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≡ NCAA REGIONALS ≡
Saturday was the final day of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Track & Field Championships, with the East Regional in Jacksonville, Florida and the West Regional at College Station, Texas, with women’s events only.
In the East, Florida State’s Shenese Walker had the leading 100 m time of 10.98 (+1.4), no. 3 in the nation for 2025, and equal-5th in the world for 2025. National 800 m leader Michaela Rose of LSU was the leader in that event at 1:58.91.
In the triple jump, Louisville’s Shantae Foreman (JAM) equaled the national lead at 14.01 m (45-11 3/4), and national leader Jayden Ulrich of Louisville led the discus qualifiers at 64.81 m (212-7).
In the West, USC equaled its best-in-the-nation 4×100 m with a 42.36 win, and sophomore star Madison Whyte moved to no. 2 in the nation in the 200 m, winning race three with a lifetime best of 22.16 (+0.9). Trojan Dajaz Defrand led the women’s 100 m qualifiers at 11.00 (+0.2).
National no. 2 Meghan Hunter of BYU was the fastest 800 m qualifier at 1:58.95, a lifetime best, and Maggi Congdon (Northern Arizona) moved to no. 2 in the national collegiate rankings in the 1,500 m at 4:05.73 in winning race two.
Oregon junior Aliyah McCormick is also second in the nation, in the 100 m hurdles in 12.74 from race one (+1.3).
On to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from 11-14 June.
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Two world leads at the World athletics Continental Tour Gold Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi (KEN) on Saturday, amid a series of strong marks:
● Men/400 m: 43.76, Zakithi Nene (RSA)
● Men/Hammer: 82.73 m (271-5), Ethan Katzberg (CAN)
Nene, a two-time Olympian and the 2025 South African champion, blitzed a good field and got a lifetime best, beating Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie (44.98) and Zablon Kwam (KEN: 45.01). Olympic and World Champion Katzberg had three throws over 80 m and got his winner in the fourth round.
American Jonah Koech, 28, who stunned with a brilliant Diamond League 1,500 m victory in Rabat in 3:31.43, stormed to another lifetime best to win the 800 m in 1:43.32 and move to no. 3 on the season and no. 9 all-time U.S.! He edged Kenyan Nicholas Kiplagat, who also got a lifetime best in second at 1:43.75.
Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy continued his strong season with a lifetime best 9.98 to win the men’s 100 m (-0.7) over South African teen sensation Bayanda Walaza (10.03)
Canada’s Olympic and World Champion Cam Rogers won the women’s hammer at 77.93 m (255-8), with American Janee Kassanavoid third at 74.17 m (243-4).
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