With the calendar turning to June and state meets coming to a close, some of the best distance talent in the country has assembled to compete at the 7th annual Distance Gala in Lisle, Illinois. The campus of Benedictine University has hosted some great performances and storylines over the years and we expect nothing less this year. Both mile champions return from last year’s event and Molly Seidel ( ) and Jack Driggs (Elmhurst, IL) have positioned themselves for repeat attempts this year. Several other state champions will descend to the Distance Gala as well this year, as the fields make their attempts to beat each other and, most importantly, the clock.
The 800-meter fields are solid with a couple of standouts specifically highlighting both sides of the competition. Ohios Anna Boyert enters with the fastest seed and she has laid down a pair of impressive doubles the past two weeks to make us believe she might be able to run away with this one and challenge that 2:10-barrier. Michelle Frigo and Jamie Burr have the experience on Boyert, though, and last year’s 5th and 6th place finishers will look to challenge for the top spot this weekend.
Illinois’ own Joe McAsey leads the entries in the boys’ 800 meters and he is likely still feeling great about anchoring his team to the Illinois Class 3A title in the 3200 meter relay last weekend. McAsey wasn’t able to claim the individual title, though, and he will be ready to roll this weekend. Finishing just behind McAsey at the Illinois Class 3A State Meet were Ephraim Dorsey and Brendan Donley and both will be looking to turn the tables this time around. Daniel Mazar claimed the 800-meter state title in Missouri’s Class 4A, but after a painfully close loss in the 1600, he will be motivated to push all the way to the line. Jeffery Pigg is one more to watch for, as his state meet performance of 1:52.99 puts him in perfect position to drop a big PR with solid pacing.
The boys’ steeplechase is also an interesting event here, but it normally is a bit of a challenge to attempt to gauge the competition. Last year’s champion, and meet record-holder, Kodi Mullins of Fort Wayne, Indiana returns this year, though, and that may spell trouble for the six-minute barrier that barely eluded him last year. Mullins could be challenged by another meet record-holder, as Carmel’s Daniel Williams returns this year after posting the freshman mile record last year. As for the rest of the field, it’s anybody’s guess as almost the entire group will be making their first attempt at this event, but it sure makes the race fun to watch.
Similarly, we find ourselves fighting an uphill battle in breaking down the boys’ frosh mile. Illinois’ Nick Hess and South Dakota’s Addison DeHaven lead the group, but expect a quick pace early from this group and more than a few tactical mistakes as we watch tomorrow’s standouts gaining experience in the very best way.
The boys’ two-mile features a solid group, but there exists a heavy favorite, as North Central, Indiana standout Futsum Zienasellassie is lined up to race. Futsum just missed the Indiana State Meet record for 3200 meters last week as Rudy Chapa’s 8:55 survived another year when Futsum stopped the clock at a very impressive 8:56.73. He will now be making a run at Indiana’s all-time record of 8:48.27, also held by Chapa, and with good conditions and strong pacing early on, he should have a great opportunity here. Let’s not forget Iowa State Meet record-holder Kevin Lewis, who posted a 9:05 clocking to win the 3200 meters easily. That was three weeks ago, though, so he may just have the potential to pop a big one this weekend. Indiana standouts Connor Martin and Carl Smith and Illinois talents David Eckhart and Michael Clevenger all enter with sub-9:15 clockings, so look for them to hang around early in hopes of being a part of something big late.
As for the mile races, Seidel leads the girls entries, but Tori Schoettmer of Center Grove, Indiana should be up to the challenge after posting a 4:55.31 in placing 2nd at the Indiana State Meet last weekend. Illinois’ own Sydni Meunier will also be looking to challenge, while Colorado’s Karina Ernst makes the long trip to challenge the clock as well. With these four ladies having relatively similar season PRs, we should expect a closely contested race, possibly reminiscent of Seidel’s mad dash to the line last year.
The culminating event of the evening, though, is definitely the boys’ mile run and Jack Driggs owned it last year. This year, Driggs returns looking to steal a few more fleeting seconds from the clock and find out just how close to that four-minute barrier he can push himself. Driggs will be facing a field that could easily chew him up and spit him out, though, and that’s what makes this year’s race so compelling. Ohio’s Brannon Kidder posted a 4:09.32 clocking for 1600 meters last weekend, while Indiana’s Connor Martin dropped a 4:10.03 at Indiana’s State Meet. Jason Crist of Franklin Central, Indiana was almost an afterthought at the state championships last weekend, but his 4:12.06 will pull plenty of weight this weekend. Add in two-mile specialist Will Antkowiak and that makes five athletes who have already posted times under the 4:15 mark for 1600 meters.
There will be plenty of action this weekend, kicking off with the Open 5k, which has 9:08 3200 performer Tate Schienbein entered, before building up for another incredible night of action. Good luck to all the athletes and safe travel to everyone making the out-of-state trek.