Quick hits for a Thursday morning:
— In the Diamond League Lausanne meet Thursday, the first major event post-Olympics, there was a rematch of sorts in the men’s 1,500 meters, and this time Norway’s Jacob Ingebrigtsen got his revenge of American Cole Hocker, while Flagstaff-based Hobbs Kessler finished third.
All the top 1,500 runners, save Briton Josh Kerr, were vying to go under 3:27 (the wave lights and pacer in place), but the pace slowed slightly in the last 600 meters, and Ingebrigtsen opened a five-meter lead on the final curve and pulled away to avenge his loss to Hocker in Paris.
Kessler was ahead of Hocker, the Olympic gold medalist, at the bell lap. But Hocker, known for his kick, pulled away in the stretch but didn’t have enough to catch Ingebrigtsen, who won in 3:27.83, to Hocker’s 3:29.85. Kessler’s third-place time: 3:30.47.
Earlier in the Lausanne meet, a special 800-meter race (not officially on the Diamond League program) featured many of the 800 Olympic finalists in a rematch, with the expressed purpose of trying to take down David Rushida’s world record on 1:40.91. That didn’t happen, but Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi came close with a world-lead 1:41.11. American Bryce Hoppel, who trains in Flagstaff, finished fourth (same as in the Olympics) in 1:42.63.
— Wednesday, at an international meet in Sweden not affiliated with the Diamond League, Dark Sky Distance’s Vince Ciattei placed fourth in the mile at 3:53.11 in a race won in national-record time by Sweden’s Samuel Pihlstrom.
— Jeff Browning update: Browning, who is attempting the fastest known time on the Colorado Trail, is more than halfway through (as of 10 a.m. Thursday, Mile 270, Cottonwood Pass) and a little behind the pace needed to set the record. Read about Jeff’s quest (for charity) here. Browning has been paced by locals, such as Pete Mortimer, and ultra legends, such as Scott Jurek.
You can follow his progress on his Instagram account.
— Specialty store Run Flagstaff continues its Spike Nights for local prep teams. Tonight (6 p.m.) is reserved for Flagstaff High runners. They’ll have special guests at the store, too: Stanford runners Leo and Lex Young (kids brothers of Olympian Nico) will make an appearance to promote the presale for a new book, “Redefining Fast,” about how he built Newbury Park High’s team (thanks to the Youngs and the Sahlmans) into national champions.
Run Flagstaff’s final Spike Night will be Monday, Aug. 26 and open to all high school runners.
— A pro result from last weekend escaped our grasp, but it’s worth noting now: NAZ Elite’s Stephanie Bruce competed in the La Carrera del Pacifico 10K in Cali, Colombia and placed fifth in 34:26. The race was won by Kenya’s Gladys Kwamboka in 32:19.
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