The quality of the field for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Junior Mile featured several runners capable of running a time in the low 4:50-range with potential to break the milestone.
But after a relatively slow first 400, it was obvious that Saturday’s race would turn into a tactical one, a race that’s well suited for a runner with a kick like Rhode Island’s Maddy Berkson.
No stranger to handling the front-runner duties, Berkson dictated the pace from the start, leading a tight bunch for the first six laps on the banked oval of the Reggie Lewis Track Center. It was then that the Classical High senior went to work, breaking away from the field en route to a winning time of 4 minutes, 56.0 seconds (US #5).
Berkson held off fast-charging Marissa Sheva, a junior from Pennridge (PA), who took the runner-up spot at 4:56.81 (US #7). Exeter (NH) junior Shannon Murdock was third in 4:56.94 (US #8).
With the talent at the line, Berkson’s original plan heading into the race was to hang back in the early stages. She realized almost right away that would not be the case on this particular night.
The Stanford-bound runner was a few strides ahead of Coe Brown Academy (NH) senior Hannah Parker (11th, 5:04.73) at the 200 mark, passed in a conservative 37 seconds. Berkson was 1:14 at the 400.
“I thought I was going to stick behind the leaders,” she said. “It went out pretty slow so I figured I would take it because I wanted a good time.”
Berkson, a third-place finisher in the 800 at last year’s indoor and outdoor nationals with a PB of 4:50 for the mile, was confident a victory was within her reach by the halfway mark, which she hit in 2:29.
Even though the competition was behind her, Berkson wasn’t aware she was starting to pull away until glancing up at the Jumbotron located on the back wall of the track. She was a good five-to seven-meters ahead of Sheva with a lap remaining.
“I didn’t really know where people were so I kept looking at the Jumbotron,” Berkson said. “It looked like I had a gap that was opening up. I just kind of kicked for time at that point because no one was near me at that point.”
Sheva, who owns a best of 4:54 for the mile, tried to make up the gap by the last straightaway, but it proved too much.
“I knew with Maddy Berkson in the race she was going to pull through and she was going to lead,” said the Pennridge runner, who will be competing in the New Balance Mile at the Millrose Games Saturday night. “I can’t complain because I wasn’t planning on taking it out myself. My plan was to sit and kick. I lost contact probably on the fifth and sixth laps. I’d say that was a tactical mistake. My kick wasn’t as strong as I would have liked it to be. But I can’t complain to come in here and run a good time.”
Berkson, who has registered some big wins in New York City this year with then-nation bests of 1:32.96 for the 600 at the New Balance Games on Jan. 24 and a 9:49.35 at the Hispanic Games in early January, was content with a good, old-fashion win at the Grand Prix event.
“I was kind of looking for a state record for Rhode Island, which is like 4:53,” she said. “But I figured it would be good to just play it smart and just go for the win.”
Next up for Berkson is the R.I. state championship on Saturday. In last year’s meet, she captured the 1,000, 1,500 and the 3,000 to lead Classical to a tie for the team title with defending titlist La Salle Academy. She’ll then shift her attention out-of-state by competing in the Eastern States, New England Championship and the New Balance National Indoor Championships in mid-March.
Matching her fourth-place finish from last year was Ravenscroft School (NC) junior Ryen Frazier, who was timed in 4:57.92. Birmingham Seaholm (MI) junior Audrey Belf placed fifth with a 4:58.97 clocking. Also dipping under five minute was sixth-place finisher Sam McKinnon of Mountain View (ID), who crossed the line at 4:59.32.