On May 6-7, Atlanta Track Club had a strong showing by its middle distance team in San Juan Capistrano, California. The elites were headlined by two big wins in the women’s 800m from Allie Wilson on Friday and from Sadi Henderson on Saturday. At The Track Meet by Sound Running, Wilson ran a world leading time of 1:58.18 in the women's 800m. In a gutsy battle to the finish in her own words, “I raced harder than I ever have before and did something I didn’t even know was possible for me.” Wilson set the fastest time in the world, a personal record, and a World Athletic standard (qualifying her to compete at the World Championships in Oregon this summer). In the same race and battling a cold, Olivia Baker finished 6th with a 2:01 in her first 800m of the outdoor season. In the previous heat Gemma Finch ran to a 6th place finish with a 2:03.65 in the women's 800m. Yolanda Ngarambe had a strong 2nd place finish in the 1500m with a time of 4:10.50 behind Mexico’s Laura Galvan who set a national record. Elite Marathoner Bridget Belyeu ran 33:16.07 in the women's 10,000m. On the men's side in a tactical race, Daniel Nixon made a strong push for the front on the second lap of the men's 800m but finished 6th in 1:49.4 and Shane Streich finished 7th in 1:49.8.
The Elite team had two athletes in action on Saturday at the American Track League’s OC Classic. To start the day, Nixon doubled back in the men's 800m and came away with a 5th place finish. Taking the lead right going into the second lap, Sadi Henderson had a very strong finish in her 2:02.50 win in the women's 800m over Great Britain's Ellie Baker. The mark for Henderson’s 800m was her fastest outdoor season opener ever.
Next up, Atlanta Track Club will be sending a few sprinters and mid-distance athletes to The American Track League’s Puerto Rico Athletics Classic taking place in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
