Lily - Florida's Fastest Miler Ever

Congratulations to Lily as she became Florida's fastest Miler on record by running a very competitive 4:42.79    (4:41.15) for the full mile and finishing 6th in the 2012 adidas Dream Mile.

Prior to the race, I caught up with Coach Scott Gowan for some perspective on how Lily planned to race and what her legacy means for Chiles HS. 

Here is the link to the interview: Coach Gowan Pre-Race Comments

What a thrill it was for me personally when the results finally came through showing Lily had gone sub 4:43,  eclipsing the previous mark set by Winter Park's Shelby Hayes in the 2010 adidas Dream Mile.

I firmly believe records were meant to be broken. 

For some, it's the necessary drive to get out the door and train.  For others, it's the motivation to set the bar higher for those that come behind them.  Whatever the personal motivation, it was a thrill breaking the news to Lily.

Link to Lily's post-race interview:  Lily Williams post race comments

Lily Williams - Breaking History - Ready to Rumble

Lily Williams, of Chiles HS, is in the "Big Apple" and "Ready to Rumble" with the nation's best Milers in the Dream Mile being held at Icahn Stadium tomorrow.  An elite all-star field in the 3rd annual adidas Grand Prix-New York City Dream Mile  is part of the Samsung Diamond League series of Track and Field Meets. The meet coverage will be shown on NBC starting at 3pm.

Lily qualified for the event by winning the 36th annual Golden South Classic -Golden Stripes Mile, running 4:46.15 which converts to 4:44.49 for the full mile.  As far as we know, it is the second fastest time ever for a Florida girl.

Lily will be aiming to make some history and quite possibly become the fastest  Florida HS miler ever. But can she eclipse Winter Park's Shelby Hayes historic 4:43.0 (4:42.05 1600) which she ran at the inaugural Dream Mile back in 2010, finishing 2nd behind Maddie Meyers who ran 4:41.93?

Lily is one of 6 Floridians selected for the meet which includes Boone's Marvin Bracy, Jones' Levonte Whitfield, Ed White's Tristie Johnson and Boyd Anderson's Kali Davis-White and Shayla Sanders.

Lily Williams - "Abbey Road"

Taking some photo's on the streets of New York with some interesting characters, she has quite a few to add to her scrapbook including former Congressman Jim Ryun.  She can look forward to taking in the sites, grabbing some really cool swag, meeting up with some old friends from Foot Locker and Brooks PR, doing some interviews, taking some pictures and last but,most of all, just having fun.

Jim Ryun, Mary Docter (Aunt), Lily Williams, Scott Gowan, Sara Williams (Mom)

GIRLS’ DREAM MILE FIELD

 
Allie Cash: Shawnee Mission, Kan.; Kansas Relays Champion 800m, 1600m; #5 U.S. 1600
Cami Chapus: Los Angeles, Calif.; 5th, 2011 World Youth Champs; #3 U.S. 1500m, 1600m
Alexa Efraimson: Camus, Wash.; #4 U.S. 1600m; is a freshman
Erin Finn: West Bloomfield, Mich.; U.S. HS Record-holder 5000m indoors
Wesley Frazier: Raleigh, N.C.; 2011 National HS Champion in Mile 5000m
Nikki Hiltz: Aptos, Calif.; 4th, 2011 U.S. Junior Nationals 1500m
Maddie Meyers: Seattle, Wash.; #4 U.S. 3000m, 2010 Dream Mile Champion
Amy-Eloise Neale: Snohomish, Wash.; 6-time State Champion
Alexis Panisse: Bayside, N.Y.; U.S. top 5 in 800m, 1600m and 2K Steeplechase
Angel Piccirillo: Homer Center, Pa.; #1 in U.S. 1600m; #2 in Mile; 7-time State Champion
Haley Pierce: Wilmington, Del.; # 2 in U.S. 1600m; 15-time State Champion
Paige Rice: Portland, Ore.; #5 U.S. 1500m; Cross Country State Champion
Lily Williams: Tallahassee, Fla.; #3 in U.S. Mile; 800m, 1600m, 3200m State Champion

Jim Ryun, Lily Williams, Doctor Bob