Sahlman clocks 3:33.96 at Cougar Stadium, second only to 2022 effort of 3:33,74 produced by Alabama’s Kipsang; Jones prevails in 4:07.19, following 2:01.49 performance a day earlier in 800; Adams State’s Hyde shatters NCAA Division 2 all-time mark with 4:08.95 performance

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Chuck Utash

AZUSA, Calif. – Colin Sahlman has already enjoyed a career’s worth of highlights at Azusa Pacific University’s Cougar Stadium, but Saturday night’s performance was perhaps the most remarkable for the Northern Arizona sophomore standout at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Sahlman, 20, emerged victorious in the fastest section of the men’s 1,500 meters in a lifetime-best 3 minutes, 33.96 seconds, adding to the incredible legacy of memorable performances showcased in the event in meet history.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

The former Newbury Park High star ran the fastest 3,200-meter race in U.S. prep history in 2022 at Cougar Stadium by clocking 8:33.32, in addition to producing a 1:48.84 effort in the 800 at the venue, one of three sub-1:49 performances during his senior year in California.

Only the collegiate 1,500 all-time mark of 3:33.74 achieved in 2022 by Alabama’s Eliud Kipsang, representing Kenya, is a faster NCAA mark than Sahlman. New Mexico graduate Josh Kerr, representing Scotland, also produced a collegiate record in 2018 by clocking 3:35.01 at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Sahlman held off Washington’s Nathan Green, who ran 3:34.79 to place second, ascended to No. 4 in collegiate outdoor history, with Nike professional competitor Craig Engels taking third in 3:35.46 and Moroccan athlete Fouad Messaoudi of Oklahoma State placing fourth in 3:36.08.

Seven athletes achieved sub-3:37 efforts, with adidas professional athlete Sam Prakel clocking 3:36.16, Villanova’s Liam Murphy matching the No. 23 all-time collegiate outdoor performance by running 3:36.48 and Under Armour competitor Festus Lagat securing seventh in 3:36.68.

Following a 2:01.49 victory in the second section of the women’s invitational 800 meters Friday, New Balance athlete Dani Jones returned Saturday night to triumph in the elite field in the 1,500 in 4:07.19.

Anna Camp-Bennett, an adidas competitor, prevailed in the second 1,500 section in 4:07.33.

Jones led eight athletes under 4:10, with Polish athlete Klaudia Kazimierska of Oregon finishing runner-up in 4:08.43 and teammate Maddy Elmore securing seventh in 4:09.36.

Virginia’s Margot Appleton took third in 4:08.60, Kenyan competitor Billah Jepkirui of Oklahoma State ran 4:08.93 to earn fourth, with Adams State graduate student-athlete Gracie Hyde smashing the NCAA Division 2 outdoor record with her fifth-place effort in 4:08.95.

Hyde eclipsed the 2010 standard of 4:11.06 established by Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler. Only Teena Colebrook from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has achieved a faster mark than Hyde on the Division 2 all-dates list by clocking 4:07.69 in 1990 in Germany.

Skylyn Webb, a Saucony professional, took sixth in 4:09.13 and Nike athlete Elise Cranny earned eighth in 4:09.65.

Camp-Bennett triumphed against Georgetown’s Melissa Riggins and Washington’s Chloe Foerster, who ran 4:07.951 and 4:07.955, respectively.

New Balance athlete Heather MacLean placed fourth in 4:08.64 and Lithuanian competitor Gabija Galvydyte of Oklahoma State finished fifth in 4:10.53, following her 2:01.89 effort Friday in the invitational 800. Ella Donaghu from Nike Union Athletics Club was sixth in the section in 4:10.84.

LSU star Michaela Rose, who achieved the No. 2 outdoor 800 performance in collegiate history Friday by clocking 1:58.37, also won her section in the invitational 1,500 in 4:14.82.

Virginia sophomore Gary Martin secured a win in the second section of the men’s invitational 1,500 in 3:37.66, followed by Georgetown’s Abel Teffra (3:38.25) and Iowa State’s Ezekiel Rop (3:38.28).