Under Armour pros produce top two outdoor times in the world this year, with Praught-Leer eclipsing 1995 Jamaican national record; Hiltz runs 1,500 PR to elevate to No. 3 among global performers

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

When it came to the 5,000-meter resumes of Under Armour professionals Rachel Schneider and Aisha Praught-Leer, their levels of experience couldn’t have been much different entering their showdown Thursday at the USATF Distance Classic.

Schneider was racing the event on the track for the 10th occasion outdoors in her career and the only time Praught-Leer had covered that distance in any post-collegiate competition was two years ago at the Carlsbad 5,000 road race.

But thanks to effective pacing by Cory McGee and Emma Coburn to lead the athletes through 4,000 meters in under 12 minutes, 10 seconds, Schneider and Praught-Leer enjoyed impressive performances, both closing with 68-second final laps to produce the top two outdoor times in the world this year and provide the biggest highlights at the annual meet at Occidental College’s Jack Kemp Stadium.

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Schneider, the reigning North American Central American Caribbean (NACAC) gold medalist, ran 15 minutes, 6.71 seconds to elevate to the No. 30 all-time American performer.

Praught-Leer clocked 15:07.50 to eclipse the 1995 Jamaican national record of 15:07.91 held by Yvonne Mai-Graham.

It marked the fourth career Jamaican national record for Praught-Leer, including 9:14.09 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in August in Belgium. She also holds indoor national records in the 1,500 and 3,000.

Schneider and Praught-Leer, who ran the second- and third-fastest times in meet history behind only the 15:05.56 produced by Molly Huddle in 2013, both achieved the Olympic standard for the 2020 Games in Japan, in addition to the IAAF World Championships standard necessary to compete later this year in Doha, Qatar.

Americans Lauren Paquette (15:14.64), last year’s winner, and Stephanie Bruce (15:17.76) ran the Nos. 3 and 4 times in the world this season, both securing the IAAF World Championships standard as well. Bruce, who had ran 15:44.77 indoors in January, enjoyed a massive improvement from her 2012 outdoor PR of 15:49.40.

American Nikki Hiltz, a first-year adidas professional, also moved into the top three in the world this year with a personal-best 4:07.71 in the 1,500 meters, holding off Bowerman Track Club first-year pro Karissa Schweizer in 4:08.51 and Nike Oregon Project talent Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany (4:09.16).

Klosterhalfen also ran 2:07.60 in the 800 to open the meet.

Courtney Frerichs, the American record holder in the 3,000 steeplechase, opened her outdoor season by winning the first section of the 1,500 in 4:15.96. Frerichs, who represented the U.S. in March at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Denmark, will compete in her first 3,000 steeplechase June 30 at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Lawi Lalang, representing the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, won the men’s 5,000 meters in 13:25.14. First-year professional Josh Kerr clocked 13:28.66 in his outdoor debut with Brooks Beasts teammate Henry Wynne placing third in 13:32.33.

Sweden’s Kalle Berglund opened his outdoor season by winning the men’s 1,500 meters in 3:37.84, ahead of Americans Kirubel Erassa (3:38.26) and Drew Hunter (3:38.55).

Clayton Murphy, representing Nike Oregon Project, struggled with his attempted double after winning the 800 in 1:46.10. Murphy placed 11th in his 1,500 section in 3:45.79.

Jordan Mann, representing Ocean State Athletic Club and New Balance, prevailed in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:30.99 over fellow Americans Frankline Tonui (8:32.02) and Mason Ferlic (8:32.24).

Mann ascended to No. 4 among American performers this season and 20th in the world.

Courtney Barnes, who earned All-America honors at Kansas following a seventh-place finish in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase at last year’s NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, secured victory in 9:59.82, her second as a professional, following a 1,500 win March 23 at the Arizona State Invitational.

Bowerman Track Club athlete Kate Grace won the women’s 800 in 2:02.95, followed by Sweden’s Hanna Hermansson (2:03.21) and McGee (2:03.35).

Murphy surged ahead of Puerto Rico’s Ryan Sanchez (1:46.21) in the final 10 meters to win the men’s 800, with fellow Nike Oregon Project standout Craig Engels, last year’s winner, taking third in 1:46.73.