The TEN — Houlihan Unsatisfied In 10K Debut
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, March 28 — An American Record attempt in her first-ever 10,000 outing fell short for Shelby Houlihan, who passed halfway in 14:59.8 but slowed to a 30:50.10 finish.
“I tried to hang on as long as I could,” she said. “I kind of fell off the pace light probably around 4K. I was like, just keep fighting, maybe you can catch the pace light. That didn’t end up happening. I’m happy with it but obviously unsatisfied. It’s not where I wanted to be.
“I had some high goals for myself coming in,” said the 1500 AR holder, who had company from lapped runner Ms Seema of India, the eventual 5th-placer, in the closing stages. “I was a little naïve because I hadn’t done one. I wanted to put myself in it and just see what happened. I don’t regret doing that.”
Jessica McClain made up some ground over the final 2K to take 2nd in 31:15.49, with Allie Buchalski at 31:29.06.
The men’s race went to Germany’s Mohamed Abdilaahi, who outkicked Ky Robinson with a world-leading 26:56.68 to the Australian’s 26:57.07. Woody Kincaid was the top U.S. finisher in 4th (27:20.84). Earlier in the evening, the pro 1500s went to Olli Hoare (3:35.82) and Gabbi Jennings (4:07.69).
THE TEN MEN’S RESULTS
1500: 1. Olli Hoare’ (Aus) 3:35.82; 2. Waleed Suliman (BrkB) 3:35.88; 3. Dylan Jacobs (OAC) 3:36.10 PR;
4. Matt Strangio (BrkB) 3:36.53 PR; 5. Brandon Miller (BrkB) 3:37.14.
10,000: I–1. Edward Marks’ (Aus) 27:54.98 PR (WL);
2. Simon Sundström’ (Swe) 28:03.90 PR; 3. Pedro Alejandro Marin’ (Col) 28:12.91 PR;
4. Eric Casarez (ThundR) 28:16.19 PR (AL);
18. Ethan Locke (Valor, Waco) 29:09.38 (5, 5 HS).
II–1. Mohamed Abdilaahi’ (Ger) 26:56.58 NR (WL);
2. Ky Robinson’ (Aus) 26:57.07 NR; 3. Mike Foppen’ (Neth) 27:20.52 NR;
4. Woody Kincaid (NikeSwoosh) 27:20.84 (AL);
5. Ahmed Muhumed (HokaNnAz) 27:22.93; 6. Scott Beattie’ (GB) 27:23.20 PR; 7. Gulveer Singh’ (Ind) 27:24.18; 8. Frederik Ruppert’ (Ger) 27:24.53 PR; 9. David Mullarkey’ (GB) 27:26.58 PR; 10. Mahadi Abdi Ali’ (Neth) 27:40.96 PR; 11. Simon Bedard’ (Fra) 27:44.72; 12. Anthony Camerieri (Sauc) 27:54.60.
THE TEN WOMEN’S RESULTS
1500: 1. Gabrielle Jennings (adidas) 4:07.69 (out AL);
2. Mia Barnett’ (Swe) 4:08.88; 3. Pooja Singh’ (Ind) 4:09.84 PR; 4. Teagan Schein-Becker (BrkB) 4:12.23.
10,000: I–1. Felicia Pasadyn (Sauc) 32:04.17 PR (AL);
2. Cailie Hughes (PumaTUSAMn) 32:27.39; 3. Viviana Aroche’ (Gua) 32:35.19 NR.
II–1. Shelby Houlihan (unat) 30:50.10 PR (WL, AL) (10, x A);
2. Jessica McClain (Brk) 31:15.49; 3. Allie Buchalski (BrkB) 31:29.06 PR; 4. Lisa Merkel’ (Ger) 31:32.25 PR; 5. Ms Seema’ (Ind) 32:02.43 PR; 6. Vanessa Fraser (Sauc) 32:18.35; 7. Katie Camarena (Sauc) 32:22.65; 8. Abby Nichols (UAC) 32:37.58; 9. Danielle Polerecky (McK) 32:44.67; 10. Alicia Berzosa’ (Spa) 32:44.75; 11. Hannah Irwin’ (GB) 32:49.61.
Raleigh Relays — Wolverine Milers And A 400 Surprise
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, March 26–28 — Michigan’s milers haven’t lost any speed with the move outdoors, as Trent McFarland won the 1500 in a PR 3:35.80 ahead of teammate Brendan Herger (3:36.03 PR). Holy Cross’s Liam Lyons was 3rd in 3:38.38, and Wolverine frosh Henry Dixon next in 3:38.70.
Michigan came back to sweep the top 4 places in the 800 two days later, led by Camden Law in 1:46.80.
On Friday, Duke’s Braelyn Baker made a notable breakthrough at 400, cruising an outdoor world leader 50.80, a PR by 0.89, to top teammate Lauren Tolbert. A day later, Duke alum Aliya Garozzo hurdled a PR 55.69 in her outdoor opener, barely enough to hold off Baker’s 55.77, another PR (by 0.58).
Kentucky’s Collins Kipngok took the steeple in 8:24.48. In the women’s distances, Elly Henes set a meet record 15:14.28 at 5000. Florida showed a solid 1-2 punch in the 10,000 with Hilda Olemomoi winning in 32:03.59 and Judy Chepkoech runner-up in 32:04.01.
Hart Classic — Razorback Relay Grabs World Lead
BAYLOR, TEXAS, March 27–28 — The Arkansas women showed that their 4×4 depth continues to be a powerful advantage, running to the No. 6 performance in collegiate history. The Razorback relay quartet laid down a world-leading 3:22.06 to win by more than 4 seconds over a team of Fayetteville-based pros at the Clyde Hart Classic.
Sanaria Butler and Analisse Batista handled the first two legs for the Razorbacks. Then Olympian Kaylyn Brown blitzed a 49.73, and Sanu Jallow delivered a 50.09 anchor.
Oklahoma Throws — Čeh Goes Long On The Plains
RAMONA, OKLAHOMA, March 28 — With most of the best American throwers competing at the USATF Long Throws Championships, the crowd at wind-swept Ramona was mostly international. Kristjan Čeh of Slovenia threw the disc a world leader 225-7 (68.76) to take the men’s win, with Canada’s Julia Tunks hitting 198-2 (60.41) in the women’s division.
RAMONA, OKLAHOMA, March 29 — The winds the next day were even friendlier. Kristjan Čeh produced yet another world leader, a massive 237-1 (72.26) on his first throw, following it up with a second of 236-5 (72.05). His best ranks No. 3 in his career, missing his Slovenian record from ’25 by just 4 inches (10cm). Britain’s Nicholas Percy threw 2nd at 209-5 (63.84). Julia Tunks threw 202-0 (61.57).
USATF Long Throws — A Raft Of Big Openers
TUCSON, ARIZONA, March 28 — With the season at last having moved outdoors, many of the USA’s discus, hammer and javelin stars at last got to bust some rust. The result was world and/or American leaders all around.
Valarie Allman had married coach Zeb Sion the previous weekend and is now competing as Valarie Sion.
“A day full of laughter, tears, and SO much love. We couldn’t be more over the moon to have such a magical, perfect day!” wrote the newlywed top DT woman of the era.
Here she moved quickly from wedding rings to the discus circle with a 212-5 (64.76) opener good for the world lead. On her second effort, she lengthened that to 216-7 (66.02), good for a win by just over 10ft from Erika Beistle at 206-3 (62.88) and ’25 NCAA champ Cierra Jackson at 206-1 (62.83).
World leads went, as well, to Rachel Richeson in the women’s hammer (252-2/76.86) and Madison Wiltrout in the jav. For Wiltrout, who’s 26, her 201-1 (61.29) first throw added 5 inches to her previous PR from the ’24 Olympic Trials.
Reggie Jagers’ 215-11 (65.83) DT winner was his longest-ever in March.
Hammer AR holder Rudy Winkler’s 264-5 (80.60) third whirl was, likewise, his longest yet before late April. Winkler, 31, got a challenge from 23-year-old Trey Knight. The Cal State Northridge alum’s 260-3 (79.33) improved his best by nearly 2ft from the 258-5 (78.76) heave that carried him onto the World Championships team last summer.
USATF LONG THROWS MEN’S RESULTS
DT: 1. Reggie Jagers (USAr) 215-11 (65.83) (AL);
2. Sam Mattis (NikeNYAC) 213-1 (64.94); 3. Joseph White (unat) 202-10 (61.82); 4. Mitchell Weber (unat) 201-8 (61.46); 5. Marcus Gustaveson (Vel) 198-6 (60.50); 6. Joseph Brown (unat) 197-11 (60.34); 7. Michael Pinckney (unat) 192-6 (58.67).
HT: 1. Rudy Winkler (NikeNYAC) 264-5 (80.60) (AL) (250-9, f, 264-5, f, f, 252-9) (76.43, f, 80.60, f, f, 77.05);
2. Trey Knight (unat) 260-3 (79.33) PR (7, x A);
3. Alex Young (unat) 244-8 (74.57); 4. Daniel Haugh (NYAC) 240-7 (73.34); 5. Kieran McKeag (unat) 237-8 (72.44); 6. Grayson Fleming (SupT) 233-7 (71.20) PR.
JT: 1. Marc Minichello (unat) 247-1 (75.32); 2. Curtis Thompson (adidas) 244-4 (74.48); 3. Jacob Moran (BosN) 222-8 (67.86); 4. Ethan Shalaway (unat) 209-4 (63.81).
USATF WOMEN
DT: 1. Valarie Sion (Asics) 216-7 (66.02) (WL, AL) (212-5, 216-7, f, f, f, 208-8) (64.76, 66.02, f, f, f, 63.61);
2. Erika Beistle (unat) 206-3 (62.88); 3. Cierra Jackson (unat) 206-1 (62.83); 4. Jayden Ulrich (adidas) 203-10 (62.12); 5. Veronica Fraley (unat) 187-7 (57.18); 6. Shelby Frank (unat) 181-5 (55.30).
HT: 1. Rachel Richeson (unat) 252-2 (76.86) (WL, AL);
2. Brooke Andersen (Nike) 244-11 (74.67); 3. DeAnna Price (Nike) 243-4 (74.17); 4. Jillian Shippee (unat) 235-7 (71.82); 5. Erin Reese (Vel) 235-2 (71.68); 6. Shelby Moran (unat) 231-4 (70.51); 7. Janeah Stewart (unat) 227-3 (69.27); 8. Janee’ Kassanavoid (Nike) 222-1 (67.69); 9. Madi Malone (Vel) 218-11 (66.74).
JT: 1. Madison Wiltrout (unat) 201-1 (61.29) PR (WL, AL) (7, x A) (201-1, 185-0, f, 185-9, f, f) (61.29, 56.40, f, 56.62, f, f);
2. Maddie Harris (unat) 182-10 (55.74); 3. *Evie Bliss (Buck) 179-5 (54.70); 4. Ariana Ince (unat) 170-2 (51.86); 5. Sarah Blake (unat) 169-10 (51.78).
Hurricane Invitational — Jackson Claims 300 Outdoor Best
MIAMI, FLORIDA, March 27–28—It’s not often run outdoors on the collegiate circuit, but the 300 found a new collegiate outdoor best at the Hurricane Invitational as Shawnti Jackson, in her first race for LSU, hit 35.89. The mark remains slower than the Collegiate Record indoors of 35.80 that Kentucky’s Abby Steiner ran in ’21, as well as two other marks on the indoor ATL. The best outdoor mark on record was the 36.41 that Jermaisha Arnold of Texas A&M set in ’24.
In her first one-lapper since high school, Georgia’s NCAA Indoor 200 champ Adaejah Hodge won in 51.24, a national record for the British Virgin Islands.
A thrilling 400 hurdles finish saw Penn’s Ryan Matulonis edge Georgia’s Mohamed Adoini by 0.006 as both officially clocked 49.58.
Georgia’s Jordan Davis hit 263-8 (80.38) in the javelin, ahead of LSU senior Jack Larriviere, who PRed at 253-5 (77.24).
