HOT MARKS rolled out early in the young season, and not only from Boston and Millrose.
Timburg Soars
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, January 31 — Chloe Timburg of Rutgers made herself the No. 2 collegiate vaulter of all-time with a 15-5¾ (4.72) clearance at the Scarlet Knight Open in the Armory. She cleared the bar on her second attempt before going out at 15-7 (4,75), a mark that would have tied the CR set by Stephen F. Austin’s Demi Payne 10 years ago.
Moll Sisters Flying High
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, January 31–February 01 — The Moll twins showed they are in fine form this indoor season, celebrating their 20th birthday by topping a PR 15-3½ (4.66) at the Washington Invitational to tie as the No. 5 performers in collegiate history, Hana taking the win over Amanda.
As usual on the big 307m oval, distance runners produced fast times. Portland’s Italian senior, Laura Pellicoro, clocked 4:25.60 in the mile, becoming No. 3 among collegians (all tracks). In the 3000, New Mexico frosh Pamela Kosgei moved to No. 7 ever with her 8:44.62.
Messaoudi Wins Razorback Mile
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, February 01 — That a speedy mile was in the offing at the Razorback Invitational seemed clear when one of the slower sections went in 3:54.57 to Oregon’s Tomas Palfrey. In the fast section, Arkansas’s Yaseen Abdalla stayed with the rabbit through 1200 with Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum a step behind. Fouad Messaoudi of Oklahoma State pounced then with a 57.20 final 400 to take the win in a meet record 3:52.66, moving to No. 8 on the collegiate all-time list.
Birnbaum clocked 3:52.81 for the No. 10 all-time collegian spot. Reuben Reina of Arkansas (3:53.95) and Brian Musau of Oklahoma State (3:54.78) both finished in front of Abdalla’s 3:55.41.
The meet also marked the return to competition for Shelby Houlihan after her 4-year ban. In the 3000, she hit 8:31.56 after cruising through the 1600 in 4:36.98. She lapped all but one of her competitors to win by more than 34 seconds.
Florida’s Anthaya Charlton, the younger sister of 60H WR holder Devynne Charlton, shocked in the long jump. The Bahamian’s opening 22-10¾ (6.98) moved her to No. 2 all-time among collegians. The women’s relays also impressed, Arkansas clocking 3:27.47 in the 4×4, as Georgia’s 3:27.95 made it the No. 9 team ever. Oregon won the distance medley in 10:48.45, the No. 8 collegiate performance of all-time.
In other notable marks, Florida’s Jenoah McIver won the 400 in 45.19 and Mississippi’s Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan won the throws double, heaving the shot 68-11¾ (21.02) and the weight 75-7½ (23.05). Krissy Gear took the mile in 4:26.00. In the women’s shot, Akaoma Odeluga of Mississippi threw 59-9 (18.21) to beat Oregon’s NCAA champion Jaida Ross by a centimeter.
Houlihan Clocks Fast Mile
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, February 08 — Shelby Houlihan struck again, running her first mile race in five years at the Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational. Competed unattached on her 32nd birthday, Houlihan followed the rabbit for just two laps before overtaking her and setting out on her own. She passed 809m in 2:12.14, then launched into a powerful finish, covering the final 800 in 2:08.17, passing 1500 in 4:03.40.
Her 4:20.30 makes her the No. 2 miler in U.S. history. Dorcas Ewoi of Kenya placed 2nd in 4:23.69. “Happy to come away with a birthday PR but I know there’s still more there,” Houlihan posted.
In the men’s race, after his Georgetown teammate Tinoda Matsatsa paced him through 1200, senior Abel Teffra churned out a 56.20 final 400 to clock 3:52.44, comfortably handling New Zealand’s Sam Tanner (3:53.30). The mark makes Teffra No. 8 collegian all-time, and his 3:37.60 split at 1500 ranks No. 6 among U.S. collegians.
The 3000 races also stood out. The Villanova twosome of Liam Murphy and Marco Langon dominated the men’s contest. Murphy, at 7:35.47, is the No. 4 collegiate performer ever, while Langon (7:37.87) is No. 7. The Brooks Beasts owned the women’s race, with Allie Buchalski (8:43.83) and Kayley DeLay (8:44.01) at the front.