Yesterday we previewed the Missouri girls who appeared in the 2012 MoMileSplit.com All-Star High School Mile at the Festival of Miles. This week our Tuesday Top 10 looks at 10 girls in neighboring states that we think can make the 2013 race even more exciting.
For more information about the 2013 Festival of Miles please visit www.stlfestivalofmiles.com
1. Alli Cash (Kansas) - 4:39.98 (Full Mile)
Missouri fans would be familiar with this name from her astonishing performance at the Kansas Relays. Last year Cash took both the 1600m and 800m at the KU Relays with times of 2:13 and 4:50. The future Oregon Duck went on to run a PR of 4:39.98 for a full mile at the adidas Dream Mile where she placed third among the nation’s best.
2. Rebekah Topham (Iowa) - 4:48.66 (Full Mile)
Another KU Relays racer, Topham and Hannah Long were the fourth and fifth fastest freshman in the 1600m last year (Topham fourth, Long fifth). Topham edged out Long by less than a tenth of a second at KU last year to finish second behind Cash. This season, she is off to a hot start as she notched her 4:48.66 PR for a mile at the Brooks PR Invite where she was fourth. We’d love to see a battle of the super sophomores at the Festival of Miles this year.
3. Maggie Montoya (Arkansas) - 4:52.30
Yet another name from the Kansas Relays, the Rogers, Arkansas senior is currently sitting at 8th in the national rankings for the 1600m. Montoya gave many time state champ, Samantha Nightingale a run for her money in the 3200m last year at KU but came up a little short. The future Baylor Bear has racked up numerous state titles in Arkansas including a clean sweep of the 800m/1600m/3200m last spring.
4. Madeline Perez (Illinois) - 4:53.60
Perez set a new record at the famed Detwiler Park this past fall, covering the three mile state course in 16 minutes and 2 seconds. From there she finished second at NXN ahead of every Missouri girl. This indoor season has been good to the Chicago Area junior as she has clocked in at 4:53.60 for the 1600m and 10:28.18 for 3200m.
5. Courtney Ackerman (Illinois) - 4:54.45
After competing at both NXN and Foot Locker, I’m sure Courtney bumped into Taylor Werner a few times. Ackerman, who hails from Winnetka, Illinois, finished 6th at NXN and 17th at Foot Locker. In her first race back from a stellar cross season and battling injuries that followed, Courtney ran for 4:56 for 1600m off of limited mileage. Ackerman set her PR of 4:54.45 at the Illinois State Track Meet last spring where she finished second in an incredibly talented field. As a note for those who are not familiar with the Illinois State Track meet - there are prelims for the 1600m! She ran 5:00 in the the prelims just a day before her 4:54.
6. Reagan Ward (Oklahoma) - 4:56.29
Oklahoma’s finest, Ward has already broken the five minute barrier three times this season. Her 4:56.29 comes from the Arkansas HS Indoor Invite (the same meet that Amos Bartelsmeyer ran his incredible times in January). Ward finished third in that meet behind Courtney Kreigshauser from Texas and Topham.
7. Jessica Ackerman (Illinois) - 4:58.64
If this name sounds familiar you aren’t going crazy. Jessica is twins with previously mentioned Courtney Ackerman. The Festival of Miles has been good to twins as the first year saw Daniel and David Everett go 1-2 with the current top high school times in the meet history. Jessica, who will be headed to Princeton in the fall, has made a name for herself with speedy PR’s of 2:11.75, 4:58.64, and 10:40.31.
8. Skyler Bollinger (Illinois) - 4:59.44 - Photo courtesy of YorkvilleTrackandField.Com
The fastest freshman for 1600m indoors? Skyler Bollinger. The fastest freshman for 1600m outdoors? Taylor Werner. We already mentioned a possible battle between some super sophomores, but how about a race for the best freshman? Bollinger is a true talent as she ran 10:36 in flats with a 5:07 opening mile. At the same meet she ran 5:10 with her coach limiting her effort. There is no doubt that Bollinger and Werner will be making headlines in the Midwest for the next couple of years.
9. Alex Davis (Oklahoma) - 5:03.69 (Full Mile)
Another Oklahoma star, Davis will be teammates with Maggie Montoya starting in the fall at Baylor. Davis raced against Long and Werner in the fall at Foot Locker where she finished 26th. Ward is quickly closing in on personal best as she ran 5:04 for 1600m a couple weeks ago.
10. Emma Fisher (Illinois) 5:05.15
Fisher is in the same conference as Madeline Perez. When either of them race something incredible happens, but when the two come together something special happens. At their indoor conference meet, Fisher edged out Perez running 10:26 for 3200m. She followed that up with a 5:06 to win the 1600m as well. The York Duke has some super strength and and surely will be among the best 2 milers this spring. She will be headed to Palo Alto in the spring to run for Stanford but we think maybe a stop in St. Louis before that.