MIAA All State Retro Race: Makayla Paige Embraces Pressure


WATCH MILESPLIT 24/7: THE MIAA ALL-STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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At the 2019 MIAA State Championships, a highlight performance was when Tewksbury Memorial High School's Makayla Paige raced to her first outdoor state title in the 800m as a sophomore. The top six girls to run in this race would have been returning for the 2020 season. Paige was going into the meet with a 2:10.31 which she ran at the Glenn D. Louke's Games. 

The race began and Paige bursted to the front from lane one. As they athletes began to cut in, she was determined to not be boxed in. 


Nicole Anderson, a junior of Billerica Memorial, stuck with Paige from the start of the race. They continued to separate themselves from the rest of the pack through 350m.

As Paige completed her first 400m at 61s, Anderson was able to stay within striking distance. It slowly turned into a two woman race for the 800m state title.

With about 200m left to the finish, Anderson made a move to be on Paige's heels. Paige responded and started to kick into another gear dispute feeling fatigued.

Paige pulled away from Anderson as she raced to her first outdoor title. 


Paige won the title a 2:08.41. Her and Anderson had a moment at the finish line as they embraced each other with a hug. 


Two weeks later Paige competed at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. She earned the bronze medal with a personal best of 2:06.27, shaving about two seconds off her previous personal best. This performance became the ninth fastest time in country in 2019 and was ranked third amongst the class of 2021

GIRLS 800 METER RUN FINALS	
PLACE	ATHLETE		TEAM	RESULT	WIND	H#
1	Makayla Paige	10	Tewksbury Memorial High School	2:08.41		2
2	Nicole Anderson	11	Billerica Memorial High School	2:09.42		2
3	Emma Sullivan	11	Shepherd Hill Regional High School	2:11.75		2
4	Iris Bergman	10	Concord Carlisle High School	2:13.49		2
5	Annie Jackson	11	Boston Latin School	2:14.04		2
6	Sonja Nagle	10	Brookline High School	2:15.59		2
7	Julia Fenerty	12	Franklin High School	2:16.23		2
8	Sara Fragione	12	Methuen High School	2:16.34		2


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