Watch List #2
The best milers in the Midwest!
GIRLS
Molly Seidel- SR, University Lake School (WI)
Seidel enters the outdoor season after a huge fall that saw her win one of the most prestigious titles in all of high school sports; The Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships. So she’s obviously strong but her 4:47 mile PR proves she’s awfully darn fast as well. Notre Dame, where Seidel is headed this fall, has a good one in this Wisconsin star.
Karina Ernst- SR, Thompson Valley High School (CO)
The Syracuse-bound Ernst has already opened the outdoor season with a 5:14/2:22 double at altitude. She was second to Seidel at last year’s Midwest Distance Gala mile and third at the Colorado State Cross Country Championships in the fall.
Tori Schoettmer- JR, Center Grove High School (IN)
Schoettmer broke five minutes for 1600 multiple times as a sophomore in 2011, capped off with a 4:55 at the Indiana State Meet. She ran 5:03 this indoor season for a full mile showing that she’s in good form.
Helen Willman- SR, Noblesville High School (IN)
Willman, one of four Indiana natives on these lists, ran 4:55 to finish third at her State Championship in 2011. She will leave the Hoosier State next fall, however, as she has signed on attend the Ohio State University.
Anna Boyert- SR, Medina High School (OH)
Boyert’s indoor season saw her run a 4:56 full mile at the New Balance Indoor National Meet and a 2:16 800 at the Brooks PR Invitational. Should she carry that fitness over to outdoors she will assuredly be one of the top milers in the Midwest.
BOYS
Brannon Kidder- SR, Lancaster High School (OH)
The Penn-State bound senior enters the 2012 outdoor season on a serious roll. His indoor season included a 4:07 1600, a fourth-place finish at the New Balance Indoor Nationals and an Ohio State Championship. His 4:06 mile in 2011 makes him the third-best returner in the country and tops in the Midwest.
Jason Crist- SR, Franklin Central High School (IN)
A 4:11/8:59 guy, Crist will be undoubtedly be looking to go sub 4:10 this outdoor season. He ended his 2011 campaign with a 4:12 1600 to nab fourth at a very competitive Indiana State Meet and followed that up with a 4:12 mile to earn fifth at the Midwest Distance Gala. Crist will be keeping his talents close to home next fall when he enrolls at the University of Indiana.
Leland Later- SR, New Trier High School (IL)
Later is part of a proud tradition at Illinois powerhouse New Trier in the Chicago suburbs. The Illinois State Cross Country Champion this past fall Later will look to add a track title or two in May. Very few Illinois runners have accomplished the cross country/1600/3200 triple in the same school year. The Cal-bound Later has a shot at it.
Troy Reeder- JR, Hamilton Southeastern High School (IN)
Just a junior, Reeder placed fifth over four laps at the 2011 Indiana State Championships in an outstanding 4:14.71. He was the eighth-fastest sophomore in the country and will now look to climb up the overall rankings in 2012.
Kirk Webb- SR, Monarch High School (CO)
Webb, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, ran a 4:16 full mile at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2011. He followed that up with a successful cross country season, culminating in an individual title at the always-tough Colorado State Meet.
* Caleb Wilfong and Drew Cargill would have been third and fifth on this list respectively but they have already been previewed in our Watch List #1