- On Sunday night, Emma Coburn cinched her eighth national title in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, beating American record holder Courtney Frerichs.
- Rocking his signature mullet, Craig Engels won the 1500-meter crown against defending Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz.
- Shelby Houlihan sprinted past Jenny Simpson in the final straightaway to win the 1500-meter title on Friday at the USATF Outdoor National Championships; on Sunday, she claimed her second title of the meet in the 5,000 meters.
- In the opening day on Thursday, Molly Huddle won her fifth-straight 10K championship and 28th national title by finishing first in the 10,000 meters, while Lopez Lomong secured back-to-back national titles in the men’s 10K.
The USATF Outdoor National Championships were held in Des Moines, Iowa, July 25 through July 28. The meet gave athletes the chance to compete for national titles as well as a position on Team USA at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in September.
The first day of competition on Thursday, July 25, featured prelims of several distance events—including the women’s 1500 meters, men’s and women’s 800 meters, and men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase—as well as the men’s and women’s 10,000 meter finals. Before the first heat of the 1500, meet officials laid flowers in lane one to remember Gabe Grunewald, the middle-distance star who passed away on June 11 of adenoid cystic carcinoma at the age of 32.
Photos From the 2019 USATF Outdoor National Championships
On Friday, July 26, event highlights included prelims of the men’s 1500 meters and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, as well as the men’s and women’s 100-meter finals.
Excitement continued to build in Des Moines on Saturday, July 27, with finals in the women’s 1500 meters and men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
The meet concluded with an action-packed finale on Sunday, July 28, which featured finals in the men’s and women’s 800 meters, women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, men’s and women’s 5,000 meters, women’s 400 meter hurdles, and men’s 1500 meters.
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Noah Lyles Lights Track on Fire With Facility Record in 200 Meters
World leader Noah Lyles, 22, continued his dominant streak over 200 meters with a new Drake Stadium facility record. Lyles unleashed a winning time of 19.78 to take the sprint crown over 100-meter champion Christian Coleman, who finished a distant second in 20.02. Ameer Webb followed in third in a season best time of 20.45. Lyles’s win was followed up with a victory dance for the crowd at the finish line.
In the women’s 200 meters, Dezerea Bryant won her first U.S. title. Bryant, 26, a three-time world junior championship medalist, hit her stride this year in the 200-meter final, winning in a season-best time of 22.47. Behind her, Brittany Brown finished second in 22.61 and Angie Annelus closed for third in 22.71.
Craig Engels Beats 2016 Olympic Champion Matt Centrowitz in 1500 Meters
On Sunday night, Craig Engels won the 1500-meter crown against defending Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz in style. Rocking a mullet, the middle distance runner from the Nike Oregon Project held off Centrowitz, who runs for the Bowerman Track Club, before breaking the tape in 3:44.93. Centrowitz followed in second in 3:44.97, and Josh Thompson finished third in 3:45.25.
Because Thompson does not have the IAAF World Championship standard, fourth-place finisher Ben Blankenship, who had the standard going into the meet, will be on the U.S. team for Worlds.
For Engels, the victory was extra sweet, considering that last year, he finished a distant 10th at the USATF Outdoor Championships. The runner—who this year won the national indoor mile—arrived at this year’s meet with an entirely different mindset, having studied the racing tactics of competitors who beat Centrowitz in the past.
“It feels good because I watched every single one of his [Centrowitz’s] race videos in order to try and beat him,” Engels said. “It’s cool finally getting to beat one of the guys I’ve looked up to in the sport for a long time.”
While Engels finished seventh in the 1500m at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Sunday’s victory marks the first time that he will represent the U.S. at an outdoor world championship.
Early on, it was obvious that the race would be tactical, as the field split a leisurely 2:09 for the first 800 meters. With two laps remaining, Engels made a move to the front of the pack and began to gradually increase the pace. At the bell lap, Engels and Centrowitz found themselves battling for the lead until the homestretch, when Engels hit another gear. In the last 100 meters, Engels’ finishing speed was untouchable and resulted in his second national title.
Breakthrough Star Daniel Roberts Takes 110-Meter Hurdles Crown
The men’s 110-meter hurdles turned out to be a rematch for former NCAA standouts Daniel Roberts and Grant Holloway, and it was Roberts who came out on top in this round. The former All-American from Kentucky—who now competes for Nike—broke the tape in 13.23. Right behind Roberts, Holloway, a former Florida Gator who beat Roberts at the NCAA Championships in June, dove across the line for second in 13.36. 2016 Olympian Devon Allen closed for the third and final spot on the U.S. team headed to Doha.
Ajeé Wilson Claims Third Consecutive National Title in Women’s 800 Meters
Ajeé Wilson continued her reign over the women’s 800 meters by winning her third straight national title in the middle distance event. From the gun, Wilson, the American record-holder in the event (1:55.61), ran a step ahead of the rest of the competition and maintained her position all the way through the finish line, which she crossed in 1:57.72. Wilson broke the tape well ahead of runner-up Hanna Green of the Oregon Track Club, who ran a personal best of 1:58.19, and third-place finisher Raevyn Rogers, who finished third in 1:58.84.
Dalilah Muhammad Sets World Record in 400-Meter Hurdles
In the process of securing the U.S. title, Dalilah Muhammad shattered the world record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.20. The previous record, 52.34, was set by Yulia Pechonkina of Russia in 2003.
The defending Olympic champion dominated the race in the rain against runner-up Sydney McLaughlin, who closed for second in 52.88, and third-place finisher Ashley Spencer, who achieved a personal best of 53.11.
Shelby Houlihan Breaks the Tape Again in 5,000 Meters
After winning a thrilling homestretch battle in the 1500-meter final on Friday, Shelby Houlihan returned to break the tape once again in the 5,000 meters. The Bowerman Track Club standout and American record-holder sprinted into the homestretch once again to claim her second national title of the championship.
“This is everything I could have asked for,” Houlihan said.
In a winning time of 15:15.50, Houlihan beat fellow Bowerman Track Club teammate Karissa Schweizer (15:17.03) and third-place finisher Elinor Purrier (15:17.46) to the line. Rachel Schneider faded to fourth in 15:17.91.
For Schweizer and Purrier, the top three finish marks the first time that both athletes will represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships.
After the victory, Houlihan immediately turned around and celebrated with Schweizer. In the mixed zone, she shared that she was trying to help her teammate achieve a top three position throughout the race.
“She’s [Schweizer] been kind of nervous the last 10 days, and I knew she was really strong and I knew she was ready for it, so I was happy to see her come through on the day,” Houlihan said.
Houlihan also shared that she will likely compete only in the 1500 meters in Doha, which means that Schneider would get the final spot on Team USA.
The race began at a conservative pace with the opening 1,000 meters run in 3:14, but shortly after, Schweizer jumped to the front and picked up the pace slightly with her teammates and competitors in tow. With eight laps remaining, Marielle Hall exchanged pacing duties with her Bowerman teammate until Stephanie Bruce moved the front for a turn at the lead.
Until Houlihan and Schweizer returned to the front with three laps remaining, the group remained tightly packed. As the competitors came closer to the finish with two laps to go, the top pack dwindled to five—Houlihan, Schweizer, Hall, Schneider, and Purrier—as Schweizer surged ahead. At the bell, Schneider joined Schweizer up front for a kicker’s battle. But the runner with the best leg speed of the group didn’t hit the gas until the homestretch, where Houlihan flew into the finish line first once again.
Lopez Lomong Wins 5,000-10,000 Meter Distance Double
Just three days after winning the men’s 10,000-meter final, 34-year-old Lopez Lomong kicked his way to victory once again over 5,000 meters. The Bowerman Track Club veteran surged past Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo in a thrilling battle over the homestretch that saw Lomong reach the finish line first in 13:25.53, just ahead of Chelimo, who ran 13:25.80.
Fellow Bowerman Track Club teammate Woody Kincaid finished third in 13:26.84. Because he hasn’t run the Worlds standard, he will not be representing the U.S. in Doha. Behind Kincaid, Hassan Mead closed for fourth in 13:28.04. Mead has the standard, as does Drew Hunter, who finished fifth in 13:29.19. Because Lomong didn’t have the standard either, the U.S. squad in Doha will be Chelimo, Mead, and Hunter.
The race saw an early separation led by Chelimo, who brought Kincaid and Lomong through the first 1000 meters in 2:30, about five seconds ahead of the chase pack. Just after 2K into the race, Chelimo threw in a surge to test his competitors, but appeared to encourage Kincaid to take the lead around the 2600-meter mark. From that point on, Kincaid continued to lead the field, which had rejoined the trio up front.
With 600 meters remaining in the race, Chelimo jumped ahead of Kincaid and started to accelerate ahead of the bell lap. At the bell, Chelimo, Lomong, and Kincaid battled for position all the way through the homestretch where Lomong utilized the same strength that earned him a national title over 10,000 meters on Thursday. His final lap was clocked in a blazing 53 seconds.
Emma Coburn Cinches Eighth National Title in Steeplechase
For the eighth time since 2011, Emma Coburn became the national champion in the women’s steeplechase. The 2017 world champion made a decisive move with two laps remaining in the race to surge ahead of American record-holder Courtney Frerichs and secure the victory in 9:25.63.
Bowerman Track Club duo Frerichs and Colleen Quigley followed for second in 9:26.61 and third in 9:30.97, respectively, while young pro and three-time NCAA champion Allie Ostrander closed for fourth in 9:38.52. Because Coburn has an automatic spot at the IAAF World Championships as the defending world champion, Frerichs, Quigley, and Ostrander will all join her in Doha.
“I love that Team USA has four athletes,” Coburn said. “We do have a camaraderie and we truly support one another and believe that together we’re better. Even though we don’t train together, it’s always so exciting to represent Team USA in such a strong way.”
For Coburn, Doha will be her sixth appearance at a global championship. She earned an Olympic bronze medal at the 2016 Games in Rio and led a U.S. 1-2 finish with Frerichs at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London. Frerichs earned silver in London, her first world championship medal of her career before breaking the American record at the 2018 Monaco Diamond League meeting.
Quigley represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic Games and 2015 and 2017 IAAF World Championships. Ostrander, who recently turned professional after claiming her third NCAA steeplechase title for Boise State, will be representing the U.S. for the first time ever at an IAAF World Championship.
The race began at a conservative pace. Just before the point with three laps remaining, Frerichs shot to the front and injected a faster pace to the competition. Her move was matched by Coburn, who worked her way up to the front after running a relaxed early pace in the middle of the pack. The defending national champion passed Frerichs with two laps to go, and gained more momentum with every step, a strategy that Coburn said she planned for.
“The race played out as I had hoped,” Coburn said. “I paused on the starting line for a second because I wanted to be last for a beat and really pick my place. I didn’t want to get stuck leading early on, so I just chilled, and the prelim was actually good practice for being in a pack at a slow pace and being comfortable in that so I just kept reminding myself to relax.”
“I knew with a flew laps to go that I was going to have to get going. Courtney [Frerichs] accelerated with about three laps to go and broke it up, so I matched that move and then on that third to last water jump, I moved to the front and knew there was no going back.”
Closing in a blazing 66-second last lap over barriers, Coburn’s finishing strength was no match for her competitors.
Donavan Brazier Stuns Men’s 800-Meter Field With Lethal Kick
With a brutal kick that left the entire field in his wake, Donavan Brazier became the U.S. champion in the men’s 800 meters. The Nike Oregon Project standout unleashed a surge over early leader Isaiah Harris around 230 meters to go. It was a move that none of his competitors could match as the 2016 NCAA champion charged his way into the homestretch and through the finish line in 1:45:62. Brazier, 22, secured his victory with an impressive 50.62-second last lap over the field.
“I’ve been practicing that slow pace in the prelims and semis and coming home strong so I was really confident in that,” Brazier said.
Fellow Oregon Project athlete Clayton Murphy, 24, closed for second in 1:46.01 and Bryce Hoppel, 21, of Kansas finished third in 1:46.31, filling out the team headed to the IAAF World Championships in Doha.
For Hoppel, the performance highlights a breakthrough season which included an impressive 20-race winning streak heading into nationals. His streak ended in the semifinals this weekend, but the racing will continue when he competes for Team USA at his first global championship.
“I was racing for my life,” Hoppel said of the last 100-meter stretch. “It feels amazing and I’m glad I get to run for the U.S. and keep moving forward with my career.”
Shelby Houlihan Wins Second Outdoor 1500-Meter Title
The women’s 1500 meters was one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the championships, and it lived up to its billing.
Shelby Houlihan, who hails from Iowa but trains in Portland, Oregon, with the Bowerman Track Club, passed Jenny Simpson heading into the final 100 meters to win her second outdoor title in the event. Houlihan’s winning time was 4:03.18, Simpson was second in 4:03.41, and Nikki Hiltz, who has been on a hot streak since the spring, moved into third place in the race’s final steps. Her time, 4:03.55, was a personal best by 2 seconds.
The top five runners were all faster than 4:04 and within 0.64 seconds of Houlihan. Five of the 12 women in the final set personal bests.
Lauren Johnson of the B.A.A. High Performance Team took the race out fast, and built up a lead of several meters through the first 800 meters. But she could not hold it, and the chase pack, led by Simpson, passed her at the bell.
Simpson, 32, was looking to regain the title of U.S. 1500-meter champion. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, she had held the distinction five times since 2013, until Houlihan took the title away from her last year.
As they made their way down the back stretch, Simpson led, with Houlihan tucked in behind her, and Kate Grace, a 2016 Olympian in the 800 meters, and Hiltz just behind.
Houlihan, 26, moved into the lead as the pack came off the final turn, and for a split second, it looked as if Simpson was fading and Grace and others would pass her. But Simpson held her ground, Grace fell back, and Hiltz came up on the inside to grab third. Sinclaire Johnson, the 2019 NCAA champion, was fourth in 4:03.72.
After the race, Houlihan said she was feeling more pressure heading in as the defending champion. “But I felt really good during the race,” she said. “I was trying to stay calm and save one last gear for the last 100 meters and hope I could hold them off.”
She said she’s “not in tip top shape at the moment.” It’s a long season, and she’ll need to save her best form for late September when the world championships begin in Doha, Qatar. She now holds 10 U.S. titles and is entered into Sunday’s 5,000 meters. But she would be unable to double in both events in Doha, because the schedule puts those races too close together.
Simpson said her training had been interrupted by illness a few weeks ago, so she was pleased with her performance. “What you do at USA championships is you earn your right to train your ass off for another month or two,” she said. “I am so proud to have earned that opportunity and privilege to train hard for the World Championships.”
Hiltz, 24, who trains in San Diego with the Mission Athletics Club, has been improving for several years, since she came to terms with her sexuality, came out to friends and family, and developed a relationship with her girlfriend, middle-distance runner Therese Haiss.“At first I thought I didn’t want to be pegged as the ‘gay runner.’ I’m so much more than that,” Hiltz told Runner’s World recently. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I’m actually very okay with being labeled as the ‘gay runner.’ I’m proud of my sexuality.”
After the race today, Hiltz said she’s been thinking about how she’ll perform in Doha, Qatar, a country not known for its openness to the LGBTQ+ community. “Maybe I’ll catch an eye of someone in Doha, a young girl, [who will think], ‘Okay, I can be out and proud, too.’”
Wembley Wins Women’s 400 Meters; Felix Sixth
Allyson Felix, a nine-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated female track and field athlete in U.S. Olympic history, had an inspired turn at the U.S. outdoor championships, which ended on Saturday with a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter final. She clocked 51.94, slightly slower than her time in the semifinal, and well out of the top three. Shakima Wimbley won in 50.21, Kendall Ellis was second in 50.38, and Wadeline Jonathas was third in 50.44.
But by finishing sixth, Felix will be eligible for the world championships team relay pool. That would mean that Felix has made her 13th-straight U.S. team for a global championship—nine world championships and four Olympics—according to NBC.
Felix made her return to racing this weekend after giving birth last November to her daughter, Camryn, 8 weeks early, via emergency C-section. Felix made headlines in May when she announced in a New York Times op-ed that she was no longer under contract with Nike, who would not guarantee her protections around maternity in a contract.
After the race, Felix—who is now running without a sponsor—told NBC, “I just wanted to come out here and run for women, let them know whatever obstacle you’re trying to overcome, it’s possible,” she said. “It may take time, but you’ve got to keep fighting.”
She said in an NBC interview on the track after her semifinal that she considers her racing this season to be a springboard to next year, when she hopes to make the 2020 Olympic team.
Kerley Upsets Norman to Win Men’s 400 Meters
In the men’s 400, Fred Kerley ran a personal best and a sub-44-second clocking to upset 21-year-old Michael Norman. Kerley finished in 43.64 to win the U.S. title, Norman was second in 43.79, and Nathan Strother was third in 44.29.
Blake Leeper, who races on prosthetics, finished in sixth place in 44.48. This was the second USATF Outdoor Championship for Leeper, who made it to the semifinals of the 400 meters in 2017.
“I’m going to try to make a statement and let people know, I’m thankful to be here, but it’s more than a sympathy story. I’m here to compete and I’m here to win,” Leeper said on Thursday, after he qualified for the semifinals.
Leeper has been petitioning the IAAF to be able to race against able-bodied competitors and has to prove that his prosthetics do not give him an advantage. While his case is being adjudicated, he is allowed to compete. It is unclear whether he will be eligible for the relay pool at the world championships in Doha, as Allyson Felix is on the women’s side.
After the race, Leeper spoke about the uncertainty of his situation and how he feels his blades do not give him any extra speed. “You know how someone says, ‘Walk a mile in my shoes?’ I tell people, ‘Walk a mile in my legs,’” Leeper said. “If you understand what I go through as a double-legged amputee, there are some days my legs are swollen, they are sore, they are bleeding and bruised, I can’t even have the strength to put them on and walk to the bathroom. If you just spent a day in my life you would realize how hard it is, anybody who faces a disability, to actually look them in the face and say they have an advantage, it’s just crazy to me.”
With Jager Out, Bor Wins Men’s Steeplechase Title
The men’s steeplechase was missing Evan Jager, who won the silver medal in the 3,000 meters in Rio and had won the previous seven U.S. outdoor titles. But due to a series of injuries, he hasn’t raced since last September.
Jager’s absence opened the door for a new U.S. champion. Hillary Bor outsprinted Stanley Kebenei over the final 200 meters to win in 8:18:05. Kebenei was second in 8:19.12. Andy Bayer finished third in 8:23.23, making his first team for a global championship.
“It feels good,” Bor told LetsRun after the race. “I haven’t won a race in awhile. I know Jager’s not here. But at the end of the day it feels good to win a race like this.”
He said the race dynamics were completely different without Jager. “We had to come up with a different strategy,” he said. “It wasn’t comfortable. When Jager is here, you relax. You know he is going to take the race at some point, so it makes it easy for everyone else.”
Bayer, 29, expressed relief at making a worlds team at long last. He was fourth in 2016 at the U.S. Olympic Trials for the Games in Rio, and he was fourth again in 2017 at the U.S. championships to select the team for worlds in London. Third is as good as first at USAs, he said. “Now I have nothing to lose at worlds. I can put myself out there and go ’til I’m broke and it will be a fun time.”
Two American Records Fall in Field Events
In the women’s hammer throw, DeAnna Price set the American record, breaking her own record from the U.S. championships in Des Moines last year. She already had the win locked up when she unleashed her final throw of the competition. The result was a heave of 78.24 meters (256 feet, 8 inches), improving upon her old mark by 5 inches.
Sam Kendricks also set an American record, of 6.06 meters (19 feet, 10.5 inches), in the men’s pole vault. Kendricks improved upon Mondo Duplantis’s 2018 vault of 6.05 meters. After Kendricks cleared the bar, the other pole vaulters in the competition charged down the runway and tackled him on the mat in a celebratory dog pile.
In the women’s long jump, Brittney Reese leaped 7.00 meters (22 feet, 11.75 inches) to take the national title. Kate Hall, recently profiled by Runner’s World, is attempting to be the first athlete with type 1 diabetes to make the U.S. Olympic team next year. She finished 10th with her jump of 6.55 meters (21 feet, 6.25 inches).
Christian Coleman Wins Men’s 100 Meters Easily
Christian Coleman, a 23-year-old sprinter who has been dominant in the 100 meters this season, added to his impressive results by winning the U.S. outdoor title on Friday. Coleman, who runs for Nike, was clear of the field after about 40 meters and had enough of a lead to flash double peace signs as he broke the tape. His winning time, 9.99 seconds, was into a slight headwind.
Michael Rodgers, 34, was second in 10.12, and Christopher Belcher, 25, was third, also in 10.12. (Rodgers was timed in 10.114; Belcher ran 10.120.)
Only seven men ran in the final. Justin Gatlin, 37, qualified for the final, but as the defending world champion, he gets an automatic spot in the field at the world championships in September. He elected not to race again after his semifinal heat on Friday, so lane 2 was open.
The U.S. will send four men in the event to Doha.
Teahna Daniels Takes the Women’s 100 in an Upset
The women’s 100 meters did not exactly go as expected. Teahna Daniels, 22, who finished only fourth in the event at the NCAA championships in June when she was running for the University of Texas, pulled out the win on Friday, running 11.20. Now a pro sponsored by Nike, she earns $8,000 for winning the U.S. title.
Daniels won narrowly over English Gardner, who at 27 is a veteran on the pro circuit. Gardner clocked 11.25, and Morolake Akinosun, 25, was third in 11.28. The final was run into a headwind, slowing the times.
In lane 2, Sha’Carri Richardson, 19, who ran a world-leading time of 10.75 during the NCAA championships and promptly turned pro after one season at LSU, was expected to contend for the win. But she had a poor start and finished a distant last in 11.72.
Bryce Hoppel Ends 800-Meter Win Streak, But Moves on to Finals
Bryce Hoppel, the 2019 NCAA 800-meter champion who just finished his junior year at Kansas University, went into nationals with a 20-race winning streak. He won again in the first round of the men’s 800 on Thursday, extending that streak to 21. But in the semis, he came up against tough competition and finished second in his heat to Donavan Brazier, the American record holder in the indoor 800 meters, who won heat 2 in 1:47.27.
Hoppel still advances to Sunday’s final, at 7:02 p.m. ET, and will contend for a spot on Team USA heading to Doha, Qatar, for the world championships in September.
The other automatic qualifiers for the final were expected to make it. Clayton Murphy, who won a bronze medal in the event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, accelerated through the final 100 meters to win heat 1 in 1:45.24, the fastest time of the day. Isaiah Harris was second in 1:45.42, and Brandon Kidder was third in 1:46:05.
Raevyn Rogers, Ajee’ Wilson, and Athing Mu Advance to 800-Meter Finals
On Friday night, all of the favorites advanced in the women’s 800-meter semifinals. Ajee’ Wilson, the American record holder who holds a 1:55.61 personal best, won the first heat easily in 2:01.02. Behind her, Hanna Green and 17-year-old Athing Mu, who will be a senior at Trenton (New Jersey) Central High School this fall, were the other automatic qualifiers. Mu is in Des Moines fresh off winning a gold medal in the U20 Pan Am Games last weekend.
“I just go into the race remembering whatever happens, I’m doing this for fun,” Mu said after the race. “I’m, like, the youngest person here. So, you know, I have many years to come back and improve whatever I do now. So just have fun with it.”
In the second heat, former University of Oregon standout Raevyn Rogers, who finished runner-up in the 800 meters at last year’s USATF Outdoor Championships, was the winner in the fastest time of the day, 2:00.90. Rebecca Mehra and Nia Akins took the other automatic spots by finishing second and third. Olivia Baker and Samantha Watson advanced to the final on time. Sunday’s final is at 8:12 p.m. ET.
With 10K Victory, Molly Huddle Earns 28th U.S. Title
Molly Huddle continued her reign over the women’s 10,000 meters with a stunning victory in 31:58, her 28th national title and fifth consecutive 10K championship of her career. Huddle secured the win and a spot on the U.S. team headed to the IAAF World Championships by running a tactically sound race that ended with a surge around three laps to go, which she rode all the way into the finish line three seconds ahead of runner-up Emily Sisson and NAZ Elite’s Kellyn Taylor.
“I definitely don’t take anything for granted, especially at this point in my career,” Huddle, 34, said after the race regarding her title steak. “I hope I have another one next year, but I’ll just enjoy this one.”
Taylor’s training partner Stephanie Bruce finished fourth and Bowerman Track Club’s Marielle Hall closed for fifth place overall. Because Huddle, Sisson, and Hall had the IAAF World Championship standard prior to the meet, they will be on the U.S. team headed to Doha in September.
The race started at a conservative pace before Bruce assumed her position up front. Almost immediately, the national road champion established a consistent 77-78-second pace for the field.
Around 4800 meters in, Sisson jumped to the front and increased the tempo with Huddle and Hall on her shoulders. With Sisson up front, the top group ran through the first 5K split in 16:39. By introducing a faster pace, Sisson reduced the number of competitors up front.
With seven laps remaining and holding a significant lead over the rest of the field, Sisson, Huddle, Hall, Bruce, and Taylor were vying for the top three spots. With three laps to run, Huddle made a jump to the front for the first time in the race.
In each step on the track, Huddle continued to leave her competition behind. From 1:11 over the 23rd lap, to 1:09 over the 24th lap, and finally a 66-second kick for the bell lap, Huddle maintained her dominance over 10,000 meters with a fifth consecutive U.S. title.
Huddle and 10K runner-up Sisson are training partners under coach Ray Treacy. They competed at the national championship three months after finishing 12th and sixth, respectively, in the London Marathon.
Lopez Lomong PRs, Breaks Facility Record on Way to Second 10K Title
In the fourth 10K of his career, Lopez Lomong, 34, secured back-to-back national titles in the event with a Drake Stadium facility record and a personal best. The Bowerman Track Club veteran defeated fellow Olympian Shadrack Kipchirchir with a 55-second last lap for a winning time of 27:30.
Lomong’s winning time was 51 seconds faster than his previous personal best.
“It’s been tough, a lot of injuries–hamstring problems, sciatic, a little bit of an IT band situation–but I went, literally without making the team since 2013. I missed ’15, I missed ’17 and it hurts,” Lomong said. “It hurts to sit down and watch on television and see all of these guys running really well. So basically I went back and said, ‘You know what, I need to get to the winning circle again,’ and that’s what I did. God kept me going and I’m healthy now and I’m ready to go.”
Behind Lomong, Kipchirchir finished second in 27:47 and Leonard Korir closed for third place in 28:01. BYU’s Connor McMillan finished fourth overall after passing five runners in the last lap.
Unlike many championship races, the men’s 10K didn’t begin at a conservative pace. Army World Class Athlete Program training partners Korir and Kipchirchir made sure of that when they took the field through the first 400 meters in 65 seconds and hovered around that pace until Kipchirchir suddenly surged ahead about 4000 meters into the race.
With the quick move to the front–from a 67-second lap to a 64-second split—Kipchirchir started to put distance between himself and the rest of the field. Shortly after 4K, Lomong made the decision to surge ahead and catch Kipchirchir, which created a new dynamic to the race. With 6K left to run, it was obvious that the victory would be determined in a duel between Kipchirchir and Lomong.
With 1200 meters left to run, Lomong shot to the front in an effort that Kipchirchir was unable to match. Meanwhile, Lomong continued to gain momentum, and by the bell lap, seemed to be in an effortless sprint as he finished first. Lomong is set to race in the first round of the 1500 meters on Friday.
— Additional reporting by Tyler Schneider
Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner's World and Bicycling magazines.
Taylor Dutch is a sports and fitness writer living in Chicago; a former NCAA track athlete, Taylor specializes in health, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in SELF, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner. When she’s not writing, Taylor volunteers as a coach to up-and-coming runners in the Chicago area.
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
