Preview - Girls Distance -
"BEST ALL TIME girls mile"

.by Ricky Quintana

Raleigh, NC- The girls’ distances are certain to be a highlight as a bevy of nationally ranked middle distance and distance athletes descend on Raleigh. Here’s an event by event preview:

Girls 800m

Last year, North Carolinian, Mackenzie Pierce( Pfafftown, NC) was set to race Russian exchange student, Katya Kostetskaya( Jonesboro, AR) and the long legged and super fast Heidi Magill( Mountain View, UT) in one of the most anticipated match-ups of the meet. But, as luck would have it, Pierce slipped and suffered an injury to her knee that required stitches.

The 6-0 junior has since recovered taking second at the NIKE Indoor Championships. She also led her high school team to a runner-up finish by posting wins in the 200m, 25.51, 400m, 56.49, 800m, 2:20.77, and the 1600m, 5:12.48 at the NCISA 3A State championships in a two hour span. She enters with the fastest time, 2:06.97, of all the entrants.

At the Golden West Invitational this past weekend, Pierce did not finish.

Her main challengers will be the following:

Janine Davis(Queen of Peace, North Arlington, NJ) won the NJ ALL-Group championships in a time of the season, 2:07.82. She lowered her best to 2:07.10 to finish 2 nd at the Golden West Invitational. Good for the #3 time in the nation this year. She finished 11 th at last year’s AOC.

Sarah Bowman(Fauquier, Warrenton, VA) posted a quick 2:07.69 at the Taco Bell Classic which ranks her third among the 800m entrants. Bowman has shown a good turn of speed for a miler and should be able to match the towering Pierce.

Geena Gall(Grand Blanc, Detroit, MI) posted a come from behind win over Pierce at this past winter’s NIKE Indoor Championships. Gall, a junior who is an all-conference point guard and honor roll student, has since won the Div I 800m title in an all division state record time of 2:08.00.

Girls Mile

One week prior to AOC mile final, several of the entrants produced some tremendous times swelling the field and lifting the girls field status to the BEST ALL-TIME girls mile. In what has been an incredible year, a staggering 27 girls have run under 4:50 for the 1600m in the indoor and outdoor seasons(using 1500m, 1600m, and mile conversions). That number is the most ever and surpasses the previous high of 13 in 1998 according to track and field girl’s high school pundit, Mike Kennedy. 15 of those girls are currently entered in the AOC mile.

The meet record of 4:39.05 set by Ari Lambie(Bromfeld, Harvard, MA)will get a test from a field like none other.

The list of 15 under 4:50 are as follows:

Katelyn Kaltenbach(Smoky Hill, Aurora, CO.)- Arguably the best distance runner in the nation was handed her first defeat, cross country or track, of the year by Texas state champion Erin Bedell(Plano West, TX) at the Golden West Invitational. Her time of 4:45.97 for the mile is an outdoor best and is the fastest of all the entrants. Kaltenbach has been nearly unbeatable traveling posting wins that include The 2003 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, the NIKE Indoor Championships mile(meet record time of 4:45.32), The Arcadia Invitational. She has also won the state cross country championships and four state track titles this season. For her achievements this past fall, Kaltenbach, only a junior, was awarded the named the Sportswomen of Colorado 2003 Sportswomen of the Year on March 14, flying from Landover, MD after her mile victory to Colorado for the awards ceremony that evening.

Caitlin Chock ( Roseville, CA)- Chock ran to the US#3 All-Time performance for 3200m, 9:58.51, to run away from a select field at the Golden West Invitational, June 12. She also has posted US#2 time of 4:25.01 for 1500m earlier this track season. Chock, a Foot Locker National finalist in 2002, has rebounded stronger than ever after much publicized bout with an eating disorder. She won the Div II California cross country championships, but decided not to run for her team, Granite Bay, this track season. Chock will attend the University of Richmond next year.

Nicole Blood (Saratoga Springs, NY)- Blood posted the leading time in the country in the 3,000m in winning the NYSPHSAA title on June 3 in 9:24.03. Blood’s only loss this track season was to Kaltenbach in the mile at the NIKE Indoor Championships. There she ran all-time sophomore indoor record of 4:46.13.

Francis Koons(Central Catholic, Allentown, PA) ran to a 3 rd place finish a the very fast Golden West Invitational mile on June 12. Her time of 4:47.90(4:46.34c) improved upon her 1600m best of 4:48.78 at the Class 2A state championships by 2.44 seconds. The Villanova signee finished 24 th in last year’s mile race.

Alicia Follmar, Saratoga HS( Saratoga, CA)- Follmar clocked an impressive 4:46.47 to win the California state championships June 5 against a very tough field. Her come from behind victory was good enough to get her a second consecutive state title.

Sarah Bowman, Fauquier( Warrenton, VA)- Bowman ran away from the field in the mile at the Penn Relays to clock a 4:48.55. She owns the 5th fastest time in the nation in the 800m, 2:07.69 and the fastest 1500m time, 4:23.8, in the nation. At the VA state championships, the versatile Bowman led her team to the runner-up trophy by winning the mile in 4:51.11(a state record), the 800m in 2:10.44(a state record), placing 2 nd in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet 3 inches and running a leg on the 4 x 400m championship team. Since her surprise victory in the mile at the 2003 NIC Championships, Bowman has suffered ailments that have left her below par the past two championships. A sore back kept her from defending her NIC mile title this year (11 th place) and at last year’s AOC (16 th place), sickness kept her from performing at her best. She’s on schedule to reverse that trend this year.

Lauren Mulkey(Woodcreek, Roseville, CA)- Mulkey ran 4:47.17 to place second to Follmar at the California state championships. The Cal Poly bound Mulkey has focused more on track after a transfer from Folsom to Woodcreek after her father moved there. The former point guard no longer plays basketball and has seen a marked improvement this season. She’ll be rebounding from a sub par 5:02.74 mile performance at the Golden West Invitational on June 12.

Jennifer Barringer, Oviedo, FL- Barringer has emerged as one of the top distance runners in the nation this year. At the Florida 4A state championships on May 9, she set two state meet records, 4:48.90 for the 1600m and 10:35.36 for the 3200m. On May 22, she ran a personal best of 4:49.01 for the mile; the best time ever for the distance in Florida history. Only two girls high school runners have beaten her this year in cross country or track; Katelyn Kaltenbach just nipped her at the Great American Cross Country Festival and at the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals, Kaltenbach and Marie Lawrence(Reno, NV) pulled away late leaving her third. Barringer also was the only high schooler on the US women’s World Junior Cross Country Championship Team. She placed 35 th in that event. A front runner, Barringer will be sure to make the pace quick.

Maggie Infeld, Beaumont ( Cleveland Heights, OH)- This year, Ohio is nation’s girl’s miling hotbed and Infeld is the best of the lot. Infeld set the state meet record with her 4:47.79 in the Division I championships. She also ran 2:10.83 to win the 800m title. It was the third time she has won both. She also has demonstrated some nice speed posting a 2:08.63 to finish 3 rd at the Golden West Invitational, June 5. Infeld is the top returnee after last year’s 3 rd place finish, 4:51.86. A very tenacious competitor, count on her to be there late. She’ll run for the Georgetown Hoyas next year.

Magin Kebert, West Lafayette, IN- Kebert finished third behind open runners at the Billy Hayes Invitational at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN on May 7. Her time of 4:27.94 ranks her 3 rd nationally. Kebert did not compete for her high school this year. A North Carolina State signee, she’ll be running on her future home track. 2003 AOC: 21 st.

Jacqueline Areson, Pope John Paul II( Boca Raton, FL)- The 3 rd fastest soph in the country posted a best of 4:49.53 on May 22 using a stinging kick to nearly hand Jenny Barringer her first defeat on the track this season. She was disqualified from the 1600m at her region meet for a uniform violation, but qualified and eventually won the 800m at the Florida 2A state championships. She placed 5th at the NIKE indoor Championships in time of 4:55.37. Areson ran 5:07 last year for the 1600m and is possibly the most improved runner in the nation. Her late quick finishes may surprise so keep an eye on her.

Sunni Olding, Minster, OH- The Notre Dame signee and the defending AOC two mile champ won the Div. III (smallest schools) state championship in a fast 4:48.20, a tournament record. She became the ninth girl in state history to win the title four years in a row. She won her second title with a 10:38.02 clocking in the 3200m. She finished her career with nine titles in cross country and track. The basketball forward also helped sixth seed Minster(25-2) to the DIV. VI basketball championship March 20.

Shannon Bergstedt, Hopkins( Minnetonka, MN)- Stanford bound Bergstedt finished runner-up at the Minnesota state meet in a personal best of 4:48.58. She just missed winning the event for the fourth time in a row. She won the 3200m the day before in 10:31.72. She won 5 individual state track titles in all. On May 19 she set the state 3200m record of 10:26.61 at the Classic Lake Conference Championships breaking her own state record. She graduated with distinction on June 3 rd.

Alissa McKaig, Concordia( Ft. Wayne, IN)- McKaig, a non state qualifier last year, won this year’s state championship in 4:49.62; a 10+ second improvement over last year. McKaig, a former soccer player, also finished 4th in the 3200m in 10:41.97. College choice: Baylor 2003 AOC finish: 19th

Lindsay Donaldson, Lincoln Sudbury Regional( Sudbury, MA)- Donaldson won the MA state mile championship in 4:51.24 by 13 seconds. Then a half hour later, the senior bound for Yale, led her team from seventh to first on the final leg of the 4x800m for the team win. 2003 AOC: 7 th place

Girls two mile

The two mile will be the first distance race contested. Scheduled for Friday night start, the two mile will bring together four of the top distance runners in the nation. Four of these runners placed in the top 12 at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and have sped to very fast times in the two mile this season. On a very good night, the meet record of 10:01.08(Molly Huddle, Notre Dame, Elmira, NY) could be threatened.

Katelyn Kaltenbach(Smoky Hill, Aurora, CO) has made significant improvements since last year’s 4 th place performance in the two mile at AOC’s. She has not lost in any distance over a mile since then and comes in with the fastest time of all the entrants,10:20.39. The 2003 Foot Locker Champion has strung together impressive wins over the nation’s best this track season including Nicole Blood in the mile at the NIKE Indoor Championships and Zoe Nelson(Flathead, MT) and Lindsay Flacks(Harvard Westlake, CA) at the Arcadia Invitational.
The two mile is Friday night so she will fresh. That should make things interesting.

Her lists of challengers are formidable and very fast. Expect a challenge from one, if not all the following:

Aislinn Ryan( Bellvale, NY)-Just a sophomore, Ryan has made huge strides in the past month. She placed second at the NYSPHSAA in the 1500m, 4:30.81, and the 3000m, 9:42.50 and this past weekend, she showed some great fitness by racing to a personal best of 4:49.22 for the mile at the Golden West Invitational; the fourth fastest time in the nation this year by a sophomore. In December, she placed 12 th at the Foot Locker Cross Country championships which was the second fastest performance by a sophomore. Last year, she finished 25 th in the two mile.

Shannon Bergstedt( Minnetonka, MN)- Bergstedt reset her 3200m state record ealier this year by running 10:26.61. At the state championships held June 11 and 12, she won the 3200m in 10:31.72 and came back the following day to set a personal best in finishing second in the 1600m, 4:48.58. It was the fourth time she has won the 3200m title.

Sunni Olding(Minster, OH)- Olding enters as the defending AOC champ. She is having a monster year lowering her best in the 1600m by 5 seconds. Her 3200m best this season is 10:33.40. She should also be fresh for the two mile final on Friday night. Olding finished 5 th at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships this past December.

Jennifer Barringer( Oviedo, FL) is undefeated this track season. At state, she recorded her best 3200m this track season by running a 10:35.21 an hour after her 4:48.90 1600m win. Her all-time best, 10:18.84 set November 22, is the second fastest time of anyone in the field. Last year at AOC, she used a sprint finish to win the second fastest heat in 10:50.37 which was good enough for ninth place overall. Barringer Finished 3 rd at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships this past December.

2000 meter Steeplechase

As with all the distance events, the steeplechase has also been raised to a new level this season as several athletes have dipped under the seven minute barrier. New York, the only state to contest the steeplechase at its state championship will lead the field with five of the top six placers from the state meet. 4 of the top five steeple chasers in the country are entered.

The leading contenders are:

Heather Iatauro(Trivalley, Grahamsville, NY)- The defending AOC champ finished second behind soph Lindsey Ferguson’s(Saratoga, NY) record run(6:45.49)at the NYSPHSAA championships. Her time was still a very quick 6;52.36 which is good enough for US#2 performer. The senior is bound for Princeton next year.

Kara McKenna (Suffern, Sloatsburg, NY)- Soph McKenna won the Louck games in an impressive 6:54.36( US#3). She finished 4 th at the NYSPHSAA in 6:58.65. Last year, she finished 10 th at AOC.

Emily Malinkowski( Slingerlands, NY)- Junior Malinkowski finished 3 rd at the NYSPHSAA in a time of 6:58.09. Her best time, 6:54.80( US#4) came in finishing 2 nd behind Ferguson at the NY sectional meet.

Kinjal Parikh (East Meadows, NY)- Junior Parikh finished 5 th at the NYSPHSAA state meet in a personal best time of 6:59.16(US#5).

Lauren Ferriman( Fairport, NY)- Junior Ferriman finished 6 th at the NYSPHSAA championships in a personal best of 6:59.63.

Girls Frosh Mile

Five athletes entered have a chance at Sarah Bowman’s (Fauquier, Warrenton, VA) freshman record of 5:05.62 in 2002.

Rachel Wittum( Rockford, MI) comes in with the best time of all the entrants. She finished 6 th in the 3200m at the Michigan Lower Peninsula state champs in 11:00.09.

Michaeline Nelson( Potomac School, McLean, VA) finished second in the NIC frosh mile and finished 8 th a the Penn Relays in her best outdoor season time of 5:05.15.

Halsey Sinclair(Montgomery Blair, Silver Spring, MD) won the NIC frosh mile(5:07.91) on March 20. She won the 3200m 4A state championships, finished 3 rd in the 1600m(5:08) and 5 th in the 800m(2:18.05).
Ashlyn Sinclair(Montgomery Blair, Silver Spring, MD) finished 3 rd at NIC(5:12.21), and finished 6 th in the 800m(2:18.49), and 4 th in the 1600m(5:09.17) at the Maryland 4A state championships.

Girls 1 mile Walk

Another record could be threatened in the girl’s mile. Meet record holder, Maria Michta(Sachem, Ronkonkoma, NY) is back to take a shot at mark of 7;23.88 in 2002. She has already been bested that this year with a 7:20.85. She also is the national 1500m leader.

Erica Adams( Spartanburg, SC) also dipped under the meet record time indoors with her 7:19.21 2nd place at the NIC.

US #3 Rosalind Adams( Flushing , NY) has a best of 7:21.00 and should keep the top two company.