Coleman runs No. 2 all-time 6.37 in 60 meters, trailing only his world-record 6.34 on same track in 2018; Crouser launches second-best indoor shot put of 74-1.75 (22.60m), Cunningham captures fifth high jump title in a row and Morris soars again over 16 feet in pole vault to outlast Suhr

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

ALBUQUERQUE – Just like he did two years ago, Christian Coleman closed the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships with a spectacular sprint showcase, producing the second-fastest 60-meter dash in history at 6.37 seconds, trailing only his world-record run of 6.34 on the same track at Albuquerque Convention Center.

But the rest of the two-day meet was filled with fantastic field event storylines and dominant distance performances and Saturday highlighted both with several historic efforts.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS | VIDEO COVERAGE

Ryan Crouser captured back-to-back shot put championships, producing a fourth-round mark of 74 feet, 1.75 inches (22.60m), the No. 2 performance in history, trailing only the 1989 indoor world record of 74-4.25 (22.66m) by fellow American Randy Barnes.

Crouser, who became the first American male athlete to repeat in the event since Ryan Whiting in 2013-14, joined Barnes as the only shot putters in history to surpass 74 feet both indoors and outdoors.

Crouser had four marks in his series over 71 feet, all well in front of runner-up Nick Ponzio at 68-5 (20.85m). After missing the meet record last year by one-half inch, Crouser achieved the best indoor performance since Barnes and East Germany’s Ulf Timmerman rewrote the record books in a three-week span in 1989.

Vashti Cunningham became the first American female high jumper to win five years in a row, clearing 6-5.50 (1.97m) on her third attempt. It marked the eighth career national championship for Cunningham, who is looking to sweep both indoor and outdoor titles for the fourth year in a row at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

Cunningham, who captured her first title at age 18 in Portland in 2016, has yet to lose in nine indoor meets in the U.S. during her career, including four victories in Albuquerque.

Sandi Morris and Jenn Suhr engaged in another exceptional pole vault showdown, with Morris achieving a third-attempt clearance at 16-0.75 (4.90m) to deny Suhr a record-tying eighth career indoor title.

Morris captured her third indoor championship in five years, also needing a third-attempt clearance at 15-7 (4.75m) to remain in the competition. Both Morris and Suhr cleared 15-11 (4.85m) on their first tries, before Morris made her fifth career indoor clearance of at least 16 feet to add to the titles she won in 2016-17.

Suhr, the world indoor record holder at 16-6 (5.03m), achieved her best indoor clearance since 2016. Morris cleared at least 16 feet indoors for the first time in back-to-back meets in her career after making 16-1.25 (4.91m) on Feb. 8 at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory in New York.

Morris became the first female athlete to achieve 16-foot clearances in consecutive indoor meets since Suhr accomplished feat at the USATF Championships and World Championships in Portland in 2016.

Washington senior Olivia Gruver placed third, clearing 15-5 (4.70m) to elevate to the No. 2 all-time indoor performer, trailing only the 15-7 (4.75m) achieved in 2015 in Albuquerque by Stephen F. Austin standout Demi Payne.

Shelby Houlihan completed her fifth career sweep of distance championships, adding the 1,500 victory in 4:06.41 to her 3,000 win Friday in 8:52.03, with the Nike Bowerman Track Club sweeping the top three spots in both races with Colleen Quigley and Karissa Schweizer.

Houlihan, who won the 2-mile title last year but was edged in the mile final by Quigley, earned her seventh career indoor crown and 13th national title overall.

Ajee’ Wilson not only captured her fifth career indoor 800-meter championship, but won a national title for the fifth year in a row at three different distances.

Wilson clocked 2:01.98 to prevail against Kaela Edwards (2:02.41), giving her 800 crowns in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and Saturday. She also won the 1,000 last year and 600 in 2017, with the only interruption in her streak a sixth-place finish in the 600 in 2015.

Janeah Stewart repeated in the women’s weight throw with a fourth-round effort of 80-9.25 (24.62m), becoming the first female athlete to capture back-to-back titles since Gwen Berry in 2016-17. Stewart also became the first individual to surpass 80 feet in consecutive championships since Amber Campbell in 2009-10.

Donald Scott also defended his triple jump championship with a second-round mark of 56-6.75 (17.24m), helping him equal the No. 13 American all-time indoor performer. Scott became the first athlete since Aarik Wilson in 2007-08 to repeat, capturing his third indoor title in four years overall.

Robyn Stevens became the first American female athlete to win both the women’s outdoor 50-kilometer race walk and indoor 3,000-meter race walk titles. Stevens captured her first career indoor championship, clocking 13:12.54.

Wadeline Jonathas, who ran a world-leading 51.32 in the 400-meter semifinals, captured her first national indoor title in 51.54 after winning the NCAA Division 1 outdoor crown last year at South Carolina. Alabama A&M fifth-year senior NaAsha Robinson placed second, achieving a new collegiate-leading mark of 51.98.

Mikiah Brisco matched the world lead in the women’s 60-meter dash final, winning the championship in 7.04 seconds. Javianne Oliver, the 2018 champion, ran 7.04 in the semifinals, but clocked 7.08 in the final, as Brisco – the 2017 NCAA DIvision 1 100-meter champion at LSU – secured her first indoor crown.

Quanesha Burks elevated to the No. 4 performer in the world this year with her first indoor title in the long jump, producing a first-round mark of 22-2.25 (6.76m) to edge reigning champion Kate Hall at 21-11.50 (6.69m). Hall prevailed against Burks at last year’s final in Staten Island by a 21-4.25 (6.51m) to 20-11.75 (6.39m) margin.

Bryce Hoppel won his first professional indoor 800 championship in 1:46.67 after sweeping both the NCAA Division 1 indoor and outdoor titles last year at Kansas.

Josh Thompson gave the Bowerman group another title by winning his first 1,500 crown in 3:44.07.

Rashard Clark, a former NCAA Division 2 champion at Texas A&M Commerce, won the men’s 400 title out of the first section by clocking 45.86, equaling the No. 2 performance in the world this year.

Gabriele Cunningham, a former All-American at North Carolina State, won the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 7.92. Aaron Mallett, a former All-American at Iowa, prevailed in the men’s 60-meter hurdles final in 7.54 after taking runner-up last year to Devon Allen.