Mollie Fenn (left) and Anna Albergo. (Photos by Craig Amoss and Mary Ann Magnant)
With Adidas Indoor Nationals quickly approaching, we continue our preview coverage by looking at the Maryland athletes entered in the girls distance events!
Adidas Indoor Nationals Homepage - Heat Sheets - Current MD Leaderboard
Championship Events
800 Meter Run (2 entered)
Her 2:13 800 performance at the 757 Showdown put her among the top 20 in the nation in the event. Now, South River senior Bronwyn Patterson will be chasing some of the top marks in recent Maryland indoor history (non-Juliette Whittaker division). Since 2010, no other Maryland girl has run under 2:10 indoors, and only two (Jessica Harris and Nyjari McNeil) have run faster than Patterson. Joining her in the championship section is Towson senior Madeline Till (2:18.04 personal best).
One Mile Run (1 entered)
Katherine Strong's decision to enter at Adidas Indoor Nationals ensures that Maryland will not be shut out of the championship sections of the girls mile. Her 5:00.82 performance earlier this winter at the Virginia Showcase easily paces the state. Strong will have a chance to become the first girl other than Juliette Whittaker to break the five-minute barrier in the indoor 1600 since 2017, when Hayley Jackson, Maria Coffin and Abigail Green all did so.
Two Mile Run (2 entered)
Once again, it's Strong with a chance to make some history; her 10:46 3200 time is already the ninth-fastest by a Maryland runner since 2010. She could leap forward two more spots on that list with a sub-10:40 performance at nationals this weekend. Meanwhile, Atholton senior Aanchal Kasargod owns the third-fastest time in the state so far this winter (11:15.08) and could take another crack at the 11-minute barrier before the spring season.
Open Events
800 Meter Run (12 entered)
Of the eight girls in the state who currently own sub-2:30 season bests in the 800-meter run, four are entered in the open section of the event for this weekend: Clarksburg's JahMei Wyatt (2:24.51), Digital Harbor's Nia Warren (2:25.70), Bishop McNamara's A'Nya Ramsey (2:28.35) and Myla Abernathy (2:29.38). That group doesn't include Urbana sisters Karly (2:19.40 personal best) and Emily (2:21.63) McDonnell, both of whom could also take over the third spot on the Maryland leaderboard. Also entered: Mollie Fenn (Broadneck), Olivia Fox (unattached), Lauren Leath (Bullis), Elizabeth Pickett (Bel Air) and Meilani Rodgers (unattached).
One Mile Run (15 entered)
Madeline Till heads a group of girls milers that is among the biggest groups of Maryland athletes entered in any event at Adidas Indoor Nationals. Till and Katherine Strong are the only two Maryland girls to have run under 5:10 this indoor season; who could join them? Dulaney's Anna Albergo (5:15.25) has come closest this year, and the field also includes River Hill's Faith Meininger (5:06.93 personal best), Mollie Fenn (5:11.13) and Elizabeth Pickett (5:13.72). Also entered: Alexa Avila (Blair), Anna Avila (Good Counsel), Marissa Dailey (Dulaney), Natalie DeSarbo (Holton-Arms), Aanchal Kasargod (Atholton), Madelyn Mielke (Centennial), A'Nya Ramsey (Bishop McNamara), Meilani Rodgers (unattached), Delaney Saulsbury (Edgewood) and Nia Warren (Digital Harbor).
Two Mile Run (8 entered)
Just five girls have cracked the 11:30 mark this year here in Maryland. With eight entered in the open section of the two mile (as well as the two in the championship section) there is a good chance that mark rises after the weekend. The field is led this year by Bel Air's Elizabeth Pickett, who is one of the five to have run under 11:30 (she ran a converted 11:25.01 at the East Coast Invitational). The field also includes Anna Albergo (11:24.29 personal best) Natalie DeSarbo (11:47.38) and Marissa Dailey (11:49.63). Also entered: Alexa Avila (Blair), Anna Avila (Good Counsel), Maria DiBari (Stone Ridge of the Sacred Heart) and Delaney Saulsbury (Edgewood),