Richard Thompson after his NCAA 100m victory (© Kirby Lee)
Fast sprinting and hurdling and good distance performances offset generally modest field events on the NCAA championships third day (13).
The men’s 4x100 saw three university teams going under 39 seconds, with Louisiana State (LSU) turning in the fastest time so far this year with 38.42, followed by Texas A&M at 38.58 and Florida at 38.84.
LSU’s foursome included Trinidadian Richard Thompson (TRI) and Trindon Holliday, who finished 1-3 in the 100 meters, Thompson winning in 10.12 (-0.5). Walter Dix, after an atrocious start, clawed his way up to fourth in 10.22.
The women’s 100 was won by Thompson’s countrywoman Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Tobago, who is also a student at LSU. She won handily in 11.20, and anchored LSU to a second-place finish in the 4x100 in 42.85 behind Texas A&M’s winning 42.59.
Impressive solo steeplechase performance for Barringer
Toward the other end of the distance scale, Jenny Barringer ran a brilliant solo 3000m steeplechase. Barringer clocked 9:29.20, an NCAA Meet and collegiate record, and the second fastest ever by an American.
“I went into this race wanting to run hard from the start, more than anything so that I was out of traffic and didn’t risk getting my shoe clipped,” Barringer said, referring to her mishap a year ago. “That was the main motivation. Secondly, my coach had on paper splits that I was supposed to aspire for if I felt good and my finishing time was 9:41. So, probably not to his disapproval, I totally overruled him." her performance was also a U.S. all-comers record.
Kyle Alcorn shaded Billy Nelson in the men's steeple, winning 8:28.26 to 8:28.85 and breaking a stadium record set by former U.S. record holder Henry Marsh 31 years ago.
Teenager Anderson, Wilson claim 400m Hurdles titles
Both 400m Hurdles finals were impressive. 18-year-old Jeshua Anderson won his in 48.68 with a whirlwind finish over the last 50m, passing Rueben McCoy in the last step while favourite Justin Gaymon faded to third in 49.03 before suffering a disqualification. In the women’s race Nickiesha Wilson (JAM) of LSU and Nicole Leach of UCLA raced side by side for 50 metres in the homestretch before Wilson, who was fourth in Osaka, last summer, pulled away to win 54.45 to 54.62.
In the longest sprint, the men’s 400 semis setup an impressive final for Saturday. Jordan Boase won his in 45.23, while in the second semi LeJerald Betters edged Andretti Bain, 45.12 to 45.22.
The men’s 110m Hurdles semifinals were also hot. The first was won by Ty Akins in 13.25 (+0.4), nosing out Jason Richardson’s 13.29, the second by Drew Brunson in 13.39 (+0.8).
Hanany takes High Jump at 2.32
The best field event performance was a 2.32m victory in the high jump by Mickael Hanany (FRA). His celebration was dampened, though, by a hard slip as he planted attempting 2.35m. He limped off with what looked like a hamstring strain. Favorite Dusty Jonas, who cleared 2.36m in May, had to settle for a second-place tie here with Grant Lindsey at 2.26m.
Elsewhere, Sally Kipyego, a Kenyan who studies at Texas Tech, won the women’s 5000 in a meet record 15:15.08. Kipyego, who won the NCAA cross country title the last two seasons, was second in the 5000 last year.
James Dunaway for the IAAF
