Mainland Regional junior Sofia Day ran the 3rd-fastest 1,600 in Atlantic County history Saturday in Staten Island, and senior teammate Gillian Lovett wasn’t far behind.
Day won the 1,600 at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Meet #4 at Ocean Breeze in 5:06.89.
In her first race since she placed 18th in the RunningLane Cross Country Championships in Huntsville, Ala., three weeks ago, Day was out in 2:36.03 and came back in 2:30.86. She finished eight meters ahead of junior Delana Einreinhofer of Walkill Valley, who was 2nd in 5:08.34.
Day’s previous indoor PR was a 5:09.66 at the Bubble in January. She has never run outdoor track.
Lovett took 3rd in 5:09.63, just off her indoor PR of 5:08.57 from Group 3 indoor states in February at the Bubble. She has a 5:05.82 outdoor PR from the South Jersey Elite at Delsea this past May.
Day and Lovett rank No. 1 and No. 2 in South Jersey three weeks into the indoor season.
Audubon sophomore Riley Fayer was 4th in 5:18.23, Egg Harbor senior Michaela Schlemo 5th in 5:1848 and Eastern freshman Theresa Albertson ran a big PR of 5:20.36 in her second high school track race.
Another Mainland runner, sophomore Emma Preissman, ran an indoor PR 5:23.97 to place 7th. She was a sectional medalist last spring as a freshman.
All-time Atlantic County sub-5:10 list
5:01.21 … Julianna Catania [Egg Harbor], 2016
5:04.13 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
5:06.89 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 2024
5:06.90 … Olivia Shafer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
5:08.57 … Gillian Lovett [Mainland Reg.], 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 