Former Duck runs solo 800 to win by 10 seconds in Georgia

By Chris Lotsbom, Dyestat Editor

With all of the track and field excitement last weekend -- including the IAAF Diamond League kicking off, Nike's Breaking2, and Stanford's Payton Jordan Invitational -- a result that got lost in the shuffle is the 2:01.77 in the 800 meters by Laura Roesler at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial Meet in Georgia.

Roesler, who helped Team USA win gold in the 4x800 at the IAAF World Relays in April, defeated the field by 10 seconds en route to a notable solo win. 

Unlike many of her fellow 800-meter specialists, Roesler has already raced a handful of times this year. Since March 18, she's run 4:22.97 for 1,500 meters; 2:00.69, 1:59.54, and 2:01.77 for 800 all in the span of a month, and her aforementioned World Relays split of 2:03.05.

The former Oregon standout is eyeing a spot at this summer's IAAF World Championships in London, but is part of a discipline in the women's 800 that is jam packed in the American ranks.

Brenda Martinez ran 1:59.21 at the Oxy Invitational on Saturday (similar to Roesler, all alone in front by five seconds); Chrishuna Williams won the 800 at Stanford on Friday in 2:02.58; and Charlene Lipsey ran a PB 2:00.29 at the opening Diamond League meet in Doha.

We've yet to really see how low Ajee' Wilson can go this year, and all eyes are on Oregon's Raevyn Rogers to see if she can dip lower than her NCAA record and PB of 1:59.10. Not to be forgotten are Kate Grace (the Olympic Trials champion) and Chanelle Price.

With all that said, Roesler is smack in the middle of a highly competitive event that'll be high drama come the USA Championships in June, where she'll surely be tested.

Two 800 runners who Roesler and the field won't have to contend with are Molly Ludlow (retirement) and Alysia Montano (pregnant with her second child). 

Though still early in the track season, the women's 800 is already the can't miss event of the summer. 

 WOMEN'S 800 METER RESULTS

1. Laura Roesler, Nike, 2:01.77
2. Charlotte Stephens, Georgia Tech, 2:11.82  
3. Haley Anderson, Georgia Tech, 2:12.36
4. Imani McGowan, Clemson, 2:13.37
5. Brittany Truitt, North Georgia, 2:13.79