Can Maria Coffin Break 17 Minutes For 5K At The Seahawk Invite?

Girls 5K Preview

One of the state's best distance runners in recent history in Annapolis junior Maria Coffin has not been afraid of bashful to step on the track for the 12 1/2 lap race outdoors or as she did at New Balance Nationals Indoor this past March for 25 laps around a 200 meter banked oval at the New York Armory.

Coffin was the first Maryland girl in several years to qualify for the Foot Locker Nationals this past fall and broke the historic Hereford 3 mile course record as well during the cross country season. At New Balance Nationals Indoor, Coffin finished 12th overall in the 5K with a new personal best time of 17:19.

Coffin's previous PR had come at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor last June in North Carolina with a 9th place performance of 17:21.

Each time that Coffin has competed lately at South River High School, she has recorded dominant wins including in last year's Seahawk Invitational 5K outdoors in a 18:07 victory as well as this past cross country season at the Seahawk XC Invitational in a 17:23 fall best time.

After running 17:19 on an indoor track three weeks ago, it makes one wonder if there is any potential or likelihood of Coffin challenging for a sub 17 minute 5K time on Saturday at the Seahawk Invitational, which would have to be a first in Maryland state history if accomplished.

She won't have much competition to push her unless they can let her jump in the boys race somehow, which wouldn't be a bad idea at all! 

Otherwise, she will being chased by a pack of girls from Northern-Calvert (Claudia Dolan & Molly Barrick) and Calvert (Sydney Friedel & Elizabeth Hite) along with Bryn Mawr's Amy Egan all looking to venture well into the 18 minute range for the first time for month.

In order for Coffin to run a sub 17 minute time on Saturday, she will need to average roughly 1:21 mid for every lap (400m) and 5:26 mile pace. Below can find the goal splits for a 16:59 5K race. She went out aggressively at New Balance Nationals Indoor, so that race could have prepared her well for another push towards 17 minute flat this weekend.