New Yorker Aisling Cuffe, for a second time, failed to make this week’s World Juniors meet, which gets under way tonight in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Cuffe was one of three young women entered into this evening’s women’s 3,000-meter final for the United States, but only her teammates Jordan Hasay and Emily Sisson were declared for the event. Nations are limited to two athletes per event. Hasay and Sisson also are entered in other events later in the meet. Only declarations for 3,000 have been posted so far.
Cuffe won the U.S. trials in the 5,000 meters but had not met the qualifying standard. She had the Q in the 3k, in which she finished third behind Hasay and Sisson.
In tonight’s race, scheduled for 7:25 p.m., the top entrants are Mercy Chereno of Kenya (PR of 8:44.67) and Layes Abdullayeva of Azerbaijan (8:49.65). Hasay and Sisson have both run 9:18 outdoors, while Hasay has an indoor best of 9:12.
The American Junior record is 8:57.27, set 28 years ago by Ceci Hopp of Stanford. The national high school record – Sisson is a recent high school graduate from Nebraska – is even older, 9:08.6 by Lynn Bjorklund of New Mexico in 1975. /JP/