Briton runs 3:44.3 to take four seconds off Sydney Maree’s 1981 mark while Karissa Schweizer equals Laura Muir’s women’s course record
In September 1981, Sydney Maree finished fifth in the World Cup 1500m in Rome before winning the 5th Avenue Mile in New York City later that month in 3:47.52. The South African-born athlete demolished a top-class field that included Steve Cram, Steve Scott, John Walker, Thomas Wessinghage and Eamonn Coghlan by 15 metres and his time would remain the course record for 43 years.
Finally, the record was broken on Sunday (Sept 8) by Josh Kerr in very similar circumstances. Like Maree, Kerr had finished only fifth in a big 1500m – at the Weltklasse in Zurich a few days earlier – and Kerr also ran away from his rivals, hitting the front from halfway and winning by more than four seconds.
Kerr’s time was 3:44.3 as he shattered Maree’s mark. American Josh Hoey finished as runner-up in 3:48.9, followed by Kenya’s Amon Kemboi in 3:49.3.
Kerr also successfully defended his title as he won in New York 12 months ago in 3:47.9.
“I said to the meet director beforehand, I took Sydney Maree’s NCAA (1500m) record off him in 2018 when I was running for the University of New Mexico,” Kerr said. “I know how hard that was when that was the time.
“It was a nice, nostalgic moment trying to go after his record today. He’s one of the most successful 1500m runners in the world’s history. Those are the kind of times I’m going after.”
Josh Kerr (John Nepolitan)
Hobbs Kessler, who was fifth in the Olympic 1500m, tried to stay with Kerr in the middle of the race but faded to ninth as Britain’s Tom Keen was 10th and Neil Gourley 16th.
Like Kerr, Karissa Schweizer had raced in Zurich a few days earlier, placing fourth in the 5000m in 14:47.50. Here the American, who is better known as a 5000m and 10,000m runner, dominated on the roads on her debut in the New Balance-sponsored race as she equalled Laura Muir’s women’s course record of 4:14.8 to win.
Karissa Schweizer (John Nepolitan)
Kenya’s Dorcas Ewoi was second in 4:17.3 with another Kenyan, Susan Ejore, third in 4:18.3 and Melissa Courtney-Bryant of Britain fourth.
“I feel like I’ve just been kind of getting momentum going as the season’s been actually ending,” Schweizer said. “But, it’s been fun to just race and not have pressure coming into these races. Even like the night before I was like, oh, maybe I could even win this thing.”
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