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Nike Festival of Miles
June 5th, 2014 at 7:00 pm CT
St. Louis University High School
Girls 800m
In total, four state champions will be fighting for the top spot at the Festival of Miles. Two weeks ago Karina Liz set a new Illinois 2A Record, running 2:10.73. This past weekend Hannah Long had her turn, running 2:10.78 to win her second Class 4 800m title. There is no doubt these two girls headline a strong 800m field, a new event to the Festival of Miles. We could be looking at a sub 2:10 performance from one or both of these young ladies, something that both have come close but never accomplished. Doing so would ensure them a spot in the top 30 nationally.
For Long, she comes in as the home-town favorite. Over the past two years she has dominated her competition in this event. The last time she lost this event was in 2012 state meet where she was just a freshman. Long came back to beat the defending state champ, Valeska Halamciek, in 2013 to capture her first of now two state titles for the event. This year, Long made a big splash all the way back in March when she ran a 2:11.38, nearly faster than her PR set at the state meet from a year ago.
Karina Liz also comes in undefeated in the 800m all year. Her most recent performance from the state meet was her best. Not only did she record her fastest time, but also her third fastest time as well running 2:12.69 in prelims. She is no stranger to winning big meets as she collected a victory at the Illinois Top Times meet indoors, the unofficial Indoor State meet for Illinois.
Morgan Schulz, Cary-Grove (IL), comes in with the third fastest time, a 2:12.30 from prelims. She was 7th in the 3A Race, running 2:16.09. One could argue this isn’t even her top event, as she placed second in the 300m hurdles. Another strong Illinois runner joining the field is Cassie Mundekis, the 1A State Champ who has run just under 2:14.
Other strong Missouri athletes will round out the field. Names include Annika Sisson. Sisson was third in the 4A race, but due to seeding, was placed in the slow heat, where she ran a PR of 2:15 to grab the third spot. Other All-State athletes include Kate White, 4th in Class 4, Carolyn White, 3rd in Class 3, and Allison Bailey, 6th in Class 4,.
The champion of the largest class in Kansas, Kelsey Lathrop, will be making the drive from Kansas City in hopes of a new PR. Lathrop is coming off of a season best 2:16.91 to win the 6A Title. A year ago she ran 2:15 at the USATF Junior Olympics.