EUGENE (USA, Jun 10): The men’s action got things underway at day one of the NCAA First Division Championship at Hayward Field.
The men’s 400m battle looks to be between Trinidad & Tobago’s Deon Lendore, representing Texas A&M, and Vernon Norwood and they won their semis in 45.43 and 45.42 respectively.
Big 110mH favourite, Arkansas’ Omar McLeod (Jamaica) was clearly the best in the semis, running 13.08 (2.6). Men’s 400mH favourite Michael Stigler was fastest in the 400mH semis with 48.88.
Defending champion Trayvon Bromell, 19, sped to a PB of 9.90 (1.7) in the 100m semi-finals, with Canada’s Andre De Grasse also ducking under 10 (9.98) behind him. Bromell was also fastest in the 200m semis, clocking 20.03 (2.0). Defending champion Dedric Dukes also ran 20.03 (1.8), while Andre de Grasse was also fast 20.09 (1.7).
The fastest men’s teams in the relay semis were TCU (38.65) and Florida (3:04.11). Combined events leaders after day one are Pau Tonnesen (4230) and Barbadian Akela Jones (4023). Decathlon favourite Maicel Uibo of Estonia sits second with 4209 while heptathlon favourite Erica Bougard is fourth with 3714.
Edward Cheserek of Kenya successfully defended his men’s 10,000m title, running 28:58.92 to kick away from University of Oregon teammate Eric Jenkins (28:59.13 PB) in the last 100m.
Canada’s Shawn Barber won as expected in the pole vault. His best clearance was 5.60m and he couldn’t make it over 5.75m. Latvia’s Pauls Puj?ts cleared a PB of 5.55m for silver. Long jump favourite Marquis Dendy successfully defended his title with a wind aided 8.43m (2.3m/s wind). His best legal effort of 8.34 (1.4, equaled his PB) matched second placer Jarrion Lawson’s best effort (834, 0.2). South Africa’s Roelf Pienaar also made it over 8 with 8.01m (1.6). There was a surprise winner in the men’s shot, as Jonathan Jones recorded a PB of 20.78m to take the title on countback from Darrell Hill. Their second best efforts were 20.57 and 20.27. Croatia’s Stipe Zunic putted 20.30 for bronze. Pre-competition favourite Ryan Crouser was 5th with 19.99m. Things went better for cousin Sam Crouser. He successfully defended his javelin title with a 79.19m effort. Conor McCullough fulfilled on his promise in the men’s hammer, winning clearly with 76.91.
Kenya’s Edward Kemboi ran a PB of 1:45.58 as the fastest 800m qualifier, defending champion Brandon McBride also made it safely through. In the 1500m, the favoured two Jordy Williamsz and Christian Soratos, made it through as fastest losers. Kenyan favourites Anthony Rotich (8:40.52) and Stanley Kebenei (8:42.07), who went 1-2 last year, won their semis in the 3000mSC.
