If you’re looking for the likely star of the 2019 indoor track season, you might want to start with Ethiopia’s 21-year-old Yomif Kejelcha.
After running an outstanding double in the 1,000 m (2:18.34) and mile (3:52.61) last week – with just 40 minutes between races on an oversized track in Seattle – he came to the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts and ran away from the field to win the mile in 3:51.70 … on 25 January!
That time moved him to no. 12 on all-time indoor world list, with the 20th-fastest indoor mile in history, and an Ethiopian indoor record. Kejelcha ran away from Kenya’s Bethwell Birgen on the final lap of the 200 m track and clocked 57.53 for the final 400 m. Birgen set a lifetime best in second at 3:54.82.
There’s no doubt that the world indoor mile record of 3:48.45 by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco from 1997 is definitely in danger.
The men’s 3,000 m was another runaway, this time for Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), who won in 7:37.41, but impressively pulled away from Kenya’s Edward Cheserek to win by more than five seconds.
The much-awaited professional debut of Sydney McLaughlin resulted in a runaway win in the 500 m. She took the lead at 200 m and finished in 1:09.46, making her the eighth-fastest performer in U.S. indoor history.
Among the other highlights:
● Rai Benjamin made his debut as an American athlete with a win in the 300 m in 32.55, moving him to no. 10 on the all-time U.S. indoor list.
● Donavan Brazier showed his continuing maturity in the 800 m, waiting for the final half-lap to blow past Rio bronze medalist (and now training partner) Clayton Murphy, finishing in 1:45.91 to Murphy’s 1:45.94.
● The women’s mile was a showcase for Canada’s Gabriela Stafford, who set a national indoor record with a win in 4:24.80, followed by former New Hampshire star Elinor Purrier, who ran 4:24.88 for second in her first professional race; that moves her to equal-eighth fastest performer all-time U.S. indoors. Both blew past Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum on the final lap; she finished in 4:26.84. American Emma Coburn nearly fell early in the race and was not a factor, finishing 10th in 4:32.68.
● Katie Nageotte, the 2018 U.S. Indoor champ, equaled her second-best vault ever and best at sea level with a win at 4.86 m (15-11 1/4); she missed three times at 4.92 m (16-1 3/4), but beat Rio gold medalist Ekaterina Stefanidi of Greece, at 4.71 m (15-5 1/2).
● Maggie Ewen, another new professional after an outstanding collegiate career at Arizona State, won the shot put and moved to no. 6 all-time on the U.S. Indoor list at 19.28 m (63-3 1/4).
The IAAF World Indoor Tour continues next week in Karlsruhe (GER) on 2 February. Summaries.
IAAF World Indoor Tour/New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
Roxbury, Massachusetts (USA) ~ 26 January 2019
(Full results here; all U.S. unless noted)
Men
300 m: 1. Rai Benjamin, 32.55 (10th performer all-time U.S. indoor); 2. Bernardo Baloyes (COL), 33.70; 3. Josephus Lyles, 33.72.
400 m: 1. Nathan Strother, 46.97; 2. Kyle Collins, 47.58; 3. Rilwan Alawanle (NGR), 48.07.
800 m: 1. Donavan Brazier, 1:45.91; 2. Clayton Murphy, 1:45.94; 3. Saul Ordonez (ESP), 1:46.62.
Mile: 1. Yomif Kejelcha (ETH), 3:51.70; 2. Bethwell Birgen (KEN), 3:54.82; 3. Samuel Prakel, 3:56.60. (1,500 m en route: 1. Kejelcha, 3:36.43; 2. Birgen, 3:37.50; 3. Vincent Kibet (KEN), 3:41.35.)
3,000 m: 1. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), 7:37.41; 2. Edward Cheserek (KEN), 7:42.93; 3. Adel Mechaal (ESP), 7:45.56.
60 m Hurdles: 1. Jarret Eaton, 7.64; 2. Aaron Mallet, 7.65; 3. Freddie Crittenden, 7.66.
Women
60 m: 1. Michelle-Lee Ahye (TTO), 7.21; 2. Shania Collins, 7.27; 3. Aaliyah Brown, 7.36.
300 m: I ~ 1. Kendall Ellis, 36.97; 2. Candace Hill, 37.49; 3. Maggie Barrie (SLE), 37.95. II ~ 1. Gabby Thomas, 37.03; 2. Shakima Wimbley, 37.18; 3. Brionna Thomas, 37.91.
500 m: 1. Sydney McLaughlin, 1:09.46 (8th all-time U.S. indoor); 2. Ashley Taylor (CAN), 1:12.2; 3. Samantha Murphy (CAN), 1:12.84.
600 m: 1. Raevyn Rogers, 1:27.31; 2. Lynsey Sharp (GBR), 1:29.11; 3. Kendra Chambers, 1:29.21.
Mile: 1. Gabriela Stafford (CAN), 4:24.80; 2. Elinor Purrier, 4:24.88 (=8th performer all-time U.S. indoor); 3. Dawit Seyaum (ETH), 4:26.84. (1,500 m en route: 1. Stafford, 4:08.36; 2. Seyaum, 4:08.38; 3. Purrier, 4:08.50).
5,000 m: 1. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER), 15:15.80; 2. Jenny Simpson, 15:33.38; 3. Katie Mackey, 15:42.10.
Pole Vault: 1. Katie Nageotte, 4.86 m (15-11 1/4; missed 4.92 m/16-1 3/4) 2. Ekaterina Stefanidi (GRE), 4.71 m (15-5 1/2); 3. Annie Rhodes-Johnigan, 4.61 m (15-1 1/2).
Shot Put: 1. Maggie Ewen, 19.28 m (63-3 1/4; 6th performer all-time U.S. indoor); 2. Christina Schwanitz (GER), 18.87 m (61-11); 3. Jessica Ramsey, 18.22 m (59-9 1/2).
