2016 Michael Johnson InvitationalApr 21, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Trayvon Bromell to Race 100m/200m Double | Michael Johnson Preview
Trayvon Bromell to Race 100m/200m Double | Michael Johnson Preview
WATCH THE MICHAEL JOHNSON INVITATIONAL LIVE ON FLOTRACK FloTrack is coast-to-coast from April 21-23 and will cap off the weekend in Waco, Texas, at the Mich
WATCH THE MICHAEL JOHNSON INVITATIONAL LIVE ON FLOTRACK
FloTrack is coast-to-coast from April 21-23 and will cap off the weekend in Waco, Texas, at the Michael Johnson Invitational. Last year’s event featured Olympic champions Sanya Richards-Ross, Jeremy Wariner, Bershawn Jackson and Baylor star Trayvon Bromell. Bromell is back for his first 100m race of 2016, and after winning gold in the 60m at the 2016 World Indoor Championships, the sky is the limit for the young New Balance star.
World Indoor 60m Champion Trayvon Bromell to Double in 100m, 200m Against Stacked Fields
Last year, eight men dipped under the previous stadium record of 10.48, led by Bromell’s 10.02 (+0.7). Coincidentally, 10.02 is the mark Bromell opened both his 2015 and 2014 seasons with. Can he blast out of the blocks for a sub-10 performance this year? After his monumental 2015 outdoor season and phenomenal 2016 indoor season, Bromell is on another level in his first year of professional competition. He opened up his outdoor season with a 20.30 (-0.3) on April 9.
Former Alabama NCAA champion Diondre Batson (9.94 PB set in 2015) will join Bromell, along with World University Games silver medalist Kemarley Brown (9.93 PB set in 2014).
In the men’s 200m, Bromell’s biggest challenge will likely be seven-time global medalist Asafa Powell. He ran 6.44 twice at the World Indoor Championships before settling for silver behind Bromell in the final. Remarkably, Powell has not run a 200m race since 2011, but has turned in eight wind-legal sub 20.30 marks throughout his career, including a 19.90 PB from 2006.
Baylor legend and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner will toe the line in the 400m against Baylor freshman Will London. Wariner has raced 400m twice this year in 45.70 and 45.55 — his best season openers since 2013.
London, 18, was fourth in the NCAA indoor 400m race and has already run 45.76 this outdoor season. Look for him and Wariner to battle it out like they did at the Baylor Invite on April 9.
Watch the trailer for DRIVEN: Jeremy Wariner
World-Class Women in 100m, 200m, 400m
The women’s 100m is STACKED. Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye (fourth in World Indoor 60m, fifth in World Outdoor 100m) is three-for-three this outdoor season and recently took down a stacked field at the Chris Brown Invitational in 11.14. Three-time NCAA champion Remona Burchell (11.03 PB), Jamaican world champion and Olympic medalist Kerron Stewart (10.75 PB), Texas A&M’s Jennifer Madu (11.14 PB) and Baylor freshman Taylor Bennett (11.38, 22.71 PBs) will line up in what will hopefully be one of the best races of the afternoon. Madu won this contest in 11.48 last year.
A diverse mix of talent will converge in the women's 200m: Olympic 4x100m champion Bianca Knight, world bronze medalist Blessing Okagbare (22.23 PB), hurdle specialist Sharika Nelvis (12.34 100m hurdle PB, the fastest time in the world in 2015), Team USA member Phyllis Francis and world silver medalist in the 400m hurdles, Shamier Little.
Francis will also contest the 400m, her signature event, against Stanford 400m/800m runner Olivia Baker. Baker has already run 2:04 and 53.49 this outdoor season, so it will be a treat to see her line up with some of the world’s top sprinters.
Rose Monday’s Training Group in the Women’s 800m
Laura Roesler, Kendra Chambers and Dana Mecke will battle Baylor All-American Olivia Williams in the women’s 800m. Roesler is coming off a nice 800m victory at the Mt. SAC Relays, and together with Chambers and Mecke, she could inch closer to the 2:00 mark. Check out the latest Workout Wednesday to see these three power through three 400s— each under 60 seconds!
Olympic Bronze Medalist vs. High School Elite in Men’s 400m Hurdles
Puerto Rican Javier Culson, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, will toe the line in the men’s 400m hurdles. Culson finished second (49.12) last weekend at the Chris Brown Invitational to American Johnny Dutch. Though he’ll likely come away the champion, high school senior Norman Grimes will give his best efforts against the 31-year-old.
Grimes was the 2015 World Youth Champion in the 400m hurdles (in 49.11) and has committed to run for Texas Tech in 2016. He ran 50.10 to win the Pan-American Junior Championships last August, and has been competing against collegians this outdoor season. He also asked someone to prom in this MileSplit interview!
FloTrack is coast-to-coast from April 21-23 and will cap off the weekend in Waco, Texas, at the Michael Johnson Invitational. Last year’s event featured Olympic champions Sanya Richards-Ross, Jeremy Wariner, Bershawn Jackson and Baylor star Trayvon Bromell. Bromell is back for his first 100m race of 2016, and after winning gold in the 60m at the 2016 World Indoor Championships, the sky is the limit for the young New Balance star.
World Indoor 60m Champion Trayvon Bromell to Double in 100m, 200m Against Stacked Fields
Last year, eight men dipped under the previous stadium record of 10.48, led by Bromell’s 10.02 (+0.7). Coincidentally, 10.02 is the mark Bromell opened both his 2015 and 2014 seasons with. Can he blast out of the blocks for a sub-10 performance this year? After his monumental 2015 outdoor season and phenomenal 2016 indoor season, Bromell is on another level in his first year of professional competition. He opened up his outdoor season with a 20.30 (-0.3) on April 9.
Out of lane 6, @TrayvonBromell goes 20.30 in #BaylorInv16 200 meters. Fourth-fastest in the world for 2016. pic.twitter.com/FlDW5XBMrS
— Baylor Track & Field (@BaylorTrack) April 10, 2016
Former Alabama NCAA champion Diondre Batson (9.94 PB set in 2015) will join Bromell, along with World University Games silver medalist Kemarley Brown (9.93 PB set in 2014).
In the men’s 200m, Bromell’s biggest challenge will likely be seven-time global medalist Asafa Powell. He ran 6.44 twice at the World Indoor Championships before settling for silver behind Bromell in the final. Remarkably, Powell has not run a 200m race since 2011, but has turned in eight wind-legal sub 20.30 marks throughout his career, including a 19.90 PB from 2006.
Baylor legend and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner will toe the line in the 400m against Baylor freshman Will London. Wariner has raced 400m twice this year in 45.70 and 45.55 — his best season openers since 2013.
London, 18, was fourth in the NCAA indoor 400m race and has already run 45.76 this outdoor season. Look for him and Wariner to battle it out like they did at the Baylor Invite on April 9.
Watch the trailer for DRIVEN: Jeremy Wariner
World-Class Women in 100m, 200m, 400m
The women’s 100m is STACKED. Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye (fourth in World Indoor 60m, fifth in World Outdoor 100m) is three-for-three this outdoor season and recently took down a stacked field at the Chris Brown Invitational in 11.14. Three-time NCAA champion Remona Burchell (11.03 PB), Jamaican world champion and Olympic medalist Kerron Stewart (10.75 PB), Texas A&M’s Jennifer Madu (11.14 PB) and Baylor freshman Taylor Bennett (11.38, 22.71 PBs) will line up in what will hopefully be one of the best races of the afternoon. Madu won this contest in 11.48 last year.
A diverse mix of talent will converge in the women's 200m: Olympic 4x100m champion Bianca Knight, world bronze medalist Blessing Okagbare (22.23 PB), hurdle specialist Sharika Nelvis (12.34 100m hurdle PB, the fastest time in the world in 2015), Team USA member Phyllis Francis and world silver medalist in the 400m hurdles, Shamier Little.
Francis will also contest the 400m, her signature event, against Stanford 400m/800m runner Olivia Baker. Baker has already run 2:04 and 53.49 this outdoor season, so it will be a treat to see her line up with some of the world’s top sprinters.
Rose Monday’s Training Group in the Women’s 800m
Laura Roesler, Kendra Chambers and Dana Mecke will battle Baylor All-American Olivia Williams in the women’s 800m. Roesler is coming off a nice 800m victory at the Mt. SAC Relays, and together with Chambers and Mecke, she could inch closer to the 2:00 mark. Check out the latest Workout Wednesday to see these three power through three 400s— each under 60 seconds!
Olympic Bronze Medalist vs. High School Elite in Men’s 400m Hurdles
Puerto Rican Javier Culson, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, will toe the line in the men’s 400m hurdles. Culson finished second (49.12) last weekend at the Chris Brown Invitational to American Johnny Dutch. Though he’ll likely come away the champion, high school senior Norman Grimes will give his best efforts against the 31-year-old.
Grimes was the 2015 World Youth Champion in the 400m hurdles (in 49.11) and has committed to run for Texas Tech in 2016. He ran 50.10 to win the Pan-American Junior Championships last August, and has been competing against collegians this outdoor season. He also asked someone to prom in this MileSplit interview!