2016 USATF Indoor ChampionshipsMar 13, 2016 by Lincoln Shryack
Centrowitz Holds Off Hard-Charging Andrews In Thrilling USATF 1500
Centrowitz Holds Off Hard-Charging Andrews In Thrilling USATF 1500
Matthew Centrowitz kept his perfect season alive to capture USATF title #5 with his 3:44.33 1500m victory Saturday night in Portland, but Robby Andrews did
Matthew Centrowitz kept his perfect season alive to capture USATF title #5 with his 3:44.33 1500m victory Saturday night in Portland, but Robby Andrews did everything in his power to make Centro earn it.
In classic Andrews fashion, the 24-year-old put on the after burners in the last lap, pressuring Centrowitz all the way to the line to just come up short in 3:44.40. The same kick that earned him a spot on last summer’s World Championship team—his first ever— was firing on all cylinders tonight as Andrews hammered home in 26.73 for the last lap.
“He [Andrews] was definitely the guy I was looking to that was going to battle me,” Centrowitz said.
It wasn’t enough to catch Centro, however, as his 26.89 last lap kept Andrews at bay, if only barely.
“I didn’t necessarily know I had another move until I did it. I was giving all I had, and once I saw him [Andrews] go by me, I was like, dude come on I got to keep this undefeated streak going into World Indoors,” Centrowitz said with a smile. “So I just dug in again….it’s just a testament to my strength right now.”
The pair will be back at this facility next week for the World Indoor Championships, where Centrowitz will be among the favorites to capture gold. His 3:50.63 (#4 in history) win at Millrose three weeks ago showed just how sharp he was, and tonight’s win should bump his confidence up even more. Andrews closes harder than anyone in the US right now, so holding him off is a brutal task in a tactical race.
For Andrews, he’ll be making his World Indoor debut in Portland. I would say tonight’s near takedown of Centrowitz— a serious gold medal contender— proves he’s a medal threat himself regardless.
Brenda Martinez Shuts Down the Women’s 1500m
Brenda Martinez showed jaw-dropping strength Saturday night in the women’s 1500m as the World bronze medalist threw down a hard move with 400m remaining to claim the victory in 4:08 against Corey McGee.
Heather Kampf established the lead from the gun, taking the field out in 1:58 for the first 700m. Brenda made her way through the pack, ultimately taking the lead just before 1300m into the race. Martinez rolled through the second-to-last 200m lap in 31 seconds and closed the bell lap in a blazing 30 seconds to claim the victory and a World Championships berth.
McGee was able to roll past the competition in the final lap to claim second overall in an indoor personal best of 4:09. The performance marks her second World Championship berth of her career.
Ajee Wilson, Boris Berian Claim Easy Wins in 800m
World leader Ajee Wilson kicked things off with a flawless victory in the women’s 800m, winning by two seconds over Laura Roesler. Wilson made a hard break from Roesler and Phoebe Wright at the 600m mark and extended her lead in the final lap with a blazing 29.50-second 200m. She broke the tape in a winning time of 2:00.87.
The victory secured her spot in the World Indoor Championships next weekend in Portland as the 21-year-old notched the fastest time run in the world this year at the Millrose Games when she ran 2:00.09, which is also an indoor personal best. Roesler will also join Wilson on Team USA as she finished second and secured qualifying the standard at the Millrose Games.
World leader Boris Berian lived up to the hype in the final of the men’s 800m when he secured an easy victory in 1:47.19. Berian led from the beginning of the race and managed to safely hold on to the lead through the line, taking down Erik Sowinski, Cas Loxsom and Drew Windle in the process.
The performance marked Berian’s first national title after a breakthrough year where he shocked the world in the 800m with a 1:43 against David Rudisha in New York last June. After failing to make the final at the USATF Outdoor Championships last year, Berian got some sweet redemption Saturday with his first national title and World Championships berth.
This one was never in doubt, as 28-year-old Barbara Pierre used a perfect start as a springboard to trounce everyone in the women’s 60m final in 7.00, a shockingly quick performance considering no American woman has run that fast since 1999.
The time was corrected to 7.00, but still:
Pierre’s wicked speed display proved two things: 1. She is a major threat to Dafne Schippers in this event next week (the pair now share the 7.00 WL) and 2. This surface can be mega fast.
Key words here are “can be," as Ato Boldon so aptly pointed out:
Joining Pierre on Team USA will be Tori Bowie, who finished a distant second in 7.15. Bowie is certainly more of a 100m runner, but she did match her 7.14 PR in the semis.
Speaking of those 60m hurdles, the American women further cemented themselves as heavy favorites for the top two spots (and possibly three) on the podium next weekend, as Brianna Rollins took the win in a very speedy 7.76 PR, the fastest time in the world since Sally Pearson’s 7.73 at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
Keni Harrison was just a hair behind in 7.77, and she, plus Rollins and defending World champion Nia Ali will make for a daunting team next week at the Oregon Convention Center. The 24-year-old Rollins’ performance finally took down her more than three-year-old PR, the 7.78 from her Clemson days that stands as the collegiate record.
The US men’s 60m final paled in comparison to its legendary NCAA counterpart, but the pros at least gave us an even tighter battle to the finish as short track extraordinaire Marvin Bracy eked out a third straight USATF 60m title over Trayvon Bromell.
The pair ran matching 6.51s, both season’s bests, which would’ve only earned them third and fourth in Birmingham this afternoon, but simultaneously prove that both men—plus the previously qualified Mike Rodgers— are in gold-medal contending form despite being slower than two college kids.
The 60m is a crazy event.
Vashti Cunningham Breaks High School Junior Record in the High Jump
Against the best female high jumpers in the United States, high school senior Vashti Cunningham jumped 1.99m (6-6.25) to break the world junior indoor high jump record and secure the meet victory on Saturday. The mark increased her high school national record and stands as the U.S. No. 4 all-time. Not No. 4 all-time on the high school list--No. 4 all-time among all Americans indoors, ever. It's the best jump in the world by a woman this year.
The daughter of former NFL legend Randall Cunningham, Vashti showed immense promise last year and during this season when she took down 2012 World Indoor Champion Chaunte Lowe at a competition in New Mexico a month ago, proving just how fierce she can be.
WHAT A FINISH!! Centro just holds off Robby Andrews! #USATFindoors pic.twitter.com/g7oBgvAZwh
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 13, 2016
In classic Andrews fashion, the 24-year-old put on the after burners in the last lap, pressuring Centrowitz all the way to the line to just come up short in 3:44.40. The same kick that earned him a spot on last summer’s World Championship team—his first ever— was firing on all cylinders tonight as Andrews hammered home in 26.73 for the last lap.
“He [Andrews] was definitely the guy I was looking to that was going to battle me,” Centrowitz said.
It wasn’t enough to catch Centro, however, as his 26.89 last lap kept Andrews at bay, if only barely.
“I didn’t necessarily know I had another move until I did it. I was giving all I had, and once I saw him [Andrews] go by me, I was like, dude come on I got to keep this undefeated streak going into World Indoors,” Centrowitz said with a smile. “So I just dug in again….it’s just a testament to my strength right now.”
The pair will be back at this facility next week for the World Indoor Championships, where Centrowitz will be among the favorites to capture gold. His 3:50.63 (#4 in history) win at Millrose three weeks ago showed just how sharp he was, and tonight’s win should bump his confidence up even more. Andrews closes harder than anyone in the US right now, so holding him off is a brutal task in a tactical race.
For Andrews, he’ll be making his World Indoor debut in Portland. I would say tonight’s near takedown of Centrowitz— a serious gold medal contender— proves he’s a medal threat himself regardless.
.@MattCentrowitz & @RA_Andrews making for a formidable team next week #USATFindoors pic.twitter.com/T2lZzJRBR4
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 13, 2016
Brenda Martinez Shuts Down the Women’s 1500m
Brenda Martinez showed jaw-dropping strength Saturday night in the women’s 1500m as the World bronze medalist threw down a hard move with 400m remaining to claim the victory in 4:08 against Corey McGee.
Brenda Martinez for the win in the 1500 in 4:08! #USATFindoors #runnerspace #trackandfield https://t.co/UJIdsctTwc pic.twitter.com/LaEJdUFxIL
— Nike Portland XC (@nikeportlandxc) March 13, 2016
Heather Kampf established the lead from the gun, taking the field out in 1:58 for the first 700m. Brenda made her way through the pack, ultimately taking the lead just before 1300m into the race. Martinez rolled through the second-to-last 200m lap in 31 seconds and closed the bell lap in a blazing 30 seconds to claim the victory and a World Championships berth.
McGee was able to roll past the competition in the final lap to claim second overall in an indoor personal best of 4:09. The performance marks her second World Championship berth of her career.
Ajee Wilson, Boris Berian Claim Easy Wins in 800m
World leader Ajee Wilson kicked things off with a flawless victory in the women’s 800m, winning by two seconds over Laura Roesler. Wilson made a hard break from Roesler and Phoebe Wright at the 600m mark and extended her lead in the final lap with a blazing 29.50-second 200m. She broke the tape in a winning time of 2:00.87.
Ajee Wilson takes heat 3 of #USATFindoors 800 pic.twitter.com/sWY8WMkfiA
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 12, 2016
The victory secured her spot in the World Indoor Championships next weekend in Portland as the 21-year-old notched the fastest time run in the world this year at the Millrose Games when she ran 2:00.09, which is also an indoor personal best. Roesler will also join Wilson on Team USA as she finished second and secured qualifying the standard at the Millrose Games.
World leader Boris Berian lived up to the hype in the final of the men’s 800m when he secured an easy victory in 1:47.19. Berian led from the beginning of the race and managed to safely hold on to the lead through the line, taking down Erik Sowinski, Cas Loxsom and Drew Windle in the process.
The performance marked Berian’s first national title after a breakthrough year where he shocked the world in the 800m with a 1:43 against David Rudisha in New York last June. After failing to make the final at the USATF Outdoor Championships last year, Berian got some sweet redemption Saturday with his first national title and World Championships berth.
Barbara Pierre Runs Fastest 60m By American Since 1999
This one was never in doubt, as 28-year-old Barbara Pierre used a perfect start as a springboard to trounce everyone in the women’s 60m final in 7.00, a shockingly quick performance considering no American woman has run that fast since 1999.
The time was corrected to 7.00, but still:
WOW! World Leader 6.99 PR for Barbara Pierre!! #USATFindoors She shot out of a cannon! pic.twitter.com/hyZrxSbER1
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 13, 2016
Pierre’s wicked speed display proved two things: 1. She is a major threat to Dafne Schippers in this event next week (the pair now share the 7.00 WL) and 2. This surface can be mega fast.
Key words here are “can be," as Ato Boldon so aptly pointed out:
If this track here at #portland2016 is fast, somehow only the 60m and 60h women are showing it. 6.70 made the US men's indoor 60m final
— Ato Boldon (@AtoBoldon) March 12, 2016
Joining Pierre on Team USA will be Tori Bowie, who finished a distant second in 7.15. Bowie is certainly more of a 100m runner, but she did match her 7.14 PR in the semis.
Rollins, Harrison Drop Fastest 60mH Times Since 2012
Speaking of those 60m hurdles, the American women further cemented themselves as heavy favorites for the top two spots (and possibly three) on the podium next weekend, as Brianna Rollins took the win in a very speedy 7.76 PR, the fastest time in the world since Sally Pearson’s 7.73 at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
Rollins and Harrison's time (7.76 and 7.77) are the fastest 60mH times since 2012! #USATFindoors
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 13, 2016
Keni Harrison was just a hair behind in 7.77, and she, plus Rollins and defending World champion Nia Ali will make for a daunting team next week at the Oregon Convention Center. The 24-year-old Rollins’ performance finally took down her more than three-year-old PR, the 7.78 from her Clemson days that stands as the collegiate record.
Marvin Bracy Wins Third Straight 60m Crown With Narrow Defeat Of Bromell
The US men’s 60m final paled in comparison to its legendary NCAA counterpart, but the pros at least gave us an even tighter battle to the finish as short track extraordinaire Marvin Bracy eked out a third straight USATF 60m title over Trayvon Bromell.
Close-up look at how close that 60m final was between @_BraceYaself @TrayvonBromell #USATFindoors pic.twitter.com/UvjMwZ6HtP
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 13, 2016
The pair ran matching 6.51s, both season’s bests, which would’ve only earned them third and fourth in Birmingham this afternoon, but simultaneously prove that both men—plus the previously qualified Mike Rodgers— are in gold-medal contending form despite being slower than two college kids.
The 60m is a crazy event.
Vashti Cunningham Breaks High School Junior Record in the High Jump
Against the best female high jumpers in the United States, high school senior Vashti Cunningham jumped 1.99m (6-6.25) to break the world junior indoor high jump record and secure the meet victory on Saturday. The mark increased her high school national record and stands as the U.S. No. 4 all-time. Not No. 4 all-time on the high school list--No. 4 all-time among all Americans indoors, ever. It's the best jump in the world by a woman this year.
Vashti Cunningham broke the Junior High Jump WORLD RECORD! Clearing 6-6.25(1.99m)! https://t.co/bUEEl25WEj pic.twitter.com/wY6wRWEBTU
— MileSplit US (@milesplit) March 13, 2016
The daughter of former NFL legend Randall Cunningham, Vashti showed immense promise last year and during this season when she took down 2012 World Indoor Champion Chaunte Lowe at a competition in New Mexico a month ago, proving just how fierce she can be.