Tuohy's Record Mile Tops Them All at NBNO

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

GREENSBORO, N.C. –  Katelyn Tuohy has made a habit of bringing ambitious goals to the starting line, and almost always nailing them.

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On a sweltering Sunday at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Tuohy pushed through four laps in 4:33.87 to break the national high school record in the mile and added another landmark achievement to a prep career that is undoubtedly one of the best in history.

Tuohy cruised through the finish line and turned her attention to her family along the outside rail and reaching up to greet her dad on Father’s Day.

“The last 200, just hearing the crowd roaring and thinking about the record just motivated me to pick up the pace a little,” Tuohy said.

Tuohy felt confident that she could run faster than 4:35, and go for the record, after running 9:09 for 3,000 and 4:14 for 1,500 at the New York state meet.

After breaking the 2-mile record at the Loucks Games, Tuohy and her coach, Brian Diglio, turned their attention to speed mechanics to get ready for a fast mile.

“We worked on my knee lift, my form, pull-back,” she said. “All the work I did in the last few weeks really benefited me.”

As usual, a frenetic final session at NBNO brought a heap of highlights one after another to close the meet.

Tamari Davis, the fabulous freshman from Florida, completed a sprint sweep by taking the 200 meters in 22.98. Okheme Moore, as senior from Alabama, also swept the sprints by running 20.80 in the 200.

Earlier in the day, New Jersey sprinter Antonio Tarantino sent shockwaves through the stadium when he tore off the curve and clocked 20.51 with a 2.8 m/s tailwind – a massive PR after coming in with a best of 21.21.

Tyrese Cooper made a triumphant return to NBNO after a difficult spring that included two arrests (charges were ultimately dropped). He defended his 400 title with 46.17.

Brodey Hasty took one last trip with his high school training group and led his friends from Brentwood, Tenn. to a victory in the distance medley relay. Hasty split 4:08 and Brentwood won its second DMR national title (after indoor) with 9:58.76.

Alexis Holmes from Connecticut, a Penn State recruit, blasted through the 400 with a stunning two-second PR of 51.21, good for No. 7 on the all-time list.

KC Lightfoot, jumping for the second time in two days after taking third at USATF Juniors, broke the NBNO meet record with his clearance at 18-0.50.

Athing Mu from New Jersey, a sophomore, won the girls 800 in 2:04.51 in a race where seven girls ran faster than 2:08.

Luis Peralta, also from New Jersey, won the boys 800 in 1:49.10, holding off hard-charging Drew Maher (1:49.16) for the victory.

The day – and the weekend – also belonged to Western Branch and departing head coach Claude Toukene.

The girls sprints and hurdles crew from Western Branch won five championships, including impressive runs in the 4x100 (44.92) and 4x400 (3:41.76).

“I am extremely proud of those kids,” Toukene said. “They worked extremely hard. It’s my last meet with them, and I’m elated.”