Jamaica’s Aisha Praught-Leer shocked the running world Saturday at the 118th NYRR Millrose Games in the women’s 3000m, outlasting American World Champion Emma Coburn and South African Dominique Scott to win in 8:41.10, a new Jamaican and Millrose Games record.
Praught-Leer initially took the lead from about nine laps to go. After several position changes had the decisive kick for the lead going into the bell lap, narrowly holding off surging Americans (including nearby fourth place finisher Karissa Schweizer) and the South African who completed the top four positions – 8:41.16, 8:41.18 and 8.41.60 respectively.
Praught-Leer switched coaching in 2016 and began training with Coburn.
“Emma is my biggest inspiration”, said Praught-Leer. “Its made a world of difference in my training the; last year and a half.”
In the men’s edition Jamaican Kemoy Campbell finished eighth in 7:47.43.
Bahamian Shaune Miller-Uibo dominated her field in the women’s 300m, equaling a world record of 35.45, set by Russian Irina Privalova in 1993.
The race included Olympic and World medalists Americans Courtney Okolo and Ashley Spencer, who finished in last and second to last in 37.28 and 37.43 respectively.
Canadian Sage Watson came the closest in 37.08.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Lalonde Gordon took third in the 400 meters with a time of 47.24, behind Americans Michael Cherry and Vernon Norwood.
Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Omar Mecleod finished fifth and sixth respectively in the men’s 60m, running 6.63 and 6.69.
The Jamaican women (Fellan Ferguson, Simoya Campbell, Kimarra McDonald, Natoya Goule) held their own in the Women’s 4×800 meters with a third place 8:17.75 against a world record performance by Americans 8:05.89.
