Amazing breakthrough race Friday for Rider’s Kristin Siegle, who won the 800 at the NYC Gotham Cup at Ocean Breeze in 2:15.28 — nearly a 6-second indoor PR!
Siegle, a Buena graduate, lowered her indoor PR from a 2:20.89 back in 2017 in a meet at the Lawrenceville School. Her previous overall PR was a 2:17.90 from the trials at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at West Long Branch last May.
Siegle’s time is No. 1 in the MAAC so far this year, just ahead of Marist’s Gianna Mastromatteo, who was 3rd in the same race.
Siegle, a native of Estell Manor, finished first in a field of 53 half-milers. She edged second-place Faten Laribi of Monroe College by a step.
Paris Boucher of Rider led the field through 200 meters, and Siegle was still in fourth when they came through 400 meters. She moved into second behind Mastromatteo with a lap to go before taking the lead on the final lap.
She was out in 32.1, 65.7 and 1:40.6 before closing in 34.6.
Siegle’s time is also No. 4 in Rider history indoors, and three of the top five times on that list come from South Jersey runners:
2:12.71 … Tori Brewer, 2018 [Bensalem, Pa.]
2:14.44 … Emily Ritter, 2015 [Sussex County Tech, Georgetown, Del.]
2:14.64 … Madeline Hummel, 2013 [Holy Cross]
2:15.28 … Kristin Siegle, 2020 [Buena]
2:16.49 … Nicole Berry, 2019 [Cherokee]
Two other notes from Rider’s performance at Ocean Breeze:
1) Senior Nicole Berry of Winslow and senior Quinn Bithell of Lower Cape May Regional ran on Rider’s winning 1,600-meter relay team, which ran 3:58.86.
2) And senior Ronetta Hunter from Burlington Township grad threw 42-3 3/4 for fourth place in the shot.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 