Oregon’s Raevyn Rogers Wins Her Third Straight NCAA 800m Title In Dominant Fashion
by LetsRun.com
June 11, 2016
EUGENE, Ore. –Oregon sophomore Raevyn Rogers successful defended her 800 title in dominant fashion by running 2:00.75, the first collegiate sub 2:01 of the year, to win her third straight NCAA 800 crown (2015 outdoors, 2016 indoors, 2015 outdoors).
The race was run in windy conditions and Rogers wanted no part of the lead when they came off the stagger on the backstretch. Rogers didn’t go to the lead until early on the final 200 but her final 200 was way better than everyone else’s as she closed in 29.64 while no one else in the field broke 31.00.
Pac 12 400 champ Olivia Baker, a sophomore from Stanford who came in as the 2016 NCAA leader at 2:01.02, gave herself a nice early birthday present (she turns 20 tomorrow) by finishing second in 2:02.65 thanks to her final 200 of 31.07. BYU’s Shea Collinsworth, who had the lead at 400 (59.40) and 600 (1:30.95), was third in 2:02.83.
Stanford senior Claudia Saunders was the only other woman under 2:03 as she placed fourth in 2:02.99.
Results
| Pl | Athlete | Affiliation | Time | 200m | 400m | 600m | 800m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raevyn Rogers | Oregon | 2:00.75 | 28.60 [28.60] | 59.67 [31.08] | 1:31.11 [31.44] | 2:00.75 [29.64] |
| 2 | Olivia Baker | Stanford | 2:02.65 | 28.51 [28.51] | 59.82 [31.32] | 1:31.59 [31.77] | 2:02.65 [31.07] |
| 3 | Shea Collinsworth | BYU | 2:02.83 | 28.31 [28.31] | 59.40 [31.10] | 1:30.95 [31.55] | 2:02.83 [31.89] |
| 4 | Claudia Saunders | Stanford | 2:02.99 | 28.16 [28.16] | 59.48 [31.33] | 1:31.37 [31.89] | 2:02.99 [31.63] |
| 5 | Cecilia Barowski | Princeton | 2:03.09 | 28.69 [28.69] | 1:00.13 [31.44] | 1:32.08 [31.95] | 2:03.09 [31.02] |
| 6 | Anima Banks | Duke | 2:03.09 | 28.36 [28.36] | 59.43 [31.07] | 1:31.18 [31.75] | 2:03.09 [31.92] |
| 7 | Morgan Schuetz | LSU | 2:03.72 | 28.88 [28.88] | 59.73 [30.86] | 1:30.98 [31.26] | 2:03.72 [32.75] |
| 8 | Baylee Mires | Washington | 2:03.92 | 28.82 [28.82] | 59.94 [31.12] | 1:31.48 [31.55] | 2:03.92 [32.45] |
| Split | Intermediate Leader | Time | Fastest Split | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200m | Claudia Saunders | 0:28.16 | Claudia Saunders | 0:28.16 |
| 400m | Shea Collinsworth | 0:59.40 | Morgan Schuetz | 0:30.86 |
| 600m | Shea Collinsworth | 1:30.95 | Morgan Schuetz | 0:31.26 |
| 800m | Raevyn Rogers | 2:00.75 | Raevyn Rogers | 0:29.64 |
QT #1: Raevyn Rogers Said Defending Her Crown is Way Harder Than She Thought
Raevyn Rogers ran a much better race than she did in the prelims where she barely got the final automatic spot for the final. “Tonight I made my move being that I just wanted to lay it all out there.” She said she “was very anxious to get to that (final) 150 so I could just lay it all out there” and that in the prelim she waited too late to kick.
She was grateful to pull off the double (defending her crown) and paid respect to others who did it as well. “I didn’t realize how hard it is to double. I give (Edward) Ches(erek), Devon (Allen), Shamier (Little) so much credit. It’s so difficult,” she said.
Up next is the Olympic Trials where she knows it will be super difficult to make the US team. “It’s going to take something that I’ve never experienced before – uncomfort. It’s going to take a of that but being uncomfortable is what helps me grow. I know it’s going to take a lot of heart and way more than talent because everyone is talented… ” She also said it will take “smart running since it’s three rounds” at the Olympic Trials.
Rogers looked like the Raevyn Rogers who ran 1:59.71 to win NCAAs last year. If that Rogers shows up at the Trials she’ll have a good shot of being on Team USA, even though the US is incredibly deep at 800.
Quick Take #2: Olivia Baker will stick with the 400 and 800 going forward
Baker’s mileage is super low for an 800 runner (15-20 mpw) but it makes sense as she comes from a 400 background (she was the World Junior bronze medallist two years ago). Even after today’s result, Baker said she will keep running both the 400 and the 800, noting that she prefers the 800 indoors as she doesn’t have the burst to get off the line quickly enough in the indoor 400.
Quick Take #3: Shea Collinsworth was happy with third and a new PR, though she wished she could have closed a little harder
Collinsworth knew that this was a tough, even field (apart from Rogers) and as a result she wanted to get into good position and take the lead early. She held it until the final turn, when Rogers made her move. Collinsworth said that she thought Rogers was so talented that she would play sit and kick, and that’s exactly what happened, so when Rogers blew by, she wasn’t surprised. Collinsworth was just hoping to close harder the final 100 as Baker ran her down on her outside. Still, she was pleased to PR, as she broke 2:03 for the first time today (2:02.83).
Quick Take #4: Claudia Saunders will try to run for France at this summer’s Olympics
Saunders, who is a French citizen through her mother, said that she is planning on representing France internationally. Saunders will run the French champs this summer but she’s going to try to break 2:00 before that as the French federation’s standard for Olympic selection is faster than the IAAF standard (2:01.50).
QT #5 Cecilia Barowski of Princeton Wants to Keep Running Next Year
Barowski, who beat, Rogers to win her heat in the prelims was pretty far back today until the final 200m where she closed well. She wants to keep running next year but up first is the Olympic Trials.
A few screenshots from the ESPN broadcast.
Talk about the meet live on our messageboard: MB: Official 2016 NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Discussion Thread.