Simpson now 11-0 racing on Jim Duncan Track after clocking 9:16.78; Cunningham, Kendricks overcome strong winds to prevail in elite high jump and pole vault matchups

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Jenny Simpson continued to be unbeatable at Jim Duncan Track by sharing another chapter in her unbelievable career Friday at the 109th Drake Relays in Des Moines.

Simpson not only broke the American outdoor 2-mile record by running a world-leading 9 minutes, 16.78 seconds, but the Iowa native improved to 11-0 in her career racing on the prestigious “Blue Oval” by energizing 8,185 fans who were treated to several memorable performances from multiple elite professionals. It was the first American record set in any event at Drake since the women’s shuttle hurdles relay in 2015.

Programming Note: You can watch the live Webcast here of the meet Saturday. The USATF.TV broadcast and on-demand videos will only be available for USATF.TV +PLUS subscribers. Subscribe here.

“It feels so wonderful to come to a place where people have followed and cared about the progression of your career,” said Simpson, who ran faster than her own American indoor 2-mile record of 9:18.35.

“It feels like these people have been on a journey with me and having multiple championships over and over, and winning here, it feels like I’ve built a story here and all the fans are a big part of it.

“I really hope the Drake fans felt a ton of affection for them from me because the record was hard. It was really windy and I was out there all on my own and I was talking to my coach about how I was putting myself in a vulnerable position by going out hard and being alone with all the wind, but I really wanted to do it for the fans. Even though the conditions weren’t perfect, I really wanted to put on a show for them.”

Simpson, who negative split the race and covered the final 400 meters in 63.1 seconds, won three races during her collegiate career at Colorado competing at Drake. She has remained perfect in eight more professional races at the Drake Relays or USATF Championships ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 meters, improving to No. 13 all-time at the 2-mile distance, including eighth-fastest outdoors by eclipsing the 2014 mark of 9:20.25 set by Shannon Rowbury.

“I feel like she’s the type of athlete who makes everyone else better, so she elevates our expectations as well,” said Brenda Martinez, who placed third in 9:32.82, behind Simpson and Rachel Schneider (9:31.89).

“Those are the type of athletes you want to compete against. You know it’s not going to be easy when she steps on the line, so it’s a good thing to have her out there to be able to test your fitness. We’re going to be focusing on the 1,500 this next Olympic cycle, so I’m going to be seeing her a lot more often.”

Vashti Cunningham has already seen plenty of fellow American Inika McPherson in her three years as a professional high jumper. But the 20-year old and all the spectators in attendance saw a different version of McPherson, who wore a black Power Rangers suit, complete with a mask, for the majority of the competition.

“When I used to watch it when I was younger, I always liked the black Power Ranger, because it was the leader of the group,” McPherson said. “When I teach kids, I always tell them to get an alter ego and think of a superhero they really like. My inspiration comes from Power Rangers.”

When it came down to making a third-attempt clearance at 6 feet, 3.25 inches (1.91m), McPherson removed the suit in order to make sure she remained focus and stayed in the competition. Although she put the pressure on Cunningham to also clear the height on her third attempt, it still wasn’t enough to knock off the reigning U.S. indoor and outdoor champion.

Cunningham built on the momentum of the clutch clearance to soar over the bar at 6-4.25 (1.94m) on her first try to prevail against McPherson and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Levern Spencer of Saint Lucia.

“I don’t like it when Inika puts the pressure on me like that, but she’s going to do it, so I’m just going to have to react with her,” Cunningham said. “I felt good on my first two attempts at 1.91m, but there was just something missing, so the last one, I knew I had to go up for it and there was still something missing because I hit it a little bit. But the next jump at 1.94m made up for it. Overall, I felt pretty decent, except for when it came to that third jump.”

Sam Kendricks didn’t need any third-attempt clearances when it came to setting meet and stadium records in the men’s pole vault, but he was forced to remain clean up until the record height in order to keep pace with South Dakota sophomore Chris Nilsen while battling windy conditions throughout the event.

After missing the meet record last year by a half-inch, Kendricks cleared 19-1.50 (5.83m) on his second attempt to surpass the 2007 mark of 19-0.75 (5.81m) by Jeff Hartwig, with his friend in attendance on the infield.

“Even more special than the record, I got to hear one of my best friends on the road, my agent, my mentor and my confidant recognized and we got to share a really special moment there,” Kendricks said. “Sometimes too much of a good thing is not a good thing and it really favors the most experienced athletes.”

Nilsen, who matched Kendricks by remaining clean up through 18-8.25 (5.70m), placed second with an 18-11.50 (5.78m) clearance and reigning USATF Indoor champion Scott Houston took third at 18-8.25. Nilsen remains in a share of the collegiate lead with Devin King of Southeastern Louisiana at 19-0.25 (5.80m).