Schippers secures sprint double, Kerr delivers dynamic stretch run

Dutch star, representing Tumbleweed Track Club, sweeps 100 and 200, with New Mexico sophomore grabbing global bragging rights in 1,500 meters

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

New Mexico sophomore Josh Kerr ran the fastest time in the world Friday in the 1,500 meters at the Azusa Pacific Bryan Clay Outdoor Invitational, clocking 3 minutes, 35.99 seconds to hold off Ole Miss senior Craig Engels, who produced the best mark by an American this year to improve to No. 3 in the world at 3:37.75.

Kerr, from Great Britain, became the sixth collegiate performer ever to run under 3:36.00 during the season and the first since 2012.

Earlier in the day at Azusa Pacific, Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers became the first woman in the world this year to run under 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash with her wind-legal 10.95 to beat American and Tumbleweed Track Club teammate Tianna Bartoletta in 11.08.

Schippers added another world-leading mark by clocking 22.29 in the 200, with Tumbleweed teammate Desiree Henry clocking 22.69.

Carsyn Koch, a junior at NCAA Division 2 Cedarville University in Ohio, ran the fastest time by an American this year and No. 2 in the world in the women’s 1,500 by clocking 4:12.19, edging Arkansas junior Nikki Hiltz, who took over the Division 1 lead in 4:12.71 to improve to fourth in the world.

Olympic triple jump gold medalist Christian Taylor improved to No. 3 in the world this year with his final-round wind-legal leap of 56-7.50 (17.26m) to set meet and stadium records.

Great Britain’s Adam Gemili, also representing Tumbleweed, ran a wind-legal 10.08 in the men’s 100 to elevate to No. 9 in the world this year. Tumbleweed teammate Abdul Hakim Sani Brown of Japan clocked a wind-legal 20.41 in the 200 – No. 8 in the world this season – along with 10.18 in the 100.

Victoria Tachinski of Vincent Massey Collegiate in British Columbia, Canada prevailed in the women’s 800 in 2:04.44, with Fresno State senior Annemarie Schwanz taking second in 2:04.65.

Sharona Bakker of Tumbleweed ran a wind-legal 12.97 in the women’s 100 hurdles.

Shara Proctor of adidas won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 45-4.25 (13.82m).