Paul VI junior Shaelan McNally ran the fastest 1,600 in New Jersey this year, leading four other girls under 5:06 Thursday night at the South Jersey Elite Invitational at Delsea.
McNally ran a PR 5:01.44, negative’ing 2:34.00 and 2:27.44 and closing in a fast 71.03.
She’s Paul VI’s fastest miler since Dawn Cody ran 4:55.9 hand-timed at the 1982 Meet of Champions at Princeton.
McNally lowered her PR from 5:01.74 at the indoor Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze. Her previous outdoor PR was 5:02.10 at this meet last year.
It was a very fast race up front.
Nine runners came through the 400 in 75.27 or faster and at the 800 all nine were between 2:33.81 and 2:35.04.
On the third lap, McNally, Delsea senior Lillie Wider, Mainland junior Gillian Lovett, Haddonfield junior Ava Thomas and Cherokee sophomore Megan Niglio opened up some room with the rest of the pack, all five running between 76.41 and 77.60.
McNally closed in 71.03 to edge 2nd-place Thomas, who closed in 72.25 and PR’d at 5:04.13. Niglio closed in 73.79 and took 3rd in 5:05.21, and Lovett and Widmer also PR’d, Lovett in 4th with a 5:05.52 off a 74.07 final lap and Widmer in 5:05.95 closing in 75.27.
Also PR’ing: Haddonfield senior Helene Usher [5:12.47], Clearview senior Abigail Kotran [5:14.10], Cherokee freshman Madeline Meder [5:15.82], Vineland sophomore Georgina Chalow [5:16.20] and Haddon Township senior Meghan Lex [5:18.08], who placed 6th through 10th.
The times are No. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 24. So the race produced 10 of the 24-fastest times in New Jersey so far this year.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 