100th Millrose Games
Devers, Lagat lead electric 100th Millrose Games
NEW YORK - In a night filled with legends, living legend Gail Devers stole the show at the 100th Millrose Games Friday evening at Madison Square Garden, while legend-in-the-making Bernard Lagat closed off the evening with a stirring win in the Wanamaker mile.
Celebrating the rich history of the Garden's longest continuously held event, Millrose honored many of its notable performers in an on-field ceremony, in front of 14,905 fans. But it was the legend over the hurdles who turned the most heads at the second stop of USA Track & Field's Visa Championships Series.
Devers: "40 is the new 20"
Already the meet and American record holder and a future Hall of Famer,
Devers had gained attention when she entered the meet, but no one was sure
what to expect of the three-time world outdoor champion who had turned 40
last fall. In her only race of 2006, Devers finished fourth at Millrose just
nine months after giving birth to her daughter, Karsen. Twelve months later,
on Friday night, she won in a strong start-to-finish effort in 7.86 seconds
- the fastest time in the world this year and nearly a full second better
than the listed world record for masters over-40 athletes (8.71). It was
also her fourth Millrose victory in the hurdles, coming 15 years after her
first victory in 1992. 2004 Olympic champion and defending Millrose champ
Joanna Hayes was second in 7.93, with Danielle Carruthers - who is coached
and managed by Devers - third in 7.94, and former world indoor and outdoor
champion Perdita Felicien of Canada was fourth in 7.96.
Lagat scores fifth Wanamaker win
With his four victories, Bernard Lagat had made winning the Wanamaker
Mile look easy in recent years. But Commonwealth Games champ Craig "Buster"
Mottram decided to make a race of it. Alan Webb led the pack behind
Pacemaker Moise Joseph's pace of 55.59 and 1:54.99. At the half, Lagat took
over leading duties until Mottram sprinted to the front with four laps to
go. Knowing that Lagat considers it vital to be leading Wanamaker with two
laps to go in order to win, Mottram clung to the lead, still holding the
edge as the bell rang for the final lap. But the two-time Olympic 1,500m
medalist Lagat used the nimble speed of his 5-8 to get around the 6-3
Mottram on the backstretch and sprinted to the win in 3:54.26. Mottram was
second in an Australian record 3:54.81, with Chris Lukezic third in 4:01.48.
For his win, Lagat earned Team USA Athlete of the Meet honors and a $2500
Visa Check Card.
Shot put fireworks
For the third year, the Visa men's shot put took center stage later in the evening, with a four-round competition between four men: world #1 ranked Reese Hoffa, world #2 ranked Christian Cantwell, Visa Championship Series leader Dan Taylor, and three-time world champion John Godina. The competition lived up to its front-and-center position on the event schedule, with Cantwell putting a Herculean 21.88/71-9. The defending champion and Millrose record holder, Hoffa nearly surpassed him on his third throw with a toss of 21.75/71-4.25, then popped a throw that may have bested Cantwell on the final effort of the competition. The shot landed out of the sector, however, and Cantwell went home the victor.
Sprinting drama
The Mondo men's 60m dash featured more drama per second than any even of the night. World indoor record holder Maurice Greene got out to a blistering start but took a misstep several meters into the race. As Greene went down, 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford surged in the final 20 meters of the race to win his second race of the Visa Championship series in 6.56 seconds. Larone Clark was second in 6.64.
2005 Visa Champion Angela Daigle-Bowen earned a big victory in the
Hershey's women's 60m dash in 7.25, with Marshevet Hooker second in 7.32.
Russian revolution
Opening her 2007 season and competing for the first time on U.S. soil, Yelena Isinbayeva broke both the Millrose Games and U.S. all-comers record in the women's pole vault, clearing 4.82m/15-9.75 to post a 2007 world leader. In a three-way tie for second were April Steiner, Fabiana Murer of Brazil and Jenn Stuczynski, all at 4.53m/14-10.5.
Walker winning clash of top-ranked vaulters
Brad Walker out-dueled Australian Brad Walker in a matchup of the world
#1 ranked vaulters the last two years in the Fred Schmertz men's pole vault.
Walker, the 2005 #1 who has had some nagging early-season injuries, cleared
5.80m/19-0.25 on his first attempt to best Hooker, who cleared on his second
attempt. Meet and American record holder Jeff Hartwig was third at
5.70m/18-8.25.
Another win for Tiru
Double world champion and 5,000m world record holder Tirunesh Dibaba of
Ethiopia took the NYRR women's 3,000, moving away from American Sara Hall
with three laps remaining to win in 8:46.58. Putting forth a gallant effort,
Hall placed second in 9:01.22 with Jen Rhines third in 9:02.91.
Walking wins
In the USA Championship 1-mile race walks, the New York Athletic Club's Tim Seaman won his third consecutive Susan Rudin men's 1-mile walk and his 31st national title at any distance with a time of 5:51.18. Suffering from bronchitis, Seaman prevailed over Matt Boyles in second (6:03.00). Loretta Schuellein handily won the first women's racewalk championship held at Millrose in 6:52.12. The Manhasset High School English teacher was well ahead of Rachel Lavallee in second (7:06.34).
In other events, Aries Merritt came on late in the race to win his first
professional effort in the men's 60m hurdles in 7.61 seconds; additional
winners included Bershawn Jackson in the adidas Mel Sheppard men's 600
(1:11.48), Mary (Danner) Wineberg in the women's 400 meters (54.44);
Sheridan Kirk of Trinidad in the Daily News men's 800 (1:53.01), Christin
Wurth-Thomas in the Super Runners Shop women's 800m (2:06.97), Amy Acuff in
the John Thomas women's high jump1.89m/6-2.25
In high school races, Danielle Tauro won her second straight girls' mile in 4:52.81, while Jason Weller took the boys' race in a personal-best 4:15.81.
Bernard Lagat earned the Team USA Athlete of the Meet presented by Visa for his victory in the Wanamaker Mile. Lagat's fifth Wanamaker victory was hard fought as he withstood a tough challenge from Craig Mottram. Visa is proud to present Bernard with a $2,500 bonus which will assist him with his training as he prepares for the 2007 IAAF World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Event 1 Women 1 Mile Race Walk USA Champs
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Loretta Schuellein Walk USA 6:52.12
2 Rachel Lavallee CAN 7:06.34
3 Debbie Huberty NYAC 7:13.95
4 Lauren Forgues Maine RW 7:15.37
5 Tina Peters Goshen, IN 7:18.30
6 Jenna Monahan Walk USA 7:38.30
7 Jamie Swietzor Mansfield, PA 7:45.25
8 Lorranine Horgan Walk USA 7:46.53
9 Kate Dickenson Maine RW 7:56.65
10 Susan Randall Miami Valley 8:00.44
11 Erin Taylor New York, NY 8:01.85
12 Emilija Vaskyte Unattached 8:12.47
Event 2 Women 4x400 Meter Relay Masters
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Team Finals
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1 Athena Track Club 4:27.28
2 Bohemia Track Club 4:57.00
3 Nike Central Park Track Club 5:03.97
4 Long Island RRC 5:22.11
5 Northport 5:38.43
Event 3 Men 4x400 Meter Relay Masters
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Team Finals
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1 Nike Central Park Track Club 3:35.86
2 Southwest Sprinters 3:36.99
3 Synergy Track Club 3:42.80
4 2nd Wind Track Club 3:44.43
5 Shore Athletic Club 3:44.45
6 Mass Velocity Track Club 3:46.58
Event 4 Men 1 Mile Race Walk Susan Rudin
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Tim Seaman NYAC 5:51.18
2 Matt Boyles Miami Valley 6:03.00
3 Ricardo Vergara So. Texas WC 6:29.70
4 Roberto Vergara So. Texas WC 6:30.61
5 Zac Pollinger NJ Striders 6:35.66
6 Michael Kazmierczak Rhode Island 6:36.91
7 Richard Luettchau Stockton College 6:46.94
8 Leonidas Romero Park Racewalkers 6:53.88
9 Peter Muldoon Ireland 7:04.20
10 Dave McGovern Unattached 7:06.96
11 Michael Boucher Maine RW 7:13.95
Event 5 Girls 4x145 Meter Relay Youth
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Team Finals
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1 South Jamaica PAL 1:21.36
2 Bronx Flash 1:26.65
3 City Track 1:30.05
4 MAT PS 126 1:30.71
5 PS 180 Jaguars 1:33.78
6 New York AC 1:35.35
Event 6 Boys 4x145 Meter Relay Youth
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Team Finals
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1 Armory PAL 1:22.99
2 City Track 1:28.35
3 Bronx Flash 1:30.96
4 PS 246 1:31.79
5 New York AC 1:32.68
6 NYRR Foundation Rabbits 1:33.40
Event 7 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay Suburban
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Team Finals
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1 Uniondale 3:56.14
2 Suffern 4:00.28
3 New Rochelle 4:01.61
4 East Orange Campus 4:02.21
5 Woodrow Wilson 4:04.25
6 Bellport 4:08.03
Event 8 Boys 4x400 Meter Relay Suburban
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Team Finals
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1 Camden 3:26.87
2 Pine Bush 3:29.36
3 Trenton Central 3:33.44
4 Brentwood 3:34.68
5 Baldwin 3:36.21
6 Byram Hills 3:37.29
Event 9 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay CHSAA
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Team Finals
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1 Bishop Loughlin 4:03.45
2 St. Anthony's 4:07.14
3 Bishop Ford 4:07.62
4 St. Peter's Girls 4:11.18
5 Sacred Heart Academy 4:11.45
6 St. John The Baptist 4:16.96
Event 10 Boys 4x400 Meter Relay PSAL
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Team Finals
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1 South Shore 3:24.30
2 William Grady Technical 3:30.56
3 Sheepshead Bay 3:31.85
4 ENY Transit Tech 3:33.25
5 Campus Magnet 3:37.91
6 Curtis 3:38.09
Event 11 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay PSAL
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Team Finals
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1 Benjamin Cardozo 3:58.35
2 Samuel J. Tilden 4:06.53
3 Middle College 4:06.63
4 Paul Robeson 4:12.13
5 Midwood 4:12.35
6 South Shore 4:16.02
Event 12 Women High Jump John Thomas
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Amy Acuff USA 1.89m 6-02.25
2 Sheena Gordon USA 1.85m 6-00.75
3 Destinee Hooker USA 1.85m 6-00.75
4 Sarah Wilfried USA 1.80m 5-10.75
Event 13 Girls 1 Mile Run High School
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Danielle Tauro Southern Reg 4:52.81
2 Cory McGee Pass Christian 4:53.90
3 Chanelle Price Easton 4:53.99
4 Jillian Smith Southern Reg 4:54.35
5 Caroline King Scotia-Glenville 5:02.12
6 Colleen Wetherbee Dennis-Yarmouth 5:02.14
7 Suejin Ahn Ward Melville 5:03.05
8 Brittany Sheffey Bellport 5:08.95
9 Kristin Reese Carmel 5:11.03
10 Callie Hogan Bay Shore 5:18.44
Event 14 Men Pole Vault F Schmertz
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Brad Walker USA 5.80m 19-00.25
2 Steven Hooker AUS 5.80m 19-00.25
3 Jeff Hartwig USA 5.70m 18-08.25
4 Russ Buller USA 5.60m 18-04.50
5 Toby Stevenson USA 5.60m 18-04.50
Event 15 Men 800 Meter Run Daily News
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Sherridan Kirk TRI 1:53.01
2 David Krummenacker USA 1:53.23
3 Justus Koech KEN 1:53.69
4 Jebreh Harris USA 1:53.71
5 Sam Burley USA 1:54.22
6 Derrick Peterson USA 1:55.42
Event 16 Women 400 Meter Dash
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Mary Wineberg USA 54.44
2 Hazel Ann Regis GRN 55.08
3 Ronetta Smith JAM 55.31
4 Dee Dee Trotter USA 56.84
Event 17 Boys 4x800 Meter Relay CHSAA
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Team Finals
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1 Kellenberg Memorial 8:09.06
2 Iona Prep 8:10.32
3 Monsignor Farrell 8:12.37
4 Chaminade 8:13.80
5 St. Peter's Boys 8:19.84
6 St. Anthony's 8:31.66
Event 18 Women 800 Meter Run S.R. Shop
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Christin Wurth-Thomas USA 2:06.97
2 Frances Santin USA 2:07.53
3 Rebecca Johnstone CAN 2:07.58
4 Marion Burnett GUY 2:07.64
5 Neisha Bernard-Thomas GRN 2:07.92
6 Nikeya Green USA 2:11.31
Event 19 Men 4x400 Meter Relay College
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Team Finals
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1 St. Augustine's 3:20.57
2 Essex CC 3:21.86
3 Seton Hall 3:23.73
4 Cornell 3:24.05
-- South Carolina DNF
Event 20 Men 4x800 Meter Relay College
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Team Finals
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1 American University 7:39.88
2 Villanova 7:40.01
3 Georgetown 7:42.75
4 Cornell 7:43.44
5 Boston College 7:43.49
6 Seton Hall 7:48.70
7 Oregon 7:50.90
Event 21 Women 3000 Meter Run NYRR
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Tirunesh Dibaba ETH 8:46.58
2 Sarah Hall USA 9:01.22
3 Jen Rhines USA 9:02.91
4 Sentayehu Ejigu ETH 9:03.37
5 Iryna Vaschuk RUS 10:23.19
-- Bridget Binney USA DNF
Event 22 Women 60 Meter Hurdles College
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Jessica Ohanaja LSU 8.14
2 Nickiesha Wilson LSU 8.18
3 Angel Boyd LSU 8.32
4 Brittney James South Carolina 8.59
5 Jernail Hayes Seton Hall 8.83
6 Trie Young South Carolina 9.17
Event 23 Women 60 Meter Hurdles VISA
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Gail Devers USA 7.86
2 Joanna Hayes USA 7.91
3 Danielle Carruthers USA 7.94
4 Perdita Felicien CAN 7.96
5 Priscilla Lopes CAN 8.04
6 Jenny Adams USA 8.07
Event 24 Men 60 Meter Hurdles College
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Thomas Hilliard South Carolina 7.80
2 Dominic Berger Maryland 7.82
3 Jermaine Baker St. Augustine's 8.15
4 Dwayne Joseph Seton Hall 8.75
5 Jason Richardson South Carolina 9.09
-- Ryan Fontenot LSU FS
Event 25 Men 60 Meter Hurdles
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Aries Merritt USA 7.61
2 Joel Brown USA 7.69
3 David Payne USA 7.69
4 Antwon Hicks USA 7.79
5 Aubrey Herring USA 7.84
6 David Oliver USA 8.19
Event 26 Women Pole Vault adidas
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Yelena Isinbayeva RUS 4.82m 15-09.75
2 Jenn Stuczynski USA 4.53m 14-10.25
3 April Steiner USA 4.53m 14-10.25
4 Fabiana Murer BRA 4.53m 14-10.25
5 Nastja Ryshich GER 4.43m 14-06.25
5 Mary Sauer USA 4.43m 14-06.25
7 Jillian Schwartz USA 4.33m 14-02.50
Event 27 Girls 50 Meter Dash Fastest Kid
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Aleah Stewart NY Novas 8.64
2 Zentra Brooks PS 140 8.65
3 Kiana Davis PS 194 8.70
4 Briayanna Johnson Woodside 8.71
5 Serenity Brown PS37-Marble Hill 8.86
6 Stacy Halper Ethical Culture 8.94
Event 28 Boys 50 Meter Dash Fastest Kid
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Jordan Vidal PS87-Bronx Flash 7.86
2 Justin Goss PS 194 8.33
3 James Mahoney PS 50 8.57
4 Tyshawn Hamilton Boys Club of NY 8.63
5 Conor Lundy Annunciation 8.64
6 Spencer Jackson Zodiacs 8.66
Event 29 Women 60 Meter Dash College
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Kelly Ann Baptiste LSU 7.31
2 Chaunte Bayne Texas 7.36
3 Alexandria Anderson Texas 7.42
4 Brooklynn Morris LSU 7.45
5 Barbara Pierre St. Augustine's 7.61
6 Shamika Kentish Seton Hall 7.76
Event 30 Men 60 Meter Dash College
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Philippe DeRosier St. Augustine's 6.76
2 Aulton Kohn Syracuse 6.77
3 Dennis Boone St. Augustine's 6.81
4 Nick Lytle South Carolina 7.01
5 Joe Cruz Manhattan 7.36
Event 31 Women 60 Meter Dash Hershey's
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Angela Daigle-Bowen USA 7.25
2 Marshevet Hooker USA 7.32
3 Sheri-Ann Brooks JAM 7.35
4 Kya Brookings USA 7.36
5 Rachelle Smith USA 7.42
6 Miki Barber USA 7.64
Event 32 Men 60 Meter Dash Mondo
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Shawn Crawford USA 6.56
2 Larone Clarke JAM 6.64
3 Trell Kimmons USA 6.65
4 Steve Mullings JAM 6.67
5 Richard Thompson LSU 6.68
6 Maurice Greene USA 27.70
Event 33 Men Shot Put VISA
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Christian Cantwell USA 21.88m 71-09.50
2 Reese Hoffa USA 21.75m 71-04.25
3 Dan Taylor USA 21.12m 69-03.50
4 John Godina USA 19.29m 63-03.50
Event 34 Boys 1 Mile Run High School
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Jason Weller Boyertown Area 4:15.81
2 Kyle Soloff Morris Hills 4:17.99
3 Steve Murdock Shenendehowa 4:18.14
4 Chris Moen Walter Johnson 4:26.32
5 Kevin Gill Brockton 4:26.36
6 Ryan McDermott Chaminade 4:28.16
7 Andrew Palumbo Bshp Hendrickson 4:36.68
Event 35 Men 1 Mile Run Wanamaker
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Bernard Lagat USA 3:54.26
2 Craig Mottram AUS 3:54.81
3 Chris Lukezic USA 4:01.48
4 Alan Webb USA 4:04.86
5 Ivan Heshko UKR 4:08.45
-- Moise Joseph HAI DNF
Event 36 Men 600 Yard Run Mel Sheppard
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Bershawn Jackson USA 1:11.48
2 Renny Quow TRI 1:14.02
3 Pete Coley JAM 1:14.05
-- Michael Tinsley USA DNF
Event 37 Women 4x400 Meter Relay College
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Team Finals
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1 South Carolina 3:52.45
2 Seton Hall 3:52.74
3 Essex CC 3:52.82
4 St. Augustine's 3:59.05
Event 101 Men Weight Throw
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Thomas Jacob Freeman NYAC 21.67m 71-01.25
2 Lucais McKay Shore AC 19.70m 64-07.75
3 Chris Bryce Unattached 18.85m 61-10.25
4 Jim Heizman Shore AC 18.64m 61-02.00
5 Seid Mujanovic Manhattan 17.85m 58-06.75
6 Paul Peulich Manhattan 17.84m 58-06.50
Event 102 Women Weight Throw
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Name Year Team Finals
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1 Krystal Yush M-F Athletic 21.65m 71-00.50
2 Jen Leatherman USA 20.89m 68-06.50
3 Amy Plakosweich Unattached 19.35m 63-06.00
4 Ashley Harbin Lafayette 19.30m 63-04.00
5 TeTee Kuyatech St. John's 16.19m 53-01.50