2017 Banana Belt Classic: Some New Faces To The Fore

TOP MOMENT OF THE MEET 1: Grace Skinner Stuns 3200 Field


Grace Skinner's day began with an inconspicuous second in the 1600. Almost before anyone even had time to react, Salida's Taryn Ceglowski escaped from the field and built an insurmountable lead in the 1600. If Skinner meant to make a run at Ceglowski in this race, she waited a trifle too long to put herself in a position where that could happen.

Skinner did eventually hold off the pursuit for second, finishing with PR of better than 16 seconds at 5:29.99.

But, there was more to come.

To the misfortune of one Annie Hughes, Skinner put her lesson on the 1600 to great use in the 3200.

Hughes surged to the front early and seemed ready to put things away in the 3200. The one competitor Hughes couldn't shake, however, was Grace Skinner.

Skinner doggedly pursued Hughes through six laps, staying just close enough to be relevant, but far enough back so as not to set off any alarms. Then, when her time came, Skinner moved resolutely alongside Hughes. Hughes fought for a few moments to retain the lead, but Skinner wasn't having any of it.

Skinner would eventually finish with a new meet record at 11:41.29. That mark went down as a second PR on the day for the CSCS senior, this time by over a minute.

So, if you're handicapping the 3A distance field, there is suddenly another name you need to start taking seriously.