Photo by: Errol Anderson
Simone Facey runner-up in Jamaica 100m final, Aaliyah Brown fifth in USATF 100m final
Jun 23, 2017 | Track and Field
SACRAMENTO – The second day of the USATF Championships featured Texas A&M senior Aaliyah Brown in the women's 100m final while senior Fred Kerley and alum Jessica Beard each advanced to their respective 400m final at Hornet Stadium.
Over at the Jamaican Championships, Aggie alum Simone Facey finished second in the 100m final in a time of 11.04 (0.8 wind) from lane 8. Elaine Thompson claimed the final in 10.71 while Jura Levy placed third in 11.06 to complete the Jamaica squad in the 100m for the World Championships in London this summer.
Running in lane 1 of the USATF 100m final, Brown produced a fifth-place finish with a time of 11.15 seconds (0.3 wind). By placing among the top six in the final, Brown will be part of the United States 4x100 relay pool for the IAAF World Championships.
Brown earned her lane in the final with a fourth-place finish in the semifinal with a time of 11.24 (-1.2 wind).
"To place fifth in this elite field was very, very special to me," stated Brown, who ran a career best of 11.01 during Friday's prelim race. "That was a great moment for me. It feels good to come fifth and hopefully I'll be in the relay pool for the 4x100.
"To place fifth out here among these phenomenal women is great. I've been working, working, working and came out here and beat some great people. That was the goal."
The 100m final was claimed in 10.94 by Tori Bowie with Oregon's tandem of Deajah Stevens (11.08) and Ariana Washington (11.10) in second and third. Texas alum Morolake Akinosun ran 11.12 for fourth place. Following Brown were English Gardner (11.16), LSU's Aleia Hobbs (11.23) and Allyson Felix (11.28).
Aggie alum Natosha Rogers finished 11th in the 5,000m final with a time of 15:31.46 a night after placing fifth in the 10,000m final on Thursday.
Fred Kerley posted a time of 44.11 to win his semifinal of the 400m. Runner-up in the race was Gil Roberts (44.33) with Michael Norman of USC (44.60) and Tony McQuay (44.82) completing the crew advancing to the final.
"I just wanted to get a good lane for the final," said Kerley, who posted the fourth-fastest performance on the 2017 world list behind his times of 43.70, 44.09 and 44.10. "I wanted to win my heat and get the best lane for tomorrow so I can see my competition.
"The opening round yesterday was smooth and this round was smooth, too. I just wanted to do enough to get in the best lane and win the whole thing tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Mylik Kerley established another career best with a 44.85 to place fifth in the same semifinal race with his brother Fred. The top four finishers in each semi advanced to the final and Mylik was 0.03 away from fourth place.
His time bettered the winning time of the second heat, a 45.05 by LSU's Michael Cherry. Joining the final field from the second 400m semifinal were Bryshon Nellum (45.05), Kyle Collins (45.10) and Will London (45.11).
"That was one of my best races, and I just executed my race," said Mylik, who moved to No. 8 on the Aggie all-time list after setting a PR of 45.32 yesterday. "I'm not happy with the race, since I didn't advance to the final, but I'm happy with another PR. Now I get to watch my brother run the final."
Fred added: "That was beautiful for Mylik to run 44.8 and PR at the end of the season. For him that is a beautiful run.
Beard placed fourth in her semifinal heat of the 400m, running a time of 51.27, to secure a spot in Saturday's final.
In the men's 800m semifinal Donavan Brazier placed third in the second semifinal with a time of 1:46.88 to reach the final. The women's 800m had Texas A&M incoming freshman Sammy Watson making the final with a 2:02.54 that placed her fourth in the semifinal heat.
Shamier Little won her opening round heat of the 400m hurdles, posting a time of 55.18 that was fourth best overall. The opening qualifying round only eliminated one runner from the field of 16 that advanced to the semifinal.
In the men's 400m hurdles, Robert Grant ran 50.06 to place third in his heat and auto advance to the semifinal.
USATF Junior Championships
Jaevin Reed won her heat of the Junior 400m in 51.71, just off the 51.67 career best she ran this season during the NCAA semifinal. Reed posted the top time during the qualifying races, second best was a 52.02 by Alabama's Takyera Roberson.
"I'm came out here just wanting to execute my race," noted Reed. "I didn't expect to run that time, so I'm really excited about my prelim race. Hopefully, I can bounce back and run even better tomorrow.
"This is exciting, I've never competed in the Junior Championships this before. I feel so blessed to even have this opportunity."
Reed's career best time of 51.67 currently ranks No. 3 on the 2017 world junior list and No. 1 among Americans. Her 51.71 now ranks as the fourth best world junior performance this season and a 52.18 by Reed from earlier this season ranks 11th.
Aggie freshman Jace Comick placed fifth in the Junior men's 100m final with a time of 10.47 (-1.1 wind). He clocked 10.44 (1.2 wind) during the prelims, placing third in his heat to claim an auto qualifier to the final.
Over at the Jamaican Championships, Aggie alum Simone Facey finished second in the 100m final in a time of 11.04 (0.8 wind) from lane 8. Elaine Thompson claimed the final in 10.71 while Jura Levy placed third in 11.06 to complete the Jamaica squad in the 100m for the World Championships in London this summer.
Running in lane 1 of the USATF 100m final, Brown produced a fifth-place finish with a time of 11.15 seconds (0.3 wind). By placing among the top six in the final, Brown will be part of the United States 4x100 relay pool for the IAAF World Championships.
Brown earned her lane in the final with a fourth-place finish in the semifinal with a time of 11.24 (-1.2 wind).
"To place fifth in this elite field was very, very special to me," stated Brown, who ran a career best of 11.01 during Friday's prelim race. "That was a great moment for me. It feels good to come fifth and hopefully I'll be in the relay pool for the 4x100.
"To place fifth out here among these phenomenal women is great. I've been working, working, working and came out here and beat some great people. That was the goal."
The 100m final was claimed in 10.94 by Tori Bowie with Oregon's tandem of Deajah Stevens (11.08) and Ariana Washington (11.10) in second and third. Texas alum Morolake Akinosun ran 11.12 for fourth place. Following Brown were English Gardner (11.16), LSU's Aleia Hobbs (11.23) and Allyson Felix (11.28).
Aggie alum Natosha Rogers finished 11th in the 5,000m final with a time of 15:31.46 a night after placing fifth in the 10,000m final on Thursday.
Fred Kerley posted a time of 44.11 to win his semifinal of the 400m. Runner-up in the race was Gil Roberts (44.33) with Michael Norman of USC (44.60) and Tony McQuay (44.82) completing the crew advancing to the final.
"I just wanted to get a good lane for the final," said Kerley, who posted the fourth-fastest performance on the 2017 world list behind his times of 43.70, 44.09 and 44.10. "I wanted to win my heat and get the best lane for tomorrow so I can see my competition.
"The opening round yesterday was smooth and this round was smooth, too. I just wanted to do enough to get in the best lane and win the whole thing tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Mylik Kerley established another career best with a 44.85 to place fifth in the same semifinal race with his brother Fred. The top four finishers in each semi advanced to the final and Mylik was 0.03 away from fourth place.
His time bettered the winning time of the second heat, a 45.05 by LSU's Michael Cherry. Joining the final field from the second 400m semifinal were Bryshon Nellum (45.05), Kyle Collins (45.10) and Will London (45.11).
"That was one of my best races, and I just executed my race," said Mylik, who moved to No. 8 on the Aggie all-time list after setting a PR of 45.32 yesterday. "I'm not happy with the race, since I didn't advance to the final, but I'm happy with another PR. Now I get to watch my brother run the final."
Fred added: "That was beautiful for Mylik to run 44.8 and PR at the end of the season. For him that is a beautiful run.
Beard placed fourth in her semifinal heat of the 400m, running a time of 51.27, to secure a spot in Saturday's final.
In the men's 800m semifinal Donavan Brazier placed third in the second semifinal with a time of 1:46.88 to reach the final. The women's 800m had Texas A&M incoming freshman Sammy Watson making the final with a 2:02.54 that placed her fourth in the semifinal heat.
Shamier Little won her opening round heat of the 400m hurdles, posting a time of 55.18 that was fourth best overall. The opening qualifying round only eliminated one runner from the field of 16 that advanced to the semifinal.
In the men's 400m hurdles, Robert Grant ran 50.06 to place third in his heat and auto advance to the semifinal.
USATF Junior Championships
Jaevin Reed won her heat of the Junior 400m in 51.71, just off the 51.67 career best she ran this season during the NCAA semifinal. Reed posted the top time during the qualifying races, second best was a 52.02 by Alabama's Takyera Roberson.
"I'm came out here just wanting to execute my race," noted Reed. "I didn't expect to run that time, so I'm really excited about my prelim race. Hopefully, I can bounce back and run even better tomorrow.
"This is exciting, I've never competed in the Junior Championships this before. I feel so blessed to even have this opportunity."
Reed's career best time of 51.67 currently ranks No. 3 on the 2017 world junior list and No. 1 among Americans. Her 51.71 now ranks as the fourth best world junior performance this season and a 52.18 by Reed from earlier this season ranks 11th.
Aggie freshman Jace Comick placed fifth in the Junior men's 100m final with a time of 10.47 (-1.1 wind). He clocked 10.44 (1.2 wind) during the prelims, placing third in his heat to claim an auto qualifier to the final.
Players Mentioned
Middle Dist.
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and FieldSEC Championships Preview: Pat Henry
Wednesday, February 25
NCAA West Preview: Pat Henry
Tuesday, May 27
Pluckers Playmakers: Episode 5
Wednesday, May 07
44 Farms Preview: Pat Henry
Thursday, April 10
