Jennifer Randall of Cascadia Elite crosses the finish line of the 1,500 meters. Photo by Kevin Neri
Cascadia Elite’s Jennifer Randall used her speed and endurance to pull ahead with 300 meters and win the women’s 1,500 meters invitational race Friday night at Hayward Field with a time of 4 minutes, 14.23 seconds, beating Oregon’s Izzy Thornton-Bott by more than two seconds.
“I didn’t even really know who was where,” Randall said. “But I was looking up at the video board and I heard people cheering and figured she must be right there because she is pretty speedy.”
Randall, who finished her collegiate running career in 2013, ran in her first event at Hayward Field as a post-collegiate runner. A full-time physical therapist, the premiere marks progress towards her larger season goals of running at the team USA trials.
Thornton-Bott finished second in a new personal record of 4:16.56. Thornton-Bott was running in her first outdoor meet of the season and her first race at Hayward in her career.
“It’s a special moment,” she said. “And you know, Hayward Premiere, Hayward Field, it’s the Oregon Ducks, how much duckier can you get?”
Thornton-Bott was one of six Oregon runners participating in the event, five of whom finished in the top 11 of the race. Four Ducks set a new personal record.
