Two major meets held on Feb. 16 highlighted the past week's indoor track and field scene.
Saturday's Millrose Games in New York featured some infrequently-run races, including the 2-mile and 600-meter runs. American athletes took advantage of their rare opportunities and set U.S. records in both events. Bernard Lagat broke Galen Rupp's U.S. indoor 2-mile record, finishing in 8:09.49, while both the men's and women's indoor 600 marks fell. Alysia Johnson Montano broke the 32-year-old women's mark by winning in 1:25.59, while Erik Sowinski topped the men's record, set just three weeks ago by Duane Solomon, with a time of 1:15.61.
Other Millrose highlights included Darvis Patton's world-leading 6.50 in the 60 meters. Mary Wineberg beat a strong 400-meter field, running 52.19 to edge Francena McCorory (52.20), while Janay DeLoach dealt a rare long-jumping defeat to Brittney Reese, as DeLoach leaped 6.90 (22 feet, 7½ inches) to Reese's 6.85/22-5½.
Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast gained a surprising and impressive 60-meter victory in Saturday's British Grand Prix in Birmingham. Ahoure ran a world-leading 6.99 to defeat Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, American Barbara Pierre (both at 7.09), and American Carmelita Jeter (7.18).
Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia won Birmingham's 1500 in 4:00.84, Ukraine's Olha Saladuha won the triple jump in 14.61/47-11, American Natasha Hastings took the 400 in 50.88, and Mo Farah thrilled the home crowd by winning the 3000 easily, in 7:42.00.
There were also several national championships last weekend, highlighted by Renaud Lavillenie's 5.93/19-5½ pole vault victory at the French Indoor Championships.
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