Kelsey Chmiel Runs To #2 All-Time At Great American, Fourth In Course History

Watch the Full Race Here

The New York tradition has always been strong at Great American, along it's now 19-year-run.  After a big performance by junior Kelsey Chmiel (Saratoga), the tradition only runs deeper.  Saratoga was no secret to Great American, winning nine team titles between 2000-2011.  Now, they have an individual to tout as one of the greatest ever.

Chmiel took the pace out hard, splitting 4:56 at the first mile, 6:45 through 2000m, and 10:40 through the full 2-miles.  Despite the muggy 80-degree weather, Chmiel held on for the second fastest time in meet history, crossing the line in 16:50.30, more than 30-seconds ahead of second place.  The performance now has Chmiel book-ended on the All-Time list by two Foot Locker Champions, Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) running 16:40.9 in 2010, and Aislinn Ryan (Warwick) hitting 16:56.3 in 2004.

The course was changed in 2009, meaning only two have ever broken 17mins on the course for Great American, both of them New Yorkers.  On the Course All-Time List, Chmiel now sits fourth, behind Nevada Mareno (Leesville Road, NC) with the record at 16:36.18 last year, and then Ryen Frazier (Ravenscroft, NC) in third at 16:44.3 in 2014.  Both of those marks came much later in the season.

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All-Time List - Note: Course Change in 2009