While a few meets were rescheduled due to the swine flu scare, and many states started to shift towards their state meet series', the first weekend in May did not disappoint with fast results from around the country pouring in. This week, we wrap up the Prospect Invitational in Illinois, while highlighting many other top national performances.
Prospect Invitational (IL)
Every year the Prospect Invitational is widely regarded as the top track and field meet for distance runners in the state of Illinois outside of the state meet. Often is the case, the top male runners in Illinois go head-to-head, with the end results often showing numerous Illinois #1 times by the end of the evening.
The evening started on an exciting note, as York (IL) battled a strong field of competition in the 4x800m relay, taking home the title in an IL #1 time of 7:50.83. York used a strong third leg to pull away from the pack, showing that they will once again contend for the state title in the event. Meanwhile, Prospect (IL) finished second in 7:53.37, despite running without one of their top 800m runners.
As usual, the 3,200m run was the top individual race of the evening. Senior Steve Sulkin (York, IL) pushed the pace from the gun, running right on 9-flat pace for nearly the entire race. Sulkin was trailed by Phil Fairleigh (Cary-Grove, IL), who sat right off of Sulkin's left shoulder lap after lap. With two laps to go Sulkin started to gap Fairleigh, and then the York star took off with 300m to go and went on to win in 9:01.11. Fairleigh finished with a huge personal best of 9:05.13. Sulkin's senior teammate Jordan Herbert (York, IL) finished third in 9:10.38, while junior Pat Lesiewicz (Schaumburg, IL) finished fourth in 9:14.52.
The 800m dash was won from the start, as senior Ryan Mangone (Barrington, IL) seemed to be shot out of a cannon, torching a first 400m in 52 seconds, then coming home in a very respectable and top Illinois time of 1:53.56. Senior Pat Morgan (York, IL) finished second in 1:55.64, while fellow senior David Way (York, IL) finished third in 1:55.83.
As the meet wound down, the 1,600m run was the last distance event of the evening. With many of the top ranked runners in the state in the race, this race promised to be exciting. From the gun, Peter Callahan (North Shore Co. Day, IL) took the lead, pushing the pace through the first 400m in 62 seconds. Callahan then relinquished the lead to others in the pack and the race slowed dramatically for two laps. At the bell lap Callahan shot to the lead once again, dragging out the rest of the field, sprinting away from the field in the final 200m to win in 4:16.00. Alex Lyons (Lyons Twp., IL) finished second in 4:16.90, while Steve Sulkin finished third in 4:19.23.
Prospect Invitational Meet Results
Hasay Runs 4:16.80 at Payton Jordan Invitational
Despite missing valuable training time in past weeks due to illness, Jordan Hasay (Mission Prep, CA) showed fine form Saturday evening at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University. Competing against many of the top professional and collegiate athletes in the U.S., Hasay finished eleventh overall in 4:16.80. Her time is the fourth fastest all-time at the prep level, giving her six of the top eleven best all-time performances, including her U.S. #1 mark of 4:14.50 set at the Olympic Trials last summer.
Payton Jordan Invitational Results
New U.S. #1 Times in 3,200m, mile and 800m
In addition to Hasay's U.S. #1 time in the girls 1,500m, new U.S. #1 performances were earned in the boys 3,200m and mile event, while the girls 800m dash has a new leader in the rankings.
At the CNY Coaches Association Meet in New York, Chris Stogsdill (Marcellus, NY) ran a new U.S. #1 time in the boys' mile, taking home the race win in 4:07.93. The senior, who's committed to Iona College, outran junior Alex Hatz (Fayetteville-Manlius, NY), who finished second in a great time of 4:10.80. CNY Coaches Asso. Meet Results
In the boys 3,200m, Erik Olson (Novato, CA) lowered his U.S. #1 time in the event, as he won by just over 20 seconds at the Sacramento Meet of Champions. Olson, who's only a junior, has shown this outdoor season thus far that he is the man to beat in the event, dipping under nine minutes for the second time. Sacramento Meet of Champions Results
Beating her personal best by over 1.5 seconds, Charlene Lipsey (Hampstead, NY) ran to a new U.S. #1 time in the girls 800m dash Saturday at the St. Anthony's Invitational. The junior showed why she might just be the best 800m runner in the country this season, as she blazed to a 2:05.83 finish. St. Anthony's Invitational Results
Distance Highlights from Around the U.S.
* 2008 Midwest Distance Gala 800m champion Tommy Brinn (Otsego, MI), ran quite the speedy double over the weekend. Brinn won over the span of 30 minutes the 400m dash and 800m dash at the Allegan Invitational Friday evening. Brinn took home the title in the 400m dash in 47.83, while winning the 800m dash in 1:53.09. Both were meet records. Brinn Blazes in 400/800 Double
* The girls 800m is a strong event this year, with Illinois senior Stephanie Brown (Tri-Valley, IL) being one of the best in the country. On Friday evening, Brown scored a big win at the Meet of Champions in East Peoria, Illinois, winning the 800m in 2:09.89, becoming the fifth athlete to dip under the 2:10 mark this outdoor season. Brown came back later in the meet to win the 1,600m run in 5:09.47. Meet of Champions Results
* The Trevor Dunbar (Kodiak, AK) continued this weekend, this time seeing the Portland-bound senior running at the Juneau Invitational. Dunbar won the 800m, 1,600m and 3,200m races, all with relative ease. Dunbar cruised to victory in the 1,600m race in 4:10.78, while winning the 3,200m in 9:10.74 and the 800m in 1:58.57 respectively.
* At the Henderson Invitational earlier in the weekend, Tatnall (DE) showed why they are one of the strongest girls distance squads in the country. The squad ran a trio of runners in the 1,600m run that went 1-3-4, with Katie Buenaga, Haley Olivere and Allison Calvarese going 4:55.34, 5:06.68 and 5:07.93 respectively. The team's top runner, Juliet Bottorff, won the 3,200m run by just over 49 seconds, cruising to a 10:27.11 victory. The top performance on the boys side was from junior Tom Mallon (Central Bucks South, PA), who won the 800m dash in 1:52.02, while leading two other teammates under 1:56 for second and third place overall.
* One of the best performances to come out of the mountain region this year happened this past weekend when Evan Appel (Dakota Ridge, CO), a three-time Foot Locker finalist and Stanford-bound senior, won the 3,200m run at the Tiger Invitational with a 9:07.82 clocking, winning by 22 seconds.
Additional Articles of Interest
Lopez Lomong Helps Brothers Share in American Dream (Universal Sports)
Interview with Top Canadian Prep Miler Jeremy Rae (Dyestat)
Checking in with Matt Tegenkamp (Running Times)
Brief Chat with Olympic 1,500m Medalist Nick Willis (Runner's World)
Coverage from the Payton Jordan Invitational (Runnerspace)
To submit an article or results to Distance Gala Weekly please contact Scott Bush at: [email protected]
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