UTEP record by Saruni among 15 indoor world leaders achieved during big weekend

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Texas El Paso sophomore Michael Saruni ran the fastest indoor 800-meter time ever on an oversized track by a collegiate athlete and improved to the No. 5 all-time indoor performer in NCAA Division 1 history by clocking 1 minute 45.92 seconds Friday at the Vanderbilt Commodore Invitational, highlighting a weekend in which 15 world-leading marks were set or equaled.

Saruni, who set a UTEP program record, improved on the mark of 1:45.97 set in 1999 by SMU's Roman Oravec.

Arizona State senior Maggie Ewen was the only other collegiate athlete to achieve a world-leading mark, producing a 60-6 (18.44m) shot put Friday in Flagstaff, Ariz. Ewen also recorded a mark of 68-2.25 (20.78m) in the weight throw.

At the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., Lafayette LA senior Armand "Mondo" Duplantis cleared 19-1.50 (5.83m) to set the U20 World indoor record, with Sandi Morris becoming the first female athlete in event history to clear 16 feet, soaring to the world lead with a 16-0.50 (4.90m) clearance.

Renaud Lavillenie had set the world lead in Tignes, then Duplantis produced a better vault Friday, before the Frenchman regained the top spot Sunday in Aubiere with a 19-275 (5.86m) clearance.

The Arkansas Invitational was highlighted by former Razorback star Chrishuna Williams clocking 1:26.99 in the women's 600. Quanera Hayes, the American indoor 300 record holder, established the world lead in the 200 by running 23.02 in her season opener.

The top three times in the world in the men's 200 were also established in Fayetteville, with Marqueze Washington clocking 20.64 to edge Fred Kerley (20.68) and Obi Igbokwe (20.78).

The Leonard Hilton Memorial in Houston produced a great battle in the women's 60-meter dash, with Ivory Coast's Murielle Ahoure winning in a world-best 7.11, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago's Michelle Lee-Ahye in 7.18, good for No. 3 this year. Chris Carter also took over the world lead in the men's triple jump with a leap of 54-11.25 (16.74m).

The UAB Blazer Invitational in Birmingham showcased Christina Manning clocking 8.02 in the women's 60-meter hurdles, with Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas ascending to the top of the world list in the 300 by running 32.51.

Former Texas A&M standout Bralon Taplin of Grenada took over the world lead in the 400 with a 45.48 effort at the Ted Nelson Invitational in College Station.

Aries Merritt ran 7.65 in the men's 60 hurdles at the Washington Indoor Preview to equal the Dec. 1 mark of Youngstown State's Chad Zallow.

Two more European talents also achieved world-leading marks, with Czech Republic standout Filip Snejdr clocking 1:16.88 in the men's 600 and Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou long jumping 25-10.75 (7.89m) in Agios Kosmas.