Norris becomes ninth American female athlete to produce sub-4 performance in 1,500 meters with 3:59.72 effort, Alexander just misses running fastest U.S. time this year with 3:33.65 victory at Trabuco Hills High; Herrera, Rawlings win elite mile races, with Aragon, Hassan, Johnson and Kidder all earning 800 victories

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Chuck Utash

Colby Alexander and Josette Norris both experienced similar disappointment at the United States Olympic Trials by advancing to the finals of their respective events, only to endure eighth-place finishes in their quest to compete next month in Tokyo.

Perhaps it was only fitting that both athletes returned to the track at the same meet Sunday night at the Sound Running Sunset Tour event at Trabuco Hills High in Mission Viejo, Calif., and each did so in memorable fashion in the 1,500 meters.

SOUND RUNNING SUNSET TOUR RESULTS | SOUND RUNNING SUNSET TOUR PHOTOS | AMERICAN TRACK LEAGUE RESULTS | AMERICAN TRACK LEAGUE PHOTOS

Norris became only the ninth female athlete in American history to eclipse the 4-minute barrier in the 1,500, with the Reebok Boston Track Club athlete covering the final lap in 60.94 seconds to clock 3:59.72 and rally past Nike competitor and Australian Olympian Jessica Hull (4:00.73) for the victory.

Norris, who placed eighth in the 5,000-meter final June 21 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., elevated to the No. 2 American 1,500 competitor and 10th in the world this year.

Nikki Hiltz, representing adidas, took third in 4:02.94 and Michaela Meyer of Virginia finished fourth in 4:04.02, making her the No. 4 all-time collegiate competitor on the all-dates list. Only Jenny Simpson, Hull and Sinclaire Johnson have run faster at any point in their collegiate careers.

Rachel Schneider, competing for HOKA ONE ONE and representing the U.S. in the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, was fifth in 4:04.12 and Canadian Olympian Julie-Anne Staehli, also racing the 5,000 in Tokyo, placed sixth in 4:04.82.

Alexander, representing Empire Elite, was in control throughout, creating separation from the field over the final two laps, closing in 57.29 to run a personal-best 3:33.65, the second-fastest time by an American this year, trailing only the 3:33.64 produced May 29 by Nike athlete Craig Engels at the Portland Track Festival.

Alexander, who improved his previous-best effort from 2016 by more than a second, elevated to the No. 17 all-time American competitor. He ranks No. 27 in the world this year after placing eighth in the 1,500 final June 27 at Hayward Field.

Luis Grijalva, a Northern Arizona graduate representing HOKA ONE ONE and competing for Guatemala in the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, placed second behind Alexander in 3:35.32.

Daniel Herrera, the national record holder from Mexico, led eight athletes across multiple sections of the men’s mile to sub-4 performances, winning in 3:57.40, holding off a late surge from American Garrett Heath – competing for the Brooks Beasts – who closed in 57.96 to clock 3:57.49.

Former Kansas athlete Bryce Richards continued his impressive summer by winning an earlier section in 3:58.63, including a 56.38 final lap to place sixth overall.

Taryn Rawlings, a Portland graduate competing for Under Armour Dark Sky Distance, won the women’s mile in 4:28.93, edging American 800-meter Olympian Raevyn Rogers (4:29.26) and Canadian 3,000-meter steeplechase Olympian Genevieve Lalonde (4:29.99).

Dani Aragon, representing Empire Elite, won the women’s 800 in 2:01.87, with Canadian athlete Julianne Labach placing second in 2:02.06. New Balance competitor Mariah Kelly won an earlier section in 2:03.80.

Wisconsin athlete Abdullahi Hassan won the men’s 800 in 1:46.16, with Izaic Yorks of the Brooks Beasts placing runner-up in 1:46.79 and Vincent Ciattei of Nike Oregon Track Club Elite taking third in 1:46.82.

During the American Track League schedule showcased on the ESPN platform earlier in the afternoon at Trabuco Hills, Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts won the men’s 800 in 1:45.26, with former Iowa State standout and Kenyan athlete Festus Lagat clocking 1:45.69.

Johnson, representing Nike Bowerman Track Club, won the women’s 800 during the American Track League schedule in 2:00.63, with Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts placing second in 2:01.41.

Isaac Updike won the men’s mile in 3:58.26 and fellow American Liam Meirow was runner-up in 3:59.40.

Candace Hill, an ASICS athlete, won the women’s 100-meter dash and 200 meters in wind-aided efforts of 10.99 and 22.30.

Jamaica’s Megan Tapper won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 12.48. Yohan Blake edged fellow Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer 20.213 to 20.219 in the men’s 200.

Jamaican Jevaughn Minzie held off American Chris Royster by a 10.087 to 10.090 margin in the men’s 100-meter dash.

American Chase Ealey triumphed in the women’s shot put with a sixth-round mark of 63-9.75 (19.45m).

Fellow American Darrell Hill prevailed in the men’s showdown against Italian Olympian and former USC standout Nick Ponzio with a third-round effort of 70-0.50 (21.35m). Ponzio had a first-round performance of 68-7 (20.90m).

American Khalifah Rosser clocked 45.74 in the men’s 400 meters, with Jamaica’s Tovea Jenkins triumphing in the women’s 400 in 51.53. Rhoda Whyte, also from Jamaica, secured victory in the women’s 400 hurdles in 55.57.