Weekend Recap
Weekend Recap
Sprints at Florida Relays and LSU Invitational highlight big early weekend
This marked the first big sprints weekend of the 2011 outdoor season, as the Florida Gators (men's indoor NCAA champions) hosted the Florida Relays, and Texas A&M travelled to Baton Rouge to compete at the LSU Invitational.
In Carlsbad, California, the "World's Fastest 5k" lived up to its name, as the men's race was won in 13:11 and the women's in 15:13 ... on the roads!
Here are some highlighted meets:
Florida Relays
This meet always features many of the top sprint schools and individuals in the country (high school and college), but the professional participation is second to none. Many of the top sprinters in the country use the meet either as an opener or a rare opportunity to run on a team relay, as many did this weekend. Furthermore, the fierce rivalries between the heavy sprint-schools from the South are tremendous.
Highlight: Hard to pick one ... but I have to go with the men's 4x100. The entire stadium was buzzing after Pure Athletics, Florida State and Florida battled to the line. Pure Athletics won in 38.74. Video
The LSU Invitational
This figured to be a hotly contested team-scored meet between A&M and LSU, and it certainly lived up. Both men's and women's scores were within 20 points, as A&M slightly bested their hosts on both accounts. Iowa and Illinois added some quality Big-10 competition as well.
Highlight: The Texas A&M long sprinters were the story here. Two separate 4x400 teams going 3:02 and 3:04, respectively. Tabarie Henry running 44.83 in the open 4, and having two teammates break 45.5 ... unreal.
Carlsbad 5000
The biggest story here was Eliud Kipchoge getting outkicked by Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel, who won 13:11 to 13:14.
After the pacemaker dropped out, Kipchoge assumed the lead for a spell, then signaled Gebremeskel to help out. Gebremeskel smartly refused, deciding to sit on the two-time Olympic medalist, and kick.
He indicated that he will go for the World Record (13:00) next year at Carlsbad.
The women's race followed suit, as Ethiopian Aheza Kiros outkicked Kenyan Pauline Korikwiang for the 15:13 to 15:14 win.
Afterward, a visibly upset Korikwiang was frustrated at doing all of the pace-work once the pacemaker stepped off.
Edward Cheserek
The high school sophomore from New Jersey shattered the long-standing Sophomore National Record, previously held by Brad Hudson.
His time of 9:00.11 falls just 10 seconds off the National Record. His performance also placed him second overall to a field filled otherwise with collegians (the winner was 8:54).
Results here
This marked the first big sprints weekend of the 2011 outdoor season, as the Florida Gators (men's indoor NCAA champions) hosted the Florida Relays, and Texas A&M travelled to Baton Rouge to compete at the LSU Invitational.
In Carlsbad, California, the "World's Fastest 5k" lived up to its name, as the men's race was won in 13:11 and the women's in 15:13 ... on the roads!
Here are some highlighted meets:
Florida Relays
This meet always features many of the top sprint schools and individuals in the country (high school and college), but the professional participation is second to none. Many of the top sprinters in the country use the meet either as an opener or a rare opportunity to run on a team relay, as many did this weekend. Furthermore, the fierce rivalries between the heavy sprint-schools from the South are tremendous.
Highlight: Hard to pick one ... but I have to go with the men's 4x100. The entire stadium was buzzing after Pure Athletics, Florida State and Florida battled to the line. Pure Athletics won in 38.74. Video
The LSU Invitational
This figured to be a hotly contested team-scored meet between A&M and LSU, and it certainly lived up. Both men's and women's scores were within 20 points, as A&M slightly bested their hosts on both accounts. Iowa and Illinois added some quality Big-10 competition as well.
Highlight: The Texas A&M long sprinters were the story here. Two separate 4x400 teams going 3:02 and 3:04, respectively. Tabarie Henry running 44.83 in the open 4, and having two teammates break 45.5 ... unreal.
Carlsbad 5000
The biggest story here was Eliud Kipchoge getting outkicked by Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel, who won 13:11 to 13:14.
After the pacemaker dropped out, Kipchoge assumed the lead for a spell, then signaled Gebremeskel to help out. Gebremeskel smartly refused, deciding to sit on the two-time Olympic medalist, and kick.
He indicated that he will go for the World Record (13:00) next year at Carlsbad.
The women's race followed suit, as Ethiopian Aheza Kiros outkicked Kenyan Pauline Korikwiang for the 15:13 to 15:14 win.
Afterward, a visibly upset Korikwiang was frustrated at doing all of the pace-work once the pacemaker stepped off.
Edward Cheserek
The high school sophomore from New Jersey shattered the long-standing Sophomore National Record, previously held by Brad Hudson.
His time of 9:00.11 falls just 10 seconds off the National Record. His performance also placed him second overall to a field filled otherwise with collegians (the winner was 8:54).
Results here