Josette Andrews, a specialist in the 1500 and 5,000 meters who has shown flashes of brilliance in her pro career but has not yet made a U.S. team for the Olympics or the outdoor world championships, had a dominant win in the 5,000 meters on May 6 at the Track Fest in Los Angeles, California.
Andrews, 27, broke the tape in 14:43.36, winning by 4 seconds over Joselyn Brea of Venezuela (14:47.76) in second and Laura Galvan of Mexico (14:49.34) in third.
With five laps to go, pacesetter Whittni Orton-Morgan dropped out, and Andrews took over the lead and immediately accelerated. (Andrews said in a post-race interview that it wasn’t clear to her that Orton-Morgan was a pacesetter; she thought she might be a competitor in the race.)
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Andrews’s time was a personal best by 8 seconds and the fastest time in the world this year, and it puts her sixth on the all-time U.S. list. She split 4:34 for her final 1600 meters.
She started training this year with the On Athletics Club in Boulder, Colorado, and the training at altitude appears to suit her. It bodes well for this summer, when Andrews will attempt to make the 2023 World Championships in August in Budapest, Hungary. But it’s unclear if she’ll focus on the 1500 meters or the 5,000 meters.
Emily Infeld, 33, was fourth in a PR of 14:50.90.
Finishing seventh in the field of pros was Katelyn Tuohy of North Carolina State University, who ran 15:03.12, a collegiate record. Tuohy bettered the mark of 15:07.64, run by Jenny Barringer (now Simpson) of the University of Colorado in 2009.
Katelyn Tuohy celebrates breaking the NCAA record in the 5,000 meters.
In recent weeks, the sport’s observers have wondered how long Tuohy will remain in the NCAA. She has won collegiate titles in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, and now she has broken a 14-year-old record. She has an NIL deal with Adidas, which is thought to be substantial, but she also doesn’t have much by way of serious competition in the NCAA.
In the men’s 5,000 meters, Cooper Teare of the Bowerman Track Club held off Morgan Beadlescomb in the homestretch to win, 13:12:73 to 13:12:95.
The upset of the night was in the women’s steeplechase. Krissy Gear of Northern Arizona Elite moved up from fourth to second with a lap to go. Then Gear chased down Courtney Wayment, who had a 3-second lead at the bell. Gear passed Wayment before the final barrier and won in 9:23.55, a 15-second PR for her. Wayment, who was a 2021 Olympian in the event, was second in 9:24.39.
In the 10,000 meters, Fiona O’Keeffe won in 30:52.77, moving her to 10th on the U.S. all-time list.
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
