PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- On Friday, Karrie Baloga was as confident as she's ever been.
The Cornwall (NY) High School senior and University of Colorado signee wasted little time grabbing the lead and then proceeded to dictate the championship girls 3K on a rain-soaked night inside Franklin Field at The Penn Relays Carnival.
A year after earning a runner-up finish in the 3K, the reigning Champs Sports Nationals champion produced an 11-second PR and nearly claimed a new meet record, finishing in a time of 9:20.75. The performance is the 13th-best in high school history.
"Holy moly, I wanted that so bad," Baloga said afterward.
Over the final lap, the New Yorker dug down and authored a 69-second last lap, surging away from the field.
Timpview's Jane Hedengren, a sophomore from Utah, went from 12th over the first 600 meters to second by race's finish in 9:24.56. Madison Central's Ciara O'Shea was third in 9:26.90, while Good Counsel's Leah Stephens was fourth in 9:29.26.
Addison Ritzenhein, the phenom freshman from Niwot (CO) High School, ran with the leaders early but dropped off as the race went on, eventually finishing fifth in 9:41.75. It was the 11th best freshman performance in history.
Photo Credit: Ryan Comstock/MileSplit
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