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Payton Jordan entries are out, and they’re full of intrigue and surprises

By Paul Snyder

April 27, 2017

The hardworking folks at the track meet factory have done it again. They’ve crafted some truly intriguing fields that will almost certainly deliver fast times in Palo Alto, California.

Next weekend’s Payton Jordan Invitational will feature the year’s first loaded domestic 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. Established stars in these events will line up against those making highly anticipated debuts, as well as athletes making long awaited returns to the distances, and folks, we’re excited.

You can view the full entry lists here, but we’ve pulled out some of the highlights below.

Women’s 800m

Stanford’s Olivia Baker (2:01.02 PB), Kendra Chambers (2:00.76), BYU’s Shea Collinsworth (2:01.42), Justin Fedronic (1:59.86), OK State’s Kaela Edwards (2:01.97), Katie Mackey (2:01.20), Lynsey Sharp (1:57.69), and Chrishuna Williams (1:59.59) all bring impressive credentials and recent fast times to the field, but there are even more women entered who could factor into the sub-two mix.

Men’s 1,500m

Chris O’Hare and Evan Jager join Eric Jenkins and Shaquille Walker in a small but fairly elite field. Jenkins and Walker are also listed in the 800m, so we will see if they do these as workouts or drop one and focus on the other. For Walker, this is a debut. If he actually runs it, it will be interesting to see what the shorter middle distance specialist is capable of.

Men’s 5,000m

This is probably the marquee event of the meet. Olympic 1,500m medalists Matt Centrowitz returns to an event he hasn’t raced in three years. Oregon’s Edward Cheserek will make his 2017 outdoor 5,000m debut. Kyle Merber is making his professional 5,000m debut. Then you still have names like Kemoy Campbell, Donn Cabral, Garrett Heath, Will Leer, Drew Hunter, Riley Masters, a bunch of Melbourne TC guys, and more names I’m sure I simply missed.

Women’s 5,000m

Marielle Hall and Sifan Hassan headline this race, but there are plenty of other athletes to keep an eye on. Rachel Schneider and Nicole Sifuentes move up from their usual mile distance, and Allie Ostrander returns to her bread and butter event. We’ll also get to see consistent and established 5,000m performers like Dom Scott, Sara Sutherland, Nicole Tully.

Men’s 10,000m

We’ll be treated to a showdown between Tsegaye Tedese, Callum Hawkins, Hassan Mead, Noah Droddy, Diego Estrada, Shadrack Kipchirchir, Jake Robertson, and other dudes who are all very fast. Should be a fun 27ish minutes to watch.

Women’s 10,000m

American stars like Emily Infeld, Emily Sisson, Kim Conley, and Amy Cragg square off against a large, international field, which includes Japan’s Yuka Takashima, who is rumored to be vying for her national record (30:48.49, currently held by Yoko Shibui).

Paul Snyder

Meme-disparager, avid jogger, MS Paint artist, friend of Scott Olberding, Citius Mag staff writer based in Flagstaff. Supplying baseless opinions, lukewarm takes, and vaguely running-related content. Once witnessed televison's Michael Rapaport cut a line of 30 people to get a slice of pizza at John's on Bleeker at 4am. You can follow Paul on Twitter at @DanielDingus.