Girls Meet of Champions Preview | What to Look For at the Meet!

1600 Meter

Meet Record - 4:48.23 - Jillian Smith of Southern Regional - 2009

The Top 16 Seeds!

  1  Christina Rancan                 W. WINDSOR P. BO    4:57.04 
  2  Ciara Roche                   12 FREEHOLD TOWNSHI    4:57.63 
  3  Julia Guerra                  12 INDIAN HILLS        4:57.69 
  4  Briana Gess                   JR HADDONFIELD         4:59.03 
  5  Julianna Catania              SR EGG HARBOR          5:01.21 
  6  Megan Quimby                  11 LENAPE              5:02.71 
  7  Jillian Turner                12 NEW PROVIDENCE      5:03.61 
  8  Kara Bonner                   JR SHAWNEE             5:04.48 
  9  Shannon Goria                 10 RIVER DELL          5:07.44 
 10  Gabriella Ferrigine           12 RED BANK CATHOLI    5:07.83 
 11  Katie Bragen                  JR PT PLEASANT BORO    5:08.03 
 12  Ellie DiMarcello              FR NORTH HUNTERDON     5:08.95 
 13  Olympia Martin                JR RIDGEWOOD           5:09.34 
 14  Katie Delidow                 11 MILLBURN            5:09.80 
 15  Anna DiMarcello               JR NORTH HUNTERDON     5:09.90 
 16  Sydney Flyge                  SO ROBBINSVILLE        5:10.11 

*Note that athletes on the performance lists might be focusing on other events and scratching.

What to Watch!

This race is loaded! Not only some of the fastest milers this season but ones with experience at the big show. Both indoor and outdoor 1600 meter champions at MOCs collide here. Last indoor's defending champion Christina Rancan of WWP South led the Group Championship merge at 4:57.04, the 2015 outdoor 1600 meter champ Briana Gess seeded fourth looks to win her first indoor MOC title. 

You would think that would be enough to pump up this event but it isn't... Freehold Twp's Ciara Roche is currently ranked NJ#2 with a 4:51.86 put together on this very track back at Monmouth County Championships. Julia Guerra has a major kick that could come in handy for this race or the 3200 meter. Plus if anyone makes a mistake out front don't put it past anyone else in those top seeds to step up and take advantage.  

Prediction!

I'm going with Ciara Roche of Freehold Twp for this one, that toasty 4:51.86 on this same track isn't something to be ignored. She was third last year and is ahead of where she was at this point compared to 2015. She'll have to hold off a strong push from Briana Gess' kick who I have second and Christina Rancan third who always comes in with a strong game plan. Winning time around 4:53. 

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