Sander Scorcher — Cameron Myers WJR In Indoor Debut

When German Fernandez set the first of his two mile WJRs in ’09, he had never before set foot on an indoor oval. It was the same for Cameron Myers this time. (JOHN NEPOLITAN)

NEW YORK CITY, January 25 — In his first time racing on an indoor track, 18-year-old Australian Cameron Myers comfortably handled a field of pros and collegians en route to setting a world U20 Record in the mile at the Dr. Sander Scorcher at the Armory. His 3:53.12 sliced almost 2 seconds off the previous mark (3:55.02), set by German Fernandez of the U.S. way back in ’09.

Myers, who was disappointed to not be selected for the Aussie squad for the Paris Olympics, came to the U.S. seeking the 3:50.00 qualifying mark for this fall’s World Champs in Tokyo. The early tempo (Myers hit halfway in 1:56.9 behind pacer Alex Amankwah) essentially put that out of reach, but the lanky teenager — who first went sub-4:00 as a 16-year-old — showed poise when he assumed the lead with four laps to go, with Great Britain’s Adam Fogg on his heels.

The adjustment to running on an indoor oval was mostly psychological. “It’s strange going around having to do eight laps,” said Myers, the silver medalist in the 1500 at the World Junior champs last summer. “[But] I don’t think it’s too different in terms of rhythm. You get a good rhythm and I think the banks are helpful.”

As Myers cruised home, Kenyan Festus Lagat closed well with the fastest final lap (27.52) to move up from 5th and edge Fogg for 2nd, 3:53.45–3:53.49.

“It’s pretty good for the first time running indoors and we’ll hopefully get that down by the time of Millrose in two weeks,” said Myers. The win earned him a spot in the Wanamaker Mile, where he’ll be looking to improve on the PR of 3:50.15 he set outdoors last year.

Armory favorite Katelyn Tuohy, after running just four meets in ’24, won the women’s mile in 4:25.54, not far off the PR (and Collegiate Record) she ran at this meet two years ago (4:24.26). She was shadowed over the second half by Oregon’s Wilma Nielsen, who finished 2nd in 4:25.89, moving to No. 3 on the all-time collegiate list.

“I’ve been racing here since I was 12 years old, so it’s over 12 years now,” said Tuohy, who grew up in nearby North Rockland, New York, and won multiple NCAA titles at NC State. “It’s good to be back, and I’ll be back for Millrose.” (She’s already committed to the 3000, so will decline her invite into the mile.)

Penn grad Nia Akins showed that her move back to Philadelphia is paying early dividends, winning the 800 in 2:01.04, just enough to handle a late challenge from Olivia Baker (2:01.23).

“I didn’t know how fast I was going,” admitted the Olympic Trials champ, who split with the Brooks Beasts in Seattle last summer and is now working with coach Derek Thompson and training alongside Ajee’ Wilson. “I told myself I wasn’t going to look at the clock. I’ve made a lot of life changes and I just want to focus on how my body’s feeling, not look at the time. If I was in the back I wasn’t going to overthink it. Just run whatever race I was in.”

Jonah Koech put the men’s 800 away with a dominant last lap, finishing in 1:47.56, well clear of Amankwah (1:49.17).

Jeremiah Davis, last year’s Olympic Trials winner in the long jump, handled Salif Mane, the Trials triple jump champ, thanks to a second-round leap of 26-3 (8.00). Mane reached a credible 25-8 (7.82), just 2 centimeters off his PR in his secondary event.

In the women’s LJ, Monae’ Nichols sealed the win in the third frame. The Olympic 6th-placer jumped 21-2½ (6.46) to edged Trinidad’s Tyra Gittens, who had gone 21-2 (6.45) one round earlier.


SANDER MEN’S RESULTS

800: 1. Jonah Koech (UArmMRB) 1:47.56.

Mile: 1. Cameron Myers’ (Aus) 3:53.12 WJR (old WJR 3:55.02 German Fernandez [US] ’09) (3:37.89);

2. Festus Lagat’ (Ken) 3:53.45 (3:38.77); 3. Adam Fogg ‘(GB) 3:53.49 (3:38.12); 4. Amon Kemboi’ (Ken) 3:54.96 (3:38.85); 5. Eric Holt (Puma) 3:55.38 (3:39.25); 6. ***Justine Kipkoech’ (EnKy-Ken) 3:57.57 (3:40.31); 7. Alexandre Selles’ (Fra) 3:57.85; 8. Adam Spencer’ (Wi-Aus) 3:58.04; 9. John Reniewicki (UArmMRB) 3:58.40; 10. Ben Allen (EmpE) 3:58.94.

60H: 1. *Ben Barton (BYU) 7.82; 2. *Emanuel Joseph (Syr) 7.88; 3. *Logan Hubler (BYU) 7.89; 4. ***Jamir Brown (Rowan) 7.90.

Field Events

HJ: 1. Dontavious Hill (unat) 7-3¼ (2.22); 2. Earnie Sears (unat) 7-2¼ (2.19).

LJ: 1. Jeremiah Davis (Puma) 26-3 (8.00); 2. Salif Mane (unat) 25-8 (7.82); 3. Wil Williams (unat) 25-7½ (7.81); 4. Cameron Crump (unat) 25-3¼ (7.70); 5. Blair Brooks (GardStTC) 25-1¾ (7.66).

SP: 1. Andrew Stone (Wi) 62-5 (19.02); 2. Joseph White (Wi) 62-4 (19.00); 3. Danny Bryant (BYU) 61-6¾ (18.76); 4. Jason Swarens (Wi) 61-2¾ (18.66); 5. Obiora Okeke (Col) 61-¾ (18.61).

Wt: 1. White 71-9½ (21.88); 2. Alex Kristeller (unat) 71-6 (21.79).

SANDER WOMEN

200: 1. Piper Jons (Tows) 23.60.

400: 1. Sami Oblad (BYU) 53.18; 2. Jons 53.70.

400: 1. Leah Anderson’ (Jam) 52.14; 2. Jan’Taijah Jones (unat) 53.08; 3. Courtney Okolo (unat) 53.69.

800: 1. Nia Akins (unat) 2:01.03; 2. Olivia Baker (AtTC) 2:01.23; 3. McKenna Keegan (Nike) 2:01.69;

4. Emily Richards (AtalNYC) 2:02.98; 5. Michaela Meyer (Nike) 2:03.08; 6. Rachel Gearing (AtlTC) 2:03.94; 7. Brooke Feldmeier (Nike) 2:04.81.

800: 1. Cindy Bourdier’ (Fra) 2:04.87; 2. Sarah Jane Underwood (CPTC) 2:05.55; 3. *Lucy Henkel (Col) 2:05.62; 4. **Hannah Riggins (Prin) 2:05.71; 5. *Abby Klebe (Leh) 2:06.37; 6. Emma Kelley (Wi) 2:06.66.

Mile: 1. Katelyn Tuohy (adidas) 4:25.54 (4:07.20); 2. *Wilma Nielsen’ (Or-Swe) 4:25.89 (4:07.38); 3. Sam Bush (unat) 4:30.42 (4:13.10); 4. Laurie Barton (AtlTC) 4:30.60 (4:13.55); 5. Elly Henes (adidas) 4:31.15 (4:13.26); 6. Mena Scatchard’ (Prin-GB) 4:32.95 (4:15.62); 7. Hannah Segrave’ (GB) 4:33.01 (4:15.11); 8. Yolanda Ngarambe’ (Swe) 4:33.04 (4:13.76); 9. Margot Appleton (Va) 4:33.34 (4:14.59); 10. Kate Current’ (Can) 4:34.52 (4:16.14); 11. Gracie Hyde (Puma) 4:36.97 (4:17.87); 12. Gabrielle Wilkinson (AtlTC) 4:37.29 (4:16.48).

5000: 1. **Rose Coats (Md) 15:54.62.

4 x 400: 1. BYU 3:40.92.

DisMed: 1. Wisconsin 11:16.71; 2. Princeton 11:17.58.

Field Events

PV: 1. Maren Garnett (BYU) 13-11¼ (4.25).

LJ: 1. Monae’ Nichols (Puma) 21-2½ (6.46); 2. Tyra Gittens’ (Tri) 21-2 (6.45); 3. Tionna Tobias (unat) 20-8 (6.30); 4. Kayla Woods (unat) 20-7 (6.27).

TJ: 1. *Georgina Scoot’ (Prin-GB) 42-5½ (12.94).

InvSP: 1. Emily Fink (Army) 55-2¼ (16.82); 2. Jessica Oji (NJHS) 53-6½ (16.32).

SP: 1. *Danni Langseth (Wi) 53-9¼ (16.39); 2. Veronica Fraley (unat) 53-7½ (16.34).

Wt: 1. Chloe Lindeman (Wi) 74-8¼ (22.76); 2. *Taylor Kesner (Wi) 73-4¾ (22.37); 3. Elisia Lancaster (Shore) 71-10 (21.89); 4. Chikere Oduocha (Wi) 69-6 (21.18); 5. Stephanie Green (Alb) 66-2½ (20.18).