Hall produces 5,004 points to eclipse 2014 U.S. mark of 4,805 points achieved by Day-Monroe in Albuquerque, just shy of 2012 world record 5,013 points held by Ukraine star Dobrynska; Melville wins 19th career women’s national racewalk crown and Christie captures 14th all-time men’s title
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anna Hall knew the rarefied air of Albuquerque could be a potential catalyst toward her challenging the pentathlon world record Thursday at the USATF Indoor Championships.
Hall, an adidas professional athlete and the reigning World Outdoor heptathlon bronze medalist, also knew that the demanding task of running the 800 meters at 5,300 feet elevation could make the difference in whether or not she achieved the all-time mark at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Her analysis proved to be correct in both cases, with Hall smashing the American record and becoming only the third female competitor in history to surpass the 5,000-point barrier, but still leaving the track disappointed after missing her target time in the 800 by 0.6 seconds in her quest for global supremacy.
INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS | RESULTS | EVENT VIDEOS
Hall clocked 2 minutes, 5.70 seconds in the 800 to finish with 5,004 points, elevating her to No. 2 all-time, trailing only the 2012 mark of 5,013 points produced at the World Indoor Championships by Ukraine’s Nataliya Dobrynska.
“Honestly, right now, I’m just a little upset with myself for not being number one because that’s always my goal, to win the day and be number one all-time and that’s what I’m going to be chasing,” said Hall, who ran 2:05.33 last year to achieve a then-indoor-best 4,618 points competing for Florida at the Southeastern Conference Championships at Texas A&M.
“In the back of my mind, of course, I’m always shooting for a perfect day and I knew a perfect day was the world record, and obviously that’s going to be the goal every time, so obviously it hurts to fall a little short.”
Hall, 21, eclipsed the 2014 American record of 4,805 points accumulated by Sharon Day-Monroe at the USATF Indoor Championships, also in Albuquerque.
“Honestly, in my mind, I told my coaches if we don’t get the American record, then I had a bad meet,” Hall said. “Just based on my marks this indoor season, we knew that if I put together a solid multi, I should end up with (the American record). Now, getting the world record, we knew it would have to be a perfect day, so we were kind…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at RunnerSpace News…