Girls 4xMile- Saratoga NY 20:24.37
Results

by Elliot Denman and Rich Gonzalez

This event has been on the Nike program just three years and Rockford of Michigan had won it every time, clocking 20:23.24 (2000), 20:48.10 (2001) nd 20:59.05 (2002.) But there was no catching Saratoga Springs, N.Y. this time as freshman sensation Nicole Blood, the Millrose Games girls mile champion, turned a 4:54.9 anchor in a 20:24.37 team triumph.
Sophomore Ruby Solomon (5:04.6), eighth-grader Catherine Rossi (5:15.0) and freshman Lindsey Ferguson (5:09.8) set the stage for frosh Blood’s rousing anchor as Saratoga lapped the entire field.
With the crowd screaming encouragement, Blood blazed around the final turn but fell just short of Rockford’s 2000 Nike meet and National record of 20:23.24. Still, it was No. 2 time ever and a New York State record.
Rockford settled for second this time in 21:04.91 with Clarkston, Mich. third in 21:27.84 in the nine-team race.
Consider Saratoga Springs’ amazing depth: Its B Team ran fourth, its C Team was seventh and its D Team ran ninth.
Rockford junior Nikki Bohnsack (a lap behind) went by Blood early on the anchor leg before the Saratoga freshman broke out to a 2:21.4 first 800 meters
“When the Rockford girl (Bohnsack) passed me near the start, it helped me work off someone,” said Blood.
“I didn’t think it (2:21.4) was that fast. I wasn’t hurting till two laps to go and I could hear coach telling me I had to pick it up. I think the heat in here (it was warmish out-of-doors) caught up with me.
“Hopefully, we can come back next year and get the National record.”
Solomon’s 5:04.6 split was a career best (topping a 5:07).
“I just wanted to get out fast, let the crowd carry us, and see what would happen,” she said.
“We came in thinking about the National record, so if we just missed it we’ll have to come back next year. We’re all young, so we’re all back.”
Solomon was speaking from experience – relatively, that is.
As a sophomore, she is the “old lady” of the group.
Co-coaches of the Saratoga distance powerhouse are husband-and-wife Art and Linda Kranick.
Since this is an Open meet, Saratoga was signed up as the Kinetic Track Club.
“We’re both science teachers, and kinetic means energy is motion,” said Linda Kranick.
“Actually, we thought we could go a little faster,” said Art Kranick. “But a lot of girls will be doubling up.”
Kranick’s runners will then gear up for a distance medley duel with (the absent-here) Red Bank Regional team of New Jersey at the Penn Relays.

Saratoga splits by Larry Byrne:
1) Ruby Soloman 5:06.1; 2) Catherine Rossi 5:16.7; 3) Lindsey Ferguson 5:07.5 and 4) Nicole Blood 4:54.1.

Results
names highlighted in blue qualify for DyeStat Elite 2003 indoor national rankings

 C.F.P.I. Timing & Data 
     Nike Indoor Championships 2003 - 3/15/2003 to 3/16/2003      
             Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex             
                        Landover, Maryland                        
 
Event 42  Girls 4x1 Mile Relay
================================================================  
    National: N 20:23.24  3/11/2000   Rockford, Rockford, MI      
        Meet: M 20:23.24  3/11/2000   Rockford, Rockford, MI      
    School                                               Finals   
================================================================  
Finals                                                            
  1 Saratoga Springs-NY-USA                            20:24.37   
     1) Nicole Blood 06                 2) Ruby Soloman 05        
     3) Lindsey Ferguson 06             4) Kirsten Hornbach 03    
  2 Rockford-MI                                        21:04.91   
     1) Nikki Bohnsack 04               2) Rachel Wittum 07       
     3) Lindsey Stebbins 04             4) Amy Markham 05         
  3 Clarkston Runnin' Gear-MI-USA                      21:27.84   
     1) Liz Mengyan 05                  2) Mo Kuhta 04            
     3) Gillian Nordquist 05            4) Anne Oltman 05         
  4 Saratoga Springs-NY-USA  'B'                       21:32.75   
     1)                                 2) Melissa Sue Trauscht 05
     3) Karyn Delay 05                  4) Ana Hoyos 04           
  5 Hope Valley-NJ                                     21:52.54   
     1) Kate Willever 03                2) Jessica Pall 03        
     3) Sarah Seiler 03                 4) Carly Schlamowitz 04   
  6 Harrison-NY-USA                                    21:55.83   
     1) Raquel Abrams 03                2) Julie Hinchey 06       
     3) Erica Planamento 06             4) Maya Yamato 03         
  7 Saratoga Springs-NY-USA  'C'                       22:16.24   
     1) Ashley Campbell 06              2) Alysha McElroy 07      
     3) Cameron Vahanian 06             4) Megan O'Conor 06       
  8 Herndon-VA                                         22:51.06   
     1) Jenny Miller 04                 2) Sarah Sieb 05          
     3) Jessie Erickson 04              4) Carleigh Gregory 04    
  9 Saratoga Springs-NY-USA  'D'                       22:59.62   
     1) Alexandra Berenis 06            2) Emma Pace 06           
     3) Katherine Tarlton 06            4) Kate Woodcock 05     

Nike Indoor Championships