2/28 National Weekend Rundown

National Weekend Rundown (2015 Indoor)
Johanna Gretschel

Michigan Indoor Track Series (MITS) State Finals (MI)

Grant Fisher drops US #6 All-Time, Michigan State Record 4:04.46 1,600m


Photos by Peter Draugalis

Grant Fisher took control of the Boys 1,600m from the gun, racing to a US #6 All-Time mark and Michigan State Record of 4:04.46. The Stanford commit split 2:02 at 800m, 3:07 at 1,200m and brought the race home in 27.5 over the bell lap for his second-fastest ever showing in the distance. Lucas Arrivo finished runner-up in US #6 4:15.74.

Top sprinters demolished the State Meet Records, as the nation's top 200m runner Jaron Flournoy raced 21.77 for the one-lap event to win by nearly an entire second.

Ersula Farrow, the nation's top 800m runner at 2:09.21, took the half mile out like a shot, clocking 60 seconds flat for her first 400m. She couldn't keep the pace up, but still took the title in a final time of 2:11.29 as she lead Motor City teammates Dorriann Coleman and Jayla Fleming across the line 1-2-3.

In the Boys 800m, Donavan Brazier proved why he is the reigning New Balance National champion by dropping the hammer on Drake Gauthier at the bell lap to run US #2, Meet Record 1:52.54. Brazier and top seed Gauthier came through 400m in 56 seconds before Brazier pulled away to run a three-second season best.

The Girls 3,200m was one of the most highly anticipated races of the day, as it featured a rematch between top national performers Sarah Kettel, US #1 10:28, and Audrey Belf, US #3 10:31. The duo went out conservatively in about 5:30 for the first mile and ratcheted down the pace from there. With just one lap to go, the clock read right under 10 minutes - how fast could they close? The answer would be just under 33 seconds, as Belf pulled away on the backstretch and hung on the avenge her loss last week in 10:32.90. Nation leader Sarah Kettel followed in 10:33.32.

In the Boys 3,200m, Nick Schmidt ran 9:28.99 for the win ahead of runner-up Mitchell Day (9:32.10).

In the Girls 1,600m, Rachel Dadamio also led wire-to-wire and held off a fast-charging Lexa Barrott, US #11 4:58.2 to US #16 4:59.68. In the slower section, sixth-grader Sydney Anderson showed some gumption as the mini speedster ran 5:11 for the win.

Skyler Bowden took down the state meet record in the 400 meter dash with a 48.48 victory from the current US #3 ranked quarter miler from Saline High School.

Anna Jefferson won the 400m in 56.01, then came back for the meet's finale as a member of the Motor City TC 4x400m. Jefferson teamed up with three teammates from Oak Park High School to break the Meet Record which has stood since 1977 by .05 in a new standard of 3:50.65. Jefferson's teammates were 800m champion Ersula Farrow, 800m runner-up freshman Dorriann Coleman, and 400m runner-up Johnyce Powell.

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights