FULL RESULTS

Crazy weather was the storyline on Thursday night at the 2015 HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic, as several races had to be cancelled due to persistent lightning in the Los Angeles area. The men's and women's 5k's never even got started.  

 

The normally predictable SoCal weather turned nasty during the men’s 1500, and the meet was cancelled after section 1. Just before Mother Nature took over, Leo Manzano sprinted away from a loaded field that included Andrew Wheating, Kyle Merber, and Mac Fleet to win in 3:38.96. Manzano celebrated as the downpour increased.

Leo Manzano closed hard to beat Andrew Wheating, 3:38.96 to 3:39.56.


 

In other action, Katie Mackey held off a hard-charging Gabe Grunewald to win section 1 of the women’s 1500 in 4:07.51. Notably, Shannon Rowbury finished seventh in 4:12.62 after falling mid-race. She doubled back in the 1500 after finishing eighth in section 1 of the 800 in 2:03.46.

Katie Mackey holds off Gabe Grunewald to win the women's 1500 in 4:07.51.

Sarah Brown edged Nicole Tully in section 2 of the 1500, 4:09.00 to 4:09.10. Notably, Emma Coburn was sixth in 4:10.77 and Mary Cain 11th in 4:16.48. The 19-year-old Cain has not looked like herself in 2015 thus far. She ran an American junior record of 4:04.62 two years ago at this meet.

 

Cas Loxsom continued his great start to 2015 by taking section 1 of the men’s 800 in 1:46.23 over Matt Centrowitz in 1:46.55. Ryan Martin won section 2 in 1:46.37. 

Cas Loxsom wins section 1 of the men's 800 on Thursday.

Notably, Nick Symmonds finished seventh in section 1 in 1:49.81 after colliding with NJ/NY’s Ben Sheetz with 300m to go. 

Ben Sheetz tumbles to the track in the men's 800, eventually taking Nick Symmonds with him.

Maggie Vessey grabbed a victory in the women's 800, holding off Jenny Simpson in the last 100m to win in 2:00.70. Simpson finished in 2:00.79, just off her PB that she set two years ago at this meet. She earned silver in the 1500m at the World Championships later that summer in Moscow. 


Maggie Vessey just beats out Jenny Simpson in the women's 800.

Three ladies grabbed the IAAF standard (9:44) in the women’s steeple, led by Stephanie Garcia in 9:37.19. Ashley Higginson and Genevieve Lalonde finished 2nd and 3rd in 9:41.27 and 9:42..40, respectively. Higginson and Garcia were 2nd and 3rd at the 2014 USATF Championships in the event. 

 

Just like the ladies, three men finished under the IAAF standard (8:28) in the steeple. Canadian record holder Matt Hughes won in 8:25.54, followed by his fellow countryman Taylor Milne (8:25.72) in 2nd and NJ/NY’s Travis Mahoney (8:27.08) in 3rd. 


Matt Hughes led a trio of men under the IAAF standard (8:28.00) in the steeple.

It will be interesting to see if any of the 5k athletes run in another meet this weekend since they didn't get a chance tonight. Galen Rupp and Kara Goucher were planning on making their outdoor debuts Thursday, so stay tuned to FloTrack for any updates on their plans.