Baweke continues success with 2 miles win
Aleshign Baweke took home to top spot in the women's 2 miles at the Prefontaine Classic.
Video Transcript
Here's Shelby Houlihan 67 Well, Houlihan was out for four years serving a ban, but since she's been back, she's lacked a little bit of consistency.
But when she's been hot, she's been hot.
She was a silver medalist at the 2025 Indoor World Championships in the 3,000, fourth last year in the 5,000 outdoors in Tokyo.
Reigning world champ- So she has the ability to be one of the best Donnellie O'Donohue She just needs to get a little bit more consistent with how her racing has been going.
Shelby will be up against the likes of Karisa Schweitzer and Gabriella Debus-Stafford, and also here, Beweke.
Well, Beweke's only 20 years old, but she's having a lot of success.
She was fourth at the Indoor World Championships in the 3,000 this year.
She's the second fastest performer in the 5,000 outdoors this year.
Only 20 years old, very young, a lot of hope that she's gonna be a big Ethiopian star moving forward And that fourth outing for Fanny Rouse, 45, 63.9 and three quarters.
So one final throw remaining.
Already a career day for Fanny Rouse of Sweden This is not an event, Lee, that's run very often.
I think there's a good chance we'll see some fast times today, see some records fall.
It's just not run very often, but it's kind of fun, especially in a year like this year where there is no global championship, for the athletes to try different distances, step up in distance, step down in distance, and meet together at this two-mile distance.
Keep an eye on Ethiopia's Ayantu as well in this women's, this Xfinity women's two-miler.
A foul on the final throw by Fanny Rouse of King Jackson of the United States There's Karisa Schweitzer just to the right, right on the edge of the frame of that shot there.
Karisa had a nice win in Indianapolis in the 5K championship, the USATF 5K championship not that long ago, so we'll see what her form has been like.
She continues a comeback after some, some injuries and some surgeries and stuff, so we'll see how Karisa runs here today.
You can absolutely never count her out.
She's the queen of the comeback A little extra on the track as we'll introduce the field on the It's Elise Stearns just to her inside, a 25-year-old out of Montana.
Gabriella Debus-Stafford, who her sister had a pretty tough night last night, her younger sister, sister Lucia, who went out very hard, and unfortunately, that strategy did not work for her.
We'll see what big sis can do here as the Xfinity women's two mile is underway Donnellie O'Donohue on the inside They'll have a pacer here, and the lights are set at 9:04 pace.
We'll see who decides to go with that pace, and if they let it go.
We saw in the men's two mile last night, the men kind of just let it go.
They let it fall away, and they decided to just make it a race.
We'll see if the women wanna run a little bit faster 2,000 meter.
Two time Canadian Olympian, Gabriella Debus-Stafford, Elise Stearns, and indoor final- As Kara said, the two-mile distance is not, something that we see that often here at the, Nike Prefontaine Classic.
So we'll see who enjoys this distance the best as everybody settles into the opening lap rhythm, finding themselves in that pack there, finding some clear space.
You know, it's nice for these athletes to be able to do something different.
I think with all the Olympics and cha- World Championships back to back to back, people weren't able to race up or down in distance as much as maybe they would like.
This year, there is no global championship.
There's Europeans and there's Commonwealth, but it gives these athletes a chance to race up a little bit if they're normally 1500 meter runners, or race down if they're normally 5,000 meter runners Hiru Meshesha of Ethiopia is at the front of the pack at the moment.
You see Shelby Houlihan there in the blue top.
What have you made of her form after so, such a long period of away?
Coming back, had a, had a good comeback year last year.
What's your overall take?
She had a great comeback year.
I think it's been hard for her to find her rhythm.
You know, she's had some really great races, and then she's had other races where she's struggled.
I think she's kind of trying to figure out what distance is right for her.
Remember, Shelby Houlihan is still the American record holder- Yeah in the 1500.
So she had a lot of speed before she was away for four years.
But last year in Tokyo, she was fourth at the World Championships in that 5,000 and ran it in the way that we remember seeing her.
So she has a lot of potential if she can just sort of find her rhythm Won the US championship, the nationals as well, at 5,000.
As we head to the field, Trey, give us an update.
Here we go, just finishing up was the women's shot put.
We saw Chase Jackson's opening round, 20 meter 56.
This was her final attempt, almost out to the 20 meter mark.
But no one else in this competition was able to take down that very, very first throw.
It put a lot of pressure on the field, and Chase Jackson racks up the third big win of the season, all on that first throw Totaling time- Phenomenal.
Congratulations to Chase, as we rejoin the women's two mile And Lee, it's starting to look a little bit like we saw with the men last night, where they're letting the pacemaker go, and they're deciding to just race this.
They're behind the pace they originally were going for.
You can see the pacemaker way out in front, and this is just becoming a race for who can win here at the Prefontaine Classic Another great race in the 110 meter hurdles Inside the final six laps Champion alongside Don Harper Nelson.
Don?
Jamal Green, you were giving her hell, love.
Ella Donohue With your hand on her during the whole 3.99.
Tell me about why this was special.
Nicely in the mix I live with her mom and stuff, so- Honestly, this works into Houlihan's favor.
If the race is a little bit on the slower side, she has a absolutely lethal kick.
And so this is sort of playing into her hands right now.
If they keep the pace, you know, slower like this, that sets her up really well to try to take this thing in the last lap I was gonna say, they was sleeping on your name.
No more.
What you got to say to them right now?
And there is Ayantu of Ethiopia, third runner in shot.
Keep an eye on her as well I'm here wherever I'm coming down the piece.
So whenever it's, it's on, it's off.
Jamal Green, you came to give me hell Good move from fellow Ethiopian, Nebret, coming up the outside there, as Meshesha has looked very comfortable from the beginning, heading the pack.
Shelby Houlihan there, a little further back in the middle, but towards the back of the pack is Karisa Schweitzer And at three quarters of a mile- Yeah, Meshesha looks so relaxed, doesn't she there?
Went very early.
Went straight to the head of this pack behind the pacer On the opening lap To stay on those lights And looks very composed And they'll work through this lap to the first mile in two This pace should feel comfortable for most of these women.
They really aren't out on that ledge yet.
I think that will come.
You see a secondary pacer here working with this group trying to pull them along a little bit, but they have decided to really let that fast pace go and just race each other over these final laps.
Shelby Houlihan has dropped back a little, just a couple of positions.
See there in the blue, right in the middle as she just gets a read on this pack and those ahead of her.
Houlihan reaches the line completing that first mile.
And as the women come down the front straight here at Hayward Field- She looks back and sees the entire field in tow there is just four laps remaining in this Xfinity women's two mile.
When she finishes that first mile.
It's always interesting when you see the women make a decision like this, Lee.
You know, there was a lot of talk about them running really fast here, maybe even trying to run under nine minutes, and it's like the entire pack decided, "No, we're not gonna do that today.
We're gonna work on our kicks today instead."
So some of these athletes are reevaluating their race strategy right now because maybe they thought it was gonna be fast from the gun, they thought they were gonna have to get into a rhythm, where now it's becoming a little bit more like a cat and mouse game.
Who's gonna go, and who will be ready to cover those moves?
And for the first time in many laps, Hirut Meshesha of Ethiopia has a runner ahead other than the pacer.
But she still has that very composed style.
Ayantu is the one who has just eased ahead of her fellow Ethiopian, and now Shelby Houlihan starts to make a move, just easing her way around the outside.
You know it, Brent.
It has all come down to this.
She's just trying to get good position, I think, and not get boxed in.
We see at the back of that pack is Karisa Schweitzer, who you mentioned earlier, two-time Olympian for the United States in both the 5,000 and 10,000, has battled through a lot of injuries, but always seems to come back and is having a great year.
She's really trying to break through a little bit.
She's been injured for a while, but she's been looking really good the last few months, and she's sticking in that pack as well.
This is anyone's game at this point.
And let's throw Marta Alemo of Ethiopia.
Let's put her name in the mix as well, the 18-year-old.
She's running about third at the moment on the rail right alongside Shelby Houlihan as Karisa Schweitzer- Now three laps to go a couple of positions further back.
And Beweke has been at the front for the majority of this women's two mile event as well.
Yeah, Beweke's just sitting there on the shoulder keeping her good positioning.
She's the second-fastest 5,000 meter runner in the world so far this year, so we know that she's very, very fit, and it seems like she just doesn't wanna get boxed in and stuck against that rail.
So she's positioned herself well right on the outside there.
Ethiopian women filling the top four positions, and now Shelby Houlihan starts to ease her way forward a little.
So that's the biggest movement that we've seen from her as she eases up into third place now.
There'll be just two laps remaining in this Xfinity women's two mile.
Well, we've seen it time and time again, Houlihan just really letting it rip on those last la- on the last lap or even the last two laps, and they've left it a little late.
For someone like Shelby Houlihan to be able to take this, no one is running full out.
You can see their strides.
They're chopping a little bit.
No one is all out right now.
Beweke and Shelby Houlihan.
It is a strong representation from the Ethiopian women.
Will it end that way, or has Shelby Houlihan got something to say about it?
Tight pack.
And down the back stretch.
It's a tight pack, but no one is all out yet, Lee.
Houlihan.
They have seven.
They are still waiting and feeling each other out for when they wanna make the move.
Ayantu.
And here comes Meshesha on the left trying to find some clear space, and she wants to go with Shelby Houlihan.
Houlihan with a lap and a half to go.
Karisa Schweitzer trying to find some clear space.
She's on the rail and got held up there a little bit.
Well, she's done a good job of maintaining contact with this group, but I have to say, Shelby Houlihan's position is so good, and she's done a really good job this entire race of not getting stuck against the rail and putting herself in good position.
And as they head to the bell now, you can start to see everybody going to the arms and getting ready to kick.
Elisha Beweke makes a move.
So too does Meshesha, who's been at the front of this pack for the majority of this two mile.
One lap to go here at Hayward.
68.49.
I still think this is just squeezing it down.
No one is 100% going for it quite yet.
They're just sort of tightening the screws here as they head to go down that back stretch.
The 25-year-old Ethiopian, Hirut Meshesha, leads the way up the back stretch with her countrywomen with her.
Houlihan.
Shelby Houlihan's been dropped.
Shelby's dropped back to sixth.
On Houlihan's shoulder in seventh.
And now Meshesha's being challenged by Beweke.
A lap to go.
Beweke.
Beweke's done a good job also of keeping herself on the outside so she can match any moves.
Will she be able to hold this off here all the way to the finish line?
Beweke, Meshesha.
The 20-year-old Ethiopian leads into the home stretch.
Meshesha wants to do something about it.
Shelby Houlihan's coming home strong.
She may be able to get third.
Beweke, Meshesha, but it's Elisha Beweke who wins the Xfinity women's two mile.
Shelby Houlihan did get home for third.
9:20.8.
Beweke only 20 years old.
A lot of talk about her becoming the next big star in distance running and really helping to elevate the Ethiopian team, so she really proved that today.
She looked so calm and relaxed throughout that entire race.
She really didn't go until 150 to go.
And look at the home stretch here.
She knows she still has company, but she goes to the arm, she goes to that knee lift, and she fights all the way.
She drifts a little bit out in lane one to hold her position all the way through the line.
Big win for her here today.
What about the strategy in that race?
That pack was stuck together for so long until the final lap.
