American record-breaking triple jumps highlight Day 1 of 2020 Toyota USATF Indoor Championships

ALBUQUERQUE -- A sellout crowd in the Albuquerque Convention Center saw a stellar slate of track and field Friday evening at the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships. Two American records fell in the field and three world-leading marks were turned in, and the world’s fastest man gave a glimpse of things to come in the heats of the sprints.
 
Fans can watch a replay of today’s competition on NBC Sports Gold. 
 
The showdown between the past two women’s triple jump champions elicited a competition for the ages. 2019 winner Keturah Orji (Atlanta, Georgia) opened with a 14.26m/46-9.5, the best by an American this year, and then bounded to an American indoor record in the next round, going 14.60m/47-10.75. Former record-holder and 2018 champ Tori Franklin (Oak Park, Illinois) had four jumps past 14 meters, but it was her final attempt of 14.64/48-0.5 that reclaimed the AR and the U.S. title.
 
Regaining the title he won here in 2018, Conor McCullough (Canoga Park, California) moved to #3 on the all-time US performer list in the men’s weight throw with a 25.31m/83-0.5 in the third round. One of the deepest competitions ever, with four men past 80-feet, saw last year’s winner, Daniel Haugh (Marietta, Georgia), become only the sixth American ever to surpass 25 meters with a 25.04m/82-2, and Daniel Roberts (Carbondale, Illinois) climbed to seventh on the all-time U.S. list at 24.60m/80-8.5. Alex Young’s (LaVergne, Tennessee) final attempt of 24.42m/80-1.5 elevated him to No. 9 on that list and placed him fourth.
 
In the Chocolate Milk women’s 3000m, a star-studded field featuring the American record-holder at 1,500m and 5,000m outdoors, the newly-minted American record-holder in the mile, the American record-holder in the 3,000m steeplechase and a host of other luminaries delivered on a promise of a compelling race in the women’s 3,000m. Running in a large pack through much of the race, all the major contenders were in striking distance before Shelby Houlihan (Portland, Oregon) burst away with a patented kick over the final 200m to win her fourth straight 3,000m/2 mile gold in 8:52.03. Karissa Schweizer (Portland, Oregon) also closed well to hold onto silver in 8:53.70, with Colleen Quigley (Portland, Oregon) third in 8:55.55.
 
Competing in her home state, reigning champion Chase Ealey (Chacon, New Mexico) defended her title in the women’s shot put with the best throw in the world this year, going 18.99m/62-3.75 on her final attempt. Ealey led after round two with an 18.63m/61-1.5, and Haley Teel’s (Acworth, Georgia) lifetime-best 18.40m/60-4.5 was good for silver.
 
A double distance winner two years ago here, Paul Chelimo (Colorado Springs, Colorado) bided his time in the Progressive Men’s 3000m until the final circuit, when he turned on the jets and ran away to win the men’s 3,000m in 8:00.14. A pair of steeplechasers, Anthony Rotich (Colorado Springs, Colorado) and Hillary Bor (Colorado Springs, Colorado), filled the other two podium spots as Rotich outleaned Bor in 8:01.91-8:01.92.
 
Clearing a lifetime best 5.85m/19-2.25 on his second attempt, Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) won his first national title and moved to equal-tenth on the U.S. all-time list in the men’s pole vault. Collegian Branson Ellis (Plano, Texas) of Stephen F. Austin bettered his PR and joined the 19-foot club with a 5.80m/19-0.25 for silver.
 
After a year off in 2019 due to injury, Erik Kynard (Atlanta, Georgia) reclaimed the U.S. title with his sixth national indoor gold, clearing 2.26/7-5 on his first attempt to edge Shelby McEwen (Abbeville, Mississippi), who ended up with silver after missing once at that height.
 
In the men’s long jump, KeAndre Bates (Gainesville, Florida) claimed his first indoor national title, surpassing 26-feet three times with a best of 7.98m/26-2.25. Silver went to Malik Moffett (State College, Pennsylvania), who spanned 7.93m/26-0.25.
 
Nick Christie (El Cajon, California) race walked to his third straight national 3,000m gold and fourth overall, clocking 11:55.44.
 
World 60m record holder Christian Coleman (Atlanta, Georgia), who set that mark of 6.34 here in 2018, made his season opener a memorable one, zipping to a world-leading 6.48 to lead qualifiers to Saturday’s semifinal.
 
2019 World Championships fourth-placer and 4x400m relay gold medalist Wadeline Jonathas (Columbia, South Carolina) led all qualifiers in the women’s 400m with a 51.32, the fastest time in the world in 2020, and 2016 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Gil Roberts (Pico Rivera, California) topped men’s qualifiers at 46.50.
 
Complete results can be found here. Saturday’s competition begins at 11:00 a.m. MST with the women’s weight throw final. The live broadcast will begin on NBC at 2:00 p.m. MST, with all competition being available on NBC Sports Gold. 
 
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