More to come from Rojo and Wejo but here is the women's 1500 race recap:
Women’s 1500 Semi-finals Top 5+2:
HEAT ONE:
2011 World #1 Morgan Uceny went straight to the front, taking the lead at the first turn. She kept the pace steady, unafraid to make the pace very honest, as she brought the pack through 400 at 66.5 and 800 at 2:16.7. By 800, 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson was on her shoulder and Anna Pierce and NIcole Schappert were right there.
Uceny controlled the entire race, picking things back up as Simpson came on to her shoulder, crossing 1200 in 3:23.1 before unleashing a 45.5 final 300 to win with ease, in 4:08.90. Simpson was next at 4:09.12, followed by Maggie Infekd and Pierce.
Uceny did a great job of dictating the pace, keeping it honest while still staying in her comfort zone. She kept Simpson on her outside and seemed in complete control throughout, including over the final stretch.
66.5 (Uceny)
70.2 (Uceny)
66.5 (Uceny)
45.5 (Uceny - 4:08.90)
1 Morgan Uceny adidas 4:08.90 Q
2 Jenny Simpson New Balance 4:09.12 Q
3 Margaret Infeld N Y A C 4:09.38 Q
4 Anna Pierce Nike 4:09.51 Q
5 Nicole Schappert N Y A C 4:09.60 Q
6 Treniere Moser Nike 4:10.10 q
7 Brenda Martinez New Balance 4:10.73 q
8 Katie Flood Washington 4:11.38
9 Renee Tomlin Nike 4:11.39
10 Ashley Miller Nebraska 4:11.49
11 Greta Feldman Princeton 4:12.29
12 Karly Hamric RIADHA 4:12.52
HEAT TWO:
After the fast first semi-final heat, Katie Mackey and Alice Schmidt took notice and made the pace fairly fast, coming through in a quick 65.7 at 400. Lurking right behind was Melissa Salerno, Sara Vaughan, Jordan Hasay (once again with the biggest cheer of the day from the crowd during announcements) and Shannon Rowbury.
The second lap slowed to 72.5 and as they hit 600 to go, Salerno was right up on Mackey’s shoulder. As they hit the bell-lap, Rowbury came up on the outside but Mackey refused to relinquish the lead as they came through 1200 in 3:24.4.
At 200 to go, Rowbury accelerated very well to the lead and was closely followed by Gabrielle Anderson (who has enjoyed a breakout year in 2012). Like Uceny, Rowbury closed in 45.5 to run 4:09.95, setting up a compelling battle on Sunday.
Despite the early pace-setting to keep things honest, 800 Olympian Alice Schmidt missed out on the final, leaving only Uceny, Simpson, Pierce and Rowbury as 1500 finalists who have the Olympic A standard. After making the OT Finals in 2008 with a high school national record in the semis, crowd favorite Hasay came up a bit short this time.
65.7 (Mackey)
72.5 (Mackey)
66.3 (Mackey/Rowbury)
45.5 (Rowbury - 4:09.96)
1 Shannon Rowbury Nike 4:09.96 Q
2 Gabriele Anderson Brooks / Team USA Minnesota 4:10.08 Q
3 Katherine Mackey Brooks 4:10.54 Q
4 Sara Vaughn Nike 4:10.57 Q
5 Sarah Bowman New Balance 4:10.65 Q
6 Alice Schmidt Nike 4:10.94
7 Amy Mortimer Saucony 4:12.04
8 Kate Grace Oiselle / New Jersey New York 4:12.92
9 Phoebe Wright Nike 4:13.65
10 Heather Kampf Asics / Team USA Minnesota 4:14.03
11 Jordan Hasay Oregon 4:15.52
12 Melissa Salerno New Balance 4:16.33