Paul VI senior Shaelan McNally ran the 11th-fastest indoor 1,600 or mile in South Jersey indoor history Friday at the state Parochial A championships at the Bubble.
Racing on a slow, flat track at the Bubble, McNally placed 2nd in 4:57.06, 5th-fastest time ever by a South Jersey miler at the Bubble and fastest ever by a South Jersey parochial school runner.
McNally placed 2nd to Union Catholic freshman Paige Sheppard, who was the fastest middle school runner in the U.S. last year while attending Hillsborough Middle School.
McNally broke her own school record of 4:59.43, converted from a 5:01.18 full mile at Armory Nationals last March.
The only South Jersey girls who’ve run faster at a state indoor meet are Delsea’s Celine Mazzi in 2014 [4:56.25] and Nicole Clifford of Cherokee in 2022 [4:53.85].
No splits available – thanks, Bubble! – but McNally finished nearly 14 seconds clear of 3rd place. McNally’s outdoor PR is 5:01.44 from the South Jersey Elite at Delsea last May, so Friday’s 4:57.06 is a lifetime best.
It’s also No. 4 in Camden County history, behind three Haddonfield runners – Olympian Erin Donohue [4:49.46 in 2001 converted from yards], Briana Gess’s 4:51.60 in 2016 and Olympian Marielle Hall in 2010 [4:55.04 converted from yards].
All-Time South Jersey Girls Indoor 1,600-Meter List
4:41.52y … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.34y … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:53.85 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:55.56y … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2024
4:56.1h,y … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:57.06 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
4:57.72 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2010
4:58.48 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
4:59.28y … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
4:59.29 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:59.39 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
4:55.77y … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 