Liam Boylan-Pett, the former Heps champion for Columbia, and Rob Novak, a star in the 800 for Seton Hall, ran lifetime bests Saturday night in the 1,500 in a meet in the USATF High-Performance meet at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
In a rabbited race won by Leonel Manzano, the former Texas ace, Boylan-Pett, who runs for Saucony, finished 6th in 3:40.05, and Novak, of the New York AC, 10th in 3:40.90. Novak had only recently lowered his PR, a month ago, to 3:44. Under the guidance of Coach Frank Gagliano, Novak has been making the transition from the 800 to the mile.
At the Rio World Challenge Grand Prix meet over the weekend in Rio de Janeiro, the ageless Aliann Pompey continued her fine 2010 season, finishing 2nd in the women’s 400. Pompey, who runs for the Shore AC, ran 51.76, .09 behind the winner, Christine Amertil of Guyana. Pompey, who is 32, hopes to represent Guyana at this fall’s Commonwealth Games in India. She was Commonwealth champion in the 400 eight years ago. In March she finished 5th at the World Indoor in Doha.
Another Shore AC competitor, Kevin Becker, had a lifetime best over the weekend, throwing 230-10 in the hammer at the Tucson Elite Throwers Classic in Arizona. Becker, a graduate of Wisconsin/LaCrosse, finished 7th in the men’s division on Saturday, and 5th at 209-10 in Thursday’s competition.
In the women’s hammer in Tucson, NYAC teammates Kristal Yush and Loree Smith competed both days. Yush threw 214-4 on Thursday and 200-1 on Saturday, Smith 212-9 and 212-2.
Rashaud Scott, the NCAA discus champion two years ago for the University of Kentucky and a native of the Bronx, threw the discus both days, throwing 189-1 Thursday and 193-8 on Saturday, his best performances of the year.
Kateema Riettie, who competes for the Central Park Track Club, threw well both days in the women’s javelin. Riettie, 37, who represents her native Jamaica, threw 179-0 Thursday and 178-3 two days later. She was beaten both days by the leading American thrower, Kara Patterson.
Occidental meet
In other races at Saturday’s USATF meet on Saturday in L.A., NYAC clubmates Brendan Mahoney and Sean Tully ran separate 800s. Mahoney was 2nd in Race I in 1:50.26, Tully 4th in Race II in 1:48.54.
New Balance runners Jenny Barringer, Frances Koons and Marina Muncan competed in women’s events. Barringer ran a lifetime best in the 800, 2:02.02, just ahead of New Jersey’s Erin Donohue, of Nike, 2:02.34. Muncan was 6th in the 1,500 in 4:11.60, Koons 10th in 4:16.00.
The men’s javelin winner on Saturday was Bobby Smith, the Monmouth University graduate, who threw 241-9.
National JUCO
Kanicka Beckles of Essex County College placed 2nd in the women’s 400 and 5th in the 200 at the National Junior College Championships over the weekend in Hutchinson, Kan. Beckles, a native of Grenada, ran 54.33 in the 400 and 24.31w in the 200.
Teneisha Davis of Essex failed to advance in the women’s 800, running 2:18.12 in the prelims, and teammate Gerkenz Senesca was eliminated in the men’s high hurdle final for a false start, after qualifying in 14.64.
Kia Allen, competing for Central Arizona, finished 6th in the women’s long jump, at 18-9. Allen is a graduate of Murry Bergtraum High School.
In the men’s highs, Harold Lathan III, a 17-year-old freshman at Marcum College in Philadelphia, finished 3rd in 14.11w.
By Jack Pfeifer
Liam Boylan-Pett, the former Heps champion for Columbia, and Rob Novak, a star in the 800 for Seton Hall, ran lifetime bests Saturday night in the 1,500 in a meet in the USATF High-Performance meet at Occidental College in Los Angeles.