Camryn Wennersten made state history and made a strong run at the state record in the mile on Friday night when she dropped a red-hot 4:43.83 to move into No. 4 on the state's all-time list at the John Hay Pennsylvania Distance Festival at West Chester Henderson High.
Wennersten, a junior from Ridgewood who runs for the Garden State Track Club, was also auto-timed at 1600m with a 4:42.07, which is places her No. 6 on NJ's All-Time list. Wennersten finished first among girls in the mixed gender race.
With her 4:42.07/4:43.83, Wennersten joins some fast company on the state's all-time lists.
The only runners in state history to run faster than Wennersten for the full mile without 1600m conversions are Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional, who ran the state record of 4:39.25 to finish first at the 2007 Nike National Championships, Olympian Erin Donohue of Haddonfield, who ran 4:42.96 at the 2001 Adidas National Championships, and Michelle Rowen of Washington Township (4:43.3 in 1982).
For the 1600m, only Tauro, Donohue, Rowen, current Colts Neck junior Lilly Shapiro (4:40.15 last month), and Josette Norris of Tenafly (4:41.61 to win at the 2016 Meet of Champions) have run faster than Wennersten.
Sure hope we get to see Wennersten vs. Shapiro in a 1600/mile this season! Shapiro is No. 2 in the nation with her 4:40.15 and Wennersten is now No. 7 with her 4:42.07. They have the potential to push each other to a sub 4:40 for the full mile and possibly a new state record! And they are both juniors!!