GIRLS TRACK PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Interview with Meagen Lowe and Corie Smith during the post-State Meet celebration.
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Next in a series featuring individual performances during the 2019 track and field season, this article looks at the Girls Track Performance of the Year.
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As much as we are focusing on one single performance, in glancing back at this past season, at its purest, track and field truly becomes a team sport and our recipient, Buchanan's Meagen Lowe, certainly embodied that!
Lowe earned the second place medal in the 1600 meters at the CIF-State Championships. But, perhaps more impressively, came back to place third in the 3200 meters, and contribute another six points toward her squad's State team championship total. 
One of the tougher doubles to pull at the California State Meet -- where runners must compete at Friday's prelims for the 1600 meters and then run both distances on Saturday -- it took a strong kick from Chino Hills sophomore Jacqueline Duarte to overcome Lowe's personal best of 4:43.61 at Saturday's 1600 final. Nonetheless, Lowe's performance moved her into the top 30 on the all-time California list and is the second fastest 1600m by a girl in Central Section history.
Later that evening, Lowe, along with teammate Corie Smith, placed the icing on the team title cake, with their 2-3 finish in the 3200 meters. Lowe placed third with her 10:18.87 performance and between the two races contributed 14 points toward Buchanan's winning total.
Lowe had run 10:12.87 in April, which ended the season as the second-best mark in the state for 2019. In a matter of three hours, Lowe recorded two marks that would have been top five in the state for the entire season.
Alone, she had the top track performance in California for the 2019 season! Adding how she was so instrumental in her squad capturing the State team title, only adds more credence to her earning this honor!
Also Receiving Consideration
Glenn, a junior at Long Beach Wilson (SS), ran 41.01 in the 300-meter hurdles at the Southern Section Masters Meet, a time that ranks No. 17 in state history and ended the 2019 season ranked No. 4 in the U.S. A week later, Glenn would go on to win the 300 hurdles at the State Championships.
Nowling, a 2019 graduate of Calabasas (SS), defended her State Meet title in the 100 meters but it was her 11.43 wind-legal clocking at the Texas Relays in March that moved her into the Top 20 in California history. This was the eighth fastest wind-legal mark in the nation in 2019.
Shearer, a 2019 graduate of San Jose Silver Creek (CC), rolled to the State title in the 100-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 13.24. This was the second-fastest mark in the nation under all conditions. Her wind-legal 13.36 to capture the Arcadia Invitational tied for the second-fastest in the United States. As she also earned the most points from any individual at the State Meet, we doubt we are done highlighting her efforts in our end-of-the-season reviews!
