Kipsang relies on impressive comeback against Paulson to prevail in 3:33.74, eclipsing mark last season of 3:34.68 by Notre Dame’s Nuguse and producing second all-time mark at meet in five years, including New Mexico’s Kerr in 2018; LSU’s McDonald sweeps invitational women’s 800 and 1,500

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

AZUSA, Calif. – Following three days of magnificent matchups, dynamic distance doubles and fantastic finishes at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Eliud Kipsang made sure he was responsible for the most memorable moment Saturday night at Azusa Pacific University’s Cougar Stadium.

The Alabama sophomore standout showcased poise and maturity as he watched Nike Oregon Track Club Elite’s Will Paulson build a significant lead through three laps of the men’s invitational 1,500 meters.

But Kipsang fed off his coaches, teammates and an energetic crowd in the final 250 meters, inspiring an impressive comeback and greatest of all, a collegiate record.

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Kipsang rallied to pass Paulson in the final 20 meters to clock 3 minutes, 33.74 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 3:34.68 achieved last year by Notre Dame’s Yared Nuguse at the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Championships, sparking a celebratory embrace just beyond the finish line with Alabama head coach Dan Waters and assistant Connor Mahoney-Ashberry.

It marked the second time in five years that the Bryan Clay Invitational had produced the fastest 1,500 performance in NCAA history, with New Mexico’s Josh Kerr running 3:35.01 in 2018.

Paulson, representing Canada, held on to run 3:33.97, with both athletes achieving the World Championships standard, as Kipsang relied on a 56.37 split on his final lap to improve on his 3:35.49 effort from last year’s NCAA Division 1 East Regional in Florida.

Northern Arizona’s Abdihamid Nur won his section in 3:36.33 to take third overall, with teammates George Kusche (3:37.31), Nico Young (3:37.75) and Drew Bosley (3:39.32) all finishing in the top 25 among the 12 combined sections.

The Lumberjacks then traveled to the nearby 62nd Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike two hours later and swept the top four spots in the collegiate 5,000 meters, with Kusche prevailing in 13:42.28 as all four Northern Arizona competitors were separated by .04 as they crossed the line as a group.

Eight athletes at Bryan Clay ran sub-3:38 in the opening section of the invitational 1,500, with Nur, Jonathan Davis of Illinois (3:36.85), Luke Houser of Washington (3:37.71) and Young all achieving the feat in the second section.

LSU junior Katy-Ann McDonald produced an outstanding double, following her 2:00.98 performance Thursday in the 800 to win the women’s invitational 1,500 in 4:13.07, holding off Brigham Young’s Lauren Ellsworth in 4:13.60.

Ellsworth finished fifth Thursday in the 800 in 2:01.72 and made a strong surge in the final 250 meters in an attempt to pass McDonald on the outside in the 1,500, but the British competitor responded with 50 meters remaining to regain the advantage and secure her second significant victory in as many days.

Anna Camp-Bennett, an adidas professional athlete and the reigning Division 1 champion in the women’s 1,500, prevailed in her section by a 4:13.96 to 4:14.94 margin against Nike competitor Alexa Efraimson, representing Union Athletics Club.

Nine athletes in the final two sections ran sub-4:16, with New Mexico’s Elise Thorner taking third behind McDonald and Ellsworth in 4:15.10. Anna Gibson of Washington finished third behind Camp-Bennett and Efraimson in 4:15.15.

Aaron Ahl of Simon Fraser elevated to the No. 7 all-time competitor in NCAA Division 2 by running 3:39.97.

Yasmine Hernandez of Colorado State-Pueblo followed her 2:03.74 effort Thursday in the 800 by clocking 4:18.91, ascending to the No. 19 performer in Division 2 history.