The Senior World Championships were held in Eugene, Oregon to much acclaim.
The Juniors get Cali.
Santiago de Cali, Columbia that is, which will play host to the U20 World Championships from Aug 1st through August 6th, some of the top High School and College Freshman will take on the World, in what typically proves to be stellar competition.
And New York will play ambassador of another kind.
New York High School competition is unique. We are one of only six states that competes in the 400 Hurdles. We are the only ones who do the Steeple.
So it should be no surprise that we've qualified a male and female Steepler to the team. (As for our 400H? Look no further than Dalilah Muhammad and Rai Benjamin at World Seniors).
Karrie Baloga (Cornwall) was the New York State Runner-Up in the 2000m Steeple, and ranks #4 All-Time in the event for NY. She's moving up to the 3000m distance, something that will suit her XC accolades. She opens her first round tomorrow, August 1st at 1:30pm. Her first crack at the distance was at USATF U20 Champs in Eugene, a week after they held their Outdoor HS National Meet. There, Baloga went 10:27.13 to take second place, and earn her spot on the team. This is her first time representing Team USA.
Only a Junior, Baloga has committed to the University of Colorado for the fall of 2023.
The mark comes in at NY #3 All-Time, on a list that only contains four athletes. Brianna Nerud (North Shore) holds the State Record at 10:00.72 from her time on Team USA in 2012, while NY #2 is from Alexandra Harris (North Rockland) in 2017 at 10:25.80.
Julian Franjieh (Niskayuna) was also the New York State Runner-Up in the Steeple, ranking NY #6 All-Time in the event. Franjieh had a more deliberate effort at U20's, taking fourth in 9:21.62, however, the Top 3 athletes go, and one athlete ahead of him deferred. That puts him on the plane, with his first round of barriers coming on August 3rd at 12:25pm. The Section 2 athlete has time to chase the State Record of 8:52.6, as this competition would be record eligible.
Franjieh has committed to run for the Syracuse University Orangemen this Fall.
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Stay tuned for all the results, right here on MileSplit.