Record-Breaking Performances Dominate US Collegiate Indoor Track and Field
Exceptional athletic feats highlighted this Friday's collegiate Indoor track and field competitions across the US.
Tinoda Matsatsa, a freshman from Georgetown, made history by setting a new NCAA record in the indoor 1000m, clocking in at 2:18.05.
At the Hokie Invitational on Saturday, Matsatsa clinched the record with a first-place finish, surpassing the previous record held by Texas runner Yusuf Bizimana, who just last weekend set a time of 2:18.10.
In his debut season at Georgetown, Matsatsa has triumphed in all three of his races, each in different events: the 1000m at Virginia Tech, the 600m at Penn State, and the 800m at Boston University.
Meanwhile, Nico Young of NAU track & field delivered an exceptional performance at the Lumberjack Team Challenge in the Skydome, notably achieving the fastest indoor mile by an American at altitude. Young's groundbreaking sub-4 minute mile, clocked at 3:57.33, not only secured his victory but also stands as the leading time in the NCAA this season after altitude adjustment.
In another remarkable feat, freshman Temitope Adeshina of Texas Tech shattered the school's indoor high jump record, achieving a height of 1.96m (6-5) at the Texas Tech Corky Classic Sports Performance Center.
Adeshina drew attention with a season-best of 1.85m (6-0.25) on her fourth attempt, and after an initial miss, succeeded at 1.88m (6-2). She then broke the school record with a first-attempt clearance at 1.91m (6-3.25), surpassing Zarriea Willis' 2018 record of 1.89m (6-2.25). Her final successful jump at 1.96m (6-5), which she cleared on her last try, not only marked an extraordinary achievement for her but also tied her for the third-highest jump in NCAA history, placing her at the forefront of both NCAA and world rankings.
At the Dr. Martin Luther King Collegiate Invitational in Albuquerque, Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, a double world finalist, launched her season impressively by securing first place in the 200m race with a time of 22.28 seconds on Saturday (20). Alfred, narrowly defeated her training companion, Rhasidat Adeleke. Adeleke, setting a new Irish record, finished with a time of 22.49 seconds. Earlier that day, she had already broken her own 60m Irish record, clocking in at 7.15 seconds, now ranking second this season, just behind Aleia Hobbs' 7.11.
Alfred, renowned for being the second-fastest in history over 60m, is preparing to compete in this event at the upcoming Millrose Games in New York. This World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting will feature competitors like Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, the 2019 world 200m champion. Asher-Smith, too, showcased her prowess in Albuquerque, winning the 300m race and setting a British record with a time of 36.77 seconds.
In the men's events, Yusuf Bizimana, the NCAA champion, triumphed in the 800m with a time of 1:46.47, and Kenya's Amon Kemboi clinched victory in the mile, finishing in 3:58.30.
At a separate competition in Lubbock, Devynne Charlton, the world indoor 60m hurdles silver medalist, bettered her personal best and national record for the Bahamas, winning the invitational 60m hurdles in 7.75 seconds, an improvement from her 7.88 performance the previous weekend.
