Kerr Runs U.S. Soil 1,500 Record 3:31.55 As Stumptown Twilight Points Way To Busy June In Oregon As COVID Rules Ease A Bit

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

On two evenings last week and Thursday's sun-splashed afternoon at the Stumptown Twilight, the sport of track and field seems rejuvenated to a pre-pandemic level just in the nick of time. 

Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts ran the fastest 1,500 meters ever on U.S. soil on at Lewis and Clark's Griswold Stadium, 3:31.55. That was five days after Hobbs Kessler's mind-boggling 3:34.36 that smashed the national high school record. 

But more than that, even without the usual array of fans in the grandstand, the social scene on the infield returned. Portland Track accepted completed vaccination cards as evidence of miniscule-to-zero risk and created a big bubble. 

People gathered, talked to one another (mostly without masks), shook hands. 

It was very 2019, which is a good thing because the biggest meets of the year are stacking up in the next few weeks in Eugene – with the NCAA Division 1 Championships, U.S. Olympic Team Trials and NSAF High School National Championships all coming to Hayward Field. 

INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS by Kim Spir | RESULTS

On Wednesday, Oregon director of track and field Robert Johnson implored reporters gathered on a Zoom call to point out that Lane County only needed 2,000-3,000 more people to get vaccinated to meet a threshold that might raise the number of people who can watch the upcoming events in person. 

"This is it, man. This is what I live for," said Nike's Craig Engels after a public "workout" that included an 800 meters (1:46.14), a 5,000 and three-fifths of another 5,000.

"The community, talking to people you haven't seen in a year or two, catching up, jogging around, I love all of this. I see all my friends that live in Nashville and North Carolina and the south, and the world's opening back up. Portland's one of the last places, but we're the only ones hosting meets that are full-on."

Thursday's meet was in some ways a continuation of last weekend's Portland Track Festival. It was last-chance opportunity for some to try and earn an Olympic Trials berth, or shoot for an Olympic Games standard. Or for talented high school kids to jump in fast races against pros and whittle down their personal bests. 

Or, for many others in the open events, to put a year's worth of out-the-door running to the test with a rare opportunity to be in a race with fully automatic timing and announcing. 

Kerr's 1,500 was the highlight. He went through 1,100 at 2:34 and closed in 57 seconds for a one-second personal best and a boost of momentum as he prepares for the British Trials later this month. 

"It shows my fitness, and I'm ready to rock," Kerr said. "Next job is to make it to the Olympic Games, and from there to get a medal."

The reigning Olympic 1,500 champion, Matthew Centrowitz, brought an all-business approach to the meet and showed that he is ready to make a stout title defense this summer. 

Centrowitz ran three consecutive 800-meter races – with eight minutes rest in between – and covered them in 1:49.72, 1:50.33 and 1:53.92. 

In the women's 5,000 meters, Emily Infeld and Vanessa Fraser ran Trials qualifying standards (15:20) but teammate Marielle Hall did not. 

In the men's 1,500 meters, Abdirizak Ibrahim of New Mexico and Jack Yearian of Oregon nailed down Trials qualifying times just a few days after failing to qualifying for the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. 

And a handful of preps seized the opportunity to extend their limited seasons by running against older, faster athletes. 

John Lester from Amador Valley CA ran 1:47.65 for No. 6 all-time in the 800 meters and won the third heat with a time that puts him on the bubble for a Trials spot. 

"This has been one of the toughest years of my life," Lester said. "I came off last season 1:48.26, hot as a pistol, then ran it again in 1:48.9-something. I struggled really hard with COVID (lockdown) and an injury that I had. This is Week 8 of training for me. 

"I've had the most support, I think, of any runner in the world. My parents, my coach, they loved me to death, and I love them back."

Lincoln OR senior Mateo Althouse ran a lifetime best 1,500 meters for the third week in a row, lowering to 3:47.34 and breaking the school record held by Mike McGrath (3:47.50). McGrath was on hand to see it and offer his congratulations. 

Jesuit OR junior Chloe Foerster, likewise, took advantage of pro-level pacing to run a lifetime best and No. 2 all-time Oregon 1,500 meters, clocking 4:20.42 for a US#1.

In a boys 3,200 meters (rarely contested in Oregon) that drew together some of the top distance runners from Oregon and Washington, seven dipped under nine minutes in what was intended to be an Arcadia Invitational-type moment. Even with several notables from both states not in the race, South Medford OR junior Michael Maiorano (8:51.38) and Kamiakin WA junior Isaac Teeples (8:51.43) kicked to the finish of an exciting race that points to big things for them in the fall. 

"I haven't had too many opportunities to race, so I was just grateful for this great opportunity to run in a (top) field with everyone running fast," Teeples said.