OP is on to something wrote:
Barker's 3000 time at a regional AAU qualifier this summer in the 15-16 age group was 10:02. Even if she's slightly older for an average freshman, that's super fast either way.
She is running great and course records are great. Only 6 8th graders have broken 10:00 for 3,000 with the record being just under 9:30 (Hasay). Most recently Kelsey Chmiel who continues to do well in college went 9:53 in June 2015. So she is in good company.
FastTuohy wrote:
So, the fastest girl ever I guess? I think Woodbridge will tell the real story.
16:27 at Woodbridge. Seems legit.
https://live.athletic.net/meets/10836/xc-events/376358/resultsJecht, the 3k and 1500m weren't a cross country race, but on the track. I actually didn't know they were in an official race. According to this:
she ran a 3k in 10:02, a 1500m in 4:44 (I thought I was told 4:40), and an 800m in 2:29 (not as impressive), but all within the course of 3 days at most, as the meet was June 18-20, 2021, while she was still considered an 8th grader. The two HS cross country races she's run so far were 3 miles.
I was at Woodbridge last night (had some of my athletes in her same race), and while she ran really well I'd say the Laguna time strikes me as the better performance, actually, given the courses. I wonder if her not running in one of the high-profile races might mean someone is deciding to let her have success without the worry of being amazing. I have no inside information on that, but I've certainly let some freshman and sophomore athletes run in their class races even though they could handle a varsity race. This WAS a varsity race, but not the rated or sweepstakes races.
As a freshman in HS I was fast enough in track to win a ton of JV races, but was always just slow enough that I wouldn't have scored on varsity. In hindsight this was probably really good for me so that I could improve without the pressure. (Most of the 3200m dual meet races were combined with varsity anyway--we JV runners just wore a little string tied to our singlet--so I still got to be pushed and improve.) I hope she can keep the fun and keep off the pressure even as the stakes get higher.
OC4 wrote:
Ad Hocker Teare List wrote:
You have no idea how fast this is. This is national prep running news worthy. Some very good boys team in this meet and she would have finished 36th place amongst the boys overall.
San Clemente boys only had 5 boys in front of her and they might be a top 20 team in the country.
Sub 16 5k would be likely on the right course.
Calm your jets here. San Clemente will not be going to NXN and is most definitely not a top 20 team in the country. Not even a top 5 team in the State.
San Clemente boys are currently ranked 22nd in nation by speed ratings.
Watch out for Barker at Mt. SAC