The University of Mississippi Athletics
Engels Advances to 1500-Meter Final at Day Two of USATF Championships
7/26/2019 | Track and Field
<i class="icon-stats"></i> Live Results<i class="icon-pencil"></i> Day One Recap<i class="icon-pencil"></i> Preview & Links
Six-Time All-American Engels Looking to Make First Career World Outdoor Team
DES MOINES, Iowa – Rebel NCAA Champion and six-time All-American Craig Engels made his fourth career national final in the men's 1500-meter to lead the way for Ole Miss track & field at Day Two of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium on Friday.
Engels, the reigning U.S. indoor champion in the mile who is coming off two stellar performances at the Prefontaine Classic in June (3:51.60 mile) and Sunset Tour in July (1:44.68 800-meter), won the second prelim heat by a hundredth of a second over Henry Wynne at 3:43.22 to punch an automatic qualifier slot to Sunday's final.
On Sunday, Engels will look to become the first Rebel to ever medal in the 1500-meter, in addition to punching his first career ticket on an outdoor World Championships team. He was an IAAF World Indoor finalist in the 1500-meter in 2018 (seventh place), and he has had two narrow misses to make Team USA outdoors in his three prior 1500-meter finals, finishing fifth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and fourth at the 2017 U.S. Championships.
"That's the goal, to win," Engels told reporters postrace. "That's why I joined the Oregon Project. Hopefully on Sunday I can come out there and do what I'm meant to do. But, obviously, I want to make the team as well, so I'm going to win it smart if I win it."
"I'm more fit this year, I'm more confident this year," Engels continued. "I'm going to go out there and do what I've done all season and be the top American."
Olympian Isiah Young had a narrow miss of his own on Friday in the men's 100-meter dash final. The three-time World Championship qualifier was aiming for his first career ticket on Team USA in the world's premier event, and he got off to a great start, running the fastest prelim yesterday (10.14) and the second-fastest semifinal time on Friday at 10.15 (-0.1) to punch his ticket to the final for the fifth time in his career.
In the final, world leader and reigning World silver medalist Christian Coleman ran away with the national title at 9.99 (-1.0), but the fight for the final two spots on Team USA was fierce as Young ended up taking sixth place overall at 10.21 (-1.0).
The meet is far from over for Young, though, who is slated to run in the first round of the men's 200-meter dash on Saturday. In his career, the three World Championship teams that Young has made have all been in the 200-meter, which include a U.S. title in 2013 and a World final in 2017 (eighth place).
Ryan Manahan was also in competition on Friday, running in his second career U.S. semifinal in the 800-meter. Manahan finished 13th overall at 1:49.41, an improvement over his 14th-place finish in his last U.S. semifinal in 2017.
Competition at Day Three on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. CT with NCAA Champion and 10-time All-American Janeah Stewart in the women's hammer, followed by Young in the first round of the 200-meter at 1:58 p.m. CT before Olympians Sam Kendricks (men's pole vault, 2 p.m. CT) and Brittney Reese (women's long jump, 3 p.m. CT) look to add another U.S. medal to their extensive legacies. Fans can watch the action on NBC beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Engels, the reigning U.S. indoor champion in the mile who is coming off two stellar performances at the Prefontaine Classic in June (3:51.60 mile) and Sunset Tour in July (1:44.68 800-meter), won the second prelim heat by a hundredth of a second over Henry Wynne at 3:43.22 to punch an automatic qualifier slot to Sunday's final.
On Sunday, Engels will look to become the first Rebel to ever medal in the 1500-meter, in addition to punching his first career ticket on an outdoor World Championships team. He was an IAAF World Indoor finalist in the 1500-meter in 2018 (seventh place), and he has had two narrow misses to make Team USA outdoors in his three prior 1500-meter finals, finishing fifth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and fourth at the 2017 U.S. Championships.
"That's the goal, to win," Engels told reporters postrace. "That's why I joined the Oregon Project. Hopefully on Sunday I can come out there and do what I'm meant to do. But, obviously, I want to make the team as well, so I'm going to win it smart if I win it."
"I'm more fit this year, I'm more confident this year," Engels continued. "I'm going to go out there and do what I've done all season and be the top American."
Olympian Isiah Young had a narrow miss of his own on Friday in the men's 100-meter dash final. The three-time World Championship qualifier was aiming for his first career ticket on Team USA in the world's premier event, and he got off to a great start, running the fastest prelim yesterday (10.14) and the second-fastest semifinal time on Friday at 10.15 (-0.1) to punch his ticket to the final for the fifth time in his career.
In the final, world leader and reigning World silver medalist Christian Coleman ran away with the national title at 9.99 (-1.0), but the fight for the final two spots on Team USA was fierce as Young ended up taking sixth place overall at 10.21 (-1.0).
The meet is far from over for Young, though, who is slated to run in the first round of the men's 200-meter dash on Saturday. In his career, the three World Championship teams that Young has made have all been in the 200-meter, which include a U.S. title in 2013 and a World final in 2017 (eighth place).
Ryan Manahan was also in competition on Friday, running in his second career U.S. semifinal in the 800-meter. Manahan finished 13th overall at 1:49.41, an improvement over his 14th-place finish in his last U.S. semifinal in 2017.
Competition at Day Three on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. CT with NCAA Champion and 10-time All-American Janeah Stewart in the women's hammer, followed by Young in the first round of the 200-meter at 1:58 p.m. CT before Olympians Sam Kendricks (men's pole vault, 2 p.m. CT) and Brittney Reese (women's long jump, 3 p.m. CT) look to add another U.S. medal to their extensive legacies. Fans can watch the action on NBC beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldThe Season: New Heights (2025)
Friday, August 01
From Walk-On to National Champ: Arvesta Troupe (T&F)
Monday, June 23
HIGHLIGHTS: Arvesta Troupe Makes History as NCAA High Jump Champ
Friday, June 13
PRESSER: Arvesta Troupe Talks Historic NCAA High Jump Win
Friday, June 13