Ventura HS freshman Sadie Engelhardt, pictured winning the State title in the 1600 meters, set another state record on Saturday running in Portland. (Pat Rhames photo)
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The record-breaking freshman season of Ventura HS (SS) freshman Sadie Engelhardt continued Saturday competing in a field of elites at the Portland Track Festival where she ran 4:11.79 for 1500 meters, breaking the previous state record by nearly three seconds.
Her time eclipses the previous record of 4:14.50 set by Jordan Hasay (Mission College Prep) in 2008. Engelhardt is the No. 6 performer all-time at the 1500-meter distance with the No. 12 clocking all-time.
Her 4:11.79 converts to a sub-4:31 for 1600 meters. Engelhardt set the state record at that distance of 4:33.29 en route to a 4:35.16 mile at Arcadia in early April.
Most recently, Engelhardt wrapped up her first high school track and field season with a CIF-State Meet championship in the 1600m (4:36.67), and a runner-up medal in the 800m (2:09.64). Her 1600m PR is also the fastest in the U.S. this season.
During the outdoor season, the freshman ran PRs of 2:05.66 for 800m, 4:35.16 for the mile, and 9:50.69 for 3200m. Her 800m time ranks 10th all-time in CA, her mile time ranks CA No. 2 all-time, and her 3200m time ranks CA No. 3 all-time.
"I say it's pretty much what I strive for to get these records because they are such high bars," she said in a phone interview Sunday from Portland. "I definitely have all the records in mind ... and I just work toward them."
On Saturday at Griswold Stadium on the campus of Lewis & Clark University, Engelhardt placed fifth in the heat won by Adidas athlete Elly Henes in 4:07.76.
Under Armour's Regn Yee was second in 4:08.92, followed by Katie Camarena, running unattached, at 4:10.26, Valor Track Club's Hanna Hermansson was fourth at 4:11.19, and then Engelhardt, competing for Beach Elite. Florida State's Maudie Skyring was sixth in 4:12.11.
"I was definitely nervous, just because I look up to most of those girls," Engelhardt said. "Just to be in a heat with them was sorta crazy."
Running in a field like that could be intimidating but Engelhardt said she talks to herself with mantras like "Let's Go. Let's Go" to pump herself up and bring her back into focus.
"In that race yesterday, I was in the back," she said. "I could have just dropped off; I was feeling a little bit tired."
But then she said the runners in front of her began to "clump up" and she told herself 'Stay in this. Stay in this.'
" ... and the girls were coming back to me."
In her record run, Engelhardt went 50.22 for the first 300 and then dropped 400m splits of 66.9, 68.4, and 66.1.
Saturday's 1500m field included 39 athletes across three heats. The Ventura 15-year-old's time ranked 20th.
"I feel like it was a really good experience," Engelhardt said. "To be running with pros was super special."
Next up before a well-earned break is Books PR on Wednesday in Seattle, where she said she will look to lower her 4:35.16 time in the mile, and then next weekend at the Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, again running the four-lap race.