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Sharika Nelvis Secures American Record in 60-Meter Hurdles at USATF Indoor Championships

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DyeStat.com   Feb 19th 2018, 12:22pm
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Nelvis now No. 3 all-time performer at 7.70, Michta-Coffey wins ninth straight in 3,000-meter racewalk

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Sharika Nelvis has spent the past five weeks trading the world lead in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with fellow Americans Keni Harrison and Christina Manning.

When it came time for the final Sunday at the USATF Indoor Championships, Nelvis commanded the spotlight, surging past Harrison over the final hurdle to not only capture her first national title, but set the American record by clocking 7.70 seconds at Albuquerque Convention Center.

“I’m always backing off coming off the last hurdle, so I just said, ‘You better run your (butt) off.’ I got off that hurdle and I just took off,” said Nelvis, who lowered her personal best by one-tenth to improve to the world’s No. 3 all-time performer.

“I feel great. It’s been a long road. I finally got my break and I’m happy.”

Nelvis made her first national team since 2015 when she placed third in the 100 hurdles at the USATF Outdoor Championships to compete at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Beijing, where she placed eighth.

She and Harrison, who equaled her personal best by clocking 7.72, are guaranteed berths to compete March 2-3 at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, U.K.

Manning, who placed third in a personal-best 7.73, must wait to see if she can earn a wild-card entry based on the results of the IAAF World Indoor Tour. The Americans are the top three performers in the world this year.

“You win, that gets you on a team,” Nelvis said. “You can come out here and run 7.7 and get third place, so I’m not focused on numbers, I’m focused on winning the race. Of course, I was extremely happy. I mean, 7.70, that’s not too bad. But it’s just the beginning. It’s just a start.”

Harrison had equaled Lolo Jones’ 2010 American record Feb. 9 by clocking 7.72 at Clemson’s Tiger Paw Invitational and was looking to become the first repeat national champion since Nia Ali in 2013-14.

Now, she’ll have to wait two weeks for a rematch with Nelvis in an attempt to secure her first international gold medal after placing eighth in the 60 hurdles at the 2016 World Indoors in Portland, Ore.

“I don’t think I dipped right when I was supposed to dip, but I’m happy about it. I’m just ready for Worlds,” said Harrison, who is equal to No. 4 in history.

“They came out here and they got the job done. It’s only going to make me work harder. I’m pretty sure at Worlds, that world record is going to get beaten.”

Only Sweden’s Susanna Kallur, who ran 7.68 in 2008, and Russia’s Ludmila Engquist (7.69) are ahead of Nelvis and Harrison among the event’s all-time performers.

“Especially when you’re not doing well, it gets a little frustrating at times, but you’ve just got to focus and remain humbled and I thank God for this and I’m happy,” Nelvis said. “But I’m never about numbers. I’m all about winning.”

As is Maria Michta-Coffey, who set the record for most indoor women’s titles in the 3,000-meter racewalk with nine in a row after clocking 13:00.53. Only the run of 10 straight indoor women’s 400 crowns by Diane Dixon from 1983-92 is longer than Michta-Coffey’s streak, which began in 2010 in Albuquerque.

This championship was perhaps the most satisfying for Michta-Coffey, who had knee surgery in September and didn’t begin racewalking more than 5 kilometers again until December.

“It might look easy, but it’s not. Different challenges come up every year, but to come back here and win again is amazing,” Michta-Coffey said. “I didn’t think I’d be here after seven, honestly, because my husband and I are trying to eventually get to having a family.

“At some point, there’s a nine-month period where you’re kind of out of competition and usually, at least another three months after having a baby, so I’m hoping to break that streak because something better in my life comes in there. But I would still love to get back as a mom because I want to show people that motherhood shouldn’t have to stop you with anything in your career.”

Brittney Reese won her fourth long jump title in the past decade, producing a world-leading leap of 22-7 (6.88m). Reese is seeking her second straight World Indoor gold medal and fourth of her career.

Vashti Cunningham captured her third consecutive indoor high jump championship by clearing 6-5.50 (1.97m) on her first attempt. Cunningham will look to defend her World Indoor title March 1.

Shelby Houlihan and Paul Chelimo both followed their 3,000 wins Saturday with 1,500 victories Sunday. Houlihan clocked 4:13.07 to edge Bowerman Track Club teammate Colleen Quigley (4:13.21) and Chelimo triumphed in 3:42.91 to hold off Ben Blankenship (3:43.09) and Craig Engels (3:43.29).

Ajee’ Wilson captured her fourth indoor 800 title and fifth overall, including the 600 last year, by clocking 2:01.60 to prevail over former Oregon star Raevyn Rogers (2:01.74), her future training partner under coach Derek Thompson.

Donavan Brazier clocked 1:45.10, the third-fastest indoor 800 time in U.S. history, to secure his first indoor title. Drew Windle placed second in 1:46.29.

Javianne Oliver ran a world-leading 7.02 to win the women’s 60, equaling the No. 6 performer in U.S. history. Destiny Carter took second in 7.19.

Courtney Okolo edged Shakima Wimbley by a 51.16 to 51.17 margin in the women’s 400, with Phyllis Francis clocking 51.19 and Georganne Moline running 51.39, as the Americans produced the three fastest times and four of the top five in the world this year.
Jarret Eaton won his second 60 hurdles championship in three years, clocking 7.43 to edge Aries Merritt (7.46) and Devon Allen (7.49). Merritt, despite being ill throughout the meet, secured a berth on his 11th national team roster.

Ryan Whiting won his fourth indoor men’s shot put crown in eight years with a sixth-round effort of 67-9 (20.65m). Whiting, who also overcame knee surgery during the offseason, made the 10th national team of his career.

Will Claye captured his first indoor triple jump title since 2012 with a fourth-round leap of 56-8.50 (17.28m). Claye is seeking his second World Indoor gold medal, along with his championship six years ago.

Michael Cherry secured his first indoor 400 crown in 45.53, with Aldrich Bailey placing second in 45.59.

DeAnna Price won her first weight throw title with a third-round effort of 80-5 (24.51m), elevating her to No. 2 in the world this year, but the event isn’t part of the schedule at World Indoors.

Nick Christie secured his second indoor 3,000 racewalk championship in four years, clocking 12:09.96.



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