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6/17/2016
BOSTON -- The adidas Boost Boston Games started with a bang Friday night at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, as prepster Kate Murphy ran the third-fastest HS 1500m of all time to highlight the action.
Murphy (Burke, Virginia) wrote her name down in the history books Friday, cruising to the adidas Dream 1500m victory in 4:07.21, easily recording a new personal best. Murphy led from the gun and never looked back, winning decisively by nearly seven seconds. Murphy now ranks third in U.S. high school history behind Mary Cain (2013 - 4:04.62) and Alexa Efraimson (2014 - 4:07.05). Murphy will be a senior at Lake Braddock High School this fall.
The boys’ high school Dream Mile went down on Friday night, as Thomas Ratcliffe and Jack Salisbury battled on the bell lap for the title belt. Ratcliffe (Concord, Massachusetts) led from the start and took it out quick, but on the final lap, it was Salisbury (Providence, Rhode Island) who had a bit of speed left in his legs. Closing over the final 50 meters, Salisbury passed Ratcliffe to win in 4:04.20. Ratcliffe was just on his heels, getting edged at the line in 4:04.41.
2016 Olympic hopefuls Ajee’ Wilson and Molly Ludlow looked to be in fine form Friday, recording their first sub-2 times of 2016 to become the second and third Americans to record sub-2 races this outdoor season. Wilson (Neptune, New Jersey) led in usual fashion, taking the race out front after taking over the lead from the pacer, Jessica Beard. Wilson continued to push the pace with Jamaica’s Natoya Goule and Wilson’s compatriot Molly Ludlow (Worthington, Ohio) just behind her with 300 meters to go. On the homestraight, it was Wilson who had the victory in hand, with Ludlow passing Goule in the final 100 meters. Wilson crossed in 1:59.72 with Ludlow right on her heels in 1:59.93.
Olympic gold medalist Francena McCorory (Hampton, Virginia) made it look easy Friday, cruising to victory in the women’s 400 meters. McCorory led from the gun to close in 50.46, just off her season’s best.
Marielle Hall (Haddonfield, New Jersey) and Abbey D’Agostino (Topsfield, Massachusetts) both nabbed Olympic Games qualifiers Friday night, finishing 2-3 behind Meseret Defar in the women’s 5000m. Defar stayed with pacer Molly Ludlow to keep an 8-10 second gap between her and the chase pack. Hall led the group and closed Defar’s lead with two laps remaining. Defar put on the afterburners on her bell lap to finish in 15:06.96. Hall and D’Agostino were next in 15:13.66 and 15:22.29, both qualifying the athletes for the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. Emily Sisson (Providence, Rhode Island) also turned in an OTQ, finishing sixth in 15:24.83, just .83 off the Olympic standard.
Also turning in Olympic Trials standards Friday night were 2013 and 2016 World team member Cory McGee (Pass Christian, Mississippi) and Rachel Schneider (Dover, New Hampshire), who finished 1-2 in the pro women’s 1500m in 4:08.65 and 4:09.29.
Saturday will feature the fastest men and women in the world racing down Charles Street on a specially installed, elevated straight track between Boston Common and the Public Garden. Fans and visitors to the park will feel the rush as Olympic and World Champion sprinters, hurdlers, pole vaulters, and long jumpers take center stage in the heart of Boston.
The adidas Boost Boston Games will be broadcast live from Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday, June 18 on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra. Check your local TV listings for NBCSN.
On-demand videos for both days will only be available with a USATF.TV +PLUS subscription (sign up here).
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