Reigning U.S. champion runs 4:00.77 at Jesuit High in final tuneup before national meet at Hayward Field; Akins, Dixon, Hassan, Meyer and Sprout also victorious, with future Duck Watcke clocking 1:47.70 in 800 for No. 12 in U.S. prep history
By Keenan Gray of DyeStat
Photos by Kim Spir
PORTLAND – In an effort to compete with the world’s best in today’s era of racing, distance runners are learning week-by-week what it truly means to run uncomfortably.
For Sinclaire Johnson of Nike Union Athletics, it’s about testing her own limits.
The reigning U.S. outdoor champion in the 1,500 meters proved to be an aggressive racer from the gun Saturday in the women’s race at the Stumptown High Performance Meet, resulting in a victory in 4 minutes, 0.77 seconds at Jesuit High.
INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS by Kim Spir
Johnson clocked her second-fastest effort in the event, only trailing her personal-best 3:58.85 from last year’s Prefontaine Classic in May at Hayward Field.
Running tough with pacer Anna Camp-Bennett, representing adidas, Johnson hung with her through the first two laps, going through 700 meters in 1:54:13. Upon reaching the 1-kilometer mark, Camp-Bennett stepped off the track and left Johnson all alone to finish the race.
“I got a little bit out of my comfort zone by just going straight onto the pacer,” Johnson said. “Just seeing how long I could hang on for, and then when that pacer stepped off, it’s just me out there.”
Johnson closed in a 62.21-second final 400 to come away with the win by 10 seconds.
“I felt pretty strong,” Johnson said. “You’re definitely working I guess through that first 1,000. I felt like I had a couple more gears; that’s pretty exciting. I also think just the fact that I probably could have another gear if someone was right there.”
Johnson opened her outdoor season last weekend at Hayward Field with a solid double at Nike Outdoor Nationals, running 2:01.14 in the 800 and 4:05.79 in the 1,500 to pick up wins in both events. In 12 days, she’ll be back at Hayward at the USATF Outdoor Championships in hopes of competing for another spot on the world team.
Brooks Beasts’ teammates Laurie Barton and Allie Buchalski finished second and third, respectively, in the 1,500 field, with Barton taking the win in the second section, running 4:08.68, and Buchalski finishing second to Johnson in the opening section in 4:10.21.
Johnson’s Nike Union Athletics teammate Raevyn Rogers stepped up to the 1,500 to run…
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