US titles for Matthew and Galen
28th June 2015 – Matthew Centrowitz (USA) and Galen Rupp (USA) both booked their tickets for the 2015 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing in the best possible way by winning American titles.
The US trials are renowned for their competitive races and huge depth and with the system of first three passed the post being selected there is no room for error. Matthew certainly left nothing to chance as he dominated the last 600m of his 1500m final to cross the line clear in 3:37.25.
Galen hit the front of the 10,000m final with three laps remaining and was never headed again as he gradually increased the pace to move away from his rivals and cross the line in 28:11.61. Incredibly this was Galen’s seventh straight 10,000m title. Not content with making the team once, Galen came back and also contested the 5000m final taking third place in 13:51.54 and confirming selection for that event as well.
In the womens events, Shannon Rowbury (USA) just missed out on the 1500m title but secured a place on the US team with strong second position in 4:14.91. In a group sprint for the line World Junior Champion Mary Cain (USA) was forced to run wide and crossed the line eighth in 4:16.77.
At the Jamaican trials in Kingston there was a successful return and brilliant performance by Commonwealth 100m Champion Kemar Bailey-Cole (JAM). Having been hampered by a hamstring injury for much of the early season Kemar produced a strong final 30m to haul himself onto the Jamaican team by taking third place in the mens 100m final and run a seasons best 9.97 seconds in the process. Ristananna Tracey (JAM) showed that she is coming back into shape with another third position, this time in the womens 400m hurldles.
Schillonie Calvert (JAM) did the sprint double taking sixth place in both the 100m and 200m finals. Mario Forsythe (JAM) ran a seasons best to take sixth in the mens 200m final.
In non-trial events, Nancy Chepkwemoi (KEN) made a huge breakthrough at the British Milers Club event in Watford. When winning in Turku 2 days previously Nancy had narrowly missed the World Championships qualifying standard of 4:06.5. She was not to be stopped in Watford though as she time trialed a 4:03.09 to take over 3 seconds off her personal best. Stephanie Twell (GBR) and Jemma Simpson (GBR) took fifth and tenth positions in the same race. Tom Lancahire (GBR) showed he is coming in to form nicely for next weekends British Championships and Trials with second position in the mens 1500m in 3:38.36. Rhys Williams (GBR) prepared for the British Trials by winning the Welsh Championships over 400m hurdles in Cardiff.
Also making a welcome return was Michael Rimmer who has his first race of the summer over 800m in Sopot. He timed 1:47.62 for sixth position.
Article Tags: Galen Rupp, Jemma Simpson, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Mario Forsythe, Mary Cain, Matthew Centrowitz, Michael Rimmer, Nancy Chepkwemoi, Rhys Williams, Ristananna Tracey, Schillonie Calvert, Shannon Rowbury, Steph Twell, Tom Lancashire