Published in the February 24, 2016 edition
SURGING AHEAD. Pioneer Kate Mitchell ran a strategic race at All-States by overtaking five runners on the final lap of the 600m to win her heat with a personal best time of 1:38.39. She finished 12th overall. (John Keklak Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
BOSTON — Lynnfield High sophomore Kate Mitchell posted another strong showing in the 600 meter race, this time at the 31st annual MIAA Tracke and Field All-State Championships.
Setting another personal record in the event by 1.17 seconds over the qualifying time she posted at the Division 5 State Championships a week earlier, she placed 12th in the field of 22 runners. This is a huge accomplishment in a sport where placement is determined by the tenths and hundredths of seconds.
“She won her heat with a strategic race,” commented her coach, Liane Cook, after the meet. “Knowing what pace she wanted to do, she let other runners take the lead. As she began the last lap, she kept up the same pace while others were slowing down. She passed five other runners and came in first with a time of 1:38.39.”
Mitchell competed in the second of the four contested heats at All-States. Her third-place time at the Div. 5 Championships was 1:39.56.
Both the Div. 5 Championships and All-States were held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston where state-of-the-art electronic timing is used.
The 600m All-State title was won by Latin Academy senior Ashley Lewis in 1:33 flat. Half the field was dominated by seniors running in their final indoor track meet while just four of the 22 competitors were sophomores. The lone freshman, Elise O’Leary of Milton, finished seventh (1:37.77).
Div. 5 champion Kaia Corthell, a senior from Ursuline Academy, finished eighth overall at All-States (1:38.23) in a slightly slower pace than her divisional championship time of 1:38.12.
At All-States, Mitchell finished ahead of the only other runner to beat her at the Div. 5 meet, Kaylin Ciesluk, a junior from Oakmont Regional. Ciesluk (1:38.48) was one of the five runners Mitchell beat in heat two. Ciesluk’s 14th place finish was slightly faster than her Div. 5 time of 1:38.66. Look for these three competitors to continue to test each other at future regional track competitions.
