* Cieslak charges to the finish line - Photo by Ryan Comstock
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By Elias Catania and John Davern - MileSplit
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ARDMORE, Pa. - As she strode to the starting line, Olivia Cieslak was locked in for the Central Athletic League Championships 800m yesterday evening.
That focus quickly translated to a 62.39 opening lap for Cieslak. She rode that momentum to a new personal best and US No. 11 mark of 2:08.91. The time is also the sixth fastest by a sophomore in state history.
She will now set her attention to the District and State Championship meets, and Cieslak appears to be peaking at the right time.
"My training is going really well, and I'm just trusting the process," Cieslak said after her race. "Championship season is going to be great, and I know there are going to be a lot of great girls there as well."
She will have some stout competition. Fellow District 1 star Eyota Bey (Cheltenham) has run 2:10.08 over 800m. She burst onto the middle distance scene with that mark. Bey is well known for her sprinting ability but was able to extend her prowess to win at the New York Relays.
It'll be interesting to see how those two line up next week at the District 1 Championship.
Rustin's Maddie Miller and Mount Saint Joseph's Ella Woehlcke will also be in the mix. Both have run 2:12.
