Yorks, Lawrence Both Medal At U.S. Championships
June 23, 2018 | Track & Field
DES MOINES, Iowa - A pair of Husky school record-holders both made the podium for the first time in their pro careers at the USATF Outdoor Championships today at Drake Stadium. 2013 grad Mel Lawrence raced to third in the steeplechase in a new PR and then 2016 grad Izaic Yorks had a breakthrough performance to take second-place in the 1,500-meters final.
The medal efforts were the first for Lawrence and Yorks in a U.S. Championship meet. Lawrence, the Reno, Nev. native who runs for Oiselle, set the Husky steeplechase record of 9:40.98 back in 2009 when she took third at the NCAA Championships. Today, Lawrence ran a new career-best time of 9:33.30 to finish third behind Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, the gold and silver medalists at last year's World Championships. Lawrence was fifth at USAs a year ago, moving up two spots this year and finishing eight seconds clear of fourth-place.
Yorks (Lakewood, Wash.) was 10th at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials but did not make the final a year ago. He put his name back up into the mix of the nation's top young mid-distance stars today with a runner-up effort in a tactical final. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz, who was coached at Oregon by new Washington Head Coach Andy Powell, got the victory in 3:43.37 and Yorks was just a split second behind in 3:43.63. A member of the Brooks Beasts club, Yorks ran 3:37.74 as a senior in 2016 to set the UW record en route to an NCAA runner-up finish that year.
The USATF Outdoor Championships wrap up on Sunday. Husky alums Katie Mackey and Eleanor Fulton will be racing in the women's 5,000-meters.
The medal efforts were the first for Lawrence and Yorks in a U.S. Championship meet. Lawrence, the Reno, Nev. native who runs for Oiselle, set the Husky steeplechase record of 9:40.98 back in 2009 when she took third at the NCAA Championships. Today, Lawrence ran a new career-best time of 9:33.30 to finish third behind Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, the gold and silver medalists at last year's World Championships. Lawrence was fifth at USAs a year ago, moving up two spots this year and finishing eight seconds clear of fourth-place.
Yorks (Lakewood, Wash.) was 10th at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials but did not make the final a year ago. He put his name back up into the mix of the nation's top young mid-distance stars today with a runner-up effort in a tactical final. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz, who was coached at Oregon by new Washington Head Coach Andy Powell, got the victory in 3:43.37 and Yorks was just a split second behind in 3:43.63. A member of the Brooks Beasts club, Yorks ran 3:37.74 as a senior in 2016 to set the UW record en route to an NCAA runner-up finish that year.
The USATF Outdoor Championships wrap up on Sunday. Husky alums Katie Mackey and Eleanor Fulton will be racing in the women's 5,000-meters.
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