Girls Distances

With three different returning state champions in the three distance events, the girls distances are especially deep this year. There are several girls who are on our top returners list in two and even three of the three disciplines, making the prospect of athletes pursuing two events at state a distinct possibility.

800 Meters

Mikaela Smith of Clovis North is the returning CIF State Champion in the 800 meters. She came to the state meet last year with a season best of 2:12.59, but lowered that to 2:10 in prelims and dropped it to an impressive 2:08.39 in the final to come away with the win - and with a margin over 1.5 seconds! She went on to run under 2:09 twice more, at the Golden West Invitational and the USATF World Youth Trials, where she set her current PR of 2:08.26. Only a junior, she has some impressive range, with TFX elite marks in the 200, 400, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. Keep an eye on this one, I think we are just beginning to see what Mikaela can do.

Speaking of range, it's easy to think of Anna Maxwell of San Lorenzo Valley as one of the state's best at the long distances, especially as she comes off a tremendous cross country season which culminated in a CIF State D4 Championship, a Foot Locker Nationals berth, and a trip to Scotland in a USA uniform. But with 57 second 400 speed and an 800 best of 2:09.34, Anna is our number 2 returner in the 800 and perhaps the best all around threat in the distances on the track.  She could be a serious title threat, and probably the most likely to threaten to win multiple titles in the girls distances.

After Mikaela and Anna, the state is still scary-deep, with another 8 returners who boast PRs in the low 2:12's or better. Expect a high caliber fight to not only win the 800 at state, but to even get there.

Anna Maxwell at 2013 CCS Top 8 - Watch Anna use her typical front running style to win the 800.

800 Meters Top Returners

Girls 1600

Anna Maxwell made a very gutsy decision to take the pace out hard despite temperatures in the high 90's at last year's state finals 1600. Anna's strategy to take the kick out of 2012 defending state champion Nikki Hiltz paid off, as she held out for the win against the hard charging Hiltz in the final stretch. Anna brings a PR of 4:42.57 from the CCS Top 8 meet and has to be considered the odds-on favorite to repeat as state champion.

But repeating as state champion in California is never a sure thing, and the girls 1600 has deep field of talented girls eyeing the top spot. Sarah Robinson of Gunn (4:48.37) and Megan Huebner of La Quinta (4:50.59) are the closest challengers to Anna's repeat championship. Robinson is the only other girl to bring a sub-4:50 PR from last season, (she did it three times last spring), and has as much experience racing Maxwell as anyone  Huebner has similar range to Maxwell, with 2:11 800 speed and a 10:26 3200 PR to her credit. With the top 10 returners in the state all bringing PRs from last season faster than 4:55, look for multiple girls to run in the 4:40's this year.

1600 Meters Top Returners

Girls 3200

Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley has already secured her place in history having won 4 CIF State Cross Country titles. Now she enters her senior track season with the opportunity to be a 4-time champion in the 3200 as well. She burst onto the scene as a freshman as one of the most talented runners to come along in a looong time, and we've seen her continue to improve and mature before or eyes. She brings a best of 10:06.74 which she ran solo at the Ventura County Champs last Spring (which makes you wonder what she could do with some competition?). Will this be the year Sarah joins a small handful of girls in history to break the elusive 10:00 barrier? I certainly will be rooting for her!

But Sarah is not without her challengers, and Anna Maxwell has to be considered her #1 threat. Anna has proven that she is an extremely tough competitor who is not afraid to stick her neck out against the best - and with a PR of 10:10.51, she has to be taken seriously! If she is fit and opts for the longer distance, (and Anna can be a threat at all three), look for her to challenge Baxter's dominance this season.

After Baxter and Maxwell, California boasts six more athletes who have run 10:30 or better last season. Look for fast times in the 8-lapper.

3200 Meters Top Returners

Update - 2/20 2:45 p.m.

Poster "Not That Guy" brings up a fair point: we have more recent performance information on our distance athletes from cross country which should be considered. To address this, I'm added the top 10 performances from the Cross Country State Championships based on time.  Yes, it's possible that I could be missing a better performance here and there from earlier in the season, but I think using State is the only fair and consistant way to review this.

As the poster noted, there are several athletes who had outstanding XC season that should be considered. Chief among them is sophomore Fiona O'Keeffe of Davis Senior who had the #2 time at Woodward Park this year and broke Sarah Baxter's sophomore course record. Bethan Knights of Northwood is also a threat worth mentioning, having the #4 time in state XC. The full top 10 list by XC State Championship time is shown below.

CIF State Cross Country Top Returners