Garrett Heath, Shannon Rowbury & Matthew Centrowitz Keep Rolling; 7:59.33 HS 3k Record For Drew Hunter! At 2016 Camel City Elite Meet
By Jonathan Gault
January 30, 2016
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The JDL Fast Track lived up to its name on Saturday afternoon as Matthew Centrowitz (3:54.02 mile), Shannon Rowbury (4:26.01 mile), and Garrett Heath (7:48.48) all earned wins on the 200-meter flat track at the 2016 Camel City Elite races. In addition, high school phenom Drew Hunter, the 2015 Foot Locker champion, ran 7:59.33 to crush Gerry Lindgren’s American HS indoor record of 8:06.3 which had stood since 1964 and better the best indoor high school time ever run in America, 8:05.46 by Edward Cheserek. It was a truly amazing performance from Hunter when you consider he ran it in January on a flat indoor track. Other winners on the day included Brandon Johnson (1:49.28 800), Canadian World Champs silver medalist Melissa Bishop (2:02.10 800) and Kerri Gallagher (8:56.62 3k).
In the only non-distance elite event, Aleec Harris (7.65) and Brianna Rollins (7.95) got the wins in the 60-meter hurdles. Ashton Eaton was 4th (7.77) in the men’s race (post-race video here); Lolo Jones was 4th (8.17) in the women’s race. Eaton led all qualifiers with a 7.70 in the prelims but couldn’t repeat the performance in the final.
We recap the action below briefly and share what we learned from speaking to the pros (and Hunter).
Men’s 3,000: Garrett Heath Kicks to Another Win; Drew Hunter Becomes First U.S. High Schooler to Break 8:00 Indoors
By the final kilometer of this one, there were two races on the JDL Fast Track that mattered: Heath vs. Lawi Lalang to determine the winner of the race and Drew Hunter versus the clock to determine whether history would be made. Both provided plenty of excitement.
Up front, Lalang led Heath once rabbit Michael Hammond dropped out, methodically grinding down the pace after passing 1600 meters in 4:13. From that point, Lalang went 32.6, 32.1, 32.0, 31.3, 30.9 to reach three laps to go. That last 30.9 was enough to drop Eastern Michigan’s Willy Fink and NC State’s Luis Vargas, reducing it to a two-person race. Heath, who had stalked Lalang for the entire race to that point, took off with 300 to go, and that was that. The man who took down Mo Farah in Edinburgh earlier this month made short work of Lalang with a 55.9 final 400 (27.3 last lap) to win in 7:48.48, Lalang second in 7:50.07.
Hunter had to dig to break 8:00
Behind them, Hunter was battling the clock. An 18-year-old senior at Loudoun Valley (Va.) High School, Hunter started to lose contact with the leaders at 2200 but at that point was still on record pace (the American hs record was Gerry Lindgren’s 8:06.3, the fastest time by a high schooler in America indoors was 8:05.46 by Edward Cheserek). With 600 to go, Hunter began to tire and the hurt became obvious on his face and his next two laps (32.8, 33.6) were his slowest of the race. But as Hunter looked up at the bell, he saw the record — and a sub-8:00 clocking — within his grasp and put the hammer down, unleashing a 29.4-second final 200 (his fastest of the race) for a 7:59.33 finish time. The crowd erupted as the result flashed on the video boards around the arena, and Hunter broke out into celebration in the finish area.
Men 3000 Meter Run Camel City E
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Heath, Garrett Brooks Beasts 7:45.00 7:48.48
30.792 (30.792) 1:02.140 (31.349) 1:33.868 (31.729)
2:05.895 (32.027) 2:37.822 (31.927) 3:09.882 (32.060)
3:41.806 (31.925) 4:13.761 (31.955) 5:18.394 (1:04.634)
5:50.471 (32.077) 6:21.721 (31.250) 6:52.595 (30.875)
7:21.203 (28.609) 7:48.473 (27.270)
2 Lalang, Lawi Nike 7:50.00 7:50.07
30.613 (30.613) 1:01.897 (31.284) 1:33.635 (31.739) 2:05.613 (31.979)
2:37.625 (32.012) 3:09.684 (32.060) 3:41.613 (31.929) 4:13.470 (31.858)
4:46.043 (32.574) 5:18.173 (32.130) 5:50.199 (32.026) 6:21.494 (31.295)
6:52.398 (30.904) 7:21.993 (29.595) 7:50.063 (28.070)
3 Vargas, Luis NC State 7:54.26
31.583 (31.583) 1:03.045 (31.462) 1:34.910 (31.865) 2:06.964 (32.055)
2:38.977 (32.013) 3:10.996 (32.020) 3:42.558 (31.563) 4:14.441 (31.883)
4:47.000 (32.560) 5:19.284 (32.285) 5:51.073 (31.790) 6:22.325 (31.252)
6:53.771 (31.446) 7:25.047 (31.276) 7:54.255 (29.209)
4 Fink, Willy Eastern Mich 7:57.14 7:56.04
30.821 (30.821) 1:02.391 (31.570) 1:34.153 (31.763) 2:06.221 (32.068)
2:38.066 (31.845) 3:10.127 (32.061) 3:42.069 (31.943) 4:14.019 (31.950)
4:46.533 (32.514) 5:18.641 (32.109) 5:50.803 (32.163) 6:22.044 (31.241)
6:53.234 (31.190) 7:24.743 (31.510) 7:56.039 (31.296)
5 Hunter, Drew Unattached 8:06.00 7:59.33
31.535 (31.535) 1:03.525 (31.990) 1:35.222 (31.697) 2:07.171 (31.950)
2:39.229 (32.059) 3:11.317 (32.088) 3:42.820 (31.504) 4:14.638 (31.819)
4:47.270 (32.632) 5:19.567 (32.297) 5:51.715 (32.149) 6:23.498 (31.783)
6:56.378 (32.881) 7:29.949 (33.571) 7:59.325 (29.376)
6 Thomson, Jacob Kentucky 8:03.39 8:05.07
31.382 (31.382) 1:02.880 (31.499) 1:34.723 (31.844) 2:06.823 (32.100)
2:38.787 (31.965) 3:11.032 (32.245) 3:43.175 (32.144) 4:15.992 (32.817)
4:48.951 (32.960) 5:22.816 (33.865) 5:56.386 (33.570) 6:29.598 (33.213)
7:02.472 (32.874) 7:33.025 (30.554) 8:05.068 (32.044)
7 Atchoo, Michael NJNY TC 7:54.75 8:16.20
31.078 (31.078) 1:02.520 (31.443) 1:34.344 (31.825) 2:06.423 (32.080)
2:38.282 (31.859) 3:10.323 (32.042) 3:42.264 (31.941) 4:14.238 (31.975)
4:46.296 (32.058) 5:19.124 (32.829) 5:51.974 (32.850) 6:26.281 (34.307)
7:02.548 (36.267) 7:39.227 (36.680) 8:16.199 (36.973)
8 Derrick, Mark North Carolina 8:06.76 8:19.39
31.278 (31.278) 1:03.288 (32.010) 1:35.362 (32.075) 2:07.447 (32.085)
2:39.769 (32.323) 3:12.713 (32.944) 3:46.325 (33.613) 4:20.595 (34.270)
4:54.658 (34.063) 5:29.232 (34.575) 6:04.095 (34.864) 6:38.974 (34.880)
7:13.427 (34.453) 7:46.354 (32.928) 8:19.384 (33.030)
9 Steagall, Austin Mount Olive 8:20.59
31.793 (31.793) 1:03.770 (31.978) 1:35.821 (32.051) 2:07.838 (32.018)
2:40.133 (32.295) 3:12.983 (32.850) 3:46.537 (33.555) 4:20.761 (34.225)
4:54.899 (34.139) 5:29.383 (34.485) 6:04.329 (34.946) 6:39.073 (34.745)
7:13.747 (34.674) 7:47.563 (33.817) 8:20.585 (33.022)
-- Hammond, Michael VT Elite 7:59.99 DNF
30.361 (30.361) 1:01.538 (31.177) 1:33.273 (31.735) 2:05.118 (31.846)
2:37.431 (32.313) 3:09.440 (32.010) 3:41.379 (31.940) 4:13.322 (31.943)
The only significant HS times that Hunter failed to break today are the converted 3000 marks from the outdoor US and American 2-mile bests. The best outdoor 2-mile run by a high schooler in US history was Lithuanian Lukas Verzbicas’s 8:29.46 2-mile in 2011, which equates to 7:51.67 according to a LetsRun.com/JohnKellogg conversion. The outdoor American HS 2 mile mark belongs to German Fernandez at 8:34.40, which is equivalent to 7:56.24.
Quick Take #1: This is just the beginning for Garrett Heath
Heath said the 31-second first lap felt more like a 29 and was initially worried but from there he settled in and was pleased that he was able to kick as well as he did.
“We haven’t really done any [speed work so far this season],” Heath, who trains with Danny Mackey‘s Brooks Beasts in Seattle, said. “I basically touched the track for the first time two weeks ago and probably broke 60 for the first time in a 400 two weeks ago.”
Heath’s training has instead consisted of mainly hills, tempos and long fartleks. He said that his plan is to run the 3k at USA Indoors, but he’s also going to be running the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games on February 20.
Quick Take #2: The pressure used to bother Drew Hunter, but he’s learning to ignore it
Hunter was aware of the record entering the race, but was not going to be devastated if he missed it. Fortunately for him, he was able to race and compete well — and take home the record in the process.
“I thought I was in shape to do it,” Hunter said. “I’m kind of still in that base mode, not doing any race-specific workouts. I just wanted to click off 32s and see where that put me. The race went great, I had a kick at the end, finished well, so it was awesome.”
Indeed, Hunter hasn’t been able to get on a track in two weeks due to illness and snow from winter storm Jonas (he normally does his winter workouts on an outdoor track). Hunter’s mother, Joan, who works with Tom Schwartz to oversee his training, views his endurance as his biggest strength, and despite the lack of sharpening, that endurance was evident over the final kilometer. Even as the leaders pulled away from him, Hunter didn’t slow significantly until 600 to go, and even then it was only for two laps. Hunter didn’t fret; he said he wasn’t worried as he knew he was still running extremely fast, and that allowed him to stay mentally engaged in the race all the way to the finish.
Though Hunter never billed this as a record attempt, it was still on spectators’ minds (it was certainly on my mind when I wrote about Hunter yesterday) and his race at the Armory next weekend will undoubtedly be viewed by many as a sub-4:00 attempt, even though Hunter doesn’t see it that way himself. I asked Hunter whether he felt pressure to perform given the high expectations placed upon him by running fans and media.
“It used to bug me and I used to put more pressure on myself but recently, if I take care of business and do what I train to do, I’m not going to be disappointed with a bad race,” Hunter said. “I know I’m in shape to [race well]. What everyone else says is kind of irrelevant to me. I just want to go out there, do my best, and if I have a bad race, everyone has bad races [at some point]. People are putting pressure for me to run sub-4:00 and obviously that’s there because I ran 4:02 last year. That’s expected and I hope to improve and run fast.”
Women’s 800: Melissa Bishop Cruises to Win
On paper, Bishop, the Candian record holder and worlds silver medallist, was the class of this field and she definitely ran like it, seizing control of the race early and burying the opposition over the final two laps in a wire-to-wire victory in 2:02.10. Laura Roesler continued her upward trajectory, taking second in 2:03.27 after kicking by Phoebe Wright on the final turn.
Women 800 Meter Run Camel City E
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Bishop, Melissa Nike 1:57.52 2:02.10
29.544 (29.544) 1:00.029 (30.485) 1:31.150 (31.122) 2:02.097 (30.947)
2 Roesler, Laura Nike 2:03.27
30.164 (30.164) 1:00.665 (30.501) 1:32.333 (31.668) 2:03.264 (30.932)
3 Wright, Phoebe Nike 2:04.29 2:04.72
29.726 (29.726) 1:00.448 (30.722) 1:32.144 (31.696) 2:04.717 (32.574)
4 Banks, Anima Duke 2:05.42 2:06.54
30.490 (30.490) 1:01.217 (30.727) 1:33.585 (32.369) 2:06.538 (32.953)
5 Thomas, Latavia Unattached 2:05.51 2:07.22
30.234 (30.234) 1:00.488 (30.254) 1:32.206 (31.719) 2:07.220 (35.015)
6 Segrave, Hannah Milligan 2:05.00 2:07.37
30.729 (30.729) 1:01.734 (31.005) 1:34.278 (32.544) 2:07.363 (33.085)
7 Whelan, Elizabeth North Carolina 2:03.76 2:11.60
30.439 (30.439) 1:00.950 (30.512) 1:33.791 (32.841) 2:11.598 (37.807)
-- Farley, Abby Bull City Track DNF
29.404 (29.404) 59.984 (30.580)
Quick Take #1: Mission accomplished for Bishop, who is unsure about whether to do World Indoors
Bishop said she’s undecided about running World Indoors for Canada, but called this a “good indicator.” She has two more 800s coming up in February, one in Ireland and one in Glasgow and from there will likely make a decision about Worlds. Overall, Bishop said that today’s effort was exactly what she was looking for and that she’s in a far better spot than she was at this time in 2015 — when she eventually ran 1:57 and earned a silver medal at Worlds.
“This time last year, I was on my couch injured so anything I do this time is a bonus,” Bishop said.
Quick Take #2: Another good step for Laura Roesler
Roesler tasted defeat for the first time in 2016, but there’s absolutely no shame in losing to Bishop, one of the world’s finest 800-meter runners. Roesler keeps getting better this year — she ran 2:05.25 on January 16, 2:04.04 on January 22 and 2:03.27 today, which is even more impressive when you consider the other two races were on banked tracks.
Men’s 800: Brandon Johnson Defends His Title
It was a case of deja vu in the men’s 800 as Johnson held off Middle Tennessee State’s Eliud Rutto to win here for the second year in a row, securing a wire-to-wire victory in 1:49.28. Johnson looked extremely smooth most of the way, and though he had to fight to hold off Rutto in the home stretch, his lead was ultimately too big for Rutto to overcome.
Men 800 Meter Run Camel City E
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Johnson, Brandon Nike 1:48.27 1:49.28
26.673 (26.673) 54.029 (27.357) 1:22.361 (28.332) 1:49.275 (26.915)
2 Rutto, Eliud Mid. Tenn. S 1:49.12 1:49.51
26.802 (26.802) 54.504 (27.702) 1:22.638 (28.135) 1:49.501 (26.864)
3 Heppenstall, Robert Wake Forest 1:47.91 1:50.61
26.986 (26.986) 54.874 (27.889) 1:23.026 (28.152) 1:50.604 (27.579)
4 Martin, Ryan Asics 1:49.87 1:52.22
27.087 (27.087) 54.663 (27.576) 1:23.051 (28.389) 1:52.213 (29.162)
5 Loxsom, Casimir Brooks Beasts 1:50.14 1:52.99
26.891 (26.891) 54.732 (27.841) 1:23.931 (29.200) 1:52.984 (29.053)
6 Hutchinson, Immanuel St. Augustin 1:48.39 1:53.77
27.263 (27.263) 54.947 (27.685) 1:23.779 (28.832) 1:53.766 (29.988)
-- Cowart, Donald Saucony 1:49.00 DNF
26.266 (26.266) 53.748 (27.482)
Quick Take #1: Can Johnson hold up for the entire 2016 season?
I had a good chat with Johnson afterward, as he was in high spirits after his victory. This time last year, Johnson was just getting back into things after a torn labrum. He got a 1:48 win here, followed by a strong 1:44 split on the DMR at World Relays, and that had Johnson poised for a strong season. But he battled heel and plantar fascia injuries the rest of the season and competed just once after World Relays, struggling at USAs at far less than 100%.
Johnson said that the injuries may have been related to his 2014 maladies as they were both on the same (left) side of his body. He thought they may have come about due to an imbalance in his body/form dating back from his days as a 400 hurdler days, so he’s doing everything he can to correct that and make 2016 injury-free.
Johnson, who turns 31 in March, still believes he can return to his 2013 form, which saw him run 1:43.84 and almost make the final at Worlds, but that will require staying healthy, which Johnson believes is possible this time around. He said his plan is to build up very slowly and as a result he wasn’t bothered that his time was slower than last year at this meet — he just wants to make it through the entire season healthy and has confidence the times will come.
Quick Take #2: Not a good day for Cas Loxsom or Ryan Martin
Loxsom and the rest of his training group haven’t done much real speed work so far in 2016, and coach Danny Mackey didn’t have extremely high expectations for them going into this meet. Still, 1:52.99 is a poor performance for Loxsom any way you slice it.
Ryan Martin (5th at USA outdoors in ’15), who finished ahead of Loxsom today (1:52.22), also struggled in his 2016 opener and has some work to do. If either are to make the U.S. indoor team, they will have some serious work to do (1:46.50 is the standard for World Indoors, and runners must hit that by March 7). In addition, Boris Berian opened up in 1:46.00 yesterday, and though that came on a banked track in Portland, it’s clearly well ahead of where either of them are right now.
The good news for Loxsom and Martin (both of whom, unlike Berian, made the final at USA outdoors last year) is that USA indoors is in March, not January, leaving them six weeks to improve.
Men’s Mile: Centro Makes It Look Easy, Runs World-Leading 3:54.02
Centro dabbing for the fans
Matt Centrowitz spoke before the race about his plan to create an honest pace and once rabbit Donnie Cowart dropped out at 1k (2:27.4), Centro kept it moving, clicking off a 29.9, 28.8 and 28.0 for his final three laps. He had company for much of the race in the form of Furman Elite’s Cory Leslie, who drew level with Centro with around 300 to go. Centrowitz responded immediately, shifting gears and defending his position entering the turn, and on the final lap he gapped Leslie, on whom the grinding pace took its toll. In the end, the only question was how fast would Centrowitz run, and that was answered when he crossed the line: 3:54.02 — a world leader and a stellar time on a flat, 200-meter track.
Centrowitz, a Cam Newton fan, paid his respects to Newton and the Carolina fans by dabbing in celebration after the race, sending wild cheers reverberating around the arena.
Men 1 Mile Run Camel City E
================================================================================
Facility: F 3:57.81 2/2/2013 Cory Leslie, Furman Elite
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Centrowitz, Matthew Nike Oregon Proj 3:55.00 3:54.02F
31.482 (31.482) 59.932 (28.450) 1:28.757 (28.825) 1:58.112 (29.355)
2:27.403 (29.291) 2:57.254 (29.851) 3:26.010 (28.756) 3:54.018 (28.009)
2 Leslie, Cory Nike / Furman 3:56.99 3:56.25F
31.643 (31.643) 1:00.117 (28.474) 1:28.943 (28.827) 1:58.298 (29.355)
2:27.568 (29.270) 2:57.430 (29.862) 3:26.185 (28.755) 3:56.247 (30.063)
3 Crawford, Graham NC State 4:04.48 4:02.72
32.638 (32.638) 1:01.758 (29.120) 1:31.169 (29.411) 2:01.342 (30.174)
2:31.783 (30.441) 3:02.697 (30.914) 3:33.233 (30.537) 4:02.715 (29.482)
4 Hudgins, Brandon Unattached 3:59.00 4:06.88
32.066 (32.066) 1:01.150 (29.085) 1:30.844 (29.695) 2:01.008 (30.165)
2:31.518 (30.510) 3:02.288 (30.770) 3:33.437 (31.150) 4:06.875 (33.438)
5 Holden, Simon Wake Forest 4:04.77 4:10.95
32.479 (32.479) 1:02.051 (29.572) 1:31.928 (29.878) 2:02.778 (30.850)
2:33.725 (30.947) 3:05.738 (32.014) 3:37.392 (31.654) 4:10.942 (33.551)
6 Matko, Csaba Eastern Mich 4:01.00 4:11.85
32.314 (32.314) 1:01.958 (29.645) 1:31.867 (29.910) 2:02.965 (31.098)
2:34.300 (31.335) 3:06.267 (31.968) 3:38.854 (32.587) 4:11.841 (32.987)
7 Pollock, Grant VT Elite 3:59.00 4:13.52
32.752 (32.752) 1:01.935 (29.184) 1:31.635 (29.700) 2:02.553 (30.919)
2:34.047 (31.495) 3:06.631 (32.584) 3:39.511 (32.880) 4:13.514 (34.004)
-- Cowart, Donald Saucony DNF
31.275 (31.275) 59.725 (28.450) 1:28.547 (28.823) 1:57.885 (29.338)
Quick Take #1: Centrowitz was pleased with the effort but has more in the tank
Centro was happy with the performance and said that Leslie’s move with 300 to go was a wakeup call and forced him to step up his effort over the final lap and a half. With that said, Centrowitz said he felt he had more left in the tank, and though it can be hard to tell with him (Centro’s form is one of the smoothest on the circuit), he did make dispatching Leslie — a 3:53 miler whose 3:56 today is very good for January on a flat track — look very easy.
Up next for Centrowitz is a 3k next weekend in Portland, where he’ll go for the World Championship standard (7:50) and face some top Oregon-based pros.
Women’s Mile: Shannon Rowbury Prevails Again
This race was a carbon copy of the men’s mile that followed it. A runner from the Nike Oregon Project (Rowbury) led a runner from Furman Elite (Stephanie Garcia) until the final two laps, when the NOP athlete separated for the win, Rowbury winning this one in 4:26.01. Though that wasn’t quite as fast as her 4:22.66 here last year (which put her #5 all-time among indoor milers), it was still a good result and one Rowbury was pleased with. I didn’t get to catch up with her afterwards (I didn’t see her come through the media area) but Rowbury told others that the run was good considering she’s in the middle of a tough training block. If you want more on Rowbury, I spoke to her for about 15 minutes on Friday; you can find the highlights from that interview here.
Women 1 Mile Run Mellow Mile
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Rowbury, Shannon Nike Oregon Proj 4:22.66 4:26.01
33.780 (33.780) 1:06.486 (32.706) 1:39.139 (32.654) 2:12.590 (33.451)
2:46.218 (33.629) 3:19.608 (33.390) 3:52.684 (33.077) 4:26.003 (33.319)
2 Garcia, Stephanie New Balance 4:33.23 4:28.47
34.186 (34.186) 1:06.732 (32.546) 1:39.393 (32.662) 2:12.856 (33.463)
2:46.472 (33.616) 3:19.997 (33.525) 3:53.807 (33.810) 4:28.470 (34.664)
3 See, Heidi Asics Furman Eli 4:34.69 4:33.30
34.748 (34.748) 1:08.022 (33.275) 1:41.908 (33.887) 2:16.665 (34.757)
2:50.784 (34.120) 3:25.508 (34.724) 3:59.806 (34.299) 4:33.294 (33.489)
4 Kampf, Heather Asics / Team USA 4:31.24 4:36.08
35.377 (35.377) 1:08.537 (33.160) 1:42.352 (33.815) 2:17.093 (34.742)
2:50.915 (33.822) 3:25.845 (34.930) 4:00.941 (35.096) 4:36.079 (35.139)
5 Benson, Fiona Nike 4:25.79 4:38.18
34.508 (34.508) 1:07.764 (33.256) 1:41.679 (33.915) 2:16.550 (34.871)
2:51.224 (34.675) 3:26.363 (35.139) 4:02.232 (35.870) 4:38.171 (35.940)
6 Johnson, Lauren USA 4:32.00 4:38.38
34.995 (34.995) 1:08.307 (33.312) 1:42.054 (33.748) 2:16.889 (34.835)
2:51.180 (34.291) 3:26.092 (34.912) 4:02.570 (36.479) 4:38.379 (35.810)
7 Moye, Megan NC State 4:50.43 4:43.08
35.864 (35.864) 1:09.394 (33.530) 1:43.993 (34.599) 2:19.585 (35.593)
2:54.530 (34.945) 3:30.026 (35.496) 4:06.488 (36.463) 4:43.073 (36.585)
8 Murphy, Kate Unattached 4:40.00 4:43.87
35.791 (35.791) 1:09.164 (33.374) 1:44.218 (35.054) 2:20.259 (36.042)
2:56.483 (36.225) 3:33.266 (36.783) 4:10.193 (36.928) 4:43.868 (33.675)
-- Salerno, Melissa Asics DNF
33.440 (33.440) 1:06.218 (32.778) 1:38.922 (32.705)
Quick Take #1: Stephanie Garcia is very excited about where she’s at right now and her chances in 2016
Garcia lost today, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell that from her post-race interview as she could not stop smiling. Her 4:28.47 was better than the 4:28.97 she ran at the Armory last week and topped her outdoor pb of 4:28.84 set last year (she also has a 4:05 1500 to her name). Garcia said that Rowbury really helped drag her to a quick time and as a result she ran faster today than last weekend even though this race came on a flat track.
“I’m way ahead of where I was this time last year,” Garcia said.
Garcia said she’s running a 3k in Glasgow on February 20 but she’s shutting down her indoor season after that as she wants to focus fully on making the Olympics. Garcia was 9th at Worlds last year, but the women’s steeple is usually one of the less predictable events (witness last year’s final, where Germany’s Gesa Krause came out of nowhere to almost win it). She said her goal is to get herself closer to that front pack in Rio (the top five were all together off the final water jump in Beijing). From there, anything can happen.
Women’s 3000: Kerri Gallagher Kicks to Win
This one came down to Gallagher and Georgetown alum Rachel Schneider with 400 to go, and ultimately it was Gallagher who was stronger today, opening up her stride on the backstretch of the final lap and leaving Schneider — and the rest of the field — in the dust. Gallagher, who had assumed the lead from OTC’s Alexi Pappas with 800 to go, did most of her damage in the final lap (she went 35.8, 36.3, 35.3 from 2200 to 2800 before closing in a 32.5), but because the pace had been solid throughout, both she (8:56.52) and Schneider (8:58.84) were able to break 9:00 for the first time in their careers and achieve the World Championship standard in the process.
Women 3000 Meter Run Camel City E
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Name Year School Seed Finals Points
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1 Gallagher, Kerri Nike 9:07.39 8:56.52
36.137 (36.137) 1:12.809 (36.673) 1:49.254 (36.445) 2:25.079 (35.825)
3:01.487 (36.408) 3:37.563 (36.076) 4:13.724 (36.161) 4:49.012 (35.289)
5:25.150 (36.139) 6:01.015 (35.865) 6:36.625 (35.610) 7:12.409 (35.785)
7:48.719 (36.310) 8:24.012 (35.294) 8:56.512 (32.500)
2 Schneider, Rachel Under Armour 9:05.75 8:58.84
36.031 (36.031) 1:12.543 (36.512) 1:48.994 (36.451) 2:24.861 (35.868)
3:01.195 (36.335) 3:37.303 (36.108) 4:13.436 (36.134) 4:48.743 (35.307)
5:24.864 (36.121) 6:01.141 (36.278) 6:37.121 (35.980) 7:12.957 (35.836)
7:48.989 (36.033) 8:24.409 (35.420) 8:58.839 (34.430)
3 Frazier, Wesley NC State 9:01.26
36.281 (36.281) 1:12.342 (36.061) 1:48.517 (36.175) 2:24.428 (35.911)
3:00.710 (36.283) 3:36.854 (36.145) 4:12.879 (36.025) 4:48.474 (35.596)
5:24.624 (36.150) 6:00.914 (36.291) 6:36.954 (36.040) 7:13.268 (36.315)
7:49.514 (36.247) 8:25.989 (36.475) 9:01.260 (35.271)
4 Mackey, Katie Brooks Beasts 8:53.99 9:07.66
36.437 (36.437) 1:13.081 (36.645) 1:49.489 (36.408) 2:25.392 (35.904)
3:01.714 (36.322) 3:37.895 (36.182) 4:14.003 (36.108) 4:49.281 (35.279)
5:25.365 (36.085) 6:01.504 (36.140) 6:37.416 (35.912) 7:13.087 (35.671)
7:50.543 (37.456) 8:30.213 (39.670) 9:07.655 (37.443)
5 Pappas, Alexi Nike Oregon TCE 9:02.69 9:08.92
35.853 (35.853) 1:12.274 (36.422) 1:48.255 (35.981) 2:24.189 (35.935)
3:00.419 (36.230) 3:36.542 (36.124) 4:12.547 (36.005) 4:48.116 (35.570)
5:24.318 (36.202) 6:00.680 (36.363) 6:36.846 (36.166) 7:12.683 (35.837)
7:49.693 (37.010) 8:28.737 (39.045) 9:08.916 (40.180)
6 Kemp, Erika NC State 9:24.36 9:12.71
36.628 (36.628) 1:13.212 (36.585) 1:49.560 (36.349) 2:25.641 (36.081)
3:01.954 (36.314) 3:38.149 (36.195) 4:14.276 (36.128) 4:50.430 (36.155)
5:27.613 (37.183) 6:04.710 (37.098) 6:42.038 (37.328) 7:19.700 (37.663)
7:57.877 (38.177) 8:36.348 (38.471) 9:12.702 (36.355)
7 Kelati, Weini Unattached 9:12.32 9:19.99
36.463 (36.463) 1:12.579 (36.117) 1:48.751 (36.172) 2:24.590 (35.840)
3:00.939 (36.350) 3:37.064 (36.125) 4:13.194 (36.131) 4:49.505 (36.311)
5:26.415 (36.910) 6:04.869 (38.455) 6:42.770 (37.901) 7:22.012 (39.242)
8:02.013 (40.001) 8:42.007 (39.995) 9:19.987 (37.980)
8 Buchalski, Allie Furman 9:32.47 9:40.27
36.172 (36.172) 1:13.294 (37.122) 1:49.774 (36.480) 2:25.921 (36.148)
3:02.233 (36.312) 3:38.559 (36.327) 4:15.653 (37.094) 4:55.234 (39.582)
5:36.037 (40.803) 6:16.302 (40.265) 6:56.189 (39.887) 7:37.038 (40.850)
8:18.799 (41.762) 9:00.181 (41.382) 9:40.270 (40.090)
9 Jones, Samantha Wake Forest 9:40.14 9:44.43
36.725 (36.725) 1:13.505 (36.780) 1:50.039 (36.535) 2:26.210 (36.171)
3:02.729 (36.520) 3:40.116 (37.387) 4:18.798 (38.682) 4:58.465 (39.668)
5:38.640 (40.175) 6:19.248 (40.608) 7:00.352 (41.105) 7:41.868 (41.516)
8:23.280 (41.413) 9:03.863 (40.583) 9:44.426 (40.564)
-- Salerno, Melissa Asics DNF
35.302 (35.302) 1:12.055 (36.754) 1:47.988 (35.933) 2:23.939 (35.952)
3:00.201 (36.262) 3:36.287 (36.086) 4:12.270 (35.984) 4:48.017 (35.747)
Quick Take #1: Gallagher’s success in 2015 has carried over to 2016
Gallagher had a breakout 2016 and after her third-place finish at USA outdoors, no one will be discounting her in this Olympic year, especially after today’s impressive run. Gallagher, who trains with Matt Centrowitz Sr. in Washington, D.C., said she will train as a 3k runner indoors to boost her strength for the outdoor season (she’s been logging around 80 miles per week), but that she is still debating between the 1500 and 3k at USA indoors. She’s entered in the 3k at the Armory next weekend and the mile at Millrose on February 20, after which she’ll have a better idea of which event suits her more.
Ashton Eaton After Camel City
Editor’s note: The meet organizers have paid for most of Jonathan Gault’s travel and housing to the Camel City Elite meet in North Carolina.