Weekend Roundup - July 3, 2017

7/3/2017

 

Sam Kendricks wins Paris Diamond League Meeting

PARIS, France -- On the heels of his 2017 USATF Outdoor title in the pole vault, Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks cleared 5.82m/19-1 to win the Paris Diamond League meeting over world record holder, Renaud Lavillenie of France, and 2015 IAAF World Champion, Shawn Barber of Canada.

 

Following the competition, Kendricks told media, “My main goal is to jump 5.80m at every competition this year. I don’t want to go under this mark. But the most important thing tonight was the consistency and the clear jump until 5.72m/18-9.25.”

 

With his performance in Paris, Kendricks made it clear that he’s in good form and ready to contend for a medal in London.

 

Also of note, reigning Olympic gold and silver medalists Christian Taylor and Will Claye claimed the top two spots in the men’s triple jump with marks of 17.29m/56-8.75 and 17.18m/56-4.25.

 

Devon Allen, fresh off his third place finish at the USATF Outdoor Championships, took second in the men’s 110mh in a season’s best, 13.10, proving he is rounding into shape ahead of the IAAF World Championships in London.

 

Lastly, Ben True took sixth in the men’s 3000m running 7:35:53, a lifetime best for the American.

 

Team “New York Empire” Claims TrackTown Summer Series Win in Portland

PORTLAND, Oregon -- On the second stop of its coast-to-coast tour, the TrackTown Summer Series was host to numerous outstanding performances at Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon.

 

With team competition on full display, it was “New York Empire” that reigned supreme, highlighted by several strong individual battles. 2016 Rio Olympian Ben Blankenship claimed the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:37.42, followed closely by Kyle Merber in 3:37.43.

 

Olympic champion Michelle Carter displayed her dominance with a throw of 18.97m/62-3 in the women’s shot put. Her “Philadelphia Force” and Team USATF teammate, Ryan Whiting, won the men’s shot put in 21.13m/69-4.25.

 

After making his first national team at the USATF Outdoor Championships last weekend, Drew Windle was victorious in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:46.21, scoring points for the “Portland Pulse”.

 

New York Empire dominated with a final count of 86 points, followed by Philadelphia 85, San Francisco, 80 and Portland 78.

 

Sara Hall wins Gold Coast Half Marathon

QUEENSLAND, Australia -- American Sara Hall claimed top honors at the ASICSAustralia Half Marathon with a time of 1:10:32. 2016 Rio Olympian Desiree Linden finished just behind Hall in fourth with a time of 1:12:17.

 

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