Dalia Frias crosses the line in the two-mile race on Wednesday at Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, setting a national record in the process. (Contributed photo by Kirby Lee, Image of Sport)
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A month after losing her opportunity to compete for a CIF-State title at 3,200 meters, Dalia Frias made up for it ... and then some.
Frias, a recent Mira Costa High (SS) grad competing unattached, broke the National Federation of High Schools outdoor record for two miles, running the eight-laps in 9:50.70 on Wednesday at the Brooks PR meet in Seattle, Washington.
Frias, headed to Duke, broke the previous mark of 9:51.35 set by Brie Oakley (Grandview, Aurora, CO) in 2017. Mary Cain owns the fastest 2-mile time ever run by a high school girl, having authored an effort of 9:38.68 during the indoor season in 2013. A total of three girls have run faster than Frias (all coming indoors) all-time.
This is the best 3,200-meter and 2-mile performance in California history, as it converts to a 9:47.3 -- over a second faster than Kim Mortenson's 9:48.59 from 1996.
Frias went 9:14.56 for 3K en route toward her 2-mile performance. She ran splits of 72.4, 72.6, 73.8, 74.3, 75.5, 76.7, 76.3, and 68.7.
Irene Riggs, a junior at Morgantown (WV) HS, was second in 9:50.72 -- and under the all-time outdoor mark -- while Eva Klingbeil, a senior at Niwot (CO) third in 10:03.61.
With her win at Arcadia in early April, Frias had run 9:55.50 for 3,200m, U.S. No. 5 this season and CA No. 8 all-time.
Almost a month ago to the date, Frias missed her heat at the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Prelims. She was allowed to run in a second heat but was subsequently disqualified from the eight-lap event.
Frias, the CA record-holder in the mile (4:35.06), went on to run the 1600m at the CIF-State Meet at the end of May, placing second in 4:37.09 as part of the fastest four-lap final in the history of the CIF Championships.
Also on Wednesday at the Brooks PR, CIF-State 400m champion Takiya Cenci, a Clovis North (CS) grad headed to USC, placed third in the 400m in 53.39. It was 0.20 off her PR set at the West Coast Relays and the sixth time in nine races this season where she has run sub-54.
Christine Mallard, a senior at Mansfield Legacy (TX), competing unattached, won the race in 52.12 with Roisin Willis, a senior from Stevens Point (WI) HS, placed second in 53.23.
But, the 800 meters provided additional fireworks for the California stars! Capping off the most successful season of any prep in California State history, regardless of the event, Newbury Park (SS) Colin Sahlman made it look easy, rolling to a 1:48.07 (54.3-53.8 splits) to capture the Brooks PR Meet! This is the fifth-fastest time in California state history and second in Southern Section history.
Closing well for a lifetime best, Jai Dawson of Dana Hills (SS) used the vapor up front to roll to a 1:49.33 (55-54 splits) to join the elite sub-1:50 club!
After a busy State Meet schedule over two weeks ago, Chino (SS) senior Mia Chavez brought home a 2:07.30 lifetime best as she placed fourth in the 800 meters at the Brooks PR!
Ventura freshman Sadie Engelhardt did most of the pacing all throughout and made a run down the stretch, pushing Juliette Whittaker out of Catonsville, Maryland to the line. The Stanford-bound Whitaker held on for the 4:36.23 win over Engelhardt at 4:36.50.
But, Newbury Park senior and off to the University of Alabama this fall, Samantha McDonnell posted a lifetime best with her 4:38.44 fifth-place finish in the Mile. This improves her 4:37.37 for the 1600 meters she delivered at the State Meet three weeks ago where she is the fifth-fastest in state history for the distance.
But, concluding the meet, Newbury Park junior Aaron Sahlman used the aggressive pace to ride to a lifetime best of 4:01.34 for the Mile, which converts to a 3:59.97 and moved him up to the sixth-fastest performance in California History!
Yep, that gives Newbury Park FOUR boys in 2022 that eclipsed the 4:00 threshold for the 1600 meters as junior Leo Young ran a 4:00.77 for the Mile back in March, with a 3:59.32 when he crossed the 1600-meter mark while his twin, Lex Young turned the trick last week with his 4:01.52 performance two weeks ago. The Panthers now own four of the fastest seven times in state history!
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Mark Gardner and Cory Mull contributed to this report
