Kejelcha narrowly misses world indoor mile record

Saruni posts 3rd fastest indoor 800m

NEW YORK, Feb 10, (RTRS): Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha fell onehundredth of a second short of the world indoor mile record and Kenya’s Michael Saruni clocked the third fastest indoor 800m of all-time as young Africans lit up the NYRR Millrose Games in New York.

Kejelcha raced home in three minutes 48.46 seconds as the 21-yearold almost took down Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1997 world record.

Saruni won the 800m in a national record 1:43.98.

Yomif Kejelcha, of Ethiopia holds his trophy after winning the men’s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games track and field meet, on

Feb 9, in New York. (AP)

Only Denmark’s Kenya-born world record holder Wilson Kipketer has run faster, with times of 1:42.67 and 1:43.96 in 1997.

The 23-year-old Saruni sprinted past American Donavan Brazier in the closing straight to claim victory.

“Oh man, it’s crazy,” Saruni told NBC television. “I trained hard for this moment. I just had to do it.”

Brazier beat Johnny Gray’s 1992 US record with a time of 1:44.41, the seventh-fastest ever. Gray had clocked 1:45.00.

Jamaican Kemoy Campbell collapsed while serving as a pacesetter

“She has been business as usual this whole week, saying I’m racing to win,” said Karin Kildow, Vonn’s sister. “I was like, ‘Just maybe make it down and maybe stand up.’ But she was like, ‘No, I’m going full out’. She was definitely in the mindset to push it and she really did.”

When Vonn crossed the finish line she had a big smile on her face, waved and bowed to the crowd.

“I had a really hard time controlling my nerves and I never have a hard time with that. I’m just happy I made it to the finish and I came down in the lead, which was nice for my last race,” Vonn said. “I’m also safe. I made it down safely. My boyfriend and my family are happy.”

Vonn had been planning on retiring in December but she recently moved up her retirement plans Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during the women’s downhill race, at the alpine ski World Championships

in Are, Sweden, on Feb 10. (AP)

due to persistent pain in both of her surgically repaired knees. She then crashed in Tuesday’s super-G , coming away with a black eye and a bruised rib.

“Thank You Lindsey: Forever A Star,” read one sign positioned by

the side of the course.

As soon as she exited the finish area, Vonn embraced Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark, the only skier to win more World Cup races than Vonn – 86 to 82.

“I’m happy that I could finish strong. I’m happy there are so many people here,” Vonn said. “I wish my mom and my brother and my sister could be here, but half the family is here so that’s good. I soaked it all in. I waved to the crowd one last time. Ingemar being in the finish area was literally the best thing that’s ever happened in my life.”

Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia defended her title from the 2017 worlds, finishing 0.23 seconds ahead of Corinne Suter of Switzerland and 0.49 ahead of Vonn.

Vonn becomes the first female skier to win medals at six different world championships. It’s also her fifth downhill medal at worlds, matching the record established

From left, runner-up Switzerland’s Corinne Suter, the winner Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec, and third placed United States’ Lindsey Vonn pose on the podium after the women’s downhill race, at the alpine ski World Championships in Are, Sweden, on Feb 10. (AP)

by Annemarie Moser-Proell and Christel Cranz.

Four US flags were in the grandstand when Vonn came down and there were quite a few cheers when she started her run wearing a suit with blue-and-yellow trim - Sweden’s colors – to honor Stenmark.

“She really deserves this sendoff from her great career,” said Eleanor Bodin, a 21-year-old fan from Sweden who was holding up a sign saying “Thank You Lindsey.”

“She has been my favorite skier since 2008 when I saw her winning on television,” Bodin said. “I was a little girl sitting on the sofa. I just thought what a great skier and inspiration.”

One Italian competitor bent down to the snow at Vonn’s feet when Vonn was still in the leader’s throne.

At 34 years and 115 days old, Vonn also became the oldest woman to win a medal at a worlds, eclipsing the record set by Veronika Velez-Zuzulova in the mixed team event in 2017 at 32 and 214 days.

While it was snowing heavily three hours before the race, the skies cleared up quickly. However, fog and wind forced organizers to shorten the course to the second reserve start. A shorter course favored Vonn, as it reduced the strain on both of her surgically repaired knees.

“It really helped me to start lower down,” Vonn said. “The upper section was a bit bumpy and with my knee it’s really hard on the body.

I knew I had a good chance and thankfully right before I went, exact opposite of the super-G, the sun came out. I was like, this is it. This is my day. I just charged. I gave it everything I have like always. I put the nerves aside and just enjoyed it. I love going fast. It was a perfect day for downhill.”