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Emerging from an pack of elite girls distance runners, Montgomery (NC) sophomore Hanne Thomsen surged to the line for a runner-up finish in the two-mile race on Friday at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston.
Thomsen, the CIF-State champion at 3200 meters outdoors last spring, stopped the clock at 10:07.06, a California indoor record. She edged Champs Cross Country National champion Karri Baloga (Windsor, NY) by 0.04 seconds.
Not bad for her first time running on an indoor track!
In the elite section of the two-mile competition, junior Ellie Shea ran away from the pack and crossed in 9:49.82, the fourth fastest time in U.S. history. Baloga, a Colorado-bound senior, was third in 10:07.10, with seniors Leah Stephens (10:09.09) and Abbey Nechanicky (10:09.27) among the top five.
Thomsen's time broke the previous CA record of 10:10.89 set by Jordan Hasay in 2009. According to the High School Track 2023 annual record book published by Jack Shepard of Track & Field News, Thomsen's time ranks 22nd all-time and is the fourth fastest ever by a sophomore.
From Montgomery head coach Melody Karpinski:
"(Hanne) was in the back for the first mile or more, got a little trapped, and had to navigate a lot of elbows and spiking and Tatum David falling off the track.
"(Hanne) struggled to pass on the outside due to the new slant (of the indoor track) she wasn't used to, but then started making moves over the course of the last 1200, moving to the front of the chase pack with 800-600 to go. The last 350 or so (Baloga) and another girl (Stephens) chased her, but Hanne held them off and then Karri made a valiant last ditch effort and Hanne outleaned her at the line."
Karpinski added: "She wanted to go out a little conservative, but didn't get a good position from the start - however bounced back incredibly well from the melee.
"She ran a smart race for her first indoor. We are incredibly proud of her."
This is the latest edition to Thomsen's growing resume that includes two CIF-State divisional cross country titles, at top-of-the-class finish at Nike Cross Nationals, and a CIF-State outdoor 3200m crown.
There were nine sections of the girls 2-mile run that included a handful of CA athletes among the list pf 128 who finished their race. La Costa Canyon (SD) junior Gioana Lopizzo, running in the elite final section, placed 19th overall in 10:29.58. Oaks Christian (SS) junior Payton Godsey, was fourth in her heat and 12th overall in 10:17.62.
Others included Shadow Hills (SS) senior Marjourie Lopez, who was 37th overall (0:41.79), Newbury Park (SS) senior Ailish Hawkins, who was 40th overall (10:43.33), and Laguna Hills (SS) sophomore Holly Barker, who was 43rd overall (10:44.65).
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Photos by Shawn Conlon and Tony Morales