2014 Portland Track Festival: The King Returns, Andrew Wheating Wins and Says He’s Back, Jordan Hasay Gets Double Wins, and Andy Bayer is a Steepler
by: LetsRun.com
June 16, 2014
The king is back in his castle.
After taking a detour to the roads for the Virgin London Marathon, Mo Farah, the world’s greatest long distance track runner, returned to the track Sunday night in the 5000m at the Portland Track Festival and the result was a scorching last lap (we had Mo unofficially in 52.6 (25.5 from 4600-4800 for Mo, 27.1 the final 200m)) and easy victory in 13:23.42.
“It’s a different feeling. I’ve been away so long. It was good to be back on the track. I’m glad I started off with a low key race,” Mo said.
The Race
The Portland Track Classic takes placed in an intimate setting at Lewis and Clark College. In addition to the fans in the stands, there were fans and athletes standing on the infield cheering on the runners. Galen Rupp was on hand to watch his training partner from the infield. Matt Centrowitz, Alan Webb, Will Leer, Chris Solinsky, and Vin Lananna were all on the infield as well.
Make no doubt about it, the star of the night was Mo Farah and the buzz increased when he took the track.
Mo Farah swarmed for autographs after the meet
The first 1600 was covered in 4:22.2 and Mo hung behind Aussie David McNeil who was racing the race, and serving as a de facto rabbit. Just before the half way point, Farah took over the lead, but he did not do anything drastic to the pace. 3200 was reached in 8:41.6. Over the final mile there was a pack of five contending of the win, Farah and McNeill, and Aron Rono of WCAP, and Joe Stilin and Tyler Pennel of Zap fitness. Farah gave up the lead to Pennel during the final mile, but was always right on the lead. A 64 second penultimate lap made it a two man race between Farah and former NCAA champ McNeil.
Farah pounced at the bell. He hit the afterburners and flew around the turn. The race was immediately over. Farah covered the next 200 in 25.5 on our watch. Farah kept sprinting around the final bend, not being content to just win. He was pouring it on in impressive faction. He slowed a little to 27.1 the next 200m to get the win in 13:23.42. McNeil was a clear second in 13:28.13 and Rono third in 13:35.80.
The night was Farah’s. Young fans surrounding him on the infield, having him sign whatever they could including their shirts. Farah was gracious as he signed for the fans. However, his night was not over as after a brief chat with the media, Mo still had a post-race workout to do.
Mo Farah Talks About Galen Rupp and the 10,000m World Record
After the race, Mo said he was not worried about how he would do in his track return as his workouts had gone well. He did not sound like a man who would return to the marathon soon, saying, “The marathon is completely different. In life you have to try as many things as you can.”
Up next for Mo is a 5000 at the Diamond League meet in Glasgow on July 12th, then a possible 5000-10,000 double at the Commonwealth Games (the 5k is first).
Without a major championship this year, Mo was asked if he would like to have a world record. He turned his attention to the 10,000 m world record and said he felt that one was more attainable . “It would be nice to get closer to the world record. Probably the one closest really, not too far away is probably the 10k, having seen Galen and what he can do. (He ran a) hell of a race (when he ran 26:44.36), he ran so well to go that fast and it gives you another belief that if we can work together maybe one day we can get closer to it.”
Then Mo was asked if he and Galen might target the record this year and Mo talked about Galen, “It depends. I definitely think Galen can go close, a lot faster than what he has run just with having rabbits all the way.”
Full interview with Farah below and then results. (A big thanks to LRC poster nikeman for the video below. Wejo’s battery died right as Farah started talking)
1 Farah, Mo Nike Oregon Project 13:23.42A 2 McNeill, David New Balance 13:28.13A 3 Rono, Aron Wcap 13:35.80 4 Stilin, Joseph Zap Fitness 13:36.21 5 Keveren, Sean Ragged Mount 13:39.26 6 Quigley, Daniel Oregon Track Club 13:41.37 7 Pennel, Tyler Zap Fitness 13:41.56 8 Peterson, Jonathan Team Usa Mn/Brooks 13:42.65 9 Bruchet, Luc Point Grey Tfc 13:45.66 10 Fernandez, German Nbsv 13:47.08 11 Finan, Eric Team Usa Minneso 13:47.83 12 Dahlberg, Scott BoulderRunCo/adidas 13:56.94 13 Kwiatkowski, Chris Pacers New Balance 13:58.67 14 Reid, Phillip Asics Aggie 13:59.02 15 Britt, Barry Vandal Track Club 14:01.38 16 Puskedra, Luke Nike Oregon Project 14:01.48 17 Zarda, Zach Unattached 14:13.05 18 Halsted, Trevor Unattached 14:21.59 19 Gildea, Sean Colorado Sch 14:34.39 -- Smail, Nouredine American Dis DNF
Other Highlights: Andrew Wheating is Back!, Jordan Hasay Double Wins, Cas Loxsom, Kate Grace Win
Andrew Wheating Wins and Says He’s Back In the men’s 1500m, Andrew Wheating also returned to the track for the first time in 2014 and got an impressive victory in 3:38.53 with a strong final 100m. Wheating had run aggressively early on with the rabbit, then let the field catch up to him by the bell, and then blasted the final 100m once challenged by Kentucky’s Matt Hellenbrand. Perhaps more importantly afterwards an exuberant Wheating said, “I’m back, baby. I’ve been waiting three freaking years to say that. I’ve been running too many races unsure of myself and unconfident. Rowland has transformed me into a monster and I can not wait to see what becomes of it.” Wheating went on to say how the American record may not be out of reach for him even though he only ran 3:38 today.
Full interview with Wheating below:
1 Wheating, Andrew Nike Otc Elite 3:38.53R 2 Hillenbrand, Matt University of Ke 3:39.84R 3 Miner, Matt Unattached 3:40.62A 4 Masters, Riley Brooks 3:40.73A 5 Crawford, Graham North Carolina St. 3:40.80A 6 Schmitz, Tommy Speed Unlimited 3:40.96A 7 Herrera, Daniel Unattached 3:41.07A 8 Alexander, Colby Unattached 3:41.45A 9 Joseph, Patrick Virginia Tech 3:43.70A 10 Vail, Ryan Brooks 3:43.94A 11 Ferris, Dylan Nbsv 3:44.27A 12 Saunders, Philo Unattached 3:46.27A 13 Maldonado, Matt Oregon Track Club 3:52.86A Splits 57.1, 58.9 (1:56.0), 2:40.58, 2:55.84
Jordan Hasay Wins Portland 1500
Jordan Hasay Closes Well to Win 1500 Jordan Hasay ran a strong final 300m to win the 1500m over Angela Bizarri. This race went out in 65.8, then slowed to 68.3, (2:14.1) and was 3:06.7 at the bell. Hasay hit the afterburners with 300m to go, and showed a strong finish for the first time this year, which was what she wanted to work on. She is aware she has a long way to go with finishing speed noting that Aregawi closes in 57 seconds. Up next is the 10,000m at Nationals. However, before that Jordan had to run the 5000m as a workout (see that next).
1 Hasay, Jordan Nike Oregon Project 4:11.23A 2 Bizzarri, Angela Brooks Beast 4:11.63A 3 Kesselring, Anne Oregon Track Club 4:12.02A 4 Mergaert, Amanda Oiselle 4:12.83A 5 Morton, Shannon Virginia Tech 4:13.29A 6 Coogan, Katrina Georgetown 4:14.35A 7 Legg, Kristy Unattached 4:14.95A 8 Holt, Hillary College of Idaho 4:14.98A 9 Rodgers, Christina Spirit of Oregon 4:15.82A 10 Schneider, Rachel Georgetown 4:16.85A 11 Friday, Becca Rogue Ac/ Adidas 4:17.12A 12 Findley, Kristen Rogue Ac/Adidas 4:17.17A 13 Carlyle, Laura Oiselle 4:17.73A 14 Kanuho, Rochelle Brc/Adidas 4:21.30A 15 Feldman, Greta Nike Otc Elite 4:25.09A
Jordan Hasay Doubles Back and Wins 5000 With Faster Close Than in 1500
Jordan did more than just get in a workout in the women’s 5000m, she got the win with a faster last lap than in her 1500m. This one went out in 5:00, 12:37 for 4000, and at the bell Hasay led but former Oregon teammate Alexi Pappas was in contention a meter behind Jordan. It was no contest the final lap as Jordran ran 63.6 for the win in a new pb of 15:28.56 (previous pb of 15:29.63).
1 Hasay, Jordan Nike Oregon Project 15:28.56 2 Pappas, Alexi Oregon Track Club 15:34.23 3 Drake, Lindsey Bowerman TC 15:44.93 4 Cliff, Rachel Vancouver Th 15:48.14 5 Peyton, Meghan Saucony/Team 15:52.72 6 Mollenkopf, Ingrid Approved by 15:52.91 7 Seccafien, Andrea Speed River 15:53.44 8 Crouch, Sarah Zap Fitness 15:53.73 9 Maier, Deborah Brooks 15:55.09 10 Behm, Mia Rogue Ac/Adidas 15:56.13 11 Baillie, Renee Metivier Mizuno 16:00.58 12 goldring, katja Skechers/Ang 16:03.23 13 Kiser, Hannah Unattached 16:06.88 14 Dinius, Stephanie Nbsv 16:07.85 15 Navarro, Anayelli Corre A.C. 16:09.95 16 Hutchison, Bradi Unattached 16:15.85 17 Rohde, Kristen Bowerman TC 16:21.62 18 Accurso, Juliane Unattached 16:24.43 19 Silis, Alejandra Corre A.C. 16:43.08 20 Sexton, Leslie London Runne 16:48.82 21 Del Toro, Rosa SoCal Elite 16:51.52 22 McLaughlin, Erin Unattached 16:56.10
Andy Bayer Steepler All Alone at the Finish
Andy Bayer the Steepler
Former NCAA 1500 champ Andy Bayer made his steeple debut in impressive fashion getting the win in 8:39.96 and a USATF qualifying time by .04. Bayer actually fell in this race on the second lap going over a hurdle, but his steeple coach Pascal Dobert afterwards said it was a freak steeple fall where Bayer just got clipped by another athlete, not anything that was Bayer’s fault. Bayer was excited to debut with the win and thinks his future is bright with 8:06 and 8:15 training partners Evan Jager and Dan Huling.
1 Bayer, Andrew Nike Bowerman Tr 8:39.96A 2 Bor, Hillary Unattached 8:47.31 3 Kent, Justin Coastal Track Club 8:48.08 4 Romo, Jesus Nbsv 8:48.34 5 Sorensen, Dylan Georgetown 8:51.85 6 McGuirk, Alex Chico State 8:55.71 7 Darrah, Max Georgetown 8:57.46 8 Endoqui, Christopher Mexico 8:58.45 9 Curtis, Tyler Colorado Mines 8:59.91 10 Fahy, Darren Georgetown 9:04.45 11 Mulverhill, Chris Unattached 9:10.07 12 Clifford, Deon Florida A&M 9:14.77 13 Therrien, Cody U. of Victoria 9:15.77 14 Mugrage, Kris Unat-Everett CC 9:38.14
Bridget Franek Surprises Self With Win
Bridget Franek is an Olympian but she surprised herself getting the win over training partner Aisha Praught in the women’s steeple. Franek knows how fit Praught is, so the win was a surprise here for Franek who just wanted to get in a competitive performance before USAs in two weeks. Franek has been getting an MBA at the University of Oregon and it took up more of her time than she thought it would.
1 Franek, Bridget Nike Otc Elite 9:41.21R 2 Praught, Aisha Nike Otc Elite 9:42.76R 3 Vaughn, Sara Brooks ID 9:48.94R 4 Goldkamp, Mary Rogue ac 9:54.94A 5 Rolland, Megan Oiselle 9:56.98 6 Finn, Michelle Rogue Ac/Adidas 9:57.89 7 Mattox, Kimber Team Run Eugene 9:58.26 8 Webb, Julia Bowerman Track Club 10:02.64 9 Hamric, Jordan Oiselle 10:02.87 10 Potratz-Lee, Allix Vandal Track Club 10:09.38 11 DeWalt, Kara Bay Area Track Club 10:09.41 12 Callahan, Maggie Hts Elite 10:16.07 13 Neale, Amy-Eloise Unattached 10:16.18 14 Textoris, jessica Milestone Tr 10:37.64
Cas Loxsom Wins 8
Cas Loxsom, the former Penn State star, made a power move on the final turn and held it to the line to get the win over a fast close by Jordan McNamara. Cas wants to make the 800 final at USAs and see what happens. This was the first competitive 800 LRC could find for McNamara.
Section 1 1 Loxsom, Casimir Brooks Beasts 1:46.74A 2 McNamara, Jordan Nike Otc Elite 1:47.16A 3 Kemboi, Edward Unattached 1:47.33A 4 Martin, Ryan Asics 1:47.46A 5 Abda, Harun Oregon Track Club 1:47.77 6 Wieczorek, Mark Brooks 1:47.77 7 Solares, Pablo Imagining Mo 1:47.98 8 Eichberger, James Unattached 1:48.19 9 Heath, Garrett Brooks Beasts 1:49.10
Kate Grace and Her Tshirt (click for larger pic)
Kate Grace Wins 8 in a TShirt
Yale’s finest, Kate Grace, got the win in the 800 in a tshirt. The Oiselle athlete who relocated to Bend, Oregon this year from coach Gags’ group in New Jersey, had packed up her stuff for the trip to Portland from Bend and is going to Seattle afterwards, but she forgot her racing singlet. The goal was just to get in a competitive effort before USAs as Kate’s last race was the World Relays 4×1500.
Grace and Shannon Leinert of the Oregon Track Club were neck and neck at the finish with Gracy winning by .01. Grace said afterwards she thought Leinert had beaten her.
Section 1 1 Grace, Kate Oiselle 2:02.00R 2 Leinert, Shannon Oregon Track Club 2:02.01R 3 Johnson, Lauren Nike Otc Elite 2:02.19R 4 Moore, Erica Brooks 2:02.22R 5 Wright, Phoebe Nike 2:02.47R 6 Mackey, Katie Brooks 2:02.49R 7 Brown, Sarah New Balance 2:04.20 8 Keklak, Andrea Georgetown 2:04.44 9 Southerland, Sabrina Georgetown 2:06.23
Kate Grace and Bridget Franek interviews coming.
Alan Webb (center) was a hit with the high schoolers