Billings High School senior Christina Aragon qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 1500m on Sunday night by running 4:09.27 to win her section of the Portland Track Festival.
The Montana native and Stanford signee moved up from No. 4 to No. 3 on the all-time list with her new PR; she is the third prep to break 4:10 in the 1500m behind only Mary Cain and Alexa Efraimson, both of whom signed professional contracts with Nike while still in high school.
Meg Bellino of FloTrack talked to Christina Aragon after her race:
Other high school students competing in the race included Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy, Co., who ran 4:12.62 to place third in the section, and Ella Donaghu of Grant, Ore., who placed fourth in 4:14.11.
Dennis Young talked to Katie Rainsberger after her race:
Full results below:
Section 2 1 Aragon, Christina Unattached 4:09.27U 2 Farber, Lianne New Balance Norcal 4:12.35 3 Rainsberger, Katie Unattached 4:12.62 4 Donaghu, Ella Unattached 4:14.11 5 Moye, Megan Unattached 4:14.15 6 Kelly, Mariah Unattached 4:14.31 7 Pomfret, Kendra Mizuno Run Canada 4:14.40 8 Silva, Samantha Bowerman Track Club 4:14.49 9 Kouba, Paige Harvard 4:16.61 10 Paquette, Lauren Brooks/Break 4:17.18 11 Salerno, Melissa Asics 4:18.32 12 Handler, Brook Unattached 4:19.32 13 Van Der Klooster, Coreen Run Canberra 4:27.41
2016 is the deepest year in history for the girls 1500m. In addition to Oregon commit Rainsberger and Stanford commits Aragon and Donaghu, Lake Braddock junior Kate Murphy has also added her name to the all-time list this year.
An updated all-time list is below.
All-Time Prep Performers: Girls 1500m
| rank | time | name | school | year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:04.62 | Mary Cain | Bronxville, NY | 2013 |
| 2 | 4:07.05 | Alexa Efraimson | Camas, WA | 2013 |
| 3 | 4:09.27 | Christina Aragon | Billings, MT | 2016 |
| 4 | 4:10.95 | Elise Cranny | Niwot, CO | 2014 |
| 5 | 4:12.62 | Katie Rainsberger | Air Academy, CO | 2016 |
| 6 | 4:14.11 | Ella Donaghu | Grant, OR | 2016 |
| 7 | 4:14.26 | Kate Murphy | Lake Braddock, VA | 2016 |
| 8 | 4:14.50 | Jordan Hasay | Mission College Prep, CA | 2008 |
| 9 | 4:16.42 | Christine Babcock | Woodbridge, CA | 2008 |
| 10 | 4:16.60 | Kim Gallagher | Upper Dublin, PA | 1982 |