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The Junior Miles
Boys: "Star Power in This Race is Hard To Believe"
Girls: Another Blood-Ryan Clash, and Much More
Reebok Boston Indoor Games
Junior Mile Preview
By Tim Fulton
Armorytrack.com webmaster
Boys:
I have heard nothing but great things about this meet from all of the East Coast “track nuts” I have encountered. I wasn’t coaching yet back when the NSIC were held at the Reggie Lewis Center, so this will be my first trip to the famed Boston arena. The time schedule is packed neatly into a three hour time block and the fields for each event seem to get better and better each day.
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| Laef Barnes WA won the 2005 title. Photo Vic Sailer |
The boys junior mile is a tough race to predict. The star power in this race is just hard to believe. There are three foreign runners that have serious credentials and 11 US kids who have all shown the ability to run big races.
At first glance, El Camino CA sr. AJ Acosta jumps out because he in the Footlocker National XC Champ who ran 4:10.08 last spring for the mile. The whole “AJ Nation” thing is a little bizarre, but hey, if he’s bringing excitement to the sport I’m all for it.
But when you look deeper, you find Ireland’s Ciaran O’Lionaird, who has 3:50 1500m speed and some big time wins to his credit. How can you count this kid out? He’s only the Irish 1500m Jr. record holder, and considering how many great Irish milers there have been, that’s pretty impressive.
From there I wonder just how good can the Scottish boys be? Kris Gauson and Mark Mitchell both ran under 1:53 and 3:58 (1500) two summers ago and both have run in high profile races in Europe. They appear to be more suited for the long sprints and shorter middle distance events, but as an American, how much do I really know about these two talented youngsters. They both could win. Heck, Mitchell ran 1:51.97 indoors this season. And in case anyone’s wondering they’re both 17 years old.
It gets better from here. Cushing Academy MA so. Sintayehu Taye set a new US National Freshman record indoors last year with his 9:16 3200m. Brother Ayelew Taye, a senior, was the FLNE Champ who ran 4:10.0 1600m outdoors. If anything, both have shown they can run fast enough to win. Don’t count out either of them.
New York always has a ton of milers and this year is no different. Guilderland jr. Brian Rhodes-Devey was the current US#1 for 2 weeks with his 4:13.19 from the Hispanic Games until last year’s NSIC Champ and Shenendehowa sr. Dan McManamon ran 4:13.17 to win the New Balance Games. Both races were run at the NYC Armory, what many people refer to as the fastest track in the US if not the world. Devey, or BRD (his initials), has show some crazy closing speed. Word is he closed in 28 seconds enroute to his US#1 8:31 3K last week at Yale. Both BRD and D-Mac (we have to have nicknames here in NY) are two of the best 1200m runners around as both have run 3:02 splits in the DMR.
But NY isn’t done. Don’t forget about Liverpool sr. Ben White, the defending NYS 1600m Champion. If you’re the NYS Champion, then you have beaten some serious runners. White ran 4:11.50 for the mile last spring but has yet to run a mile this season. If you’re a US HS distance running fan, then you know Saratoga Springs, NY. Sr. Greg Kelsey is here to represent the team as one of THREE teammates that have broken 4:17 this season. Can you say National 4xMile record? Kelsey ran 4:14.96 at Yale to earn his ticket after being on the winning Nike Team National squad. It wouldn’t be a major US meet without a Saratoga runner, would it?
Texas and California always have so many good runners it’s hard to keep up with them. Marcus TX sr. Jacob Cosby and Texas A&M Consolidated jr. Duncan Phillips have both run under 4:11.5 for 1600m and won some big titles down in Texas. While they have shown the ability to run on the full size track, can they handle the smaller oval?
Cabrillo CA sr. Michael Coe has a 4:11.45 1600m PR to his name and just ran 4:12 outdoors last week in an all-comers meet, but again, how can they sunny California boys handle what is predominantly a Northeast sport? He’s another kid that you just can’t count out.
As you can see this race is wide open. Overall, the Northeast boys have shown great early season form and the ability to run fast on small tracks, the Westerners have put down the times outdoors and dominated the Footlocker National meet this year, and the foreigners have run very fast over 800m and 1500m. If there’s a favorite, I can’t pick one, but I plan on having a lot of fun watching what surely will be a classic race. I’m guessing whoever is leading with 1 lap to go will have to fight off 3-4 challengers.
Girls:
The first thing about the girls race that jumps out is that Nicole Blood, a sr. at Saratoga but now running for Fast Lane TC, and Warwick Valley NY sr. Aislinn Ryan are in this race. The NY rivals used to race head-to-head a lot more but since Nicole left her HS team to run for Fast Lane there haven’t been as many chances to race. This year Blood won the FLNE title but Ryan prevailed at FL Nationals with a 3rd place finish. This will be their last chance to race before indoor nationals.
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| Aislinn Ryan topped Nicole Blood last year. Photo by John Dye |
They both have too many credentials to list, but Blood does have the fastest mile and 3K times in the country this year, and Ryan is the defending Reebok and Millrose Champion. How can you count out either of these legendary runners? (By the way, Blood’s going to Oregon, Ryan to Colorado).
Saratoga sr. Lindsey Ferguson is having her best season ever. She beat Ryan in the 3000m at the Hispanic Games when she ran 9:42.55. She won the mile at Brown in a 4:53.80 meet record. You can count on a quick pace with Ferguson in the race as she often goes out and hammers from the gun. Soph teammate Hannah Davidson is a seasoned veteran by now, though her times this year haven’t been up to her usual standards.
Reno NV sr. Marie Lawrence has been 2nd at Footlocker XC Nationals three years in a row, proving she can handle a big stage. Her 4:48.32 mile last spring makes her the 4th best returning runner in the country.
Westerly RI sr. Samantha Gawrych is know for some serious relay splits. I’ve seen her eat up the track with 2:08 anchor legs in the 4x800 and SMR. She also has mile capabilities as she was the NSIC Mile champion in 2004.
Atlantic FL sr. Jacqueline Areson holds her state record at 4:46.67 and is a two time 800m state champ.
And since I know very little about the Canadian runners, I will quote the press release from the meet. “They will all be challenged by a trio of Canadian speedsters: Jennifer Biewald (Hillcrest HS/Ottawa, ONT), the Canadian Youth record-holder at 800m and fastest Canadian youth girl at 800m and 1500m outdoors last year; Danelle Woods (Hillcrest HS/Ottawa, ONT), 5th at 1500m at the 2005 Junior Nationals; and Lindsay Carson (Southwood HS/Cambridge, ONT), who will represent her country as a member of the 2006 World Cross Country Championships Junior Team.”
Reebok has again put together a great field. I think you can count on two US #1’s after the dust settle in Boston.
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