2017 Sacramento Diary: Day 1, USATF: Huddle and Mead winning 10k, Coleman sub 10 in heats in hot Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (USA, Jun 22): The 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships kicked off at Sacramento State University with upset heats and riveting finals in high temperatures, informs USATF. The first senior championship title went to Alex Young in the men’s hammer throw with 73.50 PB. In the women’s javelin throw, American record holder Kara Winger secured her spot on Team USATF by taking the title with a first throw of 62.80m. Keturah Orji dominated the women’s triple jump to qualify for London. The 2016 Olympian and NCAA Outdoors Champion won with a jump of 14.26 followed by Tori Franklin at 13.80 PB.

Recently-crowned NCAA Outdoors Champion Christian Coleman easily took the fastest time in the first round of men’s 100m, clocking 9.93 (+0.2). 2015 World Championships competitor Isiah Young had the second-fastest overall time in 9.97 PB (+1.5 m/s). Also Justin Gatlin got 10.00 (+1.2), the same for Mike Rodgers. Jarrion Lawson posted PB 10.03. Out in heats Tyson Gay (10.17) and Trayvon Bromell 10.22 (his first meet of the year). On the women’s side, Tori Bowie bested the competition in 10.90 (+1.6 m/s) with Morolake Akinosun 10.98 (+0.7) and Barbara Pierre 10.99 (+1.4). American record holder Gia Lewis-Smallwood was trailing for the latter part of Thursday’s discus throw, with 2016 Olympic Trials champion Whitney Ashley leading after the third round. Lewis-Smallwood launched the discus 62.65 to capture the top spot on the podium, while Ashley utilized her fifth-round toss of 62.20 to claim second place ahead of Valerie Allman 57.93 (her first national team). The women’s 10,000m final under the lights put the spotlight on Molly Huddle as she commanded the lead from start to finish Thursday, capturing her sixth USATF title overall and her third in the women’s 10,000m in 31:19.86. Staying on her heels for the duration of the race were training partner Emily Sisson and Olympic teammate Emily Infeld who charged over the final lap to secure their spots on Team USATF in 31:22.67 and 31:25.64 PB. Fourth Shalane Flanagan 31:31.12 and fifth Natosha Rogers 31:54.62 PB. In the men’s 10,000m, Hassan Mead was impressive late in a tactical race, holding off final surges from the chase pack to break Galen Rupp’s streak of eight consecutive USATF 10,000m titles in 29:01.44. Rio Olympian Shadrack Kipchirchir nearly clipped Mead at the line, coming in just behind in 29:01.68. Rio Olympian Leonard Korir captured the third spot on Team USATF, coming through the line in 29:02.64 for third. Galen Rupp was 5th 29:04.61. Sub 45 times in 400 m heats for Gil Roberts 44.63, Bryshon Nellum 44.85 and Kyle Collins 44.95. Erik Sowinski (1:46.55, out for Nick Symmonds and Casimir Loxsom) and Brenad Martinez (2:02.31) were the fastest in 800 m heats. Samuel Prakel topped 1500 m heats 3:40.76, here the most known no qualifier Leo Manzano. Kendall Ellis was the best in 400 m heats 50.81 and Kate Grace (4:09.11) with Emma Coburn (9:38.68) in 1500 m and steeple heats. With the help from USATF website.