* Devan Kipyego and Sadie Engelhardt became your mile champions at New Balance Nationals Outdoor
Photo Credit: Kyle Brazeil / MileSplit
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It was a competitive third day of New Balance Nationals Outdoor, however, the championship mile will probably go down as one of the top races of the weekend.
Devan Kipyego, the Iowa State signee, and Ventura (CA) sophomore Sadie Engelhardt ran under the lights for the titles.
The boys took the track first as Newbury Park's (CA) Aaron Sahlman and pacer Kole Mathison of Carmel (IN) took it out from the gun. Mathison and Sahlman went through in 61 seconds, while Kipyego was fifth through the first 409m in Franklin Field.
Kipyego and Marcus Reilly began to move through the laps quicker together as they split 59 and 61 seconds for the second and third laps.
Things began to shake up as Mathison's pacing duties came to an end.
Kipyego, who was the 2022 New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2K steeplechase champion, made his move with about 600m left to be in control of the race. However, Kipyego wasn't alone at the front.
It became a two-man race as Kipyego and Reilly went stride for stride on the final lap and Kipyego began to add some daylight.
Kipyego crossed the finish line with a 4:04.78 and Connor Ackley was able to finish strong for second in 4:06.06. Reilly finished third in 4:06.12 as Sahlman finished 15th in 4:13.67.
* Devan Kipyego wins his second New Balance Nationals Outdoor title in his career
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After not being able to finish her two mile race at Brooks PR Invitational on Wednesday in Seattle, Washington, Englehardt brushed off that performance and was able to regroup to run for the mile title tonight.
Sophia Gorriaran, the Harvard recruit, and Engelhardt swapped being leaders twice through the first 300m. As the pace settled, Engelhardt came through in 67 seconds and Gorriaran was just a second back for the first 409m. As the second lap unfolded, Engelhardt was on a mission to add separation on the rest of the field.
The sophomore was able to gap the second pack, which was led by Gorriaran, by nearly four seconds.
Englehardt, who was also the New Balance Nationals Indoor mile champion this winter, came through 809m in 2:16 as Gorriaran and the rest of the field split 2:20.
The race remained constant until the bell lap.
Engelhardt began to tighten up as Gorriaran began to push and sprint down the backstretch. The Moses Brown School (RI) graduate narrowed the gap to about 15m.
As the field was coming off the final turn, Claire Stegall, the Tennessee state champion in the 1,600m, had a late push.
Engelhardt put the work in upfront to provide her with the cushion to run across the finish line as the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion despite the strong 67 closing speed of Stegall.
Engelhardt won the title in 4:38.96 to take down the previous meet record of 4:42.11 by Hannah Boyle last year. Stegall set a new personal best of 4:39.94 and became the seventh girl this season to go sub 4:40 in the mile. Finishing in third was Jessica Secor of Dupont Manual (KY) with a 4:40.98. Gorriaran settled for seventh in 4:41.98.
This marked Engelhardt's third 4:40 mile performance this season.
* Sadie Engelhardt shares insight on her season and her win at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the mile
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