James, Stewart Go 1-2 With Top 10 U.S. Times In Girls Mile

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Taylor James isn't ready to commit to the mile full time, but her fast-twitch 800-meter speed came in handy around the final curve of the Dempsey Indoor track Saturday at the Washington High School Invitational and she turned in a US#7 mile time of 4 minutes, 49.75 seconds. 

James, of REAL Training Colorado (Niwot CO) overtook fellow Coloradoan Riley Stewart of Cherry Creek in the final 100 meters to reach the finish line first. 

"I didn't feel great about 800 (meters) in I thought I might use that front pack, but then I heard my dad yelling and my mom yelling and I thought 'OK, I can stick with them. I know I can, even though I'm not used to running the mile at all,'" James said.  "With two laps to go I knew I had a chance to at least podium."

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Stewart, representing Kokopelli Racing Team, finished second in US#9 4:50.29, and Fiona Max of Mondo Track Club (Summit OR) was third in US#12 4:51.56 as seven girls went under five minutes. 

James, who finished second in the 1,600 meters at the Simplot Games in Idaho a week earlier, related that her team got caught in a Rocky Mountain snowstorm and it took 14 slow-going hours to get home by bus. 

In the boys mile, Hawaiian state champion Narayan Schneider got the win in 4:19.45 after covering a vast swath of the Pacific Ocean to compete in Seattle. 

"I actually had a goal of running 4:15, but I'm just happy for the win," Schneider said. 

The 3,000-meter races also were highlights of the meet.

Freshman Kate Peters from Lake Oswego OR appeared to be running away from the lead pack after the 2K split, but Kendra Lewis from Vancouver Olympic Club in B.C. wasn't ready to concede. Lewis closed the gap over the final 400 meters and zoomed past Peters on the final turn. She ran a personal-best 9:45.19 for the win and Peters ran US#6 9:46.62 for second place. 

Tristian Merchant from Alaska Running Academy (Anchorage Christian) was locked in a two-man battle with Ahmed Ibrahim for most of the boys 3,000-meter final. Merchant was the runner who bumped Ibrahim (Parkrose OR) out of the final NXR Northwest qualifying berth to nationals in cross country before going on to 13th place at NXN. As a consolation, Ibahim made it to Foot Locker where he ended up 11th. 

After running within arm's length for nearly the entire race, Ibrahim had a slight advantage on the final lap and tried to pull away on the backstretch. But Merchant saved something for the end and outkicked Ibrahim, US#3 8:31.73 to US#5 8:32.49.

Trey Knight won the weight throw with his final attempts at the event. The Ridgefield senior won with 80-3.50 (24.47m), which for him is a relatively modest number. He'll go into the record books No. 2 all-time behind Conor McCullough. 

Ava David of Lake Oswego OR threw 56-2 (17.11m) to win the girls weight throw.

Adaji Osaro-Igwe from Tahoma Track Club (Tahoma WA) sped to victories in the 60 (7.61) and the 200 (24.50) – both indoor PRs.

Likewise, Caleb Hagan from Step Ur Game Up (Sherwood OR) swept the boys sprints with US#7 6.78 in the 60 meters and 21.82 in the 200 meters. 

Chloe Foerster of Jesuit OR opened her season with a victory in the 800 meters, running 2:13.12.

Ryan Goudron from Coastal Track Club BC won the boys 800 from the non-fastest section in 1:55.67.