Elite Entries Galore at the Warsaw Tiger Showcase #2

An Elite Girls 1600m Field

Pictured: The Lead Group of Girls during the 2023 ISHAA State 1600m Championship 

The fastest heat of the girls 1600m will be special this year with nearly each competitor earning the honors of all-state this past season. The best seed time belongs to Warsaw Community senior Joey Rastrelli with her 4:49 mark from last outdoor season where she would finish runner-up at 2023 IHSAA State Meet to Nicki Southerland. The talent does not stop there as Pendleton Heights standout Ava Jarrell is also coming fresh off a 1600m (5:00.47) & 800m (2:18.37) double victory at the Indiana Runner Indoor Invitational from last weekend.

The defending IHSAA cross country state champion is also entered in the field with Libby Dowty. She is undefeated in her three races so far this season including a 1600m (5:00.75) & 3200m (10:26.03) win at the Indiana Runner Indoor Opener as well as a 4:59.29 full mile at the MLK Invite in Louisville. Mallory Weller rounds out the sub 5 entries as she ran a 4:58.51 this past December at the first Midwest High Performance Series meet. She recently raced at Grand Valley where she ran the 800m/Mile double with times of 2:17.58 and 5:01.20.

7 additional girls that placed in the top 30 at XC state will also join the field. There is a good possibility where a couple girls could dip under 5 minutes for the first time. Several have PRs that are right on the cusp that are just needing that right race. This is the opportunity that several have been waiting for as a race with this level of talent at this point of the season is special. 5 additional heats of the girls 1600m will also provide great opportunity for new indoor or lifetime PRs. As of publishing 84 girls have been sub 5 in the 1600m or mile with the conversion.