Hocker 3:45.94 NRi/WL (3:30.80 NRi/WL), Lutkenhaus 1:44.03 U20WRi
WINSTON-SALEM (USA, February 14). Olympic champion Cole Hawker set a new lifetime record, US short track record and world-leading 3:45.94, the second-fastest time ever indoors, in the one-mile Asics Sound Invite (WIT Silver). Bettering her previous best from last year’s Pre Classic by 1.49 seconds, Hawker also posted her short track best of 3:30.80 NR/WL (second on the all-time indoor list) in the 1,500m split. Cooper Teare finished second (3:50.49, 3:34:35 PBi) ahead of Vincent Siatte (3:51.70, 3:33.74 PB), with 16-year-old New Zealander Sam Rutte finishing seventh in the final lap (3:52.46).
Cooper Lutkenhaus, 17, produced another fine performance to win the U20 short track 800m world record in 1:44.03 over St Vincent’s Handal Roban (1:44.73 NRi). Nico Young improved to 7:33.32 in the 3000m, beating Jared Nuguze (7:33.78) and Ethan Strand (7:35.29), with world steeplechase champion Geordie Beamish seventh (7:39.79). Fast Women’s 800m by Sage Hurta-Klecker in 1:58.78 PBi ahead of Olivia Baker (1:59.18 PBi), Valerie Tobias (1:59.30 PB) and Natoya Gul-Toppin (1:59.47). Nikki Hiltz won the 3000m in 8:34.98 from Sinclair Johnson (8:35.48 PB), Kenya’s Suzanne Ejor (8:37.84 PB), Kaylee Delay (8:39.72 PB) and Shelby Houlihan (8:39.97). Emily Mackay topped the women’s mile with a 4:22.43 PB (4:06.47 1500m split) over Sadie Engelhardt (4:23.84 PB) and Annie Rodenfels 5000m (15:13.72). Andrew Hunter won the men’s 5000m in 13:10.87 PBi ahead of Abdihamid Noor (13:11.59) and India’s Gulveer Singh (13:15.84). Germany’s Paul Specht improved to 3:52.95 in the one-mile B race.
