4 Big Breakthroughs From the Weekend

4 Big Breakthroughs From the Weekend

From London to Houston, athletes posted breakthrough performances to highlight Diamond League and local competition. Catch up on the record-breaking and sta

Jul 25, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
4 Big Breakthroughs From the Weekend
From London to Houston, athletes posted breakthrough performances to highlight Diamond League and local competition. Catch up on the record-breaking and standout marks that went down over the weekend. 


Keni Harrison

Harrison got some consolation for not making the Olympic team when she broke the world record in the 100m hurdles at the London Diamond League meeting on Friday. Harrison unleashed a stunning victory by running 12.20 to win the final in London and beat the entire three-person squad headed to the Olympic Games for Team USA.  


A month after breaking the American record in the event, Harrison finished sixth in the Olympic Trials final. She missed making Team USA by three spots and had to watch Brianna Rollins, Kristi Castlin, and Nia Ali receive Olympic berths. 

Although she won't be competing in Rio, the 23-year-old can now call herself the American and world record-holder in the 100m hurdles. 




Sandi Morris

Morris continued her impressive season by breaking the outdoor American record in the pole vault at the American Track League meeting in Houston. The world indoor silver medalist cleared 4.93m, which stands as a world lead and an outdoor personal best. 


Morris' performance beat indoor world and American record-holder Jenn Suhr's previous outdoor record of 4.92m set in 2006. Prior to the meet in Houston, Morris finished second to Suhr at the Olympic Trials and notched a previous outdoor personal best of 4.83m in Doha. She is also the reigning indoor world champion, and secured the title by soaring to first in Portland, Oregon, this year with an incredible height of 4.95m. 




Brandon McBride

New adidas pro McBride proved he can hang with top international talent when he finished second to Pierre Ambroise-Bosse in the 800m at the London Diamond League meeting. McBride closed with a significant improvement on his personal best by running 1:43.95. It was the first time in his career that he ran faster than 1:44. 



Prior to London, McBride ran his best mark during the NCAA 800m final when Donavan Brazier broke the collegiate record in 1:43.55. McBride finished second in 1:44.50, and will compete for Canada at the Olympics in two weeks. 


Amanda Eccleston

In her third improvement on her personal best this year, Amanda Eccleston finished sixth in 4:03.25 in the 1500m at the London Diamond League meeting. 

The performance followed a devastatingly close fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials. In a dive at the finish line, Eccleston finished fourth to Brenda Martinez who earned the third and final spot on the Olympic team. But missing out on the team hasn't stopped Eccleston from improving. 

One week after the Trials final, Eccleston flew to Italy and won her heat with a then-personal best of 4:04.88. One week later, Eccleston improved again with a 4:03 in London.