Onondaga CC, NY - While much of the State was racing hard, Kaitlyn Neal was quietly training in upstate New York. Her team, Fayetteville-Manlius is well known to take a more relaxed approach in the Winter Season, mostly due to the constraints of the local weather in Central New York. Much of this time was also spent traveling the country, as she began utilizing her official college visits, making sure to be home for the races on the weekends. But with Championship season approaching, it was time to remind the State that her 3000m Section Record from December wasn't just residual strength from XC.
At the Section 3 State Qualifier, Kaitlyn Neal took off straight from the gun. She began ticking away the laps in the longest distance available at the State Qualifier, the 3000m. She came through the first mile in 5:01. Lapping almost the entire field once, Neal crossed the line in 9:28.59, crushing her previous best and Section Record of 9:40.03 in the early season.Only two girls from New York have ever run faster. Mary Cain ran 9:04.51 her junior year (9:02.10 on an oversized track) while Aisling Cuffe clocked 9:18.36 en route during the 2-Mile at New Balance Nationals. Nationally, Neal now ranks 8th All-Time, bumping former California standout, and now Nike Oregon Project member, Jordan Hasay down to 9th. Neal stands as US #2 this year, behind the 19-year old Weini Kelati of VA, a transfer from Eritrea, Africa, who won Foot Locker this year. Kelati ran her mark against a field of professionals in North Carolina in late January.
Not a bad return for senior Kaitlyn Neal. The mark comes only a few weeks after Neal was visited by former FM standout Kathy Mills, who held the 3000m Section Record until Neal broke it this year. With the college search over (she'll be heading to University of Washington in the fall), all that is left is States at Cornell.
Top 8 All-Time - Full List Here
3,000 Meters 9:04.51 ! * MARY CAIN, Bronxville [also: 9:02.10 on Oversize Track in Seattle, WA in 13] 13 9:18.36 ! AISLING CUFFE, Cornwall, New Windsor 11
9:28.59 KAITLYN NEAL, Fayetteveille-Manlius, Manlius 16 9:31.65 SAMANTHA NADEL, North Shore, Glen Head 12 9:31.97 MOLLY HUDDLE, Notre Dame, Elmira 02 9:33.9 ** BELLA BURDA, Arlington, LaGrangeville 13 9:35.40 * NICOLE BLOOD, Saratoga Springs 05 9:36.26 * AISLINN RYAN, Warwick Valley, Warwick 05