The American wins the men’s 800m while Tshepo Tshite defeats Olympic champion Cole Hawker in a thrilling men’s 3000m.
Brandon Miller produced one of the standout performances of the USATF Grand Prix of Los Angeles on Sunday (June 14), winning the elite men’s 800m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet.
The American hit his perfect stride after 2023 world 1500m champion Josh Kerr injected speed into the run after the paceman pulled away. Kerr led with 300 meters to go but couldn’t sustain the effort as Miller powered through the closing stages to win in 1:43.94.
Handal Robben finished second in 1:45.32, while 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier continued his comeback to take third in 1:45.41. Kerr faded on the final straight and crossed the line in fourth.
The men’s 3000m also had a dramatic finish as South Africa’s Tshepo Tshite edged out Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hawker in a battle for victory.
Tshite clocked 7:37.57, with Hawker just two-tenths behind in 7:37.77 after charging late in the final lap. The pair were well clear of the rest of the field in one of the tightest distance races of the meeting.
While the middle distance events were the excitement, Tara Davies-Woodhall produced one of the field performances of the year in the women’s long jump.
The Olympic and world champion opened her outdoor campaign with a world-leading 7.20m, adding two centimeters to the personal best she set in 2024 indoors and moving her to 19th on the world all-time list. He also recorded wind-aided marks of 7.25m, 7.14m and 7.09m during a great run.
Earlier in the day, Davies-Woodhall also showed her versatility with a lifetime best of 12.47 in the 100m hurdles. Olympic champion Masai Russell won the race in a meet record 12.26, while Grace Stark was third in 12.48.
In the women’s 1500m, Emily Mackay (USA) ran an impressive 3:59.27 ahead of Great Britain’s Katie Snowden, who ran 4:00.97, to boost her chances of selection for England at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The men’s hammer throw produced another top performance as Yann Chaussinand threw a world-leading and French record of 82.44m.
The throw improved Ethan Katzberg’s world lead by one centimeter and broke the French record that had stood for 26 years. Ukraine’s Mykhailo Kokhan also enjoyed a memorable competition, throwing a personal best of 82.38m in the final.
In the women’s hammer, Brooke Andersen ended Camryn Rogers’ long unbeaten streak with a meet record and season best of 79.09m. DeAnna Price was second with 77.71m and Rogers finished fourth in an event that saw six athletes throw over 75m for the first time in history.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Jamal Britt finally dipped under 13 seconds, winning in 12.99 (-0.1). After equaling his previous best of 13.07 four times this season, the American broke through to win ahead of Trey Cunningham (13.03) and world champion Cordell Tinch (13.15).
Kenny Bednarek continued his excellent sprinting form with a wind-aided 9.72 (2.4) to win the men’s 100m. Christian Coleman followed him home in 9.84 with Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminou third in 9.88.
There were also meet records in the women’s shot put and discus. Chase Jackson threw 20.53m to beat Sarah Mitton and Valarie Allman won the discus with 69.15m.
Anna Cockrell improved her own record in the women’s 400m hurdles, winning in 53.43 ahead of former world record holder Dalila Muhammad, who clocked 53.65.
Gabrielle Jennings pulled away after the pacesetter pulled away to win the women’s 3000m in a meet-record 9:11.72, more than 11 seconds clear of Lexi Halladay.
Elsewhere, Aliyah Butler won the women’s 400m in 49.90, while world champion Chris Bailey took the men’s race in 44.57. Sha Kari Richardson won the women’s 100m in 10.99 (-0.2) and Rajindra Campbell won the men’s shot put with 21.94m.
