Leigh Walters knew what she was doing in 2019 when she bided her time in the girls 2-mile field at the Tri-Cities Track Classic.
The Franklin Fred Page (TN) then-sophomore bided her time with consistent splits and eventually made her move in the second half of the race.
That patience worked to her advantage, as she caught the early leader, Sasha Neglia, for a US No. 11 time and new meet record of 10:38.44, which marked a 42-second improvement from her time year-over-year.
Walters would eventually go on to cut one more second off her season PB, posting a time of 10:37.55 at New Balance Nationals Indoor -- though Neglia would redeem herself at the state championships, winning the TSSAA Division I race for 3,200 meters.
Check out Walter's big race, and listen to her interview below.
2019 Tri-Cities Track Classic Girls Mile Results
GIRLS TWO MILE RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT WIND H# 1 Leigh Walters 10 Fred J. Page High School 10:38.44 1 2 Sasha Neglia 11 Dobyns Bennett High School 10:42.66 1 3 Skylar Boogerd 12 Arlington High School 10:58.25 1 4 Maddy Moody 12 Anderson County High School 11:37.78 1 5 Ann-Marie Braese 9 Arlington High School 11:41.64 1 6 Lauren Pilkton 12 Elizabethton High School 12:09.53 1 7 Abbi Rountree 11 Science Hill High School 12:18.63 1 8 Rachel Dulaney 10 David Crockett High School 12:20.90 1