ATHLETICS: Brazier sets 600 m world record; Mu gets 600 m American Record at USATF Indoors

American middle-distance star Donavan Brazier

In a magical 12-minute span inside the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, New York, what makes indoor track so great was on display with two record performances at the USATF National Indoor Championships.

The women’s 600 m final was a showdown between a 16-year-old high school junior from Trenton Central in New Jersey, Athing Mu, and three-time NCAA 800 m champ Raevyn Rogers. Surely, Rogers – who has run 1:57.69 for 800 m – would handle the teenager, but Mu went to the front from the gun and had the lead through the first two laps. At the bell, Mu had a stride’s lead over Rogers, but when the veteran kicked in the afterburners, Mu was equal to the challenge, maintained her poise and finished in 1:23.57, not just a world leader, but the second-fastest time ever run and a new American Record.

She missed the world best – the distance isn’t recognized for world records – by 0.13, as Russian Olga Kotlyarova ran 1:23.44 back in 2004. Naturally, it’s also a national high school record and Mu still has a year to go at Trenton Central! Rogers was second, in 1:24.88, which became the no. 4 performance in history.

Mu told NBCSN’s Lewis Johnson afterwards, “I’m just blown away right now. I just had to say strong during the race. The sky is literally the limit; I honestly just don’t know what I can do any more.” That’s why she bears watching in the future.

The men’s 600 m final followed immediately and after an impressive qualifying race, in 1:15.64 – the no. 19 mark in history – Donavan Brazier was in the hunt for a world-best performance.

He ran a measured race: third after a lap, second after two and then he took off at the bell, running the final lap in 26.62 to clock 1:15.64 and eclipse the world best of 1:14.79 by Kenya’s Michael Saruni in 2018.

Brazier said afterwards that he knew that the record was a possibility, but “I was just trying to win today. We went out a little fast and I was able to hang on.” He was very encouraged for the future, noting “I got into this shape after about six weeks of training.” He will have a lot more time to get ready for the outdoor season.

Brazier time also erased Casimir Loxsom’s American Record of 1:14.91 from 2017. Runner-up Sam Ellison’s 1:15.97 moved to him no. 7 all-time, with the no. 8 performance.

There were other excellent performances:

Ajee Wilson won her fifth national indoor title at 800 m/1,000 m with a commanding victory in the 1,000 m, finishing with the no. 2 performance in U.S. history in 2:34.71, a new world leader. She controlled the race from the front and held off Hannah Green (2:35.40 – fourth performance all-time U.S.) and Ce’Aira Brown (2:35.62 – fifth performance all-time U.S.) on the final straightaway.

● After losing the mile on Saturday, Shelby Houlihan won her third straight 3,000 m/two-mile national title at 9:31.38, a new world leader. She told Lewis Johnson of Saturday’s loss, “It stung a bit; I didn’t want to lose [today]. I was running scared the whole time.”

Sharika Nelvis won the 60 m Hurdles with a charge over the final hurdle, passing Evonne Britton with a world-leader of 7.85, with Britton at 7.86.

Nelvis was one of seven defending champions to win a national title again in 2019:

Men’s 600 m: Donavan Brazier (800 m in 2018)
Men’s 3000 m Walk: Nick Christie
Women’s 1,000 m: Ajee Wilson (800 m in 2018)
Women’s Two Mile: Shelby Houlihan (3,000 m in 2018)
Women’s 60 m Hurdles: Sharika Nelvis
Women’s High Jump: Vashti Cunningham
Women’s Pole Vault: Katie Nageotte

It’s worth noting the women’s 3,000 m walk win by Miranda Melville, breaking Maria Michta-Coffey’s streak of nine national indoor titles in a row. Michta-Coffey finished fourth.

There were a total of eight world-leading marks at the meet:

Men’s 600 m: 1:13.77 Donavan Brazier (world best)
Men’s Two Mile: 8:25.29, Drew Hunter
Men’s Weight: 24.12 m (79-1 3/4), Daniel Haugh

Women’s 300 m: 35.95, Brittany Brown
Women’s 600 m: 1:23.57, Athing Mu
Women’s 1,000 m: 2:34.71, Ajee Wilson
Women’s Two Mile: 9:31.38, Shelby Houlihan
Women’s 60 m Hurdles: 7.85, Sharika Nelvis

Prize money was $6,000-4,000-2,500-1,500-1,000 for the top five places. Summaries:

USATF National Indoor Championships
New York, New York (USA) ~ 22-24 February 2019
(Full results here)

Men

60 m: 1. Demek Kemp, 6.55; 2. Cordero Gray, 6.59; 3. Sean McLean, 6.63; 4. Dangelo Cherry, 6.66; 5. John Teeters, 6.67; 6. Javelin Guidry, 6.72; 7. Quentin Butler, 6.72; 8. Wayne Sherbahn, 6.78.

300 m-Race I: 1. Dontavius Wright, 32.81; 2. Brycen Spratling, 33.59. Race II: 1. Manteo Mitchell, 33.54 (second overall); 2. John Lundy, 33.69; 3. Jason Crow, 34.01; 4. Cole Lambourne, 34.06.

600 m: 1. Donavan Brazier, 1:13.77 (World Best; old, 1:14.79, Michael Saruni (KEN), 2018; American Record; old, 1:14.91, Casimir Loxsom, 2017); 2. Sam Ellison, 1:15.20; 3. Kameron Jones, 1:15.32; 4. Chris Giesting, 1:15.67; 5. Erik Sowinski, 1:16.24; 6. Kalmon Stokes, 1:17.42.

1,000 m: 1. Clayton Murphy, 2:20.36; 2. Abraham Alvarado, 2:21.08; 3. Brannon Kidder, 2:21.23; 4. Rob Napolitano, 2:21.47; 5. Dylan Capwell, 2:21.55; 6. Brandon Lasater, 2:21.59; 7. Jesse Garn, 2:21.66; 8. David Timlin, 2:22.43.

Mile: 1. Craig Engels, 3:59.69; 2. Henry Wynne, 4:00.20; 3. John Gregorek, 4:00.26; 4. Sam Prakel, 4:01.76; 5. Mike Marsella, 4:02.03; 6. David Ribich, 4:03.08; 7. Benjamin Malone, 4:03.60; 8. Josh Thompson, 4:05.39.

Two Mile: 1. Andrew Hunter, 8:25.29 (race 1-1); 2. Eric Avila, 8:32.41 (race 2-1); 3. Tripp Hurt, 8:32.72 (2-2); 4. Dillon Maggard, 8:33.28 (2-3); 5. Sean McGorty, 8:33.41 (2-4); 6. Brian Barraza, 8:33.99 (2-5); 7. Jacob Thomsen, 8:34.64 (2-6); 8. Travis Mahoney, 8:35.33 (2-7).

60 m Hurdles: 1. Devon Allen, 7.60; 2. Aaron Mallett, 7.64; 3. Joshua Thompson, 7.69; 4. Brendan Ames, 7.71; 5. Ryan Billian, 7.89; 6. Tremayne Banks, 7.94; 7. Casimir Tawiah, 7.99; 8. Wayne Newman, 8.03.

3,000 m Walk: 1. Nick Christie, 11:35.34; 2. Emmanuel Corvera, 11:49.25; 3. John Cody Risch, 11:57.26; 4. Anthony Peters, 12:18.80; 5. Richard Luettchau, 13:18.49; only finishers.

High Jump: 1. Jeron Robinson, 2.24 m (7-4 1/4); 2. Avion Jones, 2.21 m (7-3); 3. Kristopher Kornegay-Gober, 2.18 m (7-1 3/4); 4. JaCorian Duffield, 2.18 m (7-1 3/4); 5. Noah VanderVeen, 2.18 m (7-1 3/4); 6. Bradley Atkins, 2.13 m (6-11 3/4); 7. Trey Culver, 2.13 m (6-11 3/4); 8. Jalen Ramsey, 2.08 m (6-9 3/4).

Pole Vault: 1. Andrew Irwin, 5.80 m (19-0 1/4); 2. Scott Houston, 5.61 m (18-4 3/4); 3. Max Babits, 5.51 m (18-4 3/4); 4. Austin Miller, 5.41 m (17-9); 5. tie, Dylan Bell, Kyle Pater and Cole Walsh, 5.41 m (17-9); 8. Garrett Starkey, 5.41 m (17-9).

Long Jump: 1. Jordan Downs. 7.73 m (25-4 1/2); 2. Malik Moffett, 7.69 m (25-2 3/4); 3. Josh Colley, 7.53 m (24-8 1/2); 4. Will Williams, 7.45 m (24-5 1/2); 5. Kenneth Glenn, 7.44 m (24-5); 6. Charles Brown, 7.21 m (23-8); 7. Roderick Townsend, 7.20 m (23-7 1/2); 8. Corey Muggler, 7.18 m (23-6 3/4).

Triple Jump: 1. Donald Scott, 16.85 m (55-3 1/2); 2. Chris Carter, 16.66 m (54-8); 3. KeAndre Bates, 16.38 m (53-9); 4. Barden Adams, 15.91 m (52-2 1/2); 5. Tony Carodine, 15.90 m (52-2); 6. Darrel Jones, 15.52 m (50-11); 7. Michael Tiller, 14.84 m (48-8 1/4); 8. Idiato Jeremiah, 14.82 m (48-7 1/2).

Shot Put: 1. Ryan Crouser, 22.22 m (72-10 3/4); 2. Joe Kovacs, 21.40 m (70-2 1/2); 3. Josh Awotunde, 20.63 m (67-8 1/4); 4. Curtis Jensen, 20.03 m (65-8 3/4); 5. William Pless, 20.00 m (65-7 1/2); 6. Alex Renner, 19.07 m (62-6 3/4); 7. Lucas Warning, 18.85 m (61-10 1/4); 8. Coy Blair, 18.78 m (61-7 1/2).

Weight: 1. Daniel Haugh, 24.12 m (79-1 3/4); 2. Conor McCullough, 23.98 m (78-8 1/4); 3. Alex Young, 23.67 m (77-8); 4. Sean Donnelly, 23.38 m (76-8 1/2); 5. Daniel Roberts, 23.19 m (76-1); 6. Grant Cartwright, 23.12 m (75-10 1/4); 7. Colin Dunbar, 22.95 m (75-3 1/2); 8. Michael Shanahan, 22.57 m (74-0 3/4).

Heptathlon: 1. Tim Ehrhardt, 5,868; 2. Solomon Simmons, 5,766; 3. Jack Flood, 5,701; 4. Teddy Frid, 5,671; 5. Alex Bloom, 5,631; 6. Curtis Beach, 5,467; 7. Samuel Black, 5,404; 8. Phillip Bailey, 5,352.

Women

60 m: 1. Shanie Collins, 7.16; 2. Kate Hall, 7.23; 3. Sharika Nelvis, 7.32; 4. Quanesha Burks, 7.34; 5. Candace Hill, 7.43; 6. Breana Norman, 7.46; 7. Rachel McCoy, 7.55; 8. Melanise Chapman, 7.57.

300 m-Race I: 1. Brittany Brown, 35.95; 2. Gabby Thomas, 35.98; 3. Kayla Davis, 37.46. Race II: 4. Faith Dismuke, 38.28; 5. Asha Ruth, 38.46; 6. Rachel McCoy, 38.80.

600 m: 1. Athing Mu, 1:23.57 (American Record; old, 1:23.59, Alysia Montano, 2013); 2. Raevyn Rogers, 1:24.88; 3. Olivia Baker, 1:26.93; 4. Madeline Kopp, 1:27.09; 5. Georganne Moline, 1:27.59; 6. Kendra Chambers, 1:27.60.

1,000 m: 1. Ajee Wilson, 2:34.71 (no. 2 performance all-time U.S.); 2. Hanna Green, 2:35.40; 3. Ce’Aira Brown, 2:35.62; 4. Laura Roesler, 2:36.60; 5. Hannah Fields, 2:38.60; 6. Allie Wilson, 2:41.76; 7. Baylee Mires, 2:42.79; 8. Megan Malasarte, 2:43.72.

Mile: 1. Colleen Quigley, 4:29.47; 2. Shelby Houlihan, 4:29.92; 3. Cory McGee, 4:30.14; 4. Shannon Osika,4:31.05; 5. Nikki Hiltz, 4:32.40; 6. Elinor Purrier, 4:32.69; 7. Eleanor Fulton, 4:33.47 (Race 2-1.); 8. Grace Barnett, 4:33.63 (Race 2-2).

Two Mile: 1. Shelby Houlihan, 9:31.38; 2. Katie Mackey, 9:33.70; 3. Elinor Purrier, 9:34.65; 4. Emily Lipari, 9:41.12; 5. Katrina Coogan, 9:45.11; 6. Marie Lawrence, 9:46.11; 7. Eleanor Fulton, 9:48.98; 8. Grace Barnett, 9:50.17.

60 m Hurdles: 1. Sharika Nelvis, 7.85; 2. Evonne Britton, 7.86; 3. Amber Hughes, 8.06; 4. Sasha Wallace, 8.15; 5. Kyra Atkins, 8.15; 6. Jade Barber, 8.20; 7. Monisha Lewis, 8.21; 8. Tawnie Moore, 8.42.

3,000 m Walk: 1. Miranda Melville, 12:57.58; 2. Katie Burnett, 13:14.09; 3. Kayla Shapiro, 14:11.84; 4. Maria Michta-Coffey, 14:18.82; 5. Chelsea Conway, 14:26.74; 6. Katherine Miale, 14:34.72; only finishers.

High Jump: 1. Vashti Cunningham, 1.96 m (6-5); 2. Ty Butts, 1.88 m (6-2); 3. Amina Smith, 1.88 m (6-2); 4. Jelena Rowe, 1.83 m (6-0); 5. Inika McPherson, 1.83 m (6-0); 6. Michelle Spires, 1.78 m (5-10); 7. Melanie Winters, 1.73 m (5-8); 8. Juanita Webster-Freeman, 1.73 m (5-8).

Pole Vault: 1. Katie Nageotte, 4.81 m (15-9 1/4); 2. Annie Rhodes, 4.56 m (14-11 1/2); 3. Kristen Leland, 4.56 m (14-11 1/2); 4. tie, Katherine Pitman and Kortney Ross, 4.36 m (14-3 1/2); 6. Lakan Taylor, 4.36 m (14-3 1/2); 7. tie, Kristen Brown and Megan Zimlich, 4.36 m (14-3 1/2).

Long Jump: 1. Kate Hall, 6.51 m (21-4 1/4); 2. Quanesha Burks, 6.39 m (20-11 3/4); 3. Kenyattia Hackworth, 6.39 m (20-11 3/4); 4. Kendell Williams, 6.33 m (20-9 1/4); 5. Jessie Gaines, 6.27 m (20-7); 6. Tristine Johnson, 6.13 m (20-1 3/4); 7. Melanie Winters, 6.02 m (19-9); 8. Erica Graham, 5.65 m (18-6 1/2).

Triple Jump: 1. Keturah Orji, 14.55 m (47-9); 2. Tori Franklin, 14.45 m (47-5); 3. Lynnika Pitts, 13.66 m (44-9 3/4); 4. Imani Oliver, 13.45 m (44-1 1/2); 5. Tiffany Flynn, 13.41 m (44-0); 6. Viershane Latham, 12.86 m (42-2 1/4); 7. Alexa Wandy, 12.53 m (41-1 1/2); 8. Jean Udo, 11.75 m (38-6 3/4).

Shot Put: 1. Chase Ealey, 18.62 m (61-1 1/4); 2. Maggie Ewen, 18.45 m (60-6 1/2); 3. Jessica Ramsey, 18.37 m (60-3 1/4); 4. Daniella Hill, 18.17 m (59-7 1/2); 5. Rachel Fatherly, 17.95 m (58-10 3/4); 6. Monique Riddick, 17.76 m (58-3 1/4); 7. Jessica Woodard, 17.67 m (57-11 3/4); 8. Janeah Stewart, 17.54 m (57-6 1/2).

Weight: 1. Janeah Stewart, 24.80 m (81-4 1/2); 2. Deanna Price, 24.52 m (80-5 1/2); 3. Kaitlyn Long, 23.19 m (76-1); 4. Annette Echikunwoke, 22.97 m (75-4 1/2); 5. Jeneva Stevens, 22.89 m 975-1 1/4); 6. Brooke Andersen, 22.25 m (73-0); 7. Michaela Dendinger, 21.10 (69-2 3/4); 8. Christina Macdonald, 18.49 m (60-8).

Pentathlon: 1. Kendell Williams, 4,496; 2. Emilyn Dearman, 4,356; 3. Anna Hall, 4,302; 4. Juanita Webster-Freeman, 4,255; 5. Annie Kunz, 4,243; 6. Riley Cooks, 4,106; 7. Kendall Gustafson, 4,101; 8. Shaina Burns, 4,085.