Paul Chelimo To Return At TrackTown San Francisco After Dominant USAs Run
Paul Chelimo To Return At TrackTown San Francisco After Dominant USAs Run
The second annual TrackTown Summer Series kicks off this week with the first meet in San Francisco, Calif. Olympic and world medalists highlight the rosters selected through a draft process. Athletes from the Portland Pulse, the Philadelphia Force, the Sa
The second annual TrackTown Summer Series kicks off this week with the first meet in San Francisco, CA. Olympic and world medalists highlight the rosters selected through a draft process. Athletes from the Portland Pulse, the Philadelphia Force, the San Francisco Surge, and the New York Empire will face off at Stanford University. Check out the events to watch this Thursday, June 29.
First Look At TrackTown Summer Series Race Bibs
Men's 3000m
Who: Paul Chelimo (Pulse), Lopez Lomong (Pulse), Josh Thompson (Force), Travis Mahoney (Force), Anthony Rotich (Surge), Donn Cabral (Empire), Graham Crawford (Empire)
When: 7:30 PM PT
Why: Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo headlines this men's distance race after throwing down some aggressive tactics to win the 5K at the USATF Outdoor Championships last weekend. Chelimo took off from the gun in an attempt to create a fast-paced race. None of the competitors followed so Chelimo ran a blazing solo effort of 13:08 to win his first national title. The performance is his second-fastest 5K of his career. It is second only to his 13:03 run from the 2016 Olympic final. The U.S. Army standout is clearly in outstanding shape and should be ready to execute a fast 3K at Stanford. He already ran a personal best of 7:31 to finish second in the 3K at the Doha Diamond League meeting. Although the TrackTown field isn't as strong as Doha was, Chelimo has proven that he doesn't necessarily need stiff competition to run a fast race.
Women's 800m
Who: Chrishuna Williams (Pulse), Ce'Aira Brown (Pulse), Kendra Chambers (Empire), Sanne Verstegen (Empire), McKayla Fricker (Surge), Cecilia Barowski (Surge), Alena Brooks (Force), Kenyetta Iyevbele (Force)
When: 7:45 PM
Why: Several of the women who competed in the 800m at the USATF Outdoor Championships will return to compete at Stanford. Chrishuna Williams, a 2016 Olympian, will toe the line after finishing fifth in the 800m final on Sunday. She didn't make the team headed to London, but she did run close to her season's best with a time of 2:00.58. Last year, Williams ran a personal best of 1:59.59 in the Olympic Trials final to make her first Olympic team. She's also had a lot of breakthroughs on the Cobb Track, including a three-peat at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
Women's 1500m
Who: Lauren Johnson (Pulse), Katrina Coogan (Pulse), Amanda Eccleston (Force), Emily Lipari (Force), Hannah Fields (Surge), Alexa Efraimson (Surge), Megan Moye (Empire)
When: 8:15 PM
Why: Four of the women who competed in the 1500m final at USAs will toe the line of the 1500m, likely looking for a little redemption after missing the world championship team. Lauren Johnson came the closest to making the team after finishing a narrow fourth place to a hard-charging Sara Vaughn, who snagged the third spot. Johnson competed at the 2015 World Championships and finished eighth in the semifinal. Alexa Efraimson came close as well with a fifth-place finish in last weekend's final. Efraimson finished fifth at the 2016 World Junior Championships last summer. Amanda Eccleston and Emily Lipari are also returning after ninth- and 11th-place finishes, respectively. Last year, Eccleston narrowly missed a spot on the Olympic team when she got out-leaned by Brenda Martinez in the Trials final. Lipari has had a breakthrough year, highlighted by a personal best of 4:08 at the Prefontaine Classic.
Men's 110m Hurdles
Who: Aaron Mallett (Empire), Eddie Lovett (Surge), Milan Ristic (Surge), Jarrett Eaton (Force), Nick Anderson (Pulse), Ryan Fontenot (Pulse)
When: 7:20 p.m.
Why: Aaron Mallett had a pretty incredible senior season for Iowa. He competed in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championship finals, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the outdoor final. And he returned to place sixth overall in the USATF Outdoor Championships final. Mallet will be joined by Jarrett Eaton, who experienced a breakthrough in 2016 when he placed fourth in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships. He also placed sixth in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Trials.
Who: Marcus Chambers (Empire), Bryshon Nellum (Empire), Chidi Okezie (Surge), Brycen Spratling, James Harris (Force), Arman Hall (Force), Paul Dedewo (Pulse), Dontavius Wright (Pulse)
When: 7:55 PM
Why: Bryshon Nellum will return to competition after running 44.50 to place a narrow fourth in the USATF Outdoor Championship final. Nellum missed the opportunity to make the world championship team by 0.03 seconds when Wil London of Baylor out-leaned him at the line. Despite the disappointing place, Nellum still walked away with a personal best.
Women's 100m Hurdles
Who: Queen Harrison (Empire), Evonne Britton (Empire), Sasha Wallace (Pulse), Raven Clay (Pulse), Janay Soukup (Force), Jade Barber (Force), Bridgette Owens (Surge), Melia Cox (Surge)
When: 7:05 PM
Why: Queen Harrison is stepping up after a disappointing result in the USATF Outdoor Championship semifinal. She finished fifth in her heat and failed to advance to the final round. The performance followed a runner-up finish and season's best at the Prefontaine Classic in May. Harrison finished fifth at the 2013 World Championships and is a consistent competitor when it comes to competing for a spot on one of the toughest teams to make in the United States.
First Look At TrackTown Summer Series Race Bibs
Men's 3000m
Who: Paul Chelimo (Pulse), Lopez Lomong (Pulse), Josh Thompson (Force), Travis Mahoney (Force), Anthony Rotich (Surge), Donn Cabral (Empire), Graham Crawford (Empire)
When: 7:30 PM PT
Why: Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo headlines this men's distance race after throwing down some aggressive tactics to win the 5K at the USATF Outdoor Championships last weekend. Chelimo took off from the gun in an attempt to create a fast-paced race. None of the competitors followed so Chelimo ran a blazing solo effort of 13:08 to win his first national title. The performance is his second-fastest 5K of his career. It is second only to his 13:03 run from the 2016 Olympic final. The U.S. Army standout is clearly in outstanding shape and should be ready to execute a fast 3K at Stanford. He already ran a personal best of 7:31 to finish second in the 3K at the Doha Diamond League meeting. Although the TrackTown field isn't as strong as Doha was, Chelimo has proven that he doesn't necessarily need stiff competition to run a fast race.
Women's 800m
Who: Chrishuna Williams (Pulse), Ce'Aira Brown (Pulse), Kendra Chambers (Empire), Sanne Verstegen (Empire), McKayla Fricker (Surge), Cecilia Barowski (Surge), Alena Brooks (Force), Kenyetta Iyevbele (Force)
When: 7:45 PM
Why: Several of the women who competed in the 800m at the USATF Outdoor Championships will return to compete at Stanford. Chrishuna Williams, a 2016 Olympian, will toe the line after finishing fifth in the 800m final on Sunday. She didn't make the team headed to London, but she did run close to her season's best with a time of 2:00.58. Last year, Williams ran a personal best of 1:59.59 in the Olympic Trials final to make her first Olympic team. She's also had a lot of breakthroughs on the Cobb Track, including a three-peat at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
Women's 1500m
Who: Lauren Johnson (Pulse), Katrina Coogan (Pulse), Amanda Eccleston (Force), Emily Lipari (Force), Hannah Fields (Surge), Alexa Efraimson (Surge), Megan Moye (Empire)When: 8:15 PM
Why: Four of the women who competed in the 1500m final at USAs will toe the line of the 1500m, likely looking for a little redemption after missing the world championship team. Lauren Johnson came the closest to making the team after finishing a narrow fourth place to a hard-charging Sara Vaughn, who snagged the third spot. Johnson competed at the 2015 World Championships and finished eighth in the semifinal. Alexa Efraimson came close as well with a fifth-place finish in last weekend's final. Efraimson finished fifth at the 2016 World Junior Championships last summer. Amanda Eccleston and Emily Lipari are also returning after ninth- and 11th-place finishes, respectively. Last year, Eccleston narrowly missed a spot on the Olympic team when she got out-leaned by Brenda Martinez in the Trials final. Lipari has had a breakthrough year, highlighted by a personal best of 4:08 at the Prefontaine Classic.
Men's 110m Hurdles
Who: Aaron Mallett (Empire), Eddie Lovett (Surge), Milan Ristic (Surge), Jarrett Eaton (Force), Nick Anderson (Pulse), Ryan Fontenot (Pulse)
When: 7:20 p.m.
Why: Aaron Mallett had a pretty incredible senior season for Iowa. He competed in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championship finals, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the outdoor final. And he returned to place sixth overall in the USATF Outdoor Championships final. Mallet will be joined by Jarrett Eaton, who experienced a breakthrough in 2016 when he placed fourth in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships. He also placed sixth in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Trials.
Men's 400m
Who: Marcus Chambers (Empire), Bryshon Nellum (Empire), Chidi Okezie (Surge), Brycen Spratling, James Harris (Force), Arman Hall (Force), Paul Dedewo (Pulse), Dontavius Wright (Pulse)
When: 7:55 PM
Why: Bryshon Nellum will return to competition after running 44.50 to place a narrow fourth in the USATF Outdoor Championship final. Nellum missed the opportunity to make the world championship team by 0.03 seconds when Wil London of Baylor out-leaned him at the line. Despite the disappointing place, Nellum still walked away with a personal best.
Women's 100m Hurdles
Who: Queen Harrison (Empire), Evonne Britton (Empire), Sasha Wallace (Pulse), Raven Clay (Pulse), Janay Soukup (Force), Jade Barber (Force), Bridgette Owens (Surge), Melia Cox (Surge)
When: 7:05 PM
Why: Queen Harrison is stepping up after a disappointing result in the USATF Outdoor Championship semifinal. She finished fifth in her heat and failed to advance to the final round. The performance followed a runner-up finish and season's best at the Prefontaine Classic in May. Harrison finished fifth at the 2013 World Championships and is a consistent competitor when it comes to competing for a spot on one of the toughest teams to make in the United States.