Oregon's Klaudia Kazimierska Tunes Up For NCAAs With 4:03 Victory In Women's 1,500

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ken Martinez Photos

Eduardo Herrera made a devastating move out of the chase pack and seized control of the men's 5,000 meters on Saturday night at the Sound Running Track Fest at Jack Kemp Stadium at Occidental College in Los Angeles. 

Herrera, who grew up in California and starred at Colorado, runs for Under Armour Dark Sky and competes internationally for Mexico. 

He was well prepared to seize an opportunity in his first outdoor race of the season and he not only achieved the World Championships standard of 13:01, he also broke the Mexican national record when he crossed the finish line in 12:58.57.

Ky Robinson of On Athletics, up in front for most of the race, was second in 13:05.23 and Morgan Beadlescomb of adidas was third in 13:05.47. Woody Kincaid of Swoosh TC was fourth in 13:06.16 and Ahmed Muhumed of HOKA NAZ Elite was fifth in 13:07.49. 

Herrera's result was among a handful of exceptional performances. 

Oregon's Klaudia Kazimierska, who won the Big Ten Conference 800 meters last weekend, won the women's 1,500 meters in 4:03.26, edging out New Balance pro Emily Mackay (4:03.33) and Nike's Katie Snowden (4:03.74).

Kazimierska's time is the third-fastest in-season collegiate performance behind Jenny Simpson and Maia Ramsden.

Elise Thorner of New Balance ran the No. 3 all-time British clocking in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase with her victory in 9:17.57. Seven women went under 9:30 in the race.

Olympic bronze medalist Kenneth Rooks of Nike ran 8:14.25 to win the men's steeplechase by six seconds over Swoosh TC's Duncan Hamilton (8:20.28). 

Australian Linden Hall of Puma won the women's 5,000 meters in 14:43.61 to secure a World standard time and was joined under the magical number of 14:50 by Great Britain's Melissa Courtney-Bryant, representing New Balance, was second in 14:48.20. Hannah Nuttall of New Balance was just over in third place, in 14:50.42. 

Jake Wightman of New Balance, 2022 world champion, won the men's 1,500 meters in 3:35.26. Sam Ellis of On was second in 3:35.77. Sam Prakel (adidas) and Luke Houser (Atlanta Track Club Elite) were third and fourth. 

Mark English of Asics won the men's 800 meters in 1:44.75. In fourth, Craig Engels ran a personal best time of 1:45.73.

Sage Hurta-Klecker of On won the women's 800 meters in 1:59.02 and gapped the field. Brooks Beasts' Valery Tobias drew close late and finished second (1:59.49). 

Sammy Watson of adidas won the second section of the women's 800 in 2:00.90, just ahead of Simone Plourde, second in 2:00.04.

Olympic champion Athing Mu-Nikolayev, running another over-distance race, finished second in the third section of the women's 1,500 in 4:10.70. 

High schooler Sadie Engelhardt, representing New Balance and racing for the first time since indoor season, ran in the second-fastest women's 1,500 race and took eighth in 4;18.10.