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SPORTSMonday 15 February 2016

Natasha Hastings breaks US women’s 300 indoor record

GETHIN COOLBAUGH just didn’t have the pop to-
Associated Press day.”
BOSTON (AP) — Natasha Suhr broke her own world
Hastings broke the U.S. indoor record Jan. 30 with
women’s 300-meter indoor a vault of 16-5 (5.03 me-
record in the New Balance ters).
Indoor Grand Prix on Sun- American Kurt Roberts won
day, finishing in 36.25 sec- the shot put with a world-
onds at the Reggie Lewis leading mark of 70-9 1/4
Center. (21.57 meters). Roberts is
Hastings, a member of the recovering from a back
winning U.S. 1,600 relay injury that limited him last
team in the 2008 Beijing year.
Olympics, topped the mark “It sets me up for the bigger
of 36.33 set by Allyson Felix picture, which is Rio,” Rob-
in 2007 in Fayetteville, Ar- erts said.
kansas. American Boris Berian won
“I really did not come into the 600 with an event-re-
this race with any expec- cord and world-leading
tations,” Hastings said. “I time of 1:15.51. It was the
didn’t even have a time in second-best finish ever for
mind. I just wanted to go an American man.
out and execute a sound Two-time Olympic cham-
race.” pion Meseret Defar of
Olympic pole vault cham- Ethiopia pulled away to
pion Jenn Suhr won the win the women’s 3,000 in
meet for the eighth time in a world-leading 8:30.83.
nine tries, clearing 15 feet, Abbey D’Agostino, a sev-
9 3/4 inches (4.82 meters). en-time NCAA champion
The American failed in an who grew up in nearby
attempt to push her world Topsfield, placed a dis-
indoor record to 16-7 1/2 tant second behind De-
(5.07 meters). far at 8:56.77.Nick Willis of
“My first attempt, I felt re- New Zealand ran a world-
ally good,” Suhr said. “I leading 3:53.27 to win the
went up the pole and I was mile, and Ethiopia’s Dawit
like, ‘Man, I got this.’ And Seyaum won the women’s
I just didn’t have the legs. 1,500 with a world-leading
... That let me know that I mark of 4:01.86.q

In this June, 11, 2015, file photo, Olympic champion Jenn Suhr
runs down the ramp during the Grand Prix Pole Vault & IAAF-
Nestle Kids Event in Herald Square in New York.
Associated Press

Kirui, Lehonkova prevail

in the fog in Los Angeles
airlines. His bags arrived a en’s race in 2:30:40. iel Limo finished third in

day later, but Kirui already “I was trying to run my best 2:13:52.

liked his new shoes better. time,” Lehonkova said. “I “My body was resisting,

“The new shoes were did a lot of speed work and I was not able to keep

very comfortable,” said and a lot of long runs every up,” Limo said. “Everyone

the 27-year-old Kirui, who week.” came here in great shape.

raced shoulder-to-shoulder Kirui and Lehonkova won I was in a tough position to

with Willie Koitile until mak- over a course starting at defend.”

ing his surge over the final Dodger Stadium down- Serkalem Abrha of Ethio-

mile, winning in a time of town, winding through pia finished second to Le-

Men’s winner Weldon Kirui, right, and women’s winner Nataliya 2 hours, 13 minutes, 7 sec- West Hollywood and Bever- honkova in 2:32:24, with Ju-
Lehonkova pose for pictures after the Los Angeles Marathon,
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. onds. ly Hills before finishing near lia Budniak of Poland third

Associated Press “Two days ago I used them. the Santa Monica Pier. at 2:44:44. The 33-year-old

They were very nice.” Kirui and Koitile pulled Lehonkova pulled away

TIM LIOTTA late and won the Los An- Kenyan men swept the top away as a pair with four from Abrha with five miles
Associated Press geles Marathon on a foggy
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) Sunday in his third try. three spots. miles remaining. Koitile was to go.
— Maybe off-the-rack run- After flying from Nairobi
ning shoes were what Wel- through Amsterdam, Kirui “The pace was very slow,” second in 2:13:24 after an The elite field started early
don Kirui of Kenya needed arrived Wednesday in Los
all along. Angeles, only to find his Kirui said. “We were talk- injury flared up late. under cool, ideal condi-
Second in 2012 and fourth luggage containing all his
in 2013, Kirui pulled away gear had been lost by the ing to each other, saying, “I just didn’t have enough tions in an effort to com-

‘Let’s go faster.’” energy,” he said. “I have plete the race before tem-

Nataliya Lehonkova of a pain in my leg after 20 peratures got too hot.

Ukraine led almost the en- miles. It was very difficult.” Kirui and Lehonkova each
tire way and won the wom- Defending champion Dan- earned $100,000.q