Kingsway graduate Allie Pierontoni became the second South Jersey runner to shatter Monmouth’s freshman mile record on Friday.
Racing at the Great Dane Classic at Ocean Breeze, Pierontoni ran a huge PR of 4:59.74, her first lifetime race at 1,600 meters or the full mile under 5 minutes.
She broke the Monmouth women’s freshman record of 5:01.63, set in 2019 by Sarah Crissman, also at Ocean Breeze.
The Woolwich Township native negative split the race, going out in 2:31.34 and coming back in 2:28.40. She closed in 73.62 for her final 400 and 35.81 for her final 200.
Pierontoni ran 5:06.79 earlier this month in her only previous collegiate mile. She ran 5:02.92 for 1,600 meters at Group 4 states at the Bubble in February of 2020. Her outdoor PR is 5:03.71, also for 1,600 meters.
She did run a 4:42.56 for 1,500 meters in a dual meet in March with Army outdoors at Shea Stadium in West Point, N.Y., which converts to a 5:05.16 full mile.
Pierontoni’s time is 2nd-fastest in Monmouth indoor track history by a South Jersey woman. Millville graduate Amanda Eller ran 4:58.57 in 2012, also at West Point but indoors at the Gillis Fieldhouse.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 