Olivia Cieslak Dazzles, Four Break 2:10 in Loaded 800m Race

Above: Watch the Top Heat of the Girl's 800m at the Ford Track Classic.

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Olivia Cieslak could not be denied at Friday night's Fords Track Classic. She notched the fourth fastest 800m in Pennsylvania history, a blistering 2:04.77.

The same stadium that hosts her weekly workouts became a coliseum as some of best mid-distance runners in the nation descended on Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Almost poetically, the four Pennsylvanians, Olivia Cieslak, Alli DeLisi, Gwen Hamilton and Ella Woehlcke, lined up on the outside stagger for the start. 

For a modicum of perspective, Cieslak, Woehlcke and DeLisi finished second, third and fourth at last month's New Balance National Indoor Championship. Hamilton finished runner-up at Nike Indoor Nationals. 

Above: Cieslak soars to the lead at the Fords Track Classic | Photo by Ryan Comstock

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Those four jumped out to a quick start and Cieslak split 1:00.49 through the opening 400m. That was the race right there. She was able to stay strong and fluid over the final lap, securing the statement victory.

Alli DeLisi was the closest to Cieslak. She ran a 2:06.84, the ninth fastest time in PA History.

Gwen Hamilton finished third (2:07.50) and Ella Woehlcke finished fourth (2:09.05). Woehlcke was the only senior in the top-seven.

Impressively, Cieslak's run was only a week removed from another all-time performance. Last weekend, she ran a 4:44.57 One Mile at the Arcadia Invitational. That was the fourth fastest mark in Pennsylvania history.