Midwest Distance Gala Recap

The 4^th Annual Midwest Distance Gala was one to remember.  Several years ago co-meet director Scott Bush had an idea to one day have an elite race(s) on Illinois soil.  There was the once famous International Prep Invitational (or Keebler Invite) that invited major prep talent to Illinois for an informal post-season meeting.  That was the baby of legendary Elmhurst York H.S. coach Joe Newton.  Now, the Gala with its intent has now supplanted itself as a major player if not in Illinois but nationally.

Boys’ championship mile-

Rob Finnerty (Burnsville, MN) 4:01.09- [59.2, 2:01.2, 3:02.xx]

Jordan Carlson (Rosemont, MN) 4:07.18 [59.0, 2:01.xx]

Drew Shields (Fishers, IN) 4:09.64

Summary: the mile is the signature event of track and field- the Gold standard event.  This statement certainly applies to the high school ranks as well.  The sub 4:00 barrier in the high school mile is equivalent to a major league baseball player hitting .400 for an entire season- it’s only been done a couple of times folks.  As for the race, Finnerty confessed to wanting to “run about 4:05.”  Hmm?  Sean McNamara (former York great/U of Michigan varsity runner) had the responsibility of pacesetting.  The opening 440y was rather quick but not totally out of the question.  Most of the knowledgeable crowd didn’t get overly excited- just yet.  It was Carlson and Finnerty on the tail of McNamara as the second lap unfold.  Finnerty moved up quickly and around 750m when McNamara dropped out- he took over.  Carlson stayed very close to Finnerty.  He didn’t appear as if he was going to disappear.  However, once Finnerty hit the top of the backstretch, he found another gear and opened up a nice gap on Carlson.  The victory at that point was essentially his.  With the entire crowd on its collective feet, the attention turned to the stadium clock.  There was a chance at immortality, a chance at history, at hitting .400 for the season.  The clock was in the 3:40’s as Finnerty hit homestretch soil.  It went to 3:50 as he neared the site of the finish-line ribbon.  It hit 3:55, then 4:00!  Everyone went absolutely bananas and the staff and media in utter disbelief.  It didn’t even matter that Finnerty failed to break 4:00, he was a hero in the distance running world and #1 in the USA on this golden night.

Girls’ championship mile-

Ashley Verplank (Bloomington, IL) 4:57.30 [74.1, 2:33.8, 3:46.1]

Katherine Adams (Marengo, IL- 8^th grader?) 5:01.28

Alexandria Leptich (Ann Arbor, MI) 5:02.39

Summary: as soon as the race was over a despondent Verplank uttered: “I’m not happy at all… my goal was to break the record.”  Verplank’s disappointment was more of the pacesetting than anything.  It was pre-determined that she would be led through the first half in 2:24.  Verplank was given strict orders by her coach to sit on the rabbit and NOT try to lead.  Ok.  Once the first half reached a pedestrian 2:33, Verplank bolted from Adams and the once tight pack of four girls to being out all alone- the final circuits of 73.xx and 70.xx was in 2:23.xx.  No record in the mile but Verplank vowed this: “I’m going for the 800 record at junior nationals next week.  That record is the all-time mark for Illinois preps- 2:07.5 by Shelly McBride (Crete-Monee).

Boys championship 800

Tommy Brinn (Ostego, MI) 1:51.07 [55.6/55.4]

Mat Smoody (Palatine, IL) 1:51.73 [55.9/55.7]

Andrew Perkins (Juneau, WI) 1:52.14 [55.5/56.6]

Summary: it supposed to be Smoody and Perkins battling for Midwest supremacy.  They were the heavy weights here.  No one told Brinn he had a chance to win.  He probably resigned himself to second place.  He positioned himself well from the beginning and tucked behind Perkins through the first 400.  At 600m, he had the lead secured.  As the race hit the homestretch, Brinn was in control as Smoody and Perkins battled each other for second- Smoody was second.  Afterwards, Smoody kept everything in perspective: “I’m not happy about losing but this was my first race in sometime.  I will see some of these guys next week [at NON].”

Girls’ championship 800-

Jami Hill (Onalaska, WI) 2:09.14 [65.7/63.4]

Monica Kinney (Walker, MI) 2:12.89

Ellen Dougherty (Moville, IA) 2:13.04

Summary: Ashley Verplank’s meet record was history on the strength of solid even splitting racing.  Chicago Whitney Young’s Devyn Thompson took the pace out in a modest 65.2 and actually led through 500m.  Hill and a host of runners rocketed past her.  Hill kept rocketing until she hit the finish ribbon.

Boys’ 2mile-

Bobby Nicolls (Aurora, CO) 9:03.04 [66.4, 2:14.5, 3:23, 4:34.8]

Graham Bazell (Columbia, MD) 9:04.55

Francisco Medrano (Lafayette, IN) 9:04.55

Summary:  a close and competitive race for all the top 4 finishers.  Bobby Aprill (Michigan) was billed as pre-meet favorite.  He actually led more than half of the race behind the services of pacer Jim Akita (Elmhurst College coach) in 4:32.xx.  As the pace picked up on the 6^th lap, Nicolls opened up his stride and a slight led on the quadrant.  Aprill faded but Medrano and Bazell ran lock in step.  At bell lap, it would have taken a Hulk effort to break 9:00 but 9:03 was good enough.

Girls’ two mile-

Emily Sisson (Nebraska) 10:38.68

Michelle Moriset (Michigan) 11:00.65

Summary: this event was a first time event here.  Sisson took a early, slow place (5:20) and made it work.