The 17th annual Franklin Central Flashes Showcase is just around the corner. With about 24 hours to go until meet time there looks to be rain throughout the day with a chance to stop by the start of the meet. The girls races should bring just as much excitement as the boys with several returning from last year's elite heat.
Leading the entrants with the top seed is out of state talent Reagan Gilmore from Assumption in Kentucky. She recently ran to a PR according to our database from a few weeks ago at a similar style distance showcase in Louisville where she would run to a runner-up finish in 4:47.42. This time would have beat out Sophia Kennedy's mark from last year by two seconds. It would also rank her #3 in Flashes Showcase History. Duffus and Wiley are the only two to have run faster times at the meet going 4:45.95 and 4:42.67
Sophia Kennedy would win last year's Franklin Central Distance Showcase with a 4:49.18
With Knoblauch not appearing to return this year and Southerland and Jarrell not listed in the heat sheets sophomore standout Julia Score will be the top returner from last year's meet. Her fourth place finish last year was special for her as it appeared to be her first time ever breaking the 5 minute barrier. She would run a 4:56 to join 17 other girls who have also broken that barrier in the meet's history. Score would end up placing 4th at the state meet with a similar time before having a great XC season that saw her earn a top 3 finish at state and qualification for NXN.
Two positions ahead of her at state was Warsaw's Josefina Rastrelli. Rastrelli finished 6th at last year's Flashes Showcases with a 4:59 before earning a runner-up finish to Southerland at the state meet with a 4:49. Coming in just ahead of Rastrelli at last year's showcase was Noblesville's Summer Rempe. According to our database this also appeared to be her first time under the 5 minute mark. Summer would finish less than half a second behind Score with a 4:57 before focusing on the 800m where she would run a personal best time of 2:11.56 to place 12th at Nike Outdoor Nationals.
Julia Score and Summer Rempe cross the finish line at last year's showcase meet
Of course we can't forget our defending XC state champion as well with Libby Dowty. Dowty obviously had an incredible season this past fall and continued to build her momentum indoors with several sub 5 minute miles throughout the club season. Her best time would come from the second Warsaw Tiger Showcase where she would finish one second behind Ava Jarrell with a 4:56.
Coming in right behind her at the Warsaw indoor meet was Mallory Weller who looked to PR with a 4:57 according to our database. Weller could also be someone to keep an eye out for after not having the best race last year at Flashes. She would bounce back at state to earn herself a podium finish running to a 4:58.
Like the boys, there are several girls not mentioned that should also be in the mix to knock on the door at breaking 5 minutes and etching their name into history. Race videos, photos, and results will be available after the meet at MileSplit Indiana!