NEW YORK, NY -- Midlothian senior Kathleen Lautzenheiser made her presence known in junior girls 1000 meter race at the New Balance Collegiate Games on Friday in New York City. Lautzenheiser has always been considered more of a longer distance runner as a past state champion in cross country and the 3200 meter run, but the William & Mary recruit has shown much improved leg speed this season.
Competing against some of top middle distance runners this year on the East Coast, Lautzenheiser bidded her time in back half of the pack before she made a strong move for the lead and win entering the bell lap with a split just under at 2:20 for 800 meters. Her move was encountered as she reeled in by three others in the final 200 meters to finish fourth overall.
Her time was impressive though as she dropped four seconds off her previous personal best set at the CNU Showcase last month with a VA #6 all-time performance of 2:53.58. Lautzenheiser, also the Group AAA leader in the 3200 meter run, will have a tough decision now on which event to focus on individually for the state indoor meet with her dramatic improvement in the middle distance race.
Lautzenheiser was joined in the race by Midlothian teammate and freshmen Marie Johnston. Marie was following in the footsteps of her older sister Paige Johnston, who competed twice in the same race at the New York Armory over the past two years with two 2:51 performances in 2008 and 2009 to rank her #3 all-time in Virginia high school history.
Marie Johnston is already a step ahead of her sister at this age by earning the invitation as a freshmen and she faired admirably on the big stage in New York City with a 7th place time of 2:56.92. Her time in the second fastest in state history by a freshmen as 2006 Group AAA state 1000 meter champion Andrea Oaxaca of Yorktown holds the record at 2:56.06.
More to come from the Armory including the high school boys 1000 meter race featuring Anthony Kostelac, David Gunnerson, Cody Snyder, and Blake Teroux.