Donavan Brazier and Chanelle Price assume starring roles in The Big Friendly 3 track meet

NEWBERG — Donavan Brazier threw down, Chanelle Price won from behind and Josh Kerr and Shannon Rowbury dominated Friday in The Big Friendly 3 popup track meet at Newberg High School.

The location of the meet – billed as The Revenge of the Friendly — had been kept secret to discourage spectators and prevent spread of the coronavirus.

What had been hot, breezy day, turned cool and still by the time the action started, temperatures dropping into the 70s. So, the conditions were perfect. The racing was good too.

Brazier, who trains with Pete Julian’s elite, Portland-based group won the 800 meters with a blistering time of 1 minute, 43.84 seconds.

Price of Eugene-based Oregon Track Club Elite caught Olympian Brenda Martinez coming off the last turn to win the women’s 800 in 2:01.71.

Nia Akins, chasing Price, also passed Martinez to finish second in 2:02.07. Martinez was third in 2:02.81.

Kerr and Rowbury were runaway winners in the 1,500, Kerr winning the men’s race in 3:34.53 and Rowbury claiming the women’s race in 4:03.62.

Brazier, the reigning world champion, supposedly was going to take a crack at his own U.S. 800 record of 1:42.34.

“That was a little ambitious,” Brazier said. “I don’t know who hyped that up or who said that, but that was ambitious.”

The race was Brazier’s first outdoor 800 of the year, and it really couldn’t have gone much better.

He settled in behind pacer Derek Holdsworth and took over when Holdsworth dropped off. He was unchallenged over the last two laps.

“Not racing the 800 for five months, I forgot how bad the last 300 hurts,” he said. “That last 250 I just kind of tied up. I have to get used to that before Monaco.”

Julian’s group is leaving for Europe next week. Brazier is entered in a Diamond League meet on Aug. 14 in Monaco, which at the moment anyway, still is scheduled.

Price, who likes to run from in front, didn’t this time, despite a pedestrian pace.

Even when Martinez went to the front on the second lap. Price stayed back.

“I’m so used to being the rabbit for everyone,” Price said. “I usually take the lead and play ‘Catch Me If You Can.’ I’ve been doing that since I was a little girl.”

OTC Elite coach Mark Rowland wants Price to be more multi-dimensional.

“He’s trying to turn me into more of a championship-style runner,” Price said. “Not worry so much about chasing times but go for the win.

“He said, ‘Whatever you do today, Chanelle, do not take the lead.’ For me, that’s tough. You could tell no one wanted it. I knew Brenda was going to take it at some point. I just tried to trail her and use my kick. I’m happy with it.”

What wasn’t to like?

Kerr, who trains with the Seattle-based Brooks Beasts, took over the men’s 1,500 with 600 to go and showed his heels to the field.

Will Paulson of OTC Elite and Craig Engels of Julian’s group gave chase, but the gap was too large. Paulson won a battle on the home straight with Engels to finish second in 3:35.59.

Rowbury of Team Julian followed a fast pace sent by teammate Raevyn Rogers, the rabbit, in the women’s 1,500. After Rogers dropped out, the three-time Olympian was by herself. She finished unchallenged.

Here are the complete results for the Big Friendly 3.

— Ken Goe

kgoe@oregonian.com 5/8 @KenGoe

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