Meet records took center stage at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge

NEW YORK, New York – A weekend of indoor track and field is underway after a stop at The Armory for the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge.
 
Colin Sahlman of Newbury Park, California, became the thirteenth U.S. high schooler to crack the 4:00 barrier in the mile and only the fourth U.S. high schooler ever to do it indoors, winning in 3:58.81 with a sizzling kick over the final lap. Sahlman’s time moved him to No. 3 on the all-time indoor high school performer list. Sahlman was in the middle of the pack through the halfway point as the field was led by Eric Holt and Robby Andrews. Holt continued to lead with 400m remaining as Sahlman moved up to fourth, and Sahlman unleashed a 27.79 final 200m to seal the victory and set a meet record. Holt narrowly missed a sub-4 with his 4:00.01 in second, with Jonah Koech third in 4:00.24. Sahlman’s 3:44.05 en route 1,500m time put him No. 5 on the all-time indoor high school performer list.
 
A semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Olympic Trials, Shane Streich surged past Kameron Jones and Erik Sowinski off the final bend to take the men’s 800m in a lifetime indoor best of 1:46.07, just off the leading time in the world this season. Jones, who is the fastest over 600m in the U.S. this year, did most of the early running and was at the front through three laps in 1:18.05, but Sowinski and then Streich went past him on the run in, with Sowinski second in 1:46.26 and Jones third in 1:46.67.
 
Former American record holder Tori Franklin spanned 13.96m/45-9.75 on her final attempt to win the women’s triple jump. Franklin, who moved to No. 2 on the 2022 U.S. list with that jump, won by almost a foot over Imani Oliver, who claimed second with a best of 13.68m/44-10.75.
 
Marquis Dendy, the 2016 World Indoor champion and a bronze medalist at the 2018 World Indoors, went to the lead in the men’s long jump with a 7.98m/26-2.25 on his second leap and improved with an 8.03m/26-4.25 in round four before going 8.10m/26-7 on his final attempt to win over fellow Olympian Steffin McCarter. McCarter was a model of consistency with three jumps of 7.94m/26-0.75, a distance matched by Wil Williams in third.
 
Binghamton’s Dan Schaffer clocked a lifetime best 7:53.74 to win the men’s 3,000m, but most eyes were on high schooler Lex Young from Newbury Park, California. Young’s older brother, Nico, holds the prep national record at 7:56.97, and the younger Young just missed that mark with a 7:57.06 in fourth.
 
Last year’s NCAA Indoor mile champion Sage Hurta ran away with the women’s 800m, passing the halfway point in 60.37 and coming close to a lifetime best with her 2:02.58 to win by more than two seconds.
 
Alma Cortes of Mexico made much of the early pace in the women’s mile before Sweden’s Yolanda Ngarambe passed her going into the final circuit. Cortes fought back and regained the lead over the final 50m to win in 4:32.21. Molly Sughroue was the top American finisher, placing third in 4:33.00.
 
A second-round throw of 19.16m/62-10.5 gave Sarah Mitton the win and a Canadian and meet record in the women’s shot put. Rachel Fatherly was the top American in second with a throw of 17.44m/57-2.75.
 
Be sure to watch tomorrow’s New Balance Indoor Games on NBC from noon to 2:00 p.m. ET and join us for The Cool Down at 2:05 p.m. ET on Facebook.
 
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