American Track League Houston: Clayton Murphy Versus Centro Lives Up to the Hype, De Grasse over Powell, Prandini Gets the Double, and Sandi Morris American Record

by: LetsRun.com
July 23, 2016

The second and final meet of the 2016 American Track League was held in hot Houston on Saturday night and it had some fireworks.

Even before the national television broadcast on ESPN began, Sandi Morris had broken the American record in the pole vault by vaulting 4.93 meters (16′ 2″) to eclipse Jenn Suhr’s American record of 4.92. We have a video of Morris’ vault below but give the vault its own recap here.

https://twitter.com/AthleticsSweden/status/757046878114545668?lang=en

MB: Sandi Morris New American Record Holder in Pole Vault

Then once the track action got underway, Clayton Murphy won the big matchup versus Matt Centrowitz at 1000m, Andre De Grasse won the 100m matchup vs Asafa Powell and cast a stare at Powell just before the finish, and Jenna Prandini got the 100-200 double. Highlights below starting with the men’s 1000m.

Mens’ 1000m Clash: Clayton Murphy Holds Off Centrowitz in a Great Race

The anticipated matchup between US 800m champ Clayton Murphy and US 1500m champ Matt Centrowitz did not disappoint. Murphy and Centro battled side by side down the homestretch with Murphy able to hold off Centrowitz and get the win in 2:20.12 to Centro’s 2:20.20.

US decathlete Curtis Beach was the rabbit after running the 400m hurdles earlier in the meet. However, it became apparent real quick that no one cared about having a fast pace as no one went with him. When Beach went out in 28, he had a gap on the field and he did what a rabbit should do and looked back, adjusting his pace. He hit 400 in roughly 57 and the field was racing for pride, not time at this point.

Beach led through 600m (1:25.95) and then Murphy had the lead, followed by Centrowitz as the field bunched up behind them.

On the backstretch Murphy still led, but since the pace was modest, everyone in the field was still in it, guys were getting antsy and some decided to make some moves. Unheralded 3:39 1500m runner Daniel Herrera moved up on the outside and passed Centrowitz but stayed behind Murphy, boxing Centro in on the inside as they went entered the final bend. At the same time, Duane Solomon moved up on the outside of Herrera. When Solomon cut in a step on the turn in front of Herrera, Herrera put his hands out on Solomon’s back and really lost his momentum. This was a blessing for Centro, who now had his opening to chase after Murphy.

Great sportsmanship

The homestretch was the duel track fans wanted. As they came off the turn, Murphy had a slight lead on the inside and then Centro moved up on his shoulder. With 70 or 80 meters to go, Murphy glanced to his right and saw Centro right beside him. Instead of cracking under the pressure or showing any strain, Murphy kept his composed form and churned almost effortlessly down the homestretch with Centro doing the same right next to him. They two US Olympic Trials champions – one at 800 (Murphy) and one at 1500 (Centrowitz) – were side by side the entire rest of the way but Murphy would not crack and he held off Centro for the win by a narrow margin after closing in 25.2. Centro handed the loss with class as he extended his hand to Murphy just after they crossed the line to offer his congratulations.

David Torrence was a distant third.

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Here are some photos from the finishing straight. The race in pictures. Click on an image for a larger image (best viewed not on a mobile phone unfortunately).

QT: We Got What We Wanted
Centro and Murphy both showed why they are so good: they don’t crack under pressure. Both maintained nearly effortless form to the finish. Usually, that results for a win for Centro in the US ranks, but today he met his match with the composed Murphy.

QT #2 You Can’t Close much faster than this 
800m was reached in 1:24.9 roughly so Murphy closed in 25.2. Centro closed slightly faster, but it’s very hard to run much faster than 25.0 the final 200m of a race.

QT #3: If You Want a Fast Time, Start This in Lanes
This race wasn’t started in lanes and thus it puts the onus on one guy (the guy who breaks first) to go with the rabbit. When that doesn’t happen, a fast time goes out the door. The runners aren’t used to starting on a curve. Next time start it in lanes if you want a fast time. But we wanted a race and that’s what we got.

Messageboard Discussions:

• Centrowitz goes home DEVASTATED!!
• Race of the week/year? Who you got? Centro vs. Murphy at 1k tmw night!! Live and on ESPN during Primetime!!!

Women’s 800m: Ajee Wilson Wins and Dips Under 2:00

Monica Hargrove rabbited the field through 400m in 58.56 and then it was a three-way battle between former NCAA champ Natoya Goule of Jamaica, US phenom Ajee Wilson, and McKayla Fricker. Goule led with Wilson right behind her and Fricker behind her. Around the final bend, Fricker went wide and they hit the homestretch nearly three abreast, but Wilson was too good the final 100m and got the win in 1:59.98 to Goule’s 2:00.33 as Fricker faded a bit at the end to 2:01.29.

QT: Wilson Goes to Rio Only Having Run 1:59.51 This Year

This was Wilson’s third time under 2:00 this year and she leaves for Rio only having run 1:59.51. Last year at this time of the year she had run 1:57.87 (but was injured and not going to Worlds). This time of the year  in 2014, she had run 1:57.67. Before you totally write off Wilson entirely, realize she rises to the occasion (running PRs to win World Juniors in 2012 and finish 6th at Worlds in 2013). Back in 2013, she had only run sub-2:00 once in her life (1:59.55) and she went to Worlds and finished 6th. However, the women’s 800m is much tougher this year with Caster Semenya and others running well again.

De Grasse Does the Glance

Men’s 100m: Andre de Grasse Beats Asafa Powell and Gives the Stare

De Grasse has shown he is a big-meet performer and that continued today. Powell had the better time in the prelims (10.05 (.1 m/s) for Powell vs 10.23 (-.5 m/s) for De Grasse), but in the final De Grasse got the best of Powell (10.02 for De Grasse vs 10.08 for Powell). Powell had the early lead and was drifting towards De Grasse’s lane so they were very close to each other physically. When De Grasse came by Powell by the finish he cast a primal stare to his left to show who was the boss of this one. A great way to end the meet in Houston and get prepared for Rio.

Quick Thought: Everyone views Powell as a choker but is it possible he’s just not good at running a 2nd race on the same day?

Powell has been viewed as someone who historically chokes in high-pressure meets. But this wasn’t a high-pressure meet and he wilted again. We’d love to see a statistical breakdown of Powell, showing how he does when he runs twice on a given day. If you want to do it, email us.

Women’s 100 and 200: Prandini Gets the Double

Jenna Prandini won the women’s 100m easily and then came back to hold off Phyllis Francis in the 200m by .08. The track in Houston didn’t seem that fast but Prandini ran faster here in the 200m than she did at the Olympic Trials (22.53).

Women’s 200m:

Women’s 300m: Courtney Okolo Bounces Back from Trials Wins But Misses AR And WR

This one was all Okolo as the only question was whether should could challenge the world’s best of 35.30 (Ana Guevara) or American best (35.46). She came up short but got an easy win in her second race since the Olympic Trials (she won in Edmonton in 50.47 last week).

QT Was Okolo not making the Olympic team really an upset?

Okolo may have been undefeated heading into the Trials into 2016, but to make the Olympic team, Okolo would have needed to run 50.17. That’s a time she’s run only twice in her life.