Bromell runs wind-legal 9.92, Hassan clocks world-leading 14:35.34 in 5,000; Ahmed, Centrowitz, McLeod, Muir, Snowden among elite winners during event that also showcased first American Track League outdoor event of the year

By Landon Negri for DyeStat/Photos by Chuck Utash

However long Trayvon Bromell has to wait, he just keeps preaching focus over and over again.

With leg injuries behind him, as well a one-year, pandemic-induced delay for the Tokyo Olympics, Bromell broke 10 seconds again in the 100-meter dash Saturday in the American Track League portion of the Sound Running Track Meet in Irvine, Calif.

Bromell looked strong throughout his 100 meters, but particularly in a late surge that resulted in a wind-legal 9.92-second performance and a margin of three-tenths over runner-up Chris Royster (10.22) and Canada’s Bismark Boateng (third, 10.28).

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The 25-year old from St. Petersburg, Fla., now boasts two of the top three times in the world this year – including the lead at 9.88 – as an Olympic season looms.

“For me, it was big,” he said. “We’ve been doing a lot of hard training these past few weeks. So to come from that and come over from the other side of the coast to run this time, pretty much with ease and just staying relaxed, I’m like, ‘We are in a good position and making good strides to do great things in the future.’”

Bromell won the 100 at the World Junior Championships in 2014 and the 60-meter dash gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in 2016, before finishing eighth in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro later that year, when Bromell also tore his Achilles in the 4x100 relay.

Now on the comeback trail, he has again put his name into the Olympic conversation.

“We’ve got to stay focused on what’s really important,” he said.

In fact, his only misstep on Saturday? Breakfast.

Potatoes, he said.

“That jacked me up,” he said. “I ain’t going to lie to you.”

Bromell’s victory was one of several notable performances during the daytime session, which saw 12 events showcased during a 90-minute window on ESPN as part of the American Track League’s opening event of the outdoor season.

The night session didn’t disappoint, either, led by Dutch star and Nike professional Sifan Hassan, who built nearly a half-track lead before winning in 14:35.34, the top time in the world in the event this year in her outdoor opener.

Josette Norris, representing Reebok Boston Track Club, was second in 14:51.42 and Under Armour’s Rachel Schneider was third in 14:52.04. Both American standouts achieved the Olympic standard with their personal-best performances.

Hassan, whose victory was followed by Canadian Mohammed Ahmed, representing Nike Bowerman Track Club, winning the men’s 5,000 in 13:18.49, seemed surprised at her victory.

“I come just from hard training,” she said. “I haven’t really prepared for competition. For me, it’s just shake the legs out.

“I’m very happy with the time.”

Earlier in the day, the lion’s share of the attention was on the 1,500s.

British runner Katie Snowden had the most remarkable win of the two events, pulling away late for a personal-best effort of nearly three seconds in 4:02.98. Running in her first 1,500 this season, Kate Grace was second in 4:03.54, with fellow Nike athlete and former Oregon standout Jessica Hull placing third in 4:04.16, all under the Olympic standard of 4:04.20.

Snowden’s previous PR was 4:05.29, and she won the unseeded section May 9 at the USATF Golden Games and Distance Open at Mt. SAC in 4:06.06.

“I felt really good,” Snowden said. “I was kind of just waiting for the gaps to open up. I kind of kept getting myself in the middle of opposition. I was a bit boxed, so I was just heading down the home straight and (hoping) I’d find some space.

“… I was still feeling really good with 200 to go.”

Matthew Centrowitz, the gold medalist in the 1,500 in Rio, flashed that same kind of dominance, powering his way at the finish to win in 3:35.26. Nike’s Jake Heyward, a British athlete, was second in 3:36.24 and Nike Bowerman Track Club’s Marc Scott, also representing Great Britain, was third in 3:36.28.

“The training has been going really well the last several weeks,” Centrowitz said, “and I was happy to be able to come out here and showcase that.”

Slowed by injury in 2020, the pandemic may actually have played into his favor in terms of defending his Olympic title in Tokyo.

“I’d like to think everything happens for a reason,” he said. “It’s kind of been a long, slow buildup to where I’d like to be in an Olympics year, and today was a definitely a good indication of good things for the future.”

In the 800, Scottish veterinarian surgeon Laura Muir rallied to win in 1:58.71, edging Atlanta Track Club Elite’s Allie Wilson, who broke the 2-minute mark for the first time (1:59.68) for second place.

Jesus Tonatiu Lopez, the Mexican national record holder, won on the men’s side in 1:46.59.

“I kind of sat in the back and then felt really strong in the last 200,” Muir said.

Omar McLeod of Jamaica, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist and former world champion in the 110 hurdles, added another victory to his resume by winning that event in 13.11, the No. 2 time in the world this year. Devon Allen was second in a season-best 13.26 and Daniel Roberts was third in 13.30.

McLeod capped a Jamaican sweep in the hurdles. Ronda Whyte won the 400 hurdles in 55.11, with Britany Anderson ran an all-conditions best in the 100 hurdles to clock a wind-aided 12.69.

Olympic gold medalist and seven-time world champion Brittney Reese won the long jump in 22 feet, 3.75 inches (6.80m).

In the men’s shot put, Payton Otterdahl held off Nick Ponzio, the former USC and Great Oak High standout, with a best throw of 70-7.75 (21.53m). Otterdahl’s series included three throws of more than 70 feet. Ponzio threw 70-2.50 (21.40 m).

In the women’s 100, Great Britain’s Daryll Neita equaled her personal best from 2019 with a win in 11.12. New Balance athlete and USC graduate Kendall Ellis won the women’s 400 in 50.30.