Best Of The Rest: Matt Centrowitz Dabs After Running 3:54.02 World Lead
Best Of The Rest: Matt Centrowitz Dabs After Running 3:54.02 World Lead
This is your go-to page for updates from a busy day of track and field across the country. Keep checking back throughout the day as more and more results po
This is your go-to page for updates from a busy day of track and field across the country. Keep checking back throughout the day as more and more results pour in.
Note: the biggest news of the day was Drew Hunter’s 7:59.33 3k high school record, and we have another article recapping that feat HERE. Also, Jenn Suhr broke the pole vault World record, that you can find HERE.
Here was the other news in track and field.
Centro is always good for an entertaining celebration after a win, but his ode to soon-to-be NFL MVP Cam Newton may be his best to date. After fighting off defending champ Cory Leslie in the last lap and crossing first in 3:54.02, the 26-year-old proceeded to dab just like the star quarterback has done all season, which delighted the North Carolina crowd. Winston-Salem is just over an hour down the road from Charlotte, where Newton led his team to the Super Bowl last week.
Before the World silver medalist could dance like Cam, however, he had to rid himself of Leslie, which was no small task. The pair hit the bell at an identical 3:26, but showing the speed we’ve come to expect from him, Centrowitz closed in 28.00 and that was that.
Leslie could only muster a 30-second last lap, but he still came away with a 3:56.25 PR.
The time wasn’t a jaw-dropper like her 4:22.66 from a year ago, but 1500m American record holder Shannon Rowbury still won the women’s mile at Camel City on Saturday in a world-leading 4:26.01. The 31-year-old won by a comfortable 2.46 seconds over Stephanie Garcia.
Northern Arizona senior Futsum Zienasellassie recently became a U.S. citizen, and the All-American celebrated on Saturday by running a 4:05.92 mile in Flagstaff, which converted all the way down to 3:56.98 since Flag sits at an elevation of 6,910 ft. That time is second-fastest in the NCAA for 2016, behind only Syracuse’s Justyn Knight’s 3:56.97 today in Boston (see below).
I tend to raise a skeptical eye to altitude converted times, but 4:05 at almost 7,000 ft above sea-level is super legit. Diego Estrada’s 4:04.36 (which converted to 3:55) is the NAU school record.
Zienasellassie, who was born in Eritrea, isn’t known for his mile speed at all, and the 4:05 without the conversion is actually a PR. Don’t expect to see the 2014 NCAA XC third place finisher competing in the mile at NCAAs come March, but the time will be plenty good enough to qualify if he decides to give the distance another look.
His 13:44.89 5k is second-best in the NCAA for 2016.
This one delivered on its promise of being a super fast race, as Chris O’Hare won in 3:56.00, with ‘Cuse super sophomore Justyn Knight dropping an NCAA-leading 3:56.87 for second. That’s a school record for the All-American (who’s actually Canadian).
Knight’s time was the first of three sub-4:00 miles today for the Orange, as he was quickly followed by his teammates Adam Palamar (3:58.55) and Joel Hubbard (3:58.94).
For those of you whose gears really grind for altitude-converted miles topping the NCAA performance list, Knight was your hero on Saturday. Anyways, here’s the race:
UPDATE: Edward Cheserk is still King Edward Cheserek. The 9-time NCAA champion sprinted away from teammate Blake Haney in the last lap of the Razorback Invite mile on Saturday in Fayetteville, crossing in 3:57.38. This came one day after Ches anchored the Oregon Ducks to DMR victory with a 3:55 closing 1600m leg.
Behind Cheserek, Haney ran a very impressive race to stick with Cheserek up until the last lap and he was rewarded with his first ever sub-4:00, 3:59.10.
Notably, Oregon frosh and high school sub-4:00 miler Matthew Maton did not have a good day in his collegiate track debut. Maton was last in 4:17.52. There will be much better days ahead.
Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards now owns NCAA-leading marks in both the 800 and mile, as the junior ran a solo 4:32.14 today in Fayetteville. This came a day after she anchored her Cowgirl DMR squad to victory with a 4:31 leg.
Even after her impressive race today, which she won by more than four seconds, Edwards maintains that she’s sticking with the 800 for her individual event. She has the NCAA's fastest time in that one too, 2:03.60, and is the top returner for this year’s NCAA Championships with her runner-up finish from a year ago.
Female NCAA milers should all be breathing a sigh of relief that Edwards won’t do both.
And finally….
Two really impressive PRs from pros Gallagher and Rachel Schneider to get first and second in 8:56.52 and 8:58.84, respectively, but I think the performance of the race has to go to N.C. State’s Wesley Frazier with her NCAA-leading 9:01.26 for third. Her mark will actually go down on the performance list at 8:56.66 factoring in the flat track conversions.
Frazier, the sister of super freshman Ryen Frazier, transferred to the Wolfpack last year after a lackluster couple years at Duke.
Of course, there's plenty more that went down today in the world of track and field. Check the homepage for all the videos and click here for every result.
Note: the biggest news of the day was Drew Hunter’s 7:59.33 3k high school record, and we have another article recapping that feat HERE. Also, Jenn Suhr broke the pole vault World record, that you can find HERE.
Here was the other news in track and field.
Matt Centrowitz Fends Off A Pesky Cory Leslie To Run 3:54.02, Dabs On ‘Em
Centro is always good for an entertaining celebration after a win, but his ode to soon-to-be NFL MVP Cam Newton may be his best to date. After fighting off defending champ Cory Leslie in the last lap and crossing first in 3:54.02, the 26-year-old proceeded to dab just like the star quarterback has done all season, which delighted the North Carolina crowd. Winston-Salem is just over an hour down the road from Charlotte, where Newton led his team to the Super Bowl last week.
3:54 for the win here at the @JDLFastTrack pic.twitter.com/NLloNV6M5q
— Matthew Centrowitz (@MattCentrowitz) January 30, 2016
Before the World silver medalist could dance like Cam, however, he had to rid himself of Leslie, which was no small task. The pair hit the bell at an identical 3:26, but showing the speed we’ve come to expect from him, Centrowitz closed in 28.00 and that was that.
Leslie could only muster a 30-second last lap, but he still came away with a 3:56.25 PR.
Shannon Rowbury Wins Second Straight Camel City Mile Title
The time wasn’t a jaw-dropper like her 4:22.66 from a year ago, but 1500m American record holder Shannon Rowbury still won the women’s mile at Camel City on Saturday in a world-leading 4:26.01. The 31-year-old won by a comfortable 2.46 seconds over Stephanie Garcia.
Futsum Zienasellassie Celebrates U.S. Citizenship With 3:56 Altitude-Converted Mile
Northern Arizona senior Futsum Zienasellassie recently became a U.S. citizen, and the All-American celebrated on Saturday by running a 4:05.92 mile in Flagstaff, which converted all the way down to 3:56.98 since Flag sits at an elevation of 6,910 ft. That time is second-fastest in the NCAA for 2016, behind only Syracuse’s Justyn Knight’s 3:56.97 today in Boston (see below).
New U.S. Citizen and big time mile race at altitude!! 3:56.99 mile conversion for Futsum @NAUTrackFieldXC @FloTrack pic.twitter.com/FhBWbya2lg
— Jarred Cornfield (@JarredCornfield) January 30, 2016
I tend to raise a skeptical eye to altitude converted times, but 4:05 at almost 7,000 ft above sea-level is super legit. Diego Estrada’s 4:04.36 (which converted to 3:55) is the NAU school record.
Zienasellassie, who was born in Eritrea, isn’t known for his mile speed at all, and the 4:05 without the conversion is actually a PR. Don’t expect to see the 2014 NCAA XC third place finisher competing in the mile at NCAAs come March, but the time will be plenty good enough to qualify if he decides to give the distance another look.
His 13:44.89 5k is second-best in the NCAA for 2016.
Justyn Knight Runs NCAA-Leading 3:56.87 In Boston, Six Men Break 4:00
This one delivered on its promise of being a super fast race, as Chris O’Hare won in 3:56.00, with ‘Cuse super sophomore Justyn Knight dropping an NCAA-leading 3:56.87 for second. That’s a school record for the All-American (who’s actually Canadian).
Knight’s time was the first of three sub-4:00 miles today for the Orange, as he was quickly followed by his teammates Adam Palamar (3:58.55) and Joel Hubbard (3:58.94).
For those of you whose gears really grind for altitude-converted miles topping the NCAA performance list, Knight was your hero on Saturday. Anyways, here’s the race:
Edward Cheserek Runs Smooth 3:57.38 In Arkansas, Blake Haney Runs First Sub-4:00
UPDATE: Edward Cheserk is still King Edward Cheserek. The 9-time NCAA champion sprinted away from teammate Blake Haney in the last lap of the Razorback Invite mile on Saturday in Fayetteville, crossing in 3:57.38. This came one day after Ches anchored the Oregon Ducks to DMR victory with a 3:55 closing 1600m leg.
A smooth 3:57.38 for @KingCheserek and first career sub-4 for @Blake_Haney! pic.twitter.com/R1jiBfboUS
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) January 30, 2016
Behind Cheserek, Haney ran a very impressive race to stick with Cheserek up until the last lap and he was rewarded with his first ever sub-4:00, 3:59.10.
Notably, Oregon frosh and high school sub-4:00 miler Matthew Maton did not have a good day in his collegiate track debut. Maton was last in 4:17.52. There will be much better days ahead.
Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards Drops 4:32.14 NCAA-Leading Mile, Says She’s Sticking w/800
Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards now owns NCAA-leading marks in both the 800 and mile, as the junior ran a solo 4:32.14 today in Fayetteville. This came a day after she anchored her Cowgirl DMR squad to victory with a 4:31 leg.
Even after her impressive race today, which she won by more than four seconds, Edwards maintains that she’s sticking with the 800 for her individual event. She has the NCAA's fastest time in that one too, 2:03.60, and is the top returner for this year’s NCAA Championships with her runner-up finish from a year ago.
Female NCAA milers should all be breathing a sigh of relief that Edwards won’t do both.
And finally….
Kerri Gallagher Runs 8:56 FTW, Wesley Frazier Grabs NCAA Lead With 9:01 At Camel City 3k
Two really impressive PRs from pros Gallagher and Rachel Schneider to get first and second in 8:56.52 and 8:58.84, respectively, but I think the performance of the race has to go to N.C. State’s Wesley Frazier with her NCAA-leading 9:01.26 for third. Her mark will actually go down on the performance list at 8:56.66 factoring in the flat track conversions.
Frazier, the sister of super freshman Ryen Frazier, transferred to the Wolfpack last year after a lackluster couple years at Duke.
Of course, there's plenty more that went down today in the world of track and field. Check the homepage for all the videos and click here for every result.