Despite more than three months in between meets, Tully NY junior wins loaded girls mile race in Arizona; Oaks Christian teammates Craft and Richardson also victorious in first races following Coronavirus pandemic

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. – Brooke Rauber already demonstrated once this year she could handle the warm conditions on the West coast, winning the women’s 6-kilometer title Jan. 18 at the USATF Under-20 Cross Country Championships in San Diego.

Although the conditions were significantly hotter Friday at the Desert Dream - Last Hurrah at Poston Butte High, the junior from Tully High in New York demonstrated no signs of cooling off despite not competing in more than three months, as Rauber won the marquee girls race of the three-day competition by clocking 4 minutes, 48.05 seconds to prevail in a loaded mile field.

“I’m so happy, this was great,” Rauber said. “I haven’t raced, so it was nice to get that adrenaline boost again.”

RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

Rauber, the Pan American U-20 cross country gold medalist, led five athletes under 4:50 and eight individuals to achieving sub-5 performances, closing the last lap in 66.3 seconds to significantly negative split the race after covering the first half in 2:30.3 at the first track and field meet in the United States since March 14 as a result of health concerns surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“This was such a great race and a great setup,” Rauber said. “It was nice to come run with some competition.”

Junior Carlee Hansen of Woods Cross, Utah, took second in 4:49.05, covering the final lap in 66.7 to move up from sixth after 1,209 meters.

Lexy Halladay, a recent graduate of Mountain View High in Idaho, placed third in 4:49.27. The BYU signee was leading with 300 meters remaining, before Rauber made a strong surge to pass on the outside and continued to build on the momentum all the way to the finish.

“With one lap left, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got this,’ and then Lexy took off. I wasn’t concerned, I would say, I was just surprised,” Rauber said. “But I thought it was good that someone else gets to take the wind for a little bit. It was a little hot here, so that didn’t help much. I’ve (raced) a lot out here, but the East coast is a little bit better.”

Sophomore Riley Stewart of Cherry Creek, Colo., took fourth in 4:49.42. Stewart had run 4:47.6 in the 1,600 at 4,960 feet elevation during a time trial in May in Colorado.

Abby VanderKooi, a sophomore at Muskegon Western Christian in Michigan, placed fifth in 4:49.61.

Sophomore Ella Borsheim of Bellarmine Prep, Wash., took sixth in 4:50.32, junior Mia Barnett of Crescenta Valley, Calif., secured seventh in 4:50.77 and eighth-grader Bethany Michalak, representing Kokopelli Racing Team in Colorado, was eighth in 4:55.45.

Jahzara Richardson and Elise Craft of Oaks Christian, Calif., both won events. It was the first time Craft had an opportunity to represent her new school after transferring from Marmonte League rival Thousand Oaks this year, as she prevailed in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.50 seconds.

Richardson clocked 12.37 to win the 100, with Eryn Garrett of Chandler, Ariz., running 12.40 to post the fastest time in her section and take second overall.

Kate Jendrezak of Eastside Catholic, Wash., won the 200 in 24.86, with Camille Peisner of Valor Christian, Colo., prevailing in her section in 25.2.

Freshman Chloe Bingham of Queen Creek, Ariz., cleared 5-2 (1.57m) to win the girls high jump and junior Elise Miller of San Pasqual, Calif., achieved a fourth-round mark of 37-9.50 (11.51m) to secure victory in the girls triple jump.

Makayla Long, a junior at Perry High in Arizona, won the girls discus with fifth-round throw of 149-3 (45.49m). Makayla Hunter, a junior at Chandler, was victorious Thursday in the javelin with a throw of 142-2 (43.33m) and took second Friday in the discus at 136-10 (41.70m).