NELSONVILLE — Less than a second separated two teen titans of long-distance running in their race to the finish line in the 1,600-meter run on Saturday at the Rocky Brands Track and Field Invitational at Nelsonville-York High School.
When the starter’s pistol fired, Teays Valley sophomore Katy Zang and Athens sophomore Sophia Szolosi raced ahead of the pack at a blistering pace, roughly 1 minute around 15 seconds a lap.
These two runners have been in the winner’s circle often in track and cross country as state qualifiers.
Last cross country season, Zang placed 76th (19:39) for Division I at the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championship. At the Regional Championship in October at Pickerington North High School, Zang placed 19th (18:50) and became the third female runner in school history to break the 19-minute mark.
Szolosi finished as runner-up (17:58) against a tough field, earning a spot at the podium for Division II at the OHSAA Cross Country State Championship last season. A few weeks ago, Szolosi was among the state’s elite runners as she placed first in Division 2 and 3’s 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:45.14 at the OHSAA Indoor Track State Championship. She has erased school and meet records near and far too.
Back to Saturday’s race — Zang was seeded first (5:05 min) and Szolosi was seeded second (5:10 min).
For most of the race, Zang was in front with Szolosi about a stride length behind — both running about a minute and fifteen seconds per lap.
Strategically, being a stride length behind gives the pursuer more moves, allowing that runner to wait for the best possible moment to strike, whether that kick is the fourth lap or the last 100-meters.
However, because the lead runner is setting the pace, that allows the front runner a strong chance to wear down any opposition long before the race ends.
In essence, if the second place runner can’t keep up, then that person fades back, rarely to recover. For lack of a better term for this strategy, I’ll call it the Prefontaine approach to distance running — bury your opponent with a strong race with descending splits to build enough of a lead that no kick can conquer, then burn it out at the end. It takes a mentally tough runner to lead the pack against a strong field of long distance racers.
Szolosi surged a bit toward the end of the third lap and into the fourth, but Zang held firm, never wavering.
Coming out of the curb into the last straightaway, the two runners were even — Szolosi had one last chance to make a move.
Szolosi popped the clutch, shifted into high gear and floored the gas pedal as she sprinted toward the finish.
Zang didn’t let up either as the two runners traded stride for stride, but as they said in the movie The Highlander — “there can be only one.”
Szolosi gained a stride and never looked back as she crossed the finish line (5:02.36 min) and won the race with Zang less than a second behind (5:02.91 min).
Not only did Szolosi set a new meet record, but she also broke Athens High School’s record, which was set by Madison Yerke in 2015.
This race establishes a preview of not only of season to come for these two athletes, but of the OHSAA State Championship. Most likely, Zang will break the 5-minute barrier this season, so the questions remains — by how much?
Teays Valley’s girls’ team placed sixth of 12 schools at the invitational and the Vikings’ boys’ team placed ninth.
Lady Vikings’ track stars who put points on the board were Raelynn McGrath who placed fifth in the 100-meter dash (13.47 sec.), also fourth for the 100-meter hurdles (17:22); Abby Henderson at 3rd in the 400-meter dash(1:04.50 min); Lily Gaal at eighth in the 300-meter hurdles (53.73 sec.); Payton Sayre at fourth in the pole vault (9 feet); Kennedy Tietz at seventh in the shot put (29 feet); Sophia Seymour placed first at discus (103’ 2”); Madison Burris at second at discus (96’ 7”).
Lady Vikings’ 4x100-meter relay team — Katelyn Stiffler, Gabby Park, Avery Sopko and Kate Ridley — placed sixth (55.23 sec.) and the 4x200-meter team — Paige Baker, Avery Sopko, Abby Henderson and Kate Ridley — placed fifth (1:55.26 min).
Lady Vikings’ 4x400-meter relay team — Katy Zang, Lily Gaal, Abby Henderson and Alison Dean — placed fourth (4:31.24 min.) while the 4x800-meter relay team — Claire Krouse, Lila Merritt, Iris Ardrey and Grace Muldovan — placed seventh (11:43.17 min.).
Vikings’ Drew Moore placed third in the 300-meter hurdles (42.7 sec.).
Vikings’ 4x100-meter relay team — Jackson Perry, Griffin Gray, Markus Mealy and Weston Gray — placed seventh (46 sec.) while the 4x200-meter relay team — Jackson Perry, DeVaughn Railey, Bradon Searles and Markus Mealy — placed fifth (1:36.94 min.).
Jackson Perry placed seventh in the pole vault (11 feet) while Tristian Graham was eighth in the shot put (41’ 7.25”) and first in the discus (136’ .05”).
Most Popular
Comments / 0