Brooks Beasts Slash Nine Seconds Off 4xMile WR

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Led by Izaic Yorks' anchor leg of 3:57.1, and pushed by the competitive effort of the HOKA ONE ONE New Jersey New York Track Club, the Brooks Beasts knocked down the world record Saturday in the 4xMile relay, running 16:03.68 at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge.

The Seattle-based Brooks Beasts, which included legs from David Ribich, Henry Wynne and Brannon Kidder, took nine seconds off the 2017 performance of 16:21.81 by the NJNY TC.  

VIDEOS | RESULTS | PHOTOS | TUOHY GAINS EXPERIENCE VS PROS

"I think a big part of it is when we started talking about this in October, our coach was reasonable," Yorks said. "He never blows up your head. Having someone who's realistic, who tells you that, that puts the message subliminally in your head. Once we had that it was, 'Who are we going to race against?'"

Coach Frank Gagliano's NJNY TC was up for the race in an effort to defend the training group's record.  

"One of the issues was a lot of teams won't race each other," Brooks Beasts coach Danny Mackey said. "They would work out and work out, but never race. It's huge for Gags and his guys to do that. We knew they had sub-four guys and that he'd bring experienced guys. Our sport needs a lot more of that. It's definitely going to (have an impact) on the sport."

Yorks, who was second in the the 1,500 meters at the 2018 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, was a standout at the University of Washington.  

In the college pole vault competition, UCLA freshman Sondre Guttormsen cleared 5.71m (18-8.75) to break a Norwegian national indoor record. He had the bar raised and missed at 5.76m (18-10.75).

BYU's men scored 89 points and beat Ohio State (81) and UCLA (79) for the team title. 

On the women's side, Ohio State (74) beat Duke (67.5), Villanova (59) and South Carolina (59).

In the women's invitational mile, Samford fifth-year senior Karisa Nelson returned to the mile for the first time since the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships with a strong 4:34.81 for second behind Villanova's Nicole Hutchinson (4:33.47). 

Nelson, who broke her right foot last January during a workout, only raced twice during the 2018 indoor season and was forced to medically redshirt the outdoor season.

"It allowed me time to do more research," Nelson said. "Last year, when I broke my foot, I was writing a grant proposal. It was 10 to 12 pages of reseach. … It's great to have something outside of running that keeps you going."

Under the direction of Dr. Brian Gregory, an accomplished Chemistry/Biochemistry professor at her school, Nelson, a Biochemistry and Pre-Med major, has been allowed to tackle multiple research projects. At Samford, a small liberal arts school in Birmingham, Ala., where Nelson landed after larger track programs didn't look at her, she thrived with the academic intimacy in a research setting. 

"Dr. Gregory has always been with me," Nelson said. "I've had a lot of different coaches, but my professors, my mentors, have always been with me."

On the athletic front, things have started to change. When former Furman assistant coach Chad Balyo took over as Samford's distance coach, he and Nelson began to connect.

"She's had four coaches in five years," Balyo said. "So her loyalty to Samford and its track program (are considerable). That's what I was drawn to originally."

The NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March are on Samford's home track.

Before that, Nelson will return to The Armory in two weeks to compete in the Women's Wanamaker Mile at the NYRR Millrose Games.

Anna Shields of NAIA Point Park (Pa.), 27, finished seventh in the mile in 4:39.74. She won five NAIA titles in 2018 after making a comeback to the sport. DYESTAT FEATURE

"I'm glad I didn't give up on this part of myself," Shields said. "It just felt right." 

Jayla Kirkland of Florida State completed a sprint double by winning the 200 meters in 23.76 seconds. She won the 60 on Friday.

South Carolina's Wadeline Jonathas won the 400 meters in 53.46 seconds.

UCLA's Robert Brandt pushed himself under eight minutes in the 3,000 meters, running alone out front and breaking the tape in 7:59.11.

In the professional races, Ajee' Wilson of adidas won the 600 meters in 1:25.91 and beat first-year pro Olivia Baker (1:26.75).

Craig Engels of the Nike Oregon Project won the men's 1,000 meters in 2:18.98.

Byron Robinson, an Olympic 400-meter hurdler, edged out Erik Sowinski in the men's 600 meters, 1:16.65 to 1:16.75.

Natoya Goule won the women's 1,000 meters, in 2:37.55. Laura Roesler was second in 2:38.11.

Joe Kovacs, warming up for the upcoming NYRR Millrose Games and a showdown with Olympic champion Ryan Crouser, won the shot put with 68-1.75 (20.77m).

Kate Hall, formerly of Georgia, won the women's long jump in her pro debut with a leap of 21-4.75 (6.52m).

In high school action, Athing Mu of Trenton NJ ran U.S. No. 3 all-time in the 1,000 meters, 2:44.44 in her first attempt at the distance. FDR NY's Sarah Trainor, who stayed close, was second in 2:48.81.

"I feel pretty good about the race," Mu said. "I want to run under 2:04 in the 800 and just PR in the 400 because I've already run 52."

Passaic NJ's Luis Peralta ran U.S. No. 11 all time at 1,000 meters, running 2:24.53. He held off Bronxville NY's Matt Rizzo (2:25.41) and St. Benedict's NJ's Alfred Chawonza (2:25.77).

"It showed me I still have a lot of work to do," said Peralta, who'll run in the high school 600-meter race at the NYRR Milrose Games. "I know that I had more in the tank."

St. John Neumann PA ran 9:13.85 to win the girls 4x800 meter relay.