Hoppel, Crouser highlight second American Track League meet

FAYETTEVILLE -- Running the second-fastest indoor time in U.S. history, Bryce Hoppel ran away from a star-studded men’s 800m field to win in 1:44.37. Moving to No. 6 on the world all-time performer list as well, Hoppel took the field through 600m in 1:18.57 and tacked on a swift 25.80 over the final circuit to win by more than a second over Britain’s Charlie Da’Vall Grice, who was second in 1:45.62, also a big personal best. Erik Sowinski garnered a lifetime best of 1:45.69 in third to become the =6th best performer in U.S. history, while Craig Engels was fourth in a PR 1:46.10.

If it wasn’t for his own amazing feat last week, Ryan Crouser would have tied the world indoor record in the men’s shot put with a 22.66m/74-4.25 in round two. The reigning Olympic champion had to settle for the win, though, as he couldn’t quite match the 22.82m/74-10.5 he uncorked seven days ago. His series featured all six throws past 70-feet, with the last five attempts landing past the 22m mark, and he notched the =3rd and fourth-best throws in history. Payton Otterdahl had a season-best 21.27m/69-9.5 to take second.
 

Crouser now owns 8 of the 10 best indoor throws in history. And they've all been set in past year.

22.82 Crouser '21
22.70 Crouser '21
22.66 Crouser '21
22.66 Barnes '89
22.65 Crouser '21
22.60 Crouser '20
22.58 Crouser '20
22.55 Timmerman '89
22.48 Crouser '21
22.43 Crouser '21

— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) January 31, 2021

In the absence of 2019 World Championships 800m silver medalist Raevyn Rogers, Sammy Watson bided her time before taking the lead as the women’s 600m field went past the 400m mark in 57.40. Watson charged to the front, but over the final 30m Gabby Scott challenged her and almost pulled off the upset. Watson held on to win in 1:28.29, .01 ahead of Scott.

Familiar with the Fayetteville track due to his years as an Arkansas Razorback, Nick Hilson zipped to the lead at the 250m mark and kept that lead, if just barely, through the finish to win the men’s 600m by .01 over fast-closing James Gilreath in 1:19.14.

The two fastest women in the field of the Ben Blankenship women’s mile followed the lead of pacer Carina Viljoen through three laps before Heather MacLean took over and never relinquished the lead to Dani Jones. MacLean, who was seventh in the 1,500m at last year’s Toyota USATF Indoor Championships, had Jones a stride behind her until she broke away on the final lap and covered the last 200m in 30.72 to clock the world’s fastest time in 2021 with a 4:27.54. Jones finished second in 4:30.56.

Trinidadians swept the top two spots in the men’s 200m, led by section two winner Jereem Richards who rolled to a 20.74. Deon Lendore won the first section in 20.89.

In her first meet back after a bout with Covid-19, Sandi Morris set a stadium record with her 4.81m/15-9.25 winning effort in the women’s pole vault. That mark also gives her the world lead for 2021. Morris took three tries at 4.96m/16-3.25.

Trevor Bassitt, who starred at NCAA Division II Ashland in the 400m hurdles, took down a quality field in the men’s 60m hurdles as he powered to the front at the first barrier and pulled away to win in 7.71 over Swiss record-holder Jason Joseph.

Not far off the form that carried her to a USATF Indoor title last year, Mikiah Brisco overcame a slight bobble early in the women’s 60m to win in 7.17. Candace Hill, who set a personal best of 7.22 in the prelims, stumbled out of the blocks, which left Hannah Cunliffe as Brisco’s top challenger, taking second in a 2021 best 7.26.

Fifth at the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships last year, Maurice Eaddy was first out of the blocks in the men’s 60m and was also the first across the line, winning in 6.63 ahead of Marvin Bracy, who closed quickly to take the runner-up spot in 6.66.

Gold medalist in the 400m at Rio in 2016, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas dropped down to the 200m and became the equal ninth-fastest performer in history with a 22.40 that tied the facility record set in 2008 by Bianca Knight of Texas and sliced .86 off her own indoor personal best.

Full results can be found here.

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