. /Bob Bettwy/
WOMEN’S 400H RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Anna Cockrell (USC) 54.68 PR (CL);
2. *Shannon Meisberger (Az) 55.70 PR;
3. Andrenette Knight’ (Va-Jam) 55.81;
4. **Masai Russell (Ky) 56.18 PR;
5. *Milan Young (LSU) 56.23 PR;
6. Faith Ross (Ky) 56.49 PR;
7. ***Ashton Lindley (SC) 56.74 PR;
8. Stephanie Cho (WaSt) 57.48 PR;
9. Brittley Humphrey (LSU) 57.51.
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 9)
Semis (June 10)
Semis: I–1. Russell 57.06; 2. Young 57.45; 3. *De’Andreah Young (SC) 57.96; 4. **Madison Langley-Walker (Ok) 58.15; 5. *Bianca Stubler (Wi) 58.21; 6. Eriana Henderson (Co) 58.95; 7. *Breanna Bernard-Joseph (USC) 1:00.27; 8. Darhian Mills (Wa) 1:02.30.
II–1. Cockrell 56.12; 2. Knight’ 56.88; 3. Lindley 57.39; 4. *Lauren Hoffman (Duke) 57.91; 5. ***Vanessa Watson (Tn) 58.21; 6. *Ashton Woods (SMU) 58.33; 7. *Jurnee Woodward (LSU) 58.47; 8. ***Abbey Glynn (Co) 59.49.
III–1. Humphrey 56.56; 2. Meisberger 56.63; 3. Ross 56.68 PR; 4. Cho 57.64 PR; 5. **Brooke Overholt’ (Corn-Can) 58.29; 6. Kimisha Chambers’ (KsSt-Jam) 58.88; 7. *Kate Sorensen (Web) 59.42; 8. Lakeisha Warner’ (Clem-BVI) 59.54.
Women’s 4 x 100: USC Starts Off With A Bang
Opening its final-day surge for the team title, TeeTee Terry-anchored USC pulled a minor upset with a narrow 42.82–42.84 win over favored LSU.
The defending champion Tigers had entered the meet with the fastest time of the year, 42.52, and with a tight team battle looming, this was the first matchup of the two powerhouses on the track.
The first leg saw USC in good position from the outset as Jasmine Jones led off, but it was North Carolina A&T’s Cambrea Sturgis who led at the first exchange, with SC and Oregon touching off in 2nd and LSU leadoff Tonea Marshall in 4th.
Anglerne Annelus handled the second leg for the Trojans and moved her team to a meter’s lead as she handed off to Lanae-Tava Thomas. Favour Ofili kept LSU in 2nd, while indoor 60 champ Kemba Nelson had Oregon in contention until a missed exchange with Jasmin Reid took the Ducks out of the race, leaving NCAT in 3rd after Kamaye Debose-Epps’s leg.
Entering the zone for the final exchange it was LSU’s Symone Mason who had run the best turn with the benefit of lane 8. A meter back was Florida State, whose Ka’Tia Seymour had put the Seminoles in contention, barely ahead of NCAT’s Symone Darius. USC was some 3m off the lead.
With 100 to go, LSU anchor Thelma Davies had a slim lead of less than a half-meter over Florida State’s Edidiong Odiong, with NCAT’s Jonah Ross equally far back in 3rd. Terry had taken the USC baton early in the zone and had closed a meter of their deficit, now trailing LSU by 2m, still 4th but closing. Within 20m Terry had caught NCAT and then FSU and was closing on LSU. With 10m remaining, Terry inched past Davies for the win. The win was the event that sparked the rest of the day for USC. /Dave Johnson/
WOMEN’S 4×1 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. USC 42.82
(Jasmine Jones, Anglerne Annelus, Lanae-Tava Thomas, TeeTee Terry);
2. LSU 42.84
(Tonea Marshall, Favour Ofili’, Symone Mason, Thelma Davies);
3. North Carolina A&T 43.03
(Cambrea Sturgis, Kamaya Debose-Epps, Symone Darius, Jonah Ross);
4. Florida State 43.06
(Shian Hyde’, Jayla Kirkland, Ka’Tia Seymour, Edidiong Odiong’);
5. Texas 43.20
(Chanel Brissett, Kevona Davis’, Rhasidat Adeleke’, Kynnedy Flannel);
6. Alabama 43.99
(Daija Lampkin, Tamara Clark, D’Jai Baker, Natassha McDonald’);
7. Houston 44.29
(Camille Rutherford, Brianne Bethel, Samiyah Samuels, Tristan Evelyn);
8. Baylor 45.15
(Ackera Nugent’, Arria Minor, Sydney Washington, Mariah Ayers);
… dq—Oregon
(Jadyn Mays, Kemba Nelson’ [drop], Jasmin Reed, Danyel White).
Semis (June 10)
I–1. Oregon 42.86; 2. North Carolina A&T 43.17; 3. Florida State 43.38; 4. Baylor 43.81; 5. Texas Tech 43.91 (Kerley, Dubarry-Gay, Egharevba, Ricks); 6. Oklahoma 44.74 (Giffard, Giles, Austin, Blackmon); 7. Louisiana–Lafayette 44.79 (London, Spates, Rogers, Foster);… dq—San Diego State (McDonald, Dyer, Watt, Moore).
II–1. Alabama 43.31; 2. Houston 43.57; 3. Duke 44.04 (Bieber, Aveni, Brown-Soler, Rothwell); 4. Ole Miss 44.12 (Womack, Presley, Eckford, Glatz); 5. South Florida 44.15 (Allers-Liburd, Benjamin, DesRosiers, Prescott); 6. Ohio State 44.33 (Dayle, Battle, Fletcher, Marsh); 7. UNLV 45.38 (Wilson, Love, Greer, Randle);… dnf—Arkansas (Mota, Baylark, Hollis, Wilson).
III–1. USC 42.63; 2. LSU 43.03; 3. Texas 43.52; 4. UCLA 44.07 (Okoro, Anderson, Leger, Pierre-Webster); 5. Kentucky 44.11 (Ballard, Barnes, Miles, Moss); 6. Virginia 44.21 (Jefferson, Seaman, Bonnick, Hazzard); 7. Texas A&M 44.68 (Smith, Robinson, Hall, Owens);… dnf—Clemson (Clark, Smith, Van der Merwe, Hemmings).
Women’s 4 x 400: Mu’s Brilliant Anchor Finishes Off CR
The 4×4 was anticipated to be the climactic final to a tight team battle but it lost some of its sizzle as USC had clinched the team title. But it was nonetheless a corker of a race, with A&M and USC exchanging the lead, with the Aggies setting a new Collegiate Record with a sterling 3:22.34.
Leadoff Leg: The race began with UCLA’s Meleni Rodney moving quickest around the curve and establishing a lead on the backstretch. Holding the lead the rest of the way, Rodney was fading but was first to pass off. She had built a slim 1m lead over Florida’s Taylor Manson, who held a similar advantage over USC’s Bailey Lear. Tierra Robinson-Jones was another 4m back, having run 51.9 for favored A&M.
Second Leg: Around the bend it was USC’s Kaelin Roberts in lane 4 who ran hardest, but Makenzy Pierre-Webster still held a slight lead for UCLA in 8. As the teams angled for the pole, UCLA was able to reach the end of the straight first, some 2m ahead of USC. A&M Jamaican Charokee Young had moved well through the first 200, passing Florida’s Sterling Lester halfway down the straight, and trailed Roberts by almost 10m as they started the bend.
Young closed ground quickly through the turn, and when the teams hit the straight it was UCLA with a meter on USC, with another to A&M. Within 20m Young had taken the lead with a brilliant 49.7 (the second-fastest second leg in meet history), lengthening the margin to 3m over UCLA at the exchange, with USC another 3m in arrears.
Third Leg: As Jaevin Reed fled around the bend for A&M, the split timing showed 1:41.64, indicating a shot at the CR was on. A late botched pass to Kate Jendrezak dropped UCLA to 3rd as USC’s Nicole Yeargin tore past, UCLA’s bobble costing them 5–6m. Reed ran hard through the curve and down the backstretch, opening the lead to some 10m over the LA schools, with Doneisha Anderson right behind, getting Florida back in the race. Yeargin made up all but 2m of the distance on the curve and within another 25m was ahead and moving away from the fading Reed, who ran 51.86 to Yeargin’s 50.49.
Anchor: With the clock showing 2:33.50 as Mu crossed the line, she needed a sub 49 to break the CR of 3:23.13 set by Oregon in ’17. But she had to catch USC anchor Kyra Constantine in the process. Constantine went hard, with Mu gaining steadily through the curve and passing quickly shortly after the start of the straight.
Mu moved away steadily down the straight, then opened a substantial margin around the curve and continued to pull away in the straight. The quick flash of 3:22.34 on the clock confirmed immediately that the record was gone as Mu had run 48.84, the fastest leg in meet history, crushing the 49.13 set by A&M’s Jessica Beard in ’11.
Constantine ran 51.72 to finish off USC’s 3:24.54, the equal-6th fastest time in collegiate history, with UCLA 3rd in 3:25.01, 10th fastest ever. /Dave Johnson/
WOMEN’S 4×4 RESULTS
(June 12)
1. Texas A&M 3:22.34 (CR (old CR 3:23.13 Oregon ’17) (WL, CL)
(Tierra Robinson-Jones 51.9, Charokee Young’ 49.7, Jaevin Reed 51.86, Athing Mu 48.84 [fastest collegiate split ever]);
2. USC 3:24.54 (=6 C, NCAA)
(Bailey Lear 51.4, Kaelin Roberts 50.9, Nicole Yeargin’ 50.49, Kyra Constantine’ 51.71);
3. UCLA 3:25.01 (10 C; 8 NCAA; #6 school)
(Meleni Rodney’ 51.2, Makenzy Pierre-Webster 51.0, Kate Jendrezak 52.80 [2:35.03], Shae Anderson 49.98);
4. Florida 3:26.31
(Taylor Manson 51.3, Sterling Lester 51.7, Doneisha Anderson’ 52.55, Talitha Diggs 50.79);
5. Texas 3:26.72
(Serenity Douglas 53.6, Kennedy Simon 50.9, Rhasidat Adeleke’ 50.96, Stacey Ann Williams’ 51.22);
6. South Carolina 3:26.73
(Alysia Johnson 53.4, Stephanie Davis 50.8, Ashton Lindley 51.89 [2:36.12], Aliyah Abrams’ 50.61);
7. Duke 3:28.27 (AL)
(Iman Sule 52.6, Elena Brown-Soler 51.7, Lauren Hoffman 53.89, Brittany Aveni 50.12);
8. Kentucky 3:28.68
(Megan Moss’ 52.8, Dajour Miles 51.5, Celera Barnes 52.37, Faith Ross 52.00);
9. Arkansas 3:28.78
(Morgan Burks-Magee 52.7, Jada Baylark 52.7, Shafiqua Maloney’ 50.41, Paris Peoples 52.96).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 1, 3–9)
Semis (6/10)
I–1. South Carolina 3:30.09 (Johnson, Abrams, Davis, Lindley); 2. Texas 3:31.09 (Douglas, Simon, Jaworski, Williams); 3. Arkansas 3:31.61 (Peoples, Burks Magee, Baylark, Maloney); 4. Alabama 3:35.99 (Mosley, Clark, Baker, McDonald); 5. Virginia 3:37.53 (Jefferson, Seaman, Meyer, Knight); 6. South Florida 3:37.64 (DesRosiers, Benjamin, Roshofa, Heckstall); 7. Purdue 3:38.50 (Talley, Williams, Miller, Kouyeth); 8. North Carolina A&T 3:39.60 (Russell, Ross, Darius, McDuffie).
II–1. Florida 3:27.47 (Diggs 50.45); 2. USC 3:28.08 (Lear, Yeargin, Harris, Constantine); 3. Duke 3:31.60; 4. Baylor 3:34.21 (Minor, Francis, Miller, Ayers); 5. BYU 3:37.05 (Hunter, Ellsworth, Seymour, Ellsworth); 6. Texas Tech 3:37.10 (Warden, Limp, Price, Crawford); 7. SMU 3:39.21 (Woods, Williams, Bolomboy, Iwuamadi); 8. Howard 3:45.98 (Wright, Gbai, Saalih, White).
III–1. Texas A&M 3:26.74 (Mu 50.90); 2. UCLA 3:27.68 (Anderson 50.63); 3. Kentucky 3:32.69 (Ross, Moss, Barnes, Miles); 4. Minnesota 3:36.20 (Josephs, Larson, Campbell, Schaaffe); 5. Miami 3:36.22 (Oliveira, Johnson, Oliveira, Atherley); 6. Oklahoma State 3:36.76 (Birmingham, Ali, Dixon, Ollison); 7. LSU 3:37.73 (Anning, Young, Phillips, Humphrey); 8. Houston 3:39.61 (Dumas, Side, Babineaux, Taylor). ◻︎