by Larry Eder 
Same racers, faster times in 2016, photo by PHotoRun.net
from EME NEWS (FEB 20, 2016)
Great mile at Millrose
NEW YORK (USA, Feb 20): For the first time in history, two vaulters cleared 4.90m in the same competition at the Millrose Games. Ekaterini Stefanidi and Demi Payne both cleared 4.90m on their second attempts but the Greek record-holder won on countback also a national record, as Payne needed three attempts at her opening height of 4.50m. Sandi Morris was third in 4.70m. Big highlight on the track was Matt Centrowitz’s 3:50.63 win in the mile to move to fourth on the world all-time indoor rankings behind Hicham El Guerrouj (3:48.45), Eamonn Coghlan (3:49.78) and Bernard Lagat (3:49.89). New Zealand’s Nick Willis was a close second in a national record of 3:51.07 while Chris O’Hare set a Scottish record of 3:52.91 in third. Shannon Rowbury was gunning for the US record of 4:20.5 in the women’s equivalent but fell some way short in 4:24.39 WL ahead of Kerri Gallagher (4:26.18) and Amanda Eccleston (4:26.63). The men’s 3000m was a good quality event: the top nine finishers ran below 7:45 and Ryan Hill (7:38.82) and Hassan Mead (7:38.85) both dipped below the world-lead. Ajee’ Wilson also set a world-lead in the 800m of 2:00.09 ahead of Brenda Martinez (2:00.14) while Betsy Saina ran a 14:57.18 5000m world-lead to defeat Molly Huddle (14:57.31) and Emily Infeld (15:00.91). World-leader Bralon Taplin confirmed that form in the 400m with another fast time of 45.35 ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon (45.51) while Natasha Hastings won the women’s 400m in 51.66. Andre De Grasse won his first race as a pro in the 60m in 6.61 while world 400m champion Allyson Felix stepped down to win the 60m in a season’s best of 7.15 ahead of world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta (7.20). Omar McLeod won the 60mH in 7.46 with Ashton Eaton 0.02 outside his PB in 7.53 while Janay De-Loach won the women’s 60mH in 7.85 from Brianna Rollins (7.89) and Jasmin Stowers (7.93). Olympic silver medallist Erik Kynard won the high jump with a 2.30m clearance, Marquis Dendy won the long jump with 8.13m and had four subsequent jumps over 8m. Eaton jumped 7.15m in the second round before retiring.
