News23 Jan 2011


Simpson returns with 4:28.60 Mile run, one of four world leads in New York

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USA's Jenny Simpson on her way to a comfortable victory (© Victah Sailer)

New York, USAJenny Simpson continued her comeback from a seven month layoff with a solid 4:28.60 victory in the Mile, one of four 2011 world leading performances set at the New Balance Games at New York’s Armory Track & Field Centre on Saturday (22).

Simpson, formerly Barringer, thrilled the Armory crowd by controlling the race from start to finish with a powerful negative split to take the victory in 4:28.60.

“I got out a little slower than I’d wanted but felt really good about being able to move well in the second half to get under 4:30 for my first real race of the season,” said Simpson, who was fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase at the 2009 World Championships where she clocked a 9:12.50 U.S. and Area Record. “It was fun, it’s been a long road back to the track, I was nervous and excited. I was able to close with a strong last 200m."

Simpson returned to action earlier this month after a hip injury sidelined her since the U.S. championships last June. Widely regarded as a steeplechaser – Simpson reached the 2008 Olympic final – the 24-year-old has also displayed strong range, most notably in the 1500m where she can boast a 3:59.90 personal best set in 2009 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.

The meeting officially kicked off the USA professional indoor season with great crowd support from the 5000-plus in attendance and the athletes did not disappoint. 

In the women’s 800m, the pacer led the field through the midway point in 58 seconds when Phoebe Wright, the 2010 NCAA champion, aggressively pushed the remaining laps to finish in 2:00.30.  Heidi Dahl, Wright’s training partner in Knoxville, made a strong move with 250m remaining but wasn’t able to get around Wright and finished in second with LaTavia Thomas a very close third.  The first three all ran under 2:02.

“It was so fast!  Those girls were moving,” said Maggie Vessey, the second fastest woman in the world in 2009 at 1:57.84. The 29-year-old closed well in her trademark style, but not quite quick enough to crack the top three.
 
In the men’s mile, there was a lot of movement in the pack as the athletes cycled through turns at the front.  After the pacemaker dropped out, the race saw four individual leaders in the final laps with University of Wisconsin graduate Craig Miller powering home for the win in his first professional indoor season in 3.59.10, another world leading mark.

“I knew I was in sub four minute mile shape. I went for it with 200m to go. I look forward to moving up to the 5000 this year.” Miller added that he’s now heading to Australia to train with coach Nic Bideau’s group at altitude in Fall’s Creek.

Canadian  Taylor Milne finished second with a 3:59.34 career best, with Americans Garrett Heath and Rob Novak, who finished third and fourth, all under four minutes.
 
In the men’s 1500, Kyle Miller – no relation to the men’s mile winner - ran away from the field to win in 3:41.99. In the women’s 400m, local heroine Natasha Hastings out-classed fellow Olympic 4x400m Relay gold medallist Mary Wineberg, 52.29 to 52.61. Both winners produced world leads as well.

Michael Courtney took the men’s 400m in 47.19 over Trinidads’ LaLonde Gordon who clocked 47.35. Sixteen-year-old Najee Glass set a U.S. High School record in the 500m, clocking 1:02.22 to break the previous mark of 1:02.40 set by Mike Green in 1984. Glass was pushed to the record by Strymr Livingston(USA), 1.02.88
 
Ian Brooks and Daniel Green (organisers) for the IAAF

Leading Results -
MEN -
400m:
1. Michael Courtney (USA)     47.19
2. LaLonde Gordon (TRI)       47.35
3. Troy Faulkner (USA)       48.05

1500m:
1. Kyle Miller (USA)       3:41.99 WL
2. Liam Boylan-Pett (USA)  3:43.60
3. Herbert Okuti (UGA)     3:45.25

Mile:
1. Craig Miller (USA)    3.59.10 WL
2. Taylor Milne (CAN)    3.59.34 PB
3. Garrett Heath (USA)   3.59.58  
4. Rob Novak (USA)       3.59.70 PB

WOMEN -
400m:
1. Natasha Hastings (USA)  52.29WL
2. Mary Wineberg (USA)     52.61
3. Fawn Dorr (USA)         53.71
 
800m:
1. Phoebe Wright  (USA)   2:00.39
2. Heidi Dahl(USA)        2:01.80
3. LaTavia Thomas(USA)    2:01.81
 
Mile:
1. Jen Simpson (USA)             4.28.60 WL
2. Carmen Douma-Hussar (CAN)     4.30.88
3. Frances Koons (USA)           4.31.53 PB
4. Hillary Stellingwerff (CAN)   4.31.53
5. Marina Muncan (SRB)           4.31.84
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