Back in December 2005, three months after turning 40, Alisa Harvey of Virginia ran an indoor 1500 in 4:41.34. It shattered the listed W40 American indoor record of 4:48.40 by Kathy McIntyre in 1990. But a few months later, Marisa Hanson ran a hand-timed 4:36.7 at a nonsanctioned meet. But Alisa’s record also went unrecognized. She remedied that oversight yesterday, however. Running in the New Balance Collegiate meet at the Armory track in New York City, Alisa, now 42, clocked a 1500 in 4:26.18, cleaning the clocks of her 20-something rivals. Her 4:26 also beats the listed W40 outdoor AR for 1500 of 4:32.73 by Joan Nesbit in May 2002. (However, Alisa ran a 4:26.49 for 1500 en route to a 4:46 mile at the 2006 Penn Relays.)

Alisa had a frustrating Friday at the New Balance meet. She ran the 800 in 2:09.57 — well off her 2:07 of the previous weekend at Penn State. But Alisa made up for her “so-so” half in the 15. (The W40 WR remains the ridiculously impossible 4:05.19 by 44-year-old Yekaterina Podkopayeva in 1997.)
Alisa wrote me today with some details on the Armory races:

I finished third in the (1500). I went to the back of the field and stayed until I began to make a move up around 800. By the last lap I was in third position making a strong move to the leaders. On Friday night I ran the 800 in a disappointing 2:09.57. The race was very tactical and messy.

Results from Saturday:

Event 57 Women 1500 Meter Run Open
================================================================
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 2362 Culley, Julie Unattached 4:17.68
2 2367 Shadle, Anne Reebok 4:22.82
3 2363 Harvey, Alisa Pacers T.C. 4:26.18
4 2364 Gingerich, Natalie Central Park TC 4:28.61
5 2361 Carr, Allison Unattached 4:28.89
6 2360 Watkins, Irina Fin/Indiana Inv. 4:29.77
7 2365 Irvin, Kate Central Park TC 4:32.06

Here’s her 800 the previous day:

Event 20 Women 800 Meter Run Open
================================================================
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 2381 Bernard-Thomas, Nei Unattached 2:05.32
2 2386 Robinson, Carlene Unattached 2:07.47
3 2359 Marzell, Miesha Unattached 2:08.52
4 2382 Gooding, Sheena Unattached 2:08.55
5 2380 Machean, Leanna Halifax Tigers 2:09.13
6 2377 Spence, Christine Nike 2:09.51
7 2363 Harvey, Alisa Pacers T.C. 2:09.57
8 2367 Shadle, Anne Reebok 2:10.32
9 2387 Williams, Ysanne Unattached 2:10.49
10 2384 Gehrke, Caryn Central Park TC 2:10.80
11 2374 Mazandi, Vaness Central Park TC 2:11.56
12 2376 Metz, Jennifer Westchester TC 2:13.87
13 2378 Heath, Tyrona Central Park TC 2:18.75
14 2383 Osbourne, Tanya Unattached 2:19.90
— 2429 Smith, Julia Central Park TC DNF
— 2385 Robinson, Camille Unattached DNF

BTW, Alisa’s latest record corresponds to an Open (ages 20-30) equivalent of 4:03.58, according to the WMA Age-Graded Tables. Alisa’s all-time best in the 1500? It was 4:08.32, way back in 1992. You’ve come a long way, baby.