Making history is never easy and Sally Kipyego found that out on Saturday night.
On Friday night, Kipyego easily won the women's 5,000m to get her record-tying ninth NCAA title. On Saturday, she was back for the final event of her NCAA career, the women's mile, and her chance to pass Suzy Favor Hamilton and become the first woman with double digits in NCAA titles.
Kipyego led the women's mile for about 1,759 yards, but the last yard is what matters and Tennessee's Sarah Bowman got the victory by .03 seconds in a thrilling women's race.
Kipyego got things started with an honest pace. The half was reached in 2:17.13 and only Bowman, UNC's Brie Felnagle and Wichita State's Kellyn Johnson were still on her tail. With 400m to go, the top 4 were still together but by the bell, Johnson and Felnagle had fallen off. Kipyego had only 200m and Bowman separating her from history. Coming down the final stretch, Kipyego was still in front but Bowman made a late charge and they both lunged at the line. It was too close to call. The photo showed Bowman on top by .03. Kipyego could only smile and raise her hands in disbelief. (Video of the final 200 below).
Kellyn Johnson held on for third for a PR 4:34.41. Pilar McShine of Florida State passed a fading Felnagle for fourth.
The mile win capped a great meet for Bowman. Friday night she anchored a world record in the DMR, today she won the mile, and she was crucial in Tennessee winning the team title by 5 points over host Texas A&M.
Last Lap Women's Mile |
Sally Kipyego on Just Missing |
Place | Athlete | Year | Team Name | Mark | Points | ||||
1 | Sarah BOWMAN | SR | Tennessee | 4:29.72 | (MR) | 10.00 | |||
2 | Sally KIPYEGO | SR | Texas Tech | 4:29.75 | (MR) | 8.00 | |||
3 | Kellyn JOHNSON | SR | Wichita State | 4:34.41 | 6.00 | ||||
4 | Pilar MCSHINE | JR | Florida State | 4:36.87 | 5.00 | ||||
5 | Brie FELNAGLE | SR | North Carolina | 4:37.00 | 4.00 | ||||
6 | Lennie WAITE | SR | Rice | 4:38.60 | 3.00 | ||||
7 | Brenda MARTINEZ | SR | UC Riverside | 4:39.58 | 2.00 | ||||
8 | Charlotte BROWNING | JR | Florida | 4:40.25 | 1.00 | ||||
9 | Sheila REID | SO | Villanova | 4:40.99 | |||||
10 | Natalie SHERBAK | SR | Virginia Tech | 4:41.40 |
women's 3k: The Jenny Barringer Show
Sally Kipyego may have 9 NCAA titles to her name, but the best runner in the NCAAs right now might be a runner with only one indoor conference title to her credit (an NCAA record in the mile set at this year's Big 12 meet), Colorado's Jenny Barringer. Barringer was the heavy favorite in the women's 3k and dominated as expected, but once again she exceeded expectations. Only Florida State's Susan Kuijken was brave enough to try to stick with an opening mile of 4:43.04. Kuijken put up a good fight but by 2,200m, it was Barringer versus the clock. Barringer got the win in 8:42.03, smashing Kipyego's NCAA record of 8:48.77. Kuijken held on for a PR with a very respectable 8:56.27 clocking. Lauren Centrowitz, daughter of former American record-holder for 5k, Matt, emerged from the pack to claim third in 9:14.35.
Jenny Barringer Wanted To Make History |
Mark Wetmore On Whether |
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Susan Kuijken On Running A PR(1:17) |
Women's 800: Passing On The Inside
The women's 800 was an exciting race and a textbook of great tactics from BYU's Lacey Cramer. With 100m to go, Cramer was in fifth place tucked onto the rail. Instead of trying to go wide, she just stayed right there. On the homestretch, Tennessee's Phoebe Wright drifted out and Cramer was able to sneak by for the win in a very tight three-way finish with former champ Heather Dorniden in 3rd. (Video below)
Last Lap Women's 800 |
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Race Video:
Thankfully the NCAA is way ahead of many other meets and lets online organizations have 3 minutes of highlights just like traditional media. So we'll do a better job in the future but we've got our 3 minutes of video from Saturday below. Rupp and Barringer were so dominating they don't make the cut
Last Lap Men's 800 |
Last Lap Men's Mile |
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