Gregorek follows win in Penn Relays mile with 1,500 victory at Occidental College in final tuneup for Pre Classic

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was a night of promising performances for several first-year professionals, and backing up recent breakthroughs with another significant showcase for multiple veterans Thursday night at the annual USATF Distance Classic at Occidental College’s Jack Kemp Stadium.

INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS | RESULTS

Ce’Aira Brown, who became the 44th American female athlete to run under 2 minutes in the 800 meters May 4 at the Henderson Invitational, wasn’t able to duplicate the feat, but still impressed by pulling away from a field that included Brenda Martinez, Laura Roesler and Hanna Green to prevail in 2:00.38, the second-fastest time of her career.

Brown, the only American and one of five female athletes in the world this year to produce a sub-2 performance with her 1:59.70 in Pennsylvania, has won all five outdoor races she’s competed in this season, including a 4x800 relay with her New Jersey/New York Track Club teammates March 31 at the Pepsi Florida Relays.

Green, a former Virginia Tech All-American, took second in 2:01.40, with meet and stadium record-holder Martinez third in 2:02.03 and Roesler placing fourth in 2:03.46. Martinez won the 800 in 2014 and last year, with Roesler securing victory in 2016.

Canada’s Lindsey Butterworth won her section in 2:02.20, just off her personal-best 2:02.13 from July. Butterworth has won four outdoor races in California this year.

Craig Engels of Nike Oregon Project earned his first 800 victory as a professional, clocking 1:47.40 to edge former Iowa standout Carter Lilly in 1:47.54 and Oregon Track Club Elite’s Harun Abda (1:47.87).

Engels, a former Ole Miss All-American who placed seventh March 4 in the 1,500 at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, secured his first win since an indoor mile Feb. 10 at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational.

Engels, who boasts an 800 personal best of 1:46.03 from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, hadn’t prevailed in an outdoor race since posting mile victories in consecutive weeks in August in Tennessee and Massachusetts.

Johnny Gregorek, representing ASICS, followed his victory April 28 in the Olympic Development men’s mile at the Penn Relays by outlasting a strong field in the men’s 1,500 to win in 3:36.95, with Australian Jordan Gusman taking second in 3:37.52.

Matthew Centrowitz, who set the meet record in the 1,500 last year by clocking 3:33.41, produced a pair of fifth-place finishes in the 800 and 1,500. Centrowitz clocked 1:48.41 in the 800 and 3:38.99 in the 1,500. 

Shannon Osika, a Nike athlete, prevailed in the women’s 1,500 in 4:09.38, holding off former Notre Dame star and HOKA NJNYTC first-year professional Danielle Aragon, who ran a personal-best 4:09.57.

Lauren Paquette, competing for Brooks, won the women’s 5,000 in 15:19.17, surging ahead of Canadian Rachel Cliff (15:20.66) in the final lap.

Reid Buchanan, representing Mammoth Track Club and Skechers, also relied on a strong kick in the men’s 5,000 to earn victory in 13:33.38, ahead of adidas athlete George Parsons (13:34.16).

Shalaya Kipp (9:44.34) pulled away from defending champion Mel Lawrence (9:44.80) and Algeria’s Rima Chenah (9:44.92) over the final water jump to win the women’s 3,000 steeplechase.

MJ Erb, another former Ole Miss standout who now represents Freedom Track Club and Saucony, was victorious in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:32.78, with HOKA NJNYTC talent Travis Mahoney taking second in 8:33.09.