The Dream Mile for high school girls was held Saturday as part of the Adidas Grand Prix in New York and the times were most impressive. Cami Chapus of California edged Pennsylvania’s Angel Piccirillo 4:39.64 to 4:39.94. Reagan Anderson set the pace early with splits of 67.69 and 2:20.50 but Piccirillo led after three laps in 3:33.20. Coming down the final stretch three runners still had a solid chance at victory but Chapus pulled out the victory with a personal best. The field was so strong that the Quaker State runner barely edged Alli Cash, who ran 4:39.98.
We have been saying all along that the Northwest, especially Washington, is loaded with talent this year and Alexa Efraimson of Camas put an exclamation on the statement with her fourth place effort of 4:42.41 a she edged Wesley Frazier of North Carolina and Lily Williams, who also ran versions of 4:42 placing fifth & sixth respectively. Washington 3A State 800 meter champion Amy-Eloise Neale, who had been hampered by hamstring issues all season, earned seventh in a fine 4:43 ahead of Erin Finn of Michigan, who had placed second at Foot Locker last fall. Paige Rice, the first runner from Oregon ever to be picked to run in the event placed 12th in a personal best of 4:55 edging Maddie Meyers of Seattle, who is a former winner of the event. All in all a great race with excellent efforts from area runners but especially so for Efraimson, who continues to prove she is of national caliber.
In the guys race, Edward Cheserek set the early pace. Bernie Montoya won with 4:01.32. Jacob Burcham earned 2nd with 4:02.73. Third and fourth were Josh Lampron with 4:02.98 and Brannon Kidder with 4:03.12. Marcus Dickson of White River was 5th with 4:03.18. Sixth and seventh were Craig Engels with 4:03.96 and Ahmed Bile with 4:04.11. In 8th was Izaic Yorks of Lakes with 4:04.38. Rounding out the top 10 were Brad Nye with 4:04.46 and Fitsum Zeinasellasie with 4:05.71.