Vineland senior Georgina Chalow smashed the Cumberland County indoor 1,600 record at the South Jersey Elite with a 5:07.54.
Chalow won a fast race at the Ott Center in West Philly, with four girls running 5:12 or faster and five others under 5:20.
Chalow was out in 2:33.83 and back in 2:33.71, closing in 36.451 for her final lap. She broke the county mark of 5:16.91 set by Millville’s Raelynne Miller at 2019 Group 4 sectionals at the Bubble.
Surprisingly, legendary Vineland middle-distance runner Krista Ferrera never ran an indoor 1,600, opting for the 400-800 double. Cumberland County outdoor record holder Lindsay Bertulis ran 5:04.00 at the 2009 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield but never ran a hot 1,600 or mile indoors.
Chalow ran 5:09.76 last spring at Group 4 sectionals at Pennsauken. Her previous indoor PR was 5:19.50 last month at the Bubble.
Paul VI junior Macy Huber ran a lifetime-best 5:10.07 for 2nd and Mainland junior Emma Preissman was 3rd with a lifetime-best 5:10.29. Cherokee junior Madeline Meder ran 5:12.36, Haddonfield soph Devon Gervasi also had an indoor-outdoor PR with 5:17.05, Cherokee senior Megan Niglio ran 5:17.67, Williamstown junior Sophia Aldridge ran an indoor-outdoor PR at 5:18.19, Ocean City senior Chloe Care ran an indoor PR 5:18.22 and Ocean City freshman Riley Tolson PR’d at 5:19.61, just ahead of Cherokee freshman Erin Healy, 10th in a PR 5:20.83.
The times are No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in South Jersey this year. Chalow’s time is No. 11 in New Jersey this year. Tolson and Healy’s times are No. 2 and 3 among freshmen.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 