Standing outside the athlete's gate at last months PIAA State Championships in Shippensburg, soon-to-be Methacton grad Ryann Krais was immediately recognized by virtually every athlete who walked by. Many would ask to have their picture taken with her. All who asked would get their wish. Krais is that kind of person. Gracious. Generous. Friendly. Krais gets a 41.20 PR on Saturday in the competitive 300 hurdles - photo by Alan Versaw, ColoradoRunners, a MileSplit US affiliate Fast forward two weeks, and with the scene shifted west to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Great Southwest Classic, the recognition factor didn't seem to diminish much according to her coach Rob Ronzano. "Coaches, parents and athletes came up to me all weekend and said how great it was to see her compete."
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There was a lot of success to be spread out among the Colorado distance runners at the Great Southwest Classic on Saturday. And nobody's smiles were bigger those worn by Dey Tuach and Eleanor Fulton. Roman Holmes had one of the nicer performances for Colorado athletes on the day with a best long jump of 25-3.25, good enough for second place. Complete Meet Results Photo Gallery
Great Southwest Track Classic, University of New Mexico Stadium | Friday and Saturday, June 6 - 7, 2008, All Photos by Alan Versaw
In what could be just the begining of a very strong performance from the Colorado contingent, Emma Coburn (Crested Butte Community School) shaved 11 seconds off the Great Southwest meet record to win the women's 2000 steeplechase today.
What a fantastic weekend it's been. Big championship style invitationals (Golden South, Golden West, Great Southwest) state meets (Ohio, Minnesota, New Hampshire, etc.) and the prestigous Prefontaine Classic hosted great high school competition all weekend long. A handful of U.S. top ten all-time performances took place, including Ryann Krais' (pictured left by Alan Versaw) U.S. #2 all-time heptathlon. **Chanelle Price (PA) runs 2:01.61 in Pre Classic 800m, U.S. #2 All-Time!!! **Laura Roesler (ND) runs 2:03.08 for 800m in California, U.S. #8 All-Time!!! **Jacquelyn Coward (TN) blazes 13.00 100m hurdles at Great Southwest, U.S. #2 All-Time!!! **Ryann Krais (PA) scores 5522 points at Great Southwest in heptathlon, U.S. #2 All-Time!!! Top Boys Weekend Highlights - Luke Puskedra (UT) runs 8:46.41 in Prefontaine Classic two-mile - D'Angelo Cherry (GA) blazes 10.16w in 100m at Golden West - Trotwood-Madison (OH) runs 1:25.44 4x2, 3:13.46 4x4 at OH State - Zach Wills (OH), only a freshman, wins OH State 3200m in 9:15.34 - Zachary Mellon (MN) runs 1:49.69 800m at MN State, U.S.#3 - Apple Valley (MN) wins 4x800 at MN State in U.S.#4 of 7:45.31 - Curtis Beach (NM) wins Great SW decathlon with 7262 points - Nick Vena (NJ) beats Mike Alleman (NJ) with 65-03.50 SP in NJ - Brett Johnson (NJ) runs 56.5 last lap to win NJ 1600m in 4:09.03 Top Girls Weekend Highlights - Alitta Boyd (CA) leaps 42-00 TJ, 19-06.25 LJ at Golden West - Ebony Eutsey (FL) blazes U.S.#1 400m in 53.23 at Golden West - Ryann Krais (PA) wins 300mH in 41.20 at Great Southwest - Hannah Carson (AZ) throws 160-11 javelin at Great Southwest - Three Texas high jumpers clear 6-00 at Great Southwest - Meshawn Graham (OH) runs U.S.#2 400m at OH State in 53.30 - Aareon Payne (OH) blazes 11.78 100m, 23.88 200m at OH State - Jillian Smith (NJ) runs U.S.#3 800m of 2:05.26 in NJ, U.S.#3 - Melanie Thompson (NJ) wins NJ MOC 3200m in 10:17.18, U.S.#5 Meet Pages & Results: Great Southwest T&F Classic - NJ Meet of Champions
The Great Southwest Track and Field Classic kicks off at the University of New Mexico Thursday as some of the top multi-event athletes in the country take part in the heptathlon and decathlon. Starting Saturday, the rest of this incredible invitational takes place, where dozens of U.S. top ten ranked athletes will go head-to-head in a full slate of events. MileSplit will be on-site providing coverage all weekend long. **Both Boys & Girls Previews are Up!!! Start Lists: Track / Field / Multi-Events Official Meet Website / MileSplit Meet Page
Chanelle Price runs the 2nd best PA 800 ever in 2:01.61 at Prefontaine. #2 also happens to be US#2 behind Kim Gallagher's 2:00.07 - and Price has a few more chances... We are not in Shippensburg any more – Chanelle Price at Pre Ryann Krais is gaining fans and confidence as she chases records in her prep farewell... VIDEO: 12 "Run Like A Champion Videos" from the June 6 PA Distance Festival at West Chester Henderson HS US#2 all time for Ryann Krais of 5522 in the heptathlon - photo by Alan Versaw, Colarado Runner, a MileSplit.US affiliate Photo gallery from the 3rd Pennsylvania Distance Festival @ West Chester Henderson At the Great Southwest Classic, a day after her near record in the Heptathlon, Ryann Krais won the 300 hurdles in a PR of 41.20, and was named the Female Athlete of the Meet. On Thursday, Ryann Krais started her hep competition 79 points ahead of US-record-setting pace following four of the seven heptathlon events. But after the final three events, Krais came up a mere 11 points short of passing the national record of 5533. Krais' 5522 was a PR by 150 points. Her day two including an 18-10.50 long jump, a javelin of 104-11 and a 2:17.71 in the 800. At the 3rd Henderson Distance Festival, LaSalle senior Dan Lowry ran a 4:13.49 mile (60-2:03-3:07), the #1 PA (pure) time at that distance. The mark is a school record, eclipsing a 1974 mile run by John Burns. Cedar Crest's Tom Troxell went 1:52.87, which is just short of his PA#2 ranking from Districts. On Saturday at the Golden South Classic in Orlando, FL, frosh Taylor Ellis-Watson of the Springside School near Philadelphia, PRed in the 400, running a 55.65 to advance to the finals. Her 56.24 in the finals captured third place. In the 200, she ran 25.35 in the prelims and did not advance. At the MileStat.com Elite Track Gala @ Richmond, VA, Max Kaulbach, Germantown Friends, won the 1500 in a meet record and US#3 3:54.48, coming through the 800 in 2:04. At the Golden West Invitatonal in California, Jason Flangan, Father Judge, threw the javelin 168-05, for 2nd. MORE>>>