Shelby Houlihan Runs To Breakthrough Win in the 1,500 Meters; Ryan Crouser Breaks Pre Shot Put Record; Noah Lyles Speeds to 19.69 200

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE – Shelby Houlihan checked off three big boxes with her victory in the 1,500 meters Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic.

The Bowerman Track Club runner won her first Diamond League event.

She beat Jenny Simpson for the first time.

And she ran under four minutes for the first time in her career.

The fist pump after crossing the line was mostly due to the time, a four-second PR of 3:59.06.

“Obviously I wanted to win, but breaking four minutes was my ultimate goal,” Houlihan said.

Laura Muir of Great Britain crossed the line second in 3:59.30 and Simpson, the standard bearer for U.S. middle distance running for nearly a decade, was third in 3:59.37 after leading most of the second half of the race.

“She has been someone I have looked up to ever since I started running,” said Houlihan who has Iowa roots likes Simpson.

“I respect her and I think she’s an awesome runner. At the same time I can’t put her on a pedestal.”

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It was a good day for some of the top young U.S. athletes in the meet.

Ryan Crouser, who grew up in Oregon, broke the meet record in the shot put with 73-11 (22.53m), which held special meaning because it is the last Prefontaine Classic at the traditional Hayward Field, where he won state titles for Barlow High School.

“Friends and family were here, and a lot of them have ties to Hayward Field, so it was just really special at the last Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field to go out and set a record like that and be the Athlete of the Meet, I’m truly honored.”

Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, just 17, surpassed Alan Webb’s historic U.S. high school record run from 2001, closing in 55.42 to place fourth in the Bowerman Mile in 3:52.28. Last year at the Pre Classic, Ingebrigtsen became the youngest sub-four miler ever when he ran 3:58.

"My goal was to take Alan Webb's record, but I knew of course it was going to be tough," Ingebrigtsen said.

Timothy Cheruiyot won the race in 3:49.87.

In the men’s 200 meters, 20-year-old Noah Lyles blitzed the field with a eye-popping time of 19.69 (+2.0w) for a new lifetime best and a share of the 2018 world lead.

Jenn Suhr made a resurgent statement in the women’s pole vault, clearing a meet record 15-11 (4.85m) and beating Eliza McCartney on fewer misses. McCartney broke the Australian record.

Christian Taylor entertained the fans at Hayward Field yet again with a victory in the triple jump, going 58-2 (17.73m) to beat longtime friend and rival Will Claye, who jumped 57-3.50w (17.46m).

Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas ran 49.52 seconds in the 400 meters and beat 2017 world champion Phyllis Francis, who was second in 50.81.

Caster Semenya ran the fastest 800 meters ever on U.S. soil, clocking 1:55.92 and dominating the field on the final lap. U.S. standout Ajee' Wilson ran a strong second 1:56.86 and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi was third in 1:56.88. SIDEBAR

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won the men’s high jump with a clearance at 7-8.75 (2.36m) and took some promising attempts at 7-11.25 (2.42m).

Ronnie Baker of the U.S. sped to 9.78 seconds in a wind-aided men’s 100 meters (+2.4w).

The Ivory Coast duo of Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Murielle Ahoure went 1-2 in the women’s 100 meters, posting wind-legal (+1.9) times of 10.88 and 10.90, respectively.

Unheralded Benjamin Kigen of Kenya got the jump on Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya and Evan Jager of the U.S., the two favorites, and won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:09.07. Kipruto and Jager, the Olympic gold and silver medalists, finished together. Kipruto was given second place, .002 seconds ahead of Jager, as both ran 8:11.71.

Janieve Russell of Jamaica surprised Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. in the 400-meter hurdles, running 54.06 to 54.09.

Omar McLeod of Jamaica won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.01w (+3.0).

Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia was the class of the field in the women’s 5,000 meters and ran 14:26.89 for the victory.