Abbe Goldstein (Germantown Academy) / Photo by Kyle Brazeil
Girls' Mile Run Preview
It was early last winter that we started to really see the breakthrough of Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein. It all led up to Goldstein's incredible run at the Millrose Games, where she won the junior girls' mile in 4:49.06, a massive PR and, in many ways, an upset victory for the senior.
One thing Goldstein doesn't have yet is an indoor state title. Last winter, she was out-dueled by Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson in a great mile race at states. There's no Wilkinson this year and Goldstein will be gunning for that mile title---one she certainly wants really bad.
Unionville's Anna Juul figures to be the one to give Goldstein the best run. We know all about Unionville's ability to peak at the right time and Juul---who ran a PA#2 4:52.24 back in mid-December off XC fitness---is making her way back to that level. Goldstein beat her at Millrose, but we'll see what kind of difference two weeks makes. The future Harvard teammates will be battling it out as opponents on Saturday.
Those are the two girls who have gone sub-5 this season. After that, the race for the medals gets a little murkier. Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler has looked very strong lately. Rittler won the 1600 meters at the Varsity Classic in 5:02.30, then she was a no contest victor at last week's DVGTCA Meet of Champs in the mile. Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw is in he midst of a terrific indoor campaign. Shaw just keeps improving. She dropped a 5:03.77 1600 at YSU and then last week she took home the TSTCA title in the mile.
Downingtown West's Emma Planck ran 5:05.96 in January at Yale. The veteran should figure to be in the mix. Northern freshman Marlee Starliper was an impressive second at the Carnival a few weeks ago. Third in that race was Abington's Kelly Jawork. Both Starliper and Jawork will be serious medal contenders.
Others looking to get in the conversation for medals include: Greencastle-Antrim freshman Taryn Parks, Greensburg Central Catholic's Moira O'Shea, Notre Dame's Jessica Schneider, Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis, Souderton's Emily Bonaventure, and Owen J. Roberts' Allison Brunton.
Girls' Mile Entries:
Event 7 Girls 1 Mile Run (20) =============================================================================== State Meet: 4:42.58 3/1/2014 Brianna Schwartz, Shaler Area Name Year School =============================================================================== 1 Bonaventure, Emily 11 Souderton 2 Brunton, Allison 12 O J Roberts 3 Burd, Emily 12 Friends' Central 4 Constable, Carlee 12 Villa Maria Acad 5 Finikiotis, Lauren 12 Oakland Cath 6 Goldstein, Abbe 12 Germantown Acad 7 Jawork, Kelly 12 Abington 8 Juul, Anna 12 Unionville 9 Kasitz, Gillian 12 Boyertown 10 Kopchak, Rylee 11 Card Wueri North 11 Lebo, Meg 10 Carlisle 12 Locker, Katie 9 Elizabethtow 13 Mowery, Kaylee 11 Chambersburg 14 O'Shea, Moira 12 Grnsburg Central 15 Parks, Taryn 9 G-Castle-Antrim 16 Planck, Emma 12 D-Town West 17 Royds, Miranda 12 Hatboro Hors 18 Schneider, Jessica 10 Notre Dame 19 Shaw, Savannah 11 Upper St Clair 20 Starliper, Marlee 9 Northern