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2018 USATF Outdoor Championships

Play-By-Play Recap: 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, Day Four

Play-By-Play Recap: 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, Day Four

Follow along with FloTrack during the final day of competition at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines.

Jun 24, 2018 by Johanna Gretschel
Play-By-Play Recap: 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, Day Four

LIVE RESULTS | FLOTRACK'S PICKS | POST RACE INTERVIEWS

PREVIOUS DAYS

DAY ONE RECAP | TOP 12 MOMENTS FROM DAY ONE | DAY ONE PODCAST

DAY TWO RECAP | TOP 6 MOMENTS FROM DAY TWO | DAY TWO PODCAST

DAY THREE RECAP | TOP 13 MOMENTS FROM DAY THREE | DAY THREE PODCAST

DAY FOUR PLAY-BY-PLAY

2:00 PM CT Men's 200m Semi-Finals



Heat 1: Defending champion Ameer Webb controls this race early and asserts his reign on the field in the homestretch, cruising to the win in 20.13. Dedric Dukes stumbled with 50 meters to go and will not finish the race.



Final Qualifiers:

1. Ameer Webb, 20.13
2. Andrew Hudson, 20.38
3. Terrell Smith, 20.44
4. Marqueze Washington, 20.47

Heat 2: Michael Norman time! The 20-year-old easily wins in 20.35—still sporting that USC kit, by the way. Justin Walker, unsponsored!, takes second in 20.61.



Final Qualifiers:

1. Michael Norman, 20.35
2. Justin Walker, 20.61
3. Kenzo Cotton, 20.70
4. Amir James, 20.71

2:15 PM CT Women's 200m Semi-Finals

Heat 1: Bummer... reigning USATF champion Deajah Stevens is a scratch, as is LSU's Mikiah Brisco, who took fourth in the 100m two days ago. World 400m champion Phyllis Francis looked the best coming off the curve, but she got a bit swallowed up by the field as Brittany Brown of Iowa will take the heat win—both women cross the line in 22.42.

Youth phenom Kaylin Whitney takes sixth in 23.05 and won't advance.



Final Qualifiers:

1. Brittany Brown, 22.42
2. Phyllis Francis, 22.42
3. Jeneba Tarmoh, 22.46
4. Ariana Washington, 22.54

Heat 2: The 200m, by the way, is the first women's final to be sponsored by Nike. It was pretty funny to see the 100m and 1500m champions presented by Michelob Ultra the past two days...

Jenna Prandini ran like a boss yesterday, so I'm expecting more of the same in the semi-final. 

After a restart, Prandini runs an easy 22.22 (-0.2) while slowing up at the line. She is looking really good for the final.



Final Qualifiers:

1. Jenna Prandini, 22.22
2. Kyra Jefferson, 22.48
3. Shania Collins, 22.54
4. Kimberlyn Duncan, 22.63

2:30 PM CT Men's 110m Hurdles Semi-Finals

Heat 1: We've got a rematch of that great NCAA battle here between Grant Holloway of Florida and David Kendziera of Illinois. Kendziera just barely squeezed into the semi-final yesterday and he may be tired from the 110H/400H double.

Kendziera still doesn't look like the guy who almost beat Holloway, but he'll sneak into the final with a fourth-place finish. Holloway holds off the field and looks good to earn his first USATF title later today.



Final Qualifiers:

1. Grant Holloway, 13.34
2. Aries Merritt, 13.43
3. Antoine Lloyd, 13.46
4. David Kendziera, 13.53

Heat 2: The past two U.S. champions in Aleec Harris and Devon Allen meet here, as well as Jarret Eaton, the world indoor silver medalist for 60m hurdles who turns 29 years old today.

Allen and Harris lead the way here in 13.38 and 13.49. Freddie Crittenden takes a tough fall on the final hurdle and places last. Florida State freshman Trey Cunningham is a surprise qualifier in the final spot, as Eaton places third to advance as well.

Final Qualifiers:

1. Devon Allen, 13.38
2. Aleec Harris, 13.49
3. Jarret Eaton, 13.58
4. Trey Cunningham, 13.62 

3:04 PM CT Women's 800m Final

Wilson and Lipsey quickly move to the front after 200m, splitting 27.3. The training partners are joined by Ce'Aira Brown in third - they'll pass 400m in 58.81. Olivia Baker is haning in fourth as the top four women are pulling away with 400 to go - 1:29 at 600m. Kaela Edwards trying to catch up but here comes Raevyn Rogers!!!! 

The Oregon duck is looking super clutch as she and Brown both pass up Lipsey but Wilson is too good, she cruises in to the win in 1:58.18, a new facility record as both Rogers and Brown break 1:59 for the first time.

After a strong start, Lipsey fades back to fifth at Kaela Edwards will place fourth.



3:13 PM CT Men's 800m Final

Time for new pro Isaiah Harris to show us his stuff! This one will be fun.

At 200m, it's Abraham Alvarado on the rail and Clayton Murphy running on the outside. They pass 400m in 54.53. VA Tech alum Drew Piazza in third with Harris moving up into fourth.

Backstretch - Sowinski moves up! Harris takes the lead with 200m to go and it's a two man race, Harris vs. Murphy, Sowinski closing hard! Murphy pulls away and no one can match him! It's strung out in the final 50 meters as Murphy - Harris - Sowinski are the clear class of the field.

Murphy closed in 51.97(!!!!) to win in 1:46.50. 

Nice redemption for the Olympic bronze medalist after a devastating run at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships that saw him go home empty-handed after attempting to win both the 800m and 1500m.



3:22 PM CT Women's 5K Final

Confirmed! Shelby Houlihan is on the line to defend her U.S. 5K title after winning the 1500m yesterday over Jenny Simpson. Marielle Hall, runner-up in the 10K, is a DNS as is Erika Kemp of NC State.

Vanessa Fraser of Stanford debuts in a new Bowerman Track Club jersey! Six-time NCAA champion Karissa Schweizer is still rocking the yellow University of Missouri jersey.



Opening lap is 74, led by Cally Macumber, Katrina Coogan, Karissa Schweizer. 

At 1600m, the pack is a shade over five minutes and still led by Macumber, Schweizer, Coogan, Rohrer. Houlihan is currently in 10th.

With five laps to go, Rohrer moves to the lead followed by Schweizer, Sarah Brown and Rachel Schneider (fourth in the 1500m final)—their split over 3K is 9:33, with a most recent lap of 74 seconds.

With four laps to go, Schweizer takes over and is trying to string out the field. Rohrer is still in second, followed closely by Houlihan—who has appeared from nowhere—Schneider and Allie Buchalski.

Three laps to go—Schweizer is now closely shadowed by Houlihan, Schneider, Buchalski and now Fraser has made a huge move to get into that top five pack.

Two laps to go—Schweizer, Houlihan, Schneider, Buchalski, Fraser, Katie Mackey and Lauren Paquette. This is your lead pack!!!

Fraser passes Buchalski into second. It's soooo nerve-wracking to watch Houlihan sit on Schweizer. She's just trying to keep the race honest, but I'm having flashbacks of her 1500m kick from last night.

Bell lap - 71.9 for that penultimate lap! Houlihan moves into the lead on the backstretch but Schneider is going with her! Schweizer is hanging on as best she can!

Yep - there's that rocket speed we saw last night! Schneider looks for a second as though she can keep pace, but Houlihan easily disposes of her rival in the final straight to break the tape in 15:31.03—nearly two seconds ahead of Schneider!



Houlihan now owns seven career U.S. titles and is the first woman since 2000 to win the 1500m/5K double. Regina Jacobs pulled off the feat in 1999 and 2000.



Impressive closer from Brooks' Lauren Paquette as well, who was in seventh at the bell and finished fourth overall.

3:44 PM CT Women's 400m Hurdles Final

Georganne Moline enters the final with the best season record and first round time of 54.64. Can she win her first U.S. title? She probably won't get another shot like this as several big names are missing from the field.

Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Spencer falls on the second hurdle and won't finish the race.

From there, Moline has the advantage but Shamier Little gains ground on her going into the homestretch. She pulls even with Moline on the final hurdle and with just the flat track in front of them, Moline turns slightly on her ankle and loses ground to Little—who will win in 53.61, a new facility record at Drake. 

The win is Little's second U.S. title and first since 2015.



4:02 PM UPDATE: ***Running Events currently on hold due to weather***

4:07 PM UPDATE: ***Lightning spotted at Drake Stadium and the event is suspended until further notice***

4:33 PM UPDATE: No word right on when we might get going again but the weather is 100% going downhill from here. Right now, there's just a dark shadow cloud like something out of Game of Thrones slowly creeping over Drake Stadium. Here's a visual.



7:03 PM CT Men's 3K Steeplechase Final

7:03 PM and we're back!  

Here's the revised schedule:



Haron Lagat takes things out in 67 seconds with Evan Jager, Hillary Bor, Stanley Kebenei on his shoulder.

Bor moves to the lead with four and a half laps to go. Jager still in second, right on his shoulder.

With 1600m to go, Jager surges slightly but he's can't shake Bor, who still runs on his shoulder. At the water jump, Lagat moves in front with Jager still on the outside.

Three laps to go, Lagat, Jager, Bor, Kebenei.  Just before the water jump, Jager takes the lead. 6:19 on the clock with two laps to go.

Bell lap—7:20 on the clock, the top three of Jager, Bor and Andy Bayer have separated themsevles from the field. Jager chasing his seventh U.S. title in the steeplechase.

Bor gives him a good chase over the final lap, but Jager earns his seventh title with a stadium record of 8:20.10.



Nice run for Bayer to finish third, as the 28-year-old Indiana product had finished a devastating fourth for three years in a row when world teams and the Olympics were on the line. Hopefully he can take this momentum into 2019.



7:20 PM CT Men's 200m Final

Nooooo!!! Michael Norman has scratched from the final. Bummer. Update: he commented on the FloTrack instagram that "Coach pulled me out, sorry everybody..."

Minus the precocious talent, Ameer Webb easily retains his U.S. title in 20.47 (-1.9) ahead of Terrell Smith of Kansas State (20.74) and Andrew Hudson of Texas Tech (20.80). 

Want proof of how watered down this meet is? Neither Smith nor Hudson qualified for the NCAA final this year, and they've made the podium at USAs.



Marqueze Washington tightened up and hobbled down the straightaway over 24 seconds. It's possible that he didn't get a good enough warm up in after the rain delay.

7:30 PM CT Women's 200m Final

Jenna Prandini continues to own the 200m and cruises to a dominant win in 22.62 (-1.0) over what was a fairly decent field compared to the men's final. 

Reigning 400m world champion Phyllis Francis had a strong close to take second in 22.83 and collegiate record holder Kyra Jefferson is third in 22.89.



7:40 PM CT Men's 5K Final

All the big names are still in the field, which is GREAT! Unfortunately, Eric Jenkins decided that third in the 1500m was a win for the weekend and he said last night that he was not planning to race again.

About 60 seconds for that opening quarter, led by Paul Chelimo, Hassan Mead and Tommy Curtin.

1K - 2:40.5, Chelimo, Mead, Curtin

1600m - 4:16, Chelimo starting to open a gap 

Eight laps to go - Emmanuel Bor of U.S. Army has caught up to Chelimo and they're running side-by-side with Reid Buchanan in third, no wait—now Mead is moving back up for third position

Seven laps to go - Bor, Chelimo, Mead, Buchanan, Sam Parsons, Willy Fink

Six laps to go - that last lap was 67 seconds. Bor, Chelimo, Mead, Buchanan, Parsons, Ryan Hill, Grant Fisher has moved up

3K: 8:10, Bor, Chelimo, Mead, Parsons, Buchanan, Hill, Fisher, Fink, Riley Masters, Joe Klecker, Dillon Maggard...there's 12 guys in the front pack

Three to go - Chelimo with Mead on his shoulder. 68.2 for that quarter

Two laps - Sam Parsons just took the lead! BOLD!

12:33 on the clock with 400m to go! Chelimo and Ryan Hill up front!

Chelimo closes in 55 to defend his title in 13:29.47 over Ryan Hill! Mead third, barely edges out Masters.

Stanford's Fisher is the top collegiate athlete in sixth, 13:32.



8:02 PM CT Men's 110m Hurdles Final

Wow, a dramatic final event to close out the championships! Florida's Grant Holloway got out super hard as he always does but midway through, Jarret Eaton, Devon Allen and Aries Merritt seemed to close on him.

From the press box, it looked like a blanket finish as Eaton laid out on the track just after he crossed the finish.

After a moment of deliberation, the scoreboard announced Allen as the victor ahead of Holloway. Both men ran 13.46.



David Kendziera of Illinois, who nearly nipped Holloway at the line at NCAAs, false started and did not complete the race.