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Midwest Distance Gala 2009 Recap
Published by Jun 16th 2009, 9:05am
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In this week's Distance Gala Weekly, we wrap-up the Midwest Distance Gala, which featured U.S. #1 marks for the boys mile and two mile. We count down the top ten performances of the meet, looking at each event and the winner's of each race.
Top Ten Countdown
This week's Top Ten Countdown wraps up the top ten performances at the Midwest Distance Gala. With nearly 2,000 people in attendance, along with hundreds watching online, the Gala once again showcased some of the top performances of the season.
10. Christian Escareno (Rolling Meadows, IL) - Being run for the first time, the open 5,000m race at the Gala produced some great results. Escareno crossed the finish line in first place, setting a high bar for years to come. With Greg Costello and Elliot Krause chasing, Escareno simply grinded out the win in 14:43.44, near six seconds up on the second place Costello. Escareno is a former Illinois all-stater, who'll be heading back to Brown University in the fall after taking the past year off.
9. Katie Hill (Sr., Onalaska, WI) - In 2008, Wisconsin's Jami Hill broke the meet record in the 800m dash, on her way to breaking 2:10. This year, another Hill won the Gala girls 800m dash, as Jami's twin sister Katie took home top prize in 2:14.49, edging Annette Eichenberger, who finished second in 2:14.90.
8. Cole O'Brien (Fr., Burnsville, MN) - A last year's Gala, Minnesota's Rob Finnerty stole the show, running the seventh fastest mile time in U.S. prep history, as he crossed the line in 4:01.09. While Finnerty moved on to the University of Wisconsin, his high school, Burnsville H.S., still has a star among its ranks. Cole O'Brien won the Gala freshman mile in record time, beating the old record by nearly three seconds with his 4:27.51 winning effort.
7. Connor Martin (So., Westfield, IN) - .While only a sophomore, Martin won the Gala 2k steeplechase in a meet record time of 6:01.97. Martin's winning effort was 11 seconds better than his closest competitor, as 2-4 place also bested the meet record in the event. With the steeplechase not offered in most states, Martin took full advantage and showed he's certainly an athlete to watch in the event over the next few years.
6. Lizzy Hynes (Sr., St. Charles East, IL) - While Hynes finished second in the Gala girls mile, she raced like a champion. Hynes bested the previous meet record, while showing why she's been one of Illinois' best for the past four years. The Boston College-bound senior closed our her racing in Illinois with a 4:51.91 effort.
5. Peter Callahan (Sr., North Shore Country Day, IL) - On the national scene, few people knew who Callahan was heading into Saturday evening's festivities, but by the end the whole nation knew. Callahan finished second in the Gala boys mile, running a huge personal best of 4:05.20. Last year, Callahan won the "C" heat of the mile at the Gala. This year, the Princeton-bound senior took a big step forward, winning state titles at 800m and 1,600m, while earning a spot on the national stage with his Gala mile performance.
4. Danny Neff (Sr., Vandalia-Butler, OH) - At the 2008 Gala, Neff placed fourth in the mile. While meet directors urged him to run in the mile this year, Neff decided to run the 800m dash, using it as a tune-up of sorts for Nike Outdoor Nationals. Neff showed up in a big way, winning the two lap event in a meet record time of 1:50.02. While the University of Georgia recruit wanted to break 1:50, he is showing great form when it matters most at the end of the year.
3. Stephanie Brown (Sr., Tri-Valley, IL) - Running in her typically gutsy manner, Brown proved once again that she's going to be a force for years to come. The University of Arkansas recruit won the Gala girls mile in a meet record time of 4:50.12, besting the previous meet record set back in year one (2005) by Michigan's Jenny Morgan. Brown, along with fellow Illinois athlete Lizzy Hynes, will head out to North Carolina to take on the nation's best this coming week at Nike Outdoor Nationals.
2. Lukas Verzbicas (Fr., Lincoln-Way Central, IL) - Many expected Verzbicas to contend for victory in the two mile Saturday evening, and the freshman phenom showed up like a true champion. In route to winning, Verzbicas crushed the freshman national 3,000m, 3,200m and two mile records, beating Foot Locker National Champion Solomon Haile 8:53.98-8:56.08. Maryland's Haile and Graham Bazell went 2-3 respectively, with both athletes breaking nine minutes. Bazell finished third in a new personal best of 8:56.65.
1. Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) - A loaded mile field closed out the fifth running of the Midwest Distance Gala Saturday evening. While much of the pre-race buzz centered around Illinois' Jeff Thode, who ranked US#1 for 1,600m, many knew Springer would be right there heading into the gun lap. Not only was Springer in the race with a lap to go, he was leading it and looking strong. Pushing through 1,209 meters in 3:01, the crowd rose to their feet, cheering Springer on wildly. As the senior came down the homestretch, he tied up ever so slightly, finishing in 4:02.70, the 14th fastest mile time in U.S. prep history.
Additional Articles of Interest
Dyestat Distance Gala Coverage
Milesplit Distance Gala Coverage
Andrew Springer Now the Nation's Number One Miler (The Providence Journal)
Dyestat Portland Track Festival Coverage
A Brief Chat with Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson (Runner's World)
NCAA T&F Championship Results (FlashResults)
NCAA T&F Championship Coverage (Runnerspace)
To submit an article or results to Distance Gala Weekly please contact Scott Bush at: [email protected]
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| The Midwest Distance Gala is one of the premier post-season high school track competitions in the United States. Through strong competition and a professional environment, the Midwest Distance Gala has continued a steady rate of growth and success. The fifth edition of the event takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. For more information please visit the Midwest Distance Gala website at www.midwestdistancegala.com. To receive more Midwest Distance Gala info follow us on twitter. Sign up here to receive the Distance Gala Weekly via email. |
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Distance Gala Weekly Copyright © 2009 Midwest Distance Gala, Inc. Printed with permission.
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