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Where most of the focus on the indoor circuit this track season is on the east coast, Midwest distance runners made their presence felt last weekend at the New Balance Indoor Nationals at the New York Armory. Out of the eight individual events, three individual winners came from Midwest states. That is not to mention all of the athletes that earned All-American honors in those eight events.

The Boys 1 Mile Championship was the one race that I was looking forward to. We had seen the results that Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc HS MI) had produced coming into this meet. The idea of him going 4 minutes for the mile seemed to be farfetched in some eyes but not to Fisher. The start of the race had to be recalled in the first 40 meters because of a runner falling down. On the second try, Fisher was a man on a mission taking the lead and not looking back. The strategy that he has used in his races is running a strong first 800, then holding on the next 400, and then unleashing a kick in the final portion of the race. He passed by the 440 in 59.2, the 880 in 1:59.5, and then holding on to pass the 1320 in 3:03.6.

He did unleash a kick. He passed 1500 Meters in 3:46.5 on pace to perhaps to break that magical sub 4 minute barrier. On the final curve, he lost his balance on the banked curve hitting the railing and then three steps on the inside of the track. He slowed down considerably and maintained his composure and sprinted to the finish. Even with the stumble, he crossed the line in 4:03.54 for the meet record. “I felt incredible today. Other than one or two strides, I did great,” Fisher said as he talked to the media after his run. “On that last corner, I was solely focused on getting to that finish line. I was kicking with all I had. When you are that tired, sometimes your form goes a little hay wired. I guess I was leaning too much. I came away with the win today and that was the #1 goal.”

Logan Wetzel (Saline MI) also earned All-American honors in that event. Wetzel was off of his PR by approximately four seconds. He still finished fifth running 4:12.14.

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Anna Rohrer (Mishawaka HS IN) looked great in winning the Girls 5000 Meter Championship. At first, it did not look like the best of days for the Indiana senior. At about 800 Meters into the race, she clipped one of her competitor’s heels almost falling to the track. She picked herself off and moved to the front not wanting to go through what she just went through. Ryen Frazier (Ravenscroft, NC) stayed right on Rohrer’s shoulder the entire race refusing to budge. At the bell lap, Rohrer made a slight move as she passed a lapped runner. It was a move that Frazier could not respond to. Rohrer crossed the line in a national record 16:10.79 with Frazier finishing two seconds back.

Stephanie Jenks (Aurora IA) ran a PR (16:40.13) to finish third in the race. Sarah Kettel (Capitol Home School, East Lansing MI) finished fifth also achieving a new personal best (16:57.47). Kettel came back on Sunday to run in the 2 Mile Run. Ryen Frazier powered into the lead after a 44 second first 200 and never looked back. Even though she was coming back 90 minutes later, Frazier won the race in a fast 10:02.86 which is the nation’s best time in the event. Audrey Belf (Seaholm HS, Birmingham MI) and Kettel finished fourth and fifth in the race. Belf ran a seasonal best (10:23.70) finishing fourth. Kettel was four seconds back also achieving a new seasonal best (10:27.24).

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The biggest surprise in the national eye in the distance races were the performances of Brian Bell (Dunbar HS, Dayton OH) in the Sprint Medley Relay on Saturday and the 800 Meter Run Sunday afternoon. Bell powered past national 800 list leader John Lewis (Cheltenham PA) in the final 800 Meter leg of the Medley to capture a win for Dunbar and a new national record. Bell’s split was an amazing 1:49.46. After the competition was over on Saturday, meet organizers moved Bell to the final section of the 800 Meter Run figuring that he would be able to challenge for the win. They were right. Bell captured the national championship crossing the line (1:51.07) a half a second ahead of Donovan Brazier (Kenowa Hills HS, Grand Rapids). Brazier finished third overall in the event.

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Section 1 of the 2 Mile Run is where the Midwest eye was in this event. Zach Snider (Breubeuf Prep, Indianapolis IN) and Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates) pushed each other under nine minutes in this race running shoulder to shoulder of each other. Dale took the lead just before the bell lap. Snider responded and won the section (8:58.40) just a second ahead of Dale (8:59.76). The two finished fifth and sixth overall in the event both earning All-American honors.

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The Girls 800 Meter Run results met the pre-race hype. Ersula Farrow (Oak Park HS MI) and Sammy Watson (Rush Henrietta HS NY) had some epic races against each other this winter. Their third encounter was just as exciting. Farrow held the lead most of the race. A final kick by Watson was the difference as she won in a national leading 2:08.13. Farrow was a quarter of a second back (2:08.38). Kaley Ciluffo (Le Claire IA) was strong throughout the race as she finished third (2:08.83) with an indoor personal best.

The first two sections of this event were exciting for Illinois fans. Karina Liz (Aurora Central Catholic HS) won the first section of the race in an Illinois state leading time (2:11.70). She won her section in dominating fashion by almost two seconds ahead of California’s Bianca Bryant. Illinois 1A champion Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito) won her second section (2:12.01) holding off Virginia’s Emma Call. Both Illinois runners have a legitimate chance to break Courtney Clayton’s IHSA record of 2:07.05. It is a shame that we will not see these two runner facing each other until after the IHSA season concludes.

Cami Davre (Whitefish Bay WI) started her season off on a high note winning the Emerging Elites 800 Meter Run on Friday. Her time (2:12.30) is currently 14^th nationally. Frances Bill (Lake Catholic HS, Mentor OH) finished third, Joy Ripslinger (Assumption HS, Davenport IA) finished fourth, and Lindsay Welker (North Vigo HS, Terre Haute IN) finished sixth in that event. Davre ran 4:51.93 to win the first section in the Championship 1 Mile Run. Her personal best placed her seventh overall. Rachel Dadamio (Seaholm HS, Birmingham) ran 4:49.66 to place fourth. Stephanie Jenks came back from her 5000 race to place fifth running 4:49.70.

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Even with most of the attention on Nationals, there were still some great performances last week in the Midwest. At the Batavia Distance Madness Meet on March 13, Keagan Smith (Huntley HS IL) ran 4:17.47 (IL #2) to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Jake Hoffert (Yorkville HS IL). Four runners were under 4:21 in that race. Judy Pendergast (North HS, Naperville IL) won the Girls 1600 Meter Run (5:00.98) four seconds ahead of Skyler Bollinger (Yorkville HS IL).

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This weekend indoor season enters its final stages while some teams will be venturing outdoors. Michigan could see some big times in the Huron Relays at Ypsilanti. Wisconsin action heats up with the Nelson Daniels Invitational and the Lake Michigan Invitational at Carthage College. The Boys meet on Saturday features a good 3200 with Illinois 3A State Cross Country Champ Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS) and Bryce Richards (Mundelein HS) leading the 3200 field.

Illinois meets will be wild as athletes look for qualifying performances before the Illinois Top Times Meet next weekend at Illinois Wesleyan. The Mid Suburban League Meet at North Central College Saturday will have Zach Dale going after a fast 1600. The West Suburban Silver Meet at York HS will feature 3A State Cross Country Champion Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn).

Indiana features the Hoosier State Relays Saturday at Purdue. We could see a fast time by 5k indoor record holder Anna Rohrer in the 3200 Meter Run. Ohio starts their outdoor season beginning next week.

Check out the latest updates from the Midwest Distance Classic on their webpage

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