Marlee Starliper Runs Meet Record 4:37.76 Girls Mile

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

NEW YORK – An ever-present grin on her face, Marlee Starliper was in a state of disbelief as she crossed the finish line. But she also asked herself: what more can I do? 

Saturday evening at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games at The New Balance Armory Track and Field Center, the senior from Northern PA ran away with the Girls New Balance Mile title in a meet-record 4 minutes, 37.76 seconds. 

“I crossed the line and I was just like, ‘Wow,’” Starliper said. “I just felt so good and I was so thankful for that.”

Starliper’s performance made her the fourth-fastest prep performer in history and the 2020 national leader. She won the Millrose Games title last winter in 4:41.66. 

“It really meant a lot; I definitely wanted to defend that title,” Starliper said. “You never know what to expect at races like this. All Glory to God. It was just a really fun time. This one was definitely the most special.”

Starliper now trails an illustrious trio of Mary Cain, Alexa Efraimson and Katie Rainsberger on the all-time list. 

Starliper led from start to finish as four girls clocked under 4:46 and five under 4:50. It was torrid pace from the gun in a competitive field that featured the Women’s 1-Mile Race Walk winner, Taylor Ewert, defending New Balance Indoor Nationals mile winner Taryn Parks, and defending 800-meter New Balance Nationals Indoor champion Roisin Willis. Starliper confessed she didn’t think about who was with her or not. The goal was a fast time. 

“I was so focused on what I was doing,” she said. 

Second place went to Juliette Whittaker of Mount De Sales MD in 4:43.89. 

It was also Starliper’s first mile of the season. She said she hasn’t done much racing and with a mild winter, a lot of her work has been away from the track.

“I’ve just been feeling really good and having a lot of fun,” she said. “I’m so glad to finally unleashing some of that energy.”

Starliper will race in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University next weekend, running the 3,000 meters. Also racing at Boston will be Willis, the sophomore from Stevens Point, Wis., who finished fifth in 4:49.63. Willis will run in the 800, also looking for a personal record. 

“I’ve really never been in a race like this,” Willis said. “(But) it sets me up great for the 800.”

Cian McPhillips wins Boys Mile

Gavin Sherry knew Saturday’s mile field was going to “crazy competitive.” That didn’t change the sophomore’s plans.

“Today I was like, ‘Screw it, I’ll take the lead,’” he said. 

Sherry, a sophomore from Conard, CT, and the youngest entrant in the New Balance Boys Mile race in the NYRR Millrose Games, led much of the 16-lap race, but a late strategic charge in the last 400 meters from Ireland’s Cian McPhillips left Sherry settling for a runner-up finish. McPhillips won in 4:10.95, while Sherry clocked a personal-best time of 4:12.10. 

McPhillips is the first non-U.S. runner to win the event since Kevin Robinson of St. George's (B.C.) won in 1986.

"With the internet now you know everyone's times and what everyone's doing," McPhillips said. "I still expected it to be tough and I was right."

McPhillips recently ran 3:44 for 1,500 meters, an indication that he was ready to make a significant impact on the race at Millrose.

Sherry was not only the top U.S. runner, but is eligible to come back two more times.

“I try my best not to compare myself to other athletes, especially age-wise, because even though I’m a sophomore I think of myself as right up there with them,” Sherry said. “I don’t like to use that as an excuse. You beat me fair and square, that’s just game.”

“My plan in this race was just push it really hard. I knew a lot these guys have really strong kicks, and I wanted to try and even the playing field as much as possible.”

Sherry said he tried to catch McPhillips around the last curve but didn’t have an extra gear. 

“I just have to not be afraid and just go for it,” Sherry said. “If I end up dying then so be it, then you know your limits…but so far I haven’t gotten there yet.”