Frazier Still Leaving The Door Open To Go For The Triple
She’s still unsure on whether she’ll compete in the mile run on Sunday.
But right now, Ryen Frazier is two-for-two at the New Balance Nationals.
In a race that was over after the first few laps, the Ravenscroft senior (NC) cruised to the two-mile title on Saturday with a methodical 10:07.16 winning effort. Frazier was more than a quarter of a lap ahead of her nearest competitor, E.C. Class (VA) sophomore Libby Davidson, who finished second with a personal-best of 10:24.67.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Frazier captured the 5,000m, a race that Davidson was third overall.
“At first, I felt really good but I was worried. I didn’t want to push too hard because of last night,” said the North Carolina standout, who was 5:05 at the mile checkpoint. “I just tried to run a pace that I felt comfortable at and I just kind of tried to stay at that pace. If I felt a little off I would push a little here and push a little there. Basically I spent the rest of the race focusing on finishing it at a solid time coming in.”
After her 5K victory, Frazier was contemplating on whether she would compete in the two mile. A few reason made her decide to enter the deuce including a little inspiration from the Brooks PR Invitational that also took place on Saturday.
In that race, Indiana’s Anna Rohrer won with a 9:59.96 clocking. Frazier’s time at NBN would have placed fourth in Seattle.
“I didn’t sleep that well last night but I took a nap earlier and I was like, ‘I had enough sleep.’” Frazier said. “I then went out and did a shake out and I was like I haven’t run a two mile in a while and then the girls in Seattle ran the two mile and I was kind of hungry to run it because I have run a lot of miles.”
Will Frazier attempt the rare triple that her older sister Wesley accomplished at the 2013 nationals by trying to win the mile on Sunday afternoon (2:25)? It’s still up in the air.
“I’m going to make a decision tomorrow morning,” she said.
Carter Blunt of Frisco Independence (TX) copped the boys’ race with a time of 8:58.03. The talented junior outlasted a trio of competitors within striking distance the final lap with a blazing kick the final 200m.
Occupying the next three places was Lake Braddock (VA) senior Alex Corbett (second, 9:01.16), Germantown Friends (PA) sophomore Nick Dahl (third, 9:01.81) and La Salle Academy (RI) junior Jack Salisbury (fourth, 9:01.85).
“It was amazing,” Blunt said. “I was looking at the (jumbo) screen the last 200 and they were right there. I got chills behind my back the last 200. I had to give it all I could.”
Salisbury and junior teammate Matt Bouthillette did the early pace-setting, taking the lead pack through an 800m split of 2:14. Corbett assumed the front-runner position by the mile mark, reached in 4:33.
Blunt, a runner with 4:10 speed for the mile, took his first and only lead with a lap remaining.
“I think right when the bell rang I moved right into first place, but that wasn’t my plan at all,” he said. “I was trying to stay behind second place but the first and second place closed the gap and I didn’t want to get between them so I just took the lead.”
- Results: Girls 2 Mile - Boys 2 Mile
- Photos: Girls 2 Mile - Boys 2 Mile