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Harry Jerome International Track Classic 2013 (NTL #4)

Harry Jerome Preview: Duane Solomon 600m WR Attempt

Harry Jerome Preview: Duane Solomon 600m WR Attempt

Jun 30, 2013 by Jimmy Stevenson
Harry Jerome Preview: Duane Solomon 600m WR Attempt
Event: National Track League - Harry Jerome International Track Classic
Date: Monday, July 1, 2013
Time: 3:00pm Eastern Time

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The Harry Jerome Inviational has been going on since 1983 and takes place in Vancouver. Below are four highlighted events showcasing the top athletes in each event. All times are in Eastern Time.

Enbridge Men's 600m
7:28pm 

Top Contenders:
Duane Solomon
Casimir Loxsom

The 600m features two indoor track masters. The first is Duane Solomon, who held the 600m American record (1:15.70) until Erik Sowinski broke it with a 1:15.61. The other is Casimir Loxsom, the American Collegiate record holder in that event (1:15.79). Both of these competitors set those respective records on January 26 earlier this year. Now almost six months later they toe the line together, mano-a-mano.
Looking past that single day in late January, the credentials of these guys prove why they are the front runners for Sunday.
 
Loxsom, a recent graduate from Penn State University, also competed in the 800m at USAs as a recent signee for Brooks Beasts. He made it past the prelims, but was unable to advance to the finals. He also is a 2-time NCAA 800m runner-up during his senior year at PSU.

As good as Loxsom is, it will be quite a challenge to take down the first guy off the medal stand at the London Olympics with a 1:42.82. Solomon is a year remonved from the Olympics earlier this season, some may have thought he wasn't in the best of shape. Think again! He ran his second fastest time of his life last weekend in the 800m final at the US Championships posting a 1:43.27.

Furthermore, Solomon is gunning after the 600m world record held by his coach Johnny Gray (1:12.81 from 1986). Talk about some motivation!
TIMEX Men's 1500m
6:56pm 

Top Contenders:
Pretty much everyone

The TIMEX 1500m should be renamed “Collegiate 1500m, plus a couple Awesome Storylines.” Let’s start with those awesome storylines with Matthew Elliot taking the top spot. Elliot, a full-time elementary school teacher, just finished 4th in the US Champs behind three Olympians.

If he runs the IAAF “A” standard of 3:35.00 and at least one of those top three from USAs (Matt Centrowitz, Leo Manzano or Lopez Lamong) do not get the “A” Standard by July 20 then Elliot will run in Moscow (Cento goes automatically because he won USAs). If he gets the IAAF “B” Standard of 3:37.00 and one of those three does not get the “B” and the other two get the “A” then Elliot will run at the World Championships. Either way he has his work cut out for him. It’s all about chasing those standards.

Have no doubt in your mind, this race will be fast. Check out this highlight video from USA Champs where Elliot is featured in it during his emotional interview post 1500m finals.

***NOTE: As of the morning of Monday, July 1 we have been informed that Elliott will not be racing at Harry Jerome at all.  He will be chasing the 1500m standards at Heusden on July 13.
 

In the same book of “Standards Chasing” but a different chapter, we find the Canadians gunning for the magic number 3:35.00 as well. Nate Brannen, Taylor Milne, Notre Dame all-American Jeremy Rae and Adam Palamar are the main characters as the Canadian 1,500m team for Worlds is not set yet.

Besides Olympian Brannen, the first and third fastest 1,500m times this season belong to Jack Bolas and Craig Miller, two former Wisconsin Badger greats who are now running for New Balance.

Sandwiched between Bolas and Miller for season bests is another Badger, Rob Finnerty. Two fellow Australians and teammates at Villanova, Jordan Williamsz and Sam McEntee will also be toeing the line.

The hottest collegian of them all them right now though has to be Oregon's Mac Fleet. After recently being crowned NCAA Champ in the 1,500m this Duck got 6th in the US Champs. His teammate Trevor Dunbar, who redshirted this past season will also be in the race.

Also, look out for the experienced Mexican Olympian Pablo Solares who ran a 3:39.54 earlier in the season.
Running Room Women's 800m
7:12pm 
 
The Contenders (Personal Best/Season’s Best)
Maggie Vessey (1:57.84/2:01.02)
Geena Gall (1:59.24/2:01.11)
Melissa Bishop (1:59.82/2:00.84)
Jessica Smith (1:59.86/2:01.17)
Chanelle Price (2:00.15/2:00.88)
Laura Roesler (2:00.23/2:00.23)

The women’s 800 meter field also boasts a very strong field of Americans and Canadians. The top five from Saturday’s 800m in Edmonton will all be back up against each other two days later.

Melissa Bishop broke the tape in Edmonton first with a 2:02.14 and continues to compete well as she prepares to represent Canada at Worlds. Perhaps Jessica Smith will join her in representing their home country but that is yet to be determined. Smith must run sub-2:00 in order to race in Moscow.

A strong American core including Laura Roesler, Geena Gall and Chanelle Price accompany the veteran, Maggie Vessey, who finished second to Bishop on Saturday. Roesler and Gall are definitely hungry after placing 5th and 8th respectively in the 800m at USAs.
Sheraton Airport Men's 800m
7:04pm 

The Contenders (Personal Best/Season’s Best)
Charles Jock (1:44.67/1:45.01)
Michael Rutt (1:45.08/1:45.08)
Joe Abbott (1:45.80/1:45.80)
Geoff Harris (1:45.97/1:47.75)
Prince Mumba (1:46.13/1:46.20)

The three Americans, Charles Jock, Michael Rutt and Joe Abbott come in with the fastest personal records and season best times. Both Rutt and Jock competed in the finals of the 800m at US Champs but fell short of making the team for Worlds by placing 7th and 8th respectively in the fast championship race.

At USAs Abbott lost to Rutt in the Prelims, but still advanced to the semi-finals. In his semi-final heat he lost to Jock. The All-American from Washington State is surely looking to get reverse his finish against Rutt and Jock from USAs and prove that he has the chops to be one of the top 800m runners in America.

Canadian Olympian Geoff Harris and the 2-time Olympian from Zambia, Prince Mumba have the best shots of preventing the American sweep.

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