Nef Araia
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Wesley Smith
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800 meters:
Araia, Smith, and Christian Wagner, Columbus North IN
1600 meters 4:37:
same threesome.
3200 meters 9:23:
down to two, and Araia is starting to pull away.
800 meters to
go : Araia has a solid lead going up the only hill
on the course.
Midwest Meet of Champions
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by John Dye
Lawrence North IN sr Nef Araia hit the finish line with an uncharacteristic
double fist pump. "I was so excited," Araia said. "When
Wesley fell off the pace, I knew I could win, but I didn't think
I could break 15 minutes. Then my coaches shouted at me and said
I had it, so I went hard to the finish."
Araia beat 15 minutes by a bunch in 14:48, which was 24 seconds
faster than a year ago, when Araia pulled away from Hudson OH sr
Wesley Smith in the last 400 meters.
This race played out identical to last
year except that Araia broke open the race earlier. Dead even
through 1600 meters in 4:37, Araia started to open some daylight
after 3200 meters in 9:23. Araia said there were some "games"
then, with Smith surging alongside and Araia "quick stepping"
each time to hold the lead, before Araia pulled away for good in
the middle of the third mile to win by 15 seconds.
The race showed Araia is serious about getting back to the Foot
Locker national finals. After last year's trip to Disney World,
Araia had mononucleosis, which led to a subpar outdoor track season.
"My summer training was the best year yet," Araia said.
Smith also has eyes on Foot Locker nationals after a "horrible"
showing in the Midwest regional last year (44th). That meet came
after Hudson led his team to the Ohio state championship, the number
one goal last year. "That was such an emotional high it was
hard to prepare for Foot Locker," Smith said. With 5 of 7 graduated
from that championship team, Smith can focus more on individual
goals this year.
Smith ran a powerful 9:03.61 2-Mile for fifth last June in the
adidas Outdoor Championships in Raleigh, and his time of 15:03 today
was 17 seconds faster than here a year ago. "This was my first
race of the season, and I've had no speed work yet," Smith
said.
Smith had no answer for Araia's surge in the third mile, but he
was not surprised. "I knew Nef was good. Nothing he does surprises
me."
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