Starliper looks to continue to build momentum toward invitational mile at Millrose Games with strong performance in first career race at the distance against No. 6 all-time prep performer Flynn

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The national leader in the girls high school 1,000 meters could change for the third time in as many weeks Saturday at The Virginia Showcase at Liberty University Indoor Track in Lynchburg.

And Northern PA junior Marlee Starliper is looking to produce the top performance in the country in her debut racing at the distance.

Starliper, who ranks second nationally in the indoor mile this year at 4:47.21 behind only North Rockland NY junior Katelyn Tuohy (4:39.15), is pursuing the 1,000 mark of 2:48.10 run last Saturday by Chandler AZ senior Morgan Foster against a field of collegiate and professional athletes at the Washington Indoor Preview.

Foster improved on the 2:48.77 produced Jan. 6 by Tuohy at the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games in New York. Rush-Henrietta NY graduate Samantha Watson set the meet record of 2:48.18 in 2017.

“I am looking forward to seeing what I can do in racing the 1K because this is my first time ever running the event,” said Starliper, who is looking to become only the second Pennsylvania high school female to run under 2:48, joining Easton Area’s Chanelle Price (2:45.76) in 2008.

Following a 13th-place finish Dec. 8 at the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships, Starliper opened her indoor season the following week with her strong mile performance at the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational.

It was the fastest indoor mile produced by a high school female in December and qualified her for the New Balance Invitational mile Feb. 9 at the NYRR Millrose Games.

“The race helped me to feel confident and excited after a disappointing race at Foot Locker. It made me very hopeful that my indoor season will be better than last year, and I’m expanding my goals,” Starliper said. “I had joked that I was so excited after my race that I didn’t want to go on my break from running.”

Following a two-week break, Starliper resumed training and returned to the track Saturday in Pennsylvania to win both the 800 (2:15.06) and 3,000 (9:55.39) at the Susquehanna River Hawk Invitational to secure qualifying times for the PTFCA Indoor State Championship meet Feb. 24 at Penn State.

In addition to racing the 1,000 for the first time, Starliper will also face strong challenges Saturday from The Ursuline School NY senior Lily Flynn and Friends’ Central PA freshman Micah Trusty.

Flynn elevated to the No. 6 all-time prep performer in the 1,000 by running 2:45.83 to win last year’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship. She took second Dec. 15 to Starliper in the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational mile in 4:54.21.

“The competition is amazing, so I am hoping for a good race that will help prepare me for Millrose,” Starliper said.