MileSplit Best of 2008

For us here at MileSplit and hopefully the rest of the prep X-C and track and field world, 2008 was a year like no other. It was an Olympic year. A historic year. Simply an amazing 365 days.

It was a year in which we not only saw the prep stars that we cover on a daily basis qualify for the Olympic Trials, but one in which they announced their presence with authority.

It was a year in which we witnessed five new national standards on the track; six more all-time No. 2 performances were also recorded.

Pictured right in photo by Margot Kelly, Elijah Greer (OR) winning the 800 meters in a stunning 1:47.68, U.S. #4 all-time

It was a year where several cross country teams and athletes competed for the moniker of best ever; not to mention a myriad of other truly mind-boggling performances.

As the year draws to a close, we will be counting down what we felt were the 10 best performances of 2008.

Today we relive the moment voted #10 by our staff and webmasters as well as the moments that, although they did not make the final list, certainly were performances deserving of mention.

 

#10

June 6, 2008 - Ryann Krais (PA) records the US #2 all-time performance in the heptathlon with her mark 5522 at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico

After concluding a storied Pennsylvania prep career where her multitude of talents were on display week after week, Ryan Krais headed to the Great Southwest Classic in early June with the all-time heptathlon mark of 5533, set in 2006 by the US record holder Shana Woods, squarely in her cross hairs.

US#2 all time for Ryann Krais of 5522 in the heptathlon, and a PR of 41.22 in winning the 300 hurdles (left) on at Great Southwest, in photo by Alan Versaw, Colarado Runner, a MileSplit.US affiliate

Krais (now at UCLA) started her hep competition 79 points ahead of US-record-setting pace following four of the seven heptathlon events. But after the final three events, Krais came up a mere 11 points short of passing the national record.

Krais' 5522 was a PR by 150 points. Her day two included an 18-10.50 long jump, a javelin of 104-11 and a 2:17.71 in the 800.

The meet was being held at altitude, which can affect athletes by a second or two the first time they compete in the conditions. Krais entered the final event needing a 2:16.87. She split right on her coach's mark of 33-34-35, but came up less than a second shy over the final 100 meters. Krais holds the sophomore and junior class records.

Coach Rob Ronzano said Krais "did everything she had to do." Despite being a bit disappointed in the near miss, Ronzano says she now knows she can do better. Krais had started Thursday in a swirling wind, beginning her competition with a 13.93 100 hurdles. The mark is her fifth best this season, and according to Ronzano, is a spectacular time given the conditions of swirling winds at the time. Krais followed up her opening hurdles with a tie of her PR in the high jump at 5-8. She followed that with a heptathlon PR in the shot put of 33-9.50. And with just the 200 to go on day one, she set another PR, running 24.31.

The day one marks were made even more remarkable because of travel troubles Ronzano and Krais experienced on Thursday. Ronzano says that weather cancelled their Wednesday flight west via Chicago, but that they were able to get a Philly, to St. Louis, to Dallas to Albequerque flight that got them in at 9:30 last evening. The only problem was that there were no meals on any of the flights, and their bags did no appear until 7am the next morning.

 

PennTrackXC.com's Don Rich contributed to this report

 

Read more from Don Rich (PennTrackXC.com) about Krais' assualt on the record books

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention

Chris Derrick’s (IL) U.S. #6 all-time 5k performance of 13:55.96 at Arcadia

Laura Roesler (ND) wins 100m, 200m, 400m & 800m at ND State meet

Warwick Valley (NY) sets new girls DMR national record in 11:31.81

Elijah Greer (OR) wins 800m dash in 1:47.68, U.S.#4 all-time

Jacquelyn Coward (TN) blazes 13.00w 100m hurdles at Great Southwest, U.S. #2 all-time

Wayne Davis (NC) hurdled to the U.S. #2 all-time mark in the 55m hurdles, running 7.08

Elijah Greer (OR) wins 800m dash in 1:47.68, U.S.#4 all-time

Rob Finnerty (MN) 4:01.09 solo performance at Midwest Distance Classic

Solomon Haile (MD) sets Van Cortlandt Park course record of 12:06 at Manhattan College Invite

Mason Finley (CO) registers 221-1 for the discus at the Colorodao Region 4 track meet