Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera, a former prep standout at Madera South High in California, returned to his home state Saturday at the Sound Running Track Fest and made history for Mexico in the USATF men’s 5,000-meter race at Jack Kemp Stadium at Occidental College.
Eduardo "Lalo" Herrera (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Herrera, a former Colorado All-American now representing Under Armour Dark Sky Distance, became the first Mexican competitor to eclipse the 13-minute mark, covering the final lap in 57.38 seconds to achieve a national record of 12:58.57 and lead seven athletes under the 13:10 barrier.
Herrera also ran faster than his Mexican indoor 5,000 all-time performance of 13:06.36 from Feb. 1 at Boston University.
Ky Robinson, a former NCAA Division 1 champion at Stanford and Australian standout, placed second for On Athletics Club by clocking 13:05.23, just ahead of American competitor and adidas athlete Morgan Beadlescomb in 13:05.47.
Woody Kincaid of Nike Swoosh Track Club was fourth in 13:06.15, Ahmed Muhumed from HOKA Northern Arizona Elite placed fifth in 13:07.49, Kenyan competitor Amon Kemboi of PUMA Elite Running secured sixth in 13:07.83 and New Zealand athlete Geordie Beamish of On Athletics Club achieved seventh in 13:09.80.
Irish competitor and New Balance professional Andrew Coscoran was eighth in a personal-best 13:11.05.
Linden Hall (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Linden Hall, representing PUMA, elevated to the No. 2 all-time Australian competitor by winning the USATF women’s 5,000 race in 14:43.61, highlighting four athletes producing sub-15 efforts.
Hall is already the Australian indoor 5,000 record holder at 14:58.43 from Feb. 15 at Boston University.
British athletes Melissa Courtney-Bryant (14:48.20) and Hannah Nuttall (14:50.42), both representing New Balance, achieved lifetime-best performances to place second and third, with German standout Lea Meyer of New Balance Boston also clocking a personal-best 14:58.85 to secure fourth.
Amanda Vestri of Brooks Running was the top American performer, also running a lifetime-best 15:01.22 to take fifth.
Jake Wightman (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Jake Wightman of New Balance, the 2022 World champion in the 1,500 meters representing Great Britain, edged On Athletics athlete and former University of Washington standout Sam Ellis in Saturday’s USATF men’s showdown by a 3:35.26 to 3:35.77 margin.
Klaudia Kazimierska (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Klaudia Kazimierska, an Oregon senior representing Poland, held off a late surge from American standout and New Balance athlete Emily Mackay to produce a 4:03.26 to 4:03.33 victory in the USATF women’s 1,500 race.
Kazimierska, who ran 3:59.95 in August in Poland, is scheduled to compete for the Ducks at the NCAA Division 1 West Regionals, which start Wednesday at Texas A&M.
Katie Snowden, a Nike athlete and British competitor, was third in 4:03.74, with U.S. performer Gabbi Jennings of adidas producing a personal-best 4:04.43 to place fourth and fellow American standout Shelby Houlihan from Rise achieving fifth in 4:04.76.
Kenneth Rooks (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Kenneth Rooks, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and U.S. competitor representing Nike, prevailed in 8:14.25 to lead five American athletes to sub-8:25 efforts.
Duncan Hamilton of Nike Swoosh Track Club secured second in 8:20.28, Derek Johnson from New Balance took third in 8:22.64, Gable Sieperda of Fitness Sports Distance Project placed fourth in 8:24.82 and Daniel Michalski of U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program achieved fifth in 8:24.91.
Elise Thorner (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Elise Thorner, a New Balance competitor and British athlete, ran a personal-best 9:17.57 to win the women’s 3,000 steeplechase, followed by four American entries all producing sub-9:25 performances.
Angelina Ellis of Under Armour Dark Sky Distance was runner-up in 9:22.03, Sophie Novak took third in 9:23.04, Krissy Gear of HOKA finished fourth in 9:24.36 and Kaylee Mitchell from Nike Swoosh Track Club earned fifth in 9:24.95.
Sage Hurta-Klecker (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Sage Hurta-Klecker, representing On Athletics Club, ran 1:59.02 to win the Now Sports women’s 800, with fellow American standout Valery Tobias from Brooks Beasts Track Club clocking 1:59.49 to take second.
Lithuanian athlete Gabija Galvydyte, representing Nike Swoosh Track Club, was third in 2:00.05.
Mark English (5/24/2025), Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo
Mark English, an Irish entry and ASICS competitor, triumphed in the Now Sports men’s 800 in 1:44.75, with Moad Zahafi of Morocco finishing runner-up in 1:45.14 and Under Armour athlete Alex Amankwah placing third in 1:45.61.
Sadie Engelhardt, a North Carolina State-bound senior from Ventura High competing unattached, made her outdoor season debut in the second section of the women’s 1,500 and finished eighth in 4:18.10.
Bailey Hertenstein, a former Colorado All-American and Nike athlete, won the 1,500 race in 4:06.39.
– Erik Boal
