Watson completes record triple crown

Rush-Henrietta NY star adds 1,000-meter indoor mark to 600 and 800 standards set earlier this year competing at altitude for first time in her career in Albuquerque

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Samantha Watson checked off the final box in her pursuit for the triple crown of national high school indoor middle distance records Saturday at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Watson, a senior at Rush-Henrietta NY, clocked 2 minutes, 43.18 seconds competing unattached in the women's 1,000-meter prelims at Albuquerque Convention Center to eclipse the 2005 national prep standard of 2:43.40 set by Sarah Bowman of Fauquier VA.

Watson decided to race in her first USATF Indoor Championship instead of competing this weekend in the 1,500 at the New York State Indoor Championships.

Watson, who was racing at altitude for the first time in her career, now boasts national high school indoor records in the 600 at 1:27.13, in the 800 at 2:01.78 and the 1,000, all set within a five-week span this year.

Watson is seeded fifth for Sunday's final, with adidas professional Charlene Lipsey the top qualifier at 2:41.86. Lipsey ran 1:58.64 to place second Feb. 11 in the 800 at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games, with Watson taking sixth to break the 1974 national prep record of 2:01.8 held by Mary Decker.