By Chris Chavez
January 28, 2024
Ethiopian 18-year-old Senayet Getachew won the fast section of the women’s 5000m at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in 14:42.94 to break the world U20 5000m indoor record. The previous mark was held by Tirunesh Dibaba in 14:53.99 in 2004. Getachew led five other women under the Olympic qualifying standard of 14:52.00.
Justin Britton / @JustinBritton
Here’s what you need to know:
– Getachew led three Ethiopian women to sub-14:45 performances on Saturday night. Getachew entered with a 14:46.25 outdoor personal best from last summer’s London Diamond League. The time puts Getachew at No. 9 on the all-time world indoor list. Fentaye Belayneh finished second in 14:43.25, which ranks No. 10 on the all-time world indoor list. Aynadis Mebratu took third in 14:44.94, which ranks No. 11 on the all-time world indoor list.
– Spain’s Marta Garcia Alonso ran 14:46.37 for fourth place to set a new Spanish indoor record, move to No. 2 on the all-time European indoor list, secure the Olympic standard and dip under 15:00 for the first time in her career
How did the Americans do?
– Josette Andrews was considered the top American woman heading into the meet after running 14:43 outdoors last season. The race was paced by her teammate and outdoor American record holder Alicia Monson, who went 3400m. Coming into the race, coach Dathan Ritzenhein made it clear that the objective of the meet was to get under the Olympic standard. She got the job done with a 14:46.51 for fifth place and No. 2 on the all-time U.S. indoor list.
– Courtney Wayment, the two-time World Championship finalist in the steeplechase, dropped 26 seconds off her 5000m personal best to finish sixth in 14:49.75, which puts her at No. 6 on the all-time U.S. indoor list. Wayment will likely focus on the steeplechase during the outdoor season.
Justin Britton / @JustinBritton
Who else raced?
– U.S Olympian Rachel Smith, who was competing in her first track 5000m since her return from having her first baby, finished seventh in 15:10.10.
– NAZ Elite’s Katie Wasserman, who won the Sound Running Cross Champs in November, was .03 seconds shy of her personal best from outdoors and ran 15:13.84 for eighth place.
Justin Britton / @JustinBritton
Any other notable races from Saturday at BU?
– Wayment was not the only Diljeet Taylor-coached pro to have a good day. Anna Camp Bennett won the women’s mile in 4:27.13. Providence junior Kimberley May (who Kyle Merber highlighted in The Lap Count’s Nov. 29 edition as an athlete to watch indoors) moved to No. 7 on the all-time NCAA list with a 4:27.85 in her runner-up finish. She is now No. 2 on the New Zealand all-time indoor list and sits just ahead of NCAA 1500m champion Maia Ramsden.
Austin DeSisto / @austin.desisto
– Union Athletic Club’s Ella Donaghu won the women’s 3000m in 8:46.39 for a personal best. BYU’s Sadie Sargent finished second in 8:59.45, which puts her at No. 11 on the NCAA list for the season.
– Lucia Stafford held off a good challenge by NCAA indoor champion Roisin Willis in the women’s 800m as they went 2:01.79 and 2:01.99.
What’s next?
– Boston University will host the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite on Feb. 3, which will also feature some professional runners chasing fast times.
– Many of the top professionals have been announced for the 2024 Millrose Games on Feb. 11 in New York City. Josette Andrews will be in the women’s Wanamaker Mile after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Courtney Wayment will be in the women’s two-mile.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
