Cheserek takes over world lead, Schneider doubles and Chelimo runs sub-4 mile after 3,000

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

As if the mile performance by Edward Cheserek at 5,300-feet elevation Jan. 27 in Albuquerque wasn't impressive enough, the former Oregon star made perhaps a bigger statement Saturday in the Camel City Invitational Elite Mile at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cheserek ran the second-fastest indoor mile ever on a 200-meter flat track, clocking a world-leading 3 minutes, 53.85 seconds. Cheserek clocked 3:54.73 despite running at altitude in New Mexico, giving him two of the four fastest indoor mile times in the world this year, regardless of surface.

The indoor mile record on a flat track is 3:52.30 by Ireland's Frank O'Mara in 1987. Cheserek, a 17-time NCAA champion, set the collegiate indoor mile record last year on a banked track by running 3:52.01.

Paul Chelimo eclipsed the 4-minute mark in the indoor mile for the first time in his career, clocking 3:58.59 to place second less than an hour after winning the 3,000 in 7:52.88. Six athletes ran under 4 minutes in the mile.

Rachel Schneider doubled in the women's mile and 3,000. Schneider clocked 4:31.74 less than 45 minutes after prevailing in the 3,000 in 9:02.64.

Former Virginia Tech standout Hanna Green, a three-time NCAA Division 1 runner-up in the 800, won in 2:02.58 to edge Swedish star and Marymount College athlete Hanna Hermansson in 2:02.98.

Eliud Rutto, last year's NCAA Division 1 indoor second-place finisher in the men's 800 at Middle Tennessee State, prevailed in 1:51.16.