Reniewicki Takes Down Steve Scott's 40-Year-Old Record; Hurdler Lolo Jones Hints At Trials Bid With 13.10 at 41; Lightfoot, Otterdahl Impress With Second Wins

By David Woods for DyeStat

Lily Dozier photo

Can a runner really reinvent himself? That’s what John Reniewicki did.

He transitioned from 10K runner to 5K guy to miler. To elite miler, in fact. To Olympic 5,000-meter runner, maybe?

Three years ago, Reniewicki’s 1,500-meter best was 3:48.70. These days, that won’t win some high school races.

Now the 28-year old is a Drake Relays record-holder. If you don’t think that’s a big deal, consider the previous record was set 40 years by Steve Scott, one of the greatest American milers of all time.

“Certainly happy with the record. I wouldn’t go as far as to compare myself to Steve Scott just yet,” Reniewicki said.

In an entertaining World Athletics Continental Tour program at Des Moines, Iowa – including an apparent masters world record by hurdler Lolo Jones – the 1,500 was as eventful as any Saturday.

Reniewicki won in 3:36.44, running the last 400 meters in 54.38 seconds to hold off a pack bunched ahead of the last lap. Vincent Ciattei, winner of Tuesday’s road mile, was second in 3:36.57 and Abe Alvarado third in 3:37.56.

Kenya’s Justine Kipkoech was fourth in 3:37.78. India’s Ajay Kumar Sarej, leader before the bell lap, was fifth in 3:38.32. Top four were under Scott’s time of 3:38.27 from 1984.

Reniewicki, once ahead, said he was watching Ciattei on the video board.

“And I was kind of waiting on the back stretch,” Reniewicki said. “I knew he’d be coming. He’s extremely strong. He ran the road mile wire to wire.”

Coincidentally, Reniewicki was a collegian at Arizona State, where Scott was coached by Len Miller. Not only did Reniewicki never qualify for an NCAA Championships, he never finished higher than fifth in the Pac-12 – and that was in the 10,000 meters in 2019.

He has moved to Baltimore to train at Under Armour’s Baltimore facility, and he has grown his own private coaching business. He won a 3:51.72 indoor mile Feb. 9 at Boston.

Reniewicki has said he will try to meet the Olympic qualifying standard of 13:05 in the 5,000 ahead of June’s U.S. Trials.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Cindy Sember won in 12.59, compared with her British record of 12.50. Jamaica’s Demisha Roswell was second in 12.68. Americans Talie Bonds and Christina Clemsons were third and fourth, both in 12.69.

Jones, a Des Moines native, was fifth in 13.10. A Drake statistician asserted it was an over-40 world record, although the race for masters hurdlers is customarily 80 meters.

Jones, inducted this week into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame, is aiming to be among 36 qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 100 hurdles. The automatic standard is 12.90. The Olympian and two-time world indoor champion said it has been hard transitioning from bobsled to hurdles, especially at the start.

“I’ve been running on this track every stage of my life – elementary school, middle school, high school, pro,” Jones said. “I used to walk to track practice here every day in the summer. This is hometown.

“I wish I could have done better. I wish I could have shown I’m not a washed-up 41-year-old. I mean, I have a 12.9 in my legs. I just didn’t have it today.”

Lightfoot, Otterdahl double up

KC Lightfoot, American record-holder in the pole vault, added a stadium victory to his Monday win at an indoor mall. Each time, he had the bar raised to 6 meters – after clearing 19-4.25 (5.90m) and 19-2 (5.84m), respectively.

“I like to look at it,” Lightfoot said. “I’m glad to be able to jump pretty high right now. My jump doesn’t quite feel great right now. When it lines up, hopefully kinda soon, I’ll get another big one.”

Vaulters coped with headwinds. Cole Walsh, NCAA Division 1 indoor champion Keaton Daniel of Kentucky and Zach Bradford all cleared 18-6.50 (5.65m).

In the shot put, Payton Otterdahl followed Wednesday’s 74-1.50 (22.59m) with a distance of 72-7.75 (22.14m). Roger Steen was second at 71-2 (21.69m).

“The training is still hard. The load is heavy,” Otterdahl said. “Still dealing with injury. Putting solid opening marks like this makes me excited for when the peak starts happening, the body starts feeling good.”

Mississippi’s Jalani Davis, a two-time NCAA champion in the weight, won the women’s shot at 59-8.75 (18.23m).

Luff is NCAA hurdles leader, world No. 5

Elsewhere on the track:

>> Nebraska’s Darius Luff won the 110 hurdles in 13.25, fastest in the NCAA this year. He climbed to No. 5 in the world and No. 4 in the United States.  Cameron Murray was second in 13.37 and Dylan Beard third in 13.38.

>> In the 400 hurdles, Aldrich Bailey charged from lane 8 to overtake world bronze medalist Trevor Bassitt, 48.82 to 48.93. Bailey, 30, an under-20 world silver medalist in the flat 400 as long ago as 2012, was close to his PB of 48.55. He credited the U.S. Army with an opportunity to resume his career after disappointment of fourth place at the 2021 Olympic Trials.

>> In an event rescheduled from Friday as a result of a lengthy weather delay due to a tornado warning, Annie Rodenfels of Boston Athletic Association won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in a meet-record 9:31.03, taking down the 2021 mark of 9:32.53 achieved by Leah Falland from On Athletics Club. Angelina Ellis, a Butler graduate now representing Under Armour Mission Run Dark Sky Distance in Flagstaff, Ariz., was second in 9:35.62.

>> Deshae Wise, now training in Houston after earning All-America honors at Texas A&M, rallied over the final barrier in the women’s 400 hurdles to edge Filipino national record holder and Duke graduate Lauren Hoffman by a 55.52 to 55.72 margin. 

>> Wes Ferguson, a four-time NCAA Division 2 champion from Nebraska-Kearney, won the 800 in 1:46.08 over Iowa State’s Darius Kipyego, 1:46.27.

>> Anna Camp Bennett, former NCAA champion from BYU, won the women’s 1,500 in 4:07.82 off a closing 400 of 62.25. Road mile champion Rachel McArthur was second in 4:08.39, and U.S. indoor 800 champ Allie Wilson faded to ninth in 4:12.33.

>> Aurora Rynda, a 23-year-old Canadian, dropped her 3-year-old PB to 2:00.97 in winning the women’s 800. She was a 10-time Big Ten champion at Michigan, where she was better at 600 meters (1:26.50 for No. 4 all-time college) than at 800. Bradley’s Julia Nielsen, of Sweden, was second in 2:00.99, also a PB. Kaela Edwards, 30, a member of the U.S. world team last year, was third in 2:01.53.

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.