For this week's edition of Throwback Thursday we'll head back to that iconic blue track at Mullen for the 2019 edition of the Mullen Invitational, to replay that incredible girl's 3,200 race.
It was a race with many moves, and many strategies, and in the end, the title went to the runner with the most patient strategy of them all.
How It Played Out
Isalina Colsman set an honest pace to lead the star-studded field through the opening laps. The Regis Jesuit junior strung out the pack, while Lanie Szuch and Elizabeth Schweiker hovered just over her shoulder.
Meanwhile Tiya Chamberlin used the opening 1,200 meters to warm up before pushing her foot to the pedal.
The Wheat Ridge senior gapped the field quickly over the fourth lap, cruising by the halfway marker in 5:35. Schweiker and Szuch gave chase, passing the mile marker just over a second back.
Chamberlin stretched her lead to just over three seconds as the trio endured the toughest part of a 3,200 - the third 800.
With half a mile to go Szuch went to work.
Szuch - then an Evergreen freshman - ran herself into No-Mans-Land through Lap 7, as she sliced Chamerblin's lead to less than a second, dropping Schweiker in the process.
As the bell rang out, the storylines narrowed down to two: 1) Can Chamberlin hold off a late-charging Szuch? Or B) Can Szuch's late-kick catch Chamberlin?
It was Chamberlin's smooth cadence verses Szuch's giant, powerful stride. It was the senior verses the freshman. The veteran verses the rookie.
And all was revealed in the final lap of the 3,200.
Szuch used the backstretch to climb her way into Chamberlin's shadow, and then unleashed a furious kick as they rounded the final bend and into the straightaway.
The Evergreen freshman moved out into Lane 2 as they duo lapped runners, and sprinted off and away to victory.
Szuch kicked hard for the win, crossing the finish line in 11:08, which was just ahead of Chamberlin's 11:10. Schweiker held on to finish third in 11:18.
Watch the race above!
