Middle Distance Runners Earn This Week's Performance of the Week Awards

Track and field fans voiced their choices in this week's DyeStat's Performance of the Week poll, while DyeStat's editors made their own selection.

Readers’ Choice: Jenny Simpson

With 41.10 percent of the vote, Jenny Simpson won our Readers’ Choice vote, beating Sydney McLaughlin with her second-place tally of 18.46 percent.

Simpson came into the Drake Relays with the stated intention of breaking the American record for the 2-mile. She followed through on her goal, winning the race in 9:16.78, besting the outdoor American record by nearly four seconds.

From the gun, Simpson slotted herself into second, just behind the pace maker Shalaya Kipp. The opening 418 meters, accounting for the added length of two miles compared to 3,200 meters, was run in 70 seconds.

After a fast opening lap, the pace settled, averaging 71-second laps. Kipp stepped aside at the halfway point, leaving Simpson in the lead. She passed the mile in 4:43, three seconds behind American record pace.

Simpson pushed the pace over the next three laps, hitting the bell at 8:13. From there, she used the kick that has seen her win multiple global medals at 1,500 meters to close in 63.1 seconds and break the record.

Watch Simpson's race on USATF.TV.

The previous record was held by Shannon Rowbury from 2014. She is currently sitting out the 2018 season preparing for her first child. Simpson also holds the indoor 2-mile American record at 9:18.35 from 2015. That mark was faster than Rowbury's outdoor mark.

Watch Simpson's post-race interview on RunnerSpace.com.

Editors’ Choice: Michael Saruni

There were many great performances this week. Voters this week made a great selection in choosing Simpson. However, the collegiate record by Michael Saruni in the 800 meters at the Desert Heat Classic should not be overlooked.

Saruni was one of two UTEP freshman last year to make waves in the event, however, he was often overshadowed by Emmanuel Korir. Korir turned pro after last season and Saruni has taken his place as the top 800-meter running in the NCAA.

Already the reigning NCAA Division 1 Indoor champion at 800 meters, Saruni placed his name in the record books by breaking Donavan Brazier's collegiate record with a 1:43.25 clocking. That took 0.3 seconds off the record.

The NCAA has seen an explosion of 800-meter talent in recent years. Brazier broke a 50-year-old record at the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, previously held by Jim Ryun. Now three men have run under that mark, including Korir who broke Ryun's mark, but missed Brazier's time last season.

More impressively, Saruni ran this 800 with nearly even splits. With the help of a pace maker, Saruni passed 400 meters in roughly 51 seconds. The pacer stepped aside 50 meters later, leaving Saruni with plenty of work remaining. Saruni slowly separated himself from the rest of the field and went on to win going away by over three seconds.

It will be interesting to see if Saruni remains a UTEP athlete after this NCAA season or if he follows Korir in turning pro. Korir continues to train in El Paso under coach Paul Ereng, one of three collegiate athletes in history to run the 800 faster than Saruni, although his 1:43.16 and 1:43.22 performances in 1989 came outside the NCAA season at international meets in Switzerland and France.