Judy Pendergast US #1 10:07.18 3200m
Cross country All-American Judy Pendergast is finally back in a big way for the outdoor track season, as she put up a nation-leading 10:07.18 for 3200m at the Glenbard West Sue Pariseau Girls Invitational in Illinois.
Pendergast put the choke hold on the competition with an initial 70 second quarter. No one backed off and trailed by two seconds. The 800m was 2:26.4 for Pendergast; Payne 2:29 and pack 2:33. Pendergast continued the assault through 1200 in 3:43 and then the mile at 5:00. Payne was between Pendergast and the chase pack who came through in a fast 5:17. It would be a matter of time of the outcome for Pendergast who click off checkpoint splits of 7:34 (1.5 miles) and 8:51 (2800m). The 10:07.18 result was the fastest ever in season effort by an Illinois girl and the #2 athlete performance but #4 all time list performance (Beattie has the top three) indoors or outside. Only Kayla Beattie (Woodstock) and her 9:56.96 from the magical 2011 state championship stands in the way.
Recap by Tony Jones for Illinois MileSplit. More details here.