The Top 10 Moments in Flo Golden South History: No. 9, Charlene Lipsey Shatters 23 Year Old MR

As MileSplit counts down to the Flo Golden South Classic on May 19, we're looking back at some of the best years in meet history. Check back every day for a new moment and register to make your mark on history here!


Moment No. 9: Charlene Lipsey Shatters 23-Year-Old Meet Record (2008)

One of the top stars at the 1985 Golden South Invitational was a 14-year-old freshman named Shownda Martin.

The young athlete from Sanford Seminole entered the postseason championship as the Florida state champion and Central Florida record holder in the 880-yard run, thanks to a 2:10.2 showing at her debut state meet on May 12. The workhorse actually led Seminole to the 4A state title at those championships, thanks to a stellar anchor leg on the mile relay.

But the precocious freshman saved her best for last. 

Martin ran a stunning 2:09.9 to win the Golden South Invitational. The time would stand as the meet record for 23 years -- until 2008. 

In 2008, Hempstead High School junior Charlene Lipsey traveled from her home state of New York down to sunny Florida to race Golden South as a tune-up before her state championship. Lipsey was coming off a three-second, runner-up finish at the New York Relays to the Chanelle Price, but she dominated the Golden South in stunning fashion to set a new personal best of 2:08.25 and win by six seconds. 

Lipsey defended her title at Golden South in her senior year and went on to a decorated career at LSU, where she earned five All-American honors. Currently a professional runner for adidas, Lipsey has a personal best of 2:00.6 for 800m.

Her 2008 winning mark still stands as the Golden South meet record.

Women 800 Meter Run Classic
================================================================
       World: $ 1:53.28  7/26/1983   Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czechoslovakia     
    American: ^ 1:56.40  8/11/1999   Jearl Miles-Clark, Reebok Track Club      
 National HS: @ 2:00.07  7/24/1982   Kim Gallagher, Ft. Washington, PA         
  Florida HS: ! 2:09.90  2001        Lavera Morris (4A), Oak Ridge HS, Orlando 
Golden South: * 2:09.0h  1985        Shownda Martin, Seminole HS, Sanford, FL  
   TFA Track: # 2:11.88  6/3/2006    Latavia Thomas, W Catholic HS-PA          
  Qual. Std.:   2:25.00                                                        
    Name                    Year School                  Finals 
================================================================
  1 258 Charlene Lipsey       11 Uniondale, NY          2:08.25* 
  2 256 Brittany Koziara      11 Orlando, FL            2:14.86  
  3 225 Racquel Daly          12 Decatur, GA            2:15.48  
  4 296 Jade Sims             12 FL, FL                 2:16.78  
  5 281 Lauren Pietrosh       11 Marlboro, NJ           2:17.04  
  6 319 Micah Wessinger       12 Chester, SC            2:17.52  
  7 273 Brooke Nebel          11 Port Orange, FL        2:18.01  
  8 224 Amber Crews           11 UNA                    2:21.92  
  9 235 Courtney Filliben      7 Miami, FL              2:24.98  
 10 307 Grace VanDeGrift       9 Valrico, FL            2:26.28  
 11 264 Shanay Mayes          10 Oak Ridge, FL          2:27.76  
 12 242 Ana Groff             11 Orlando, FL            2:30.29  
 13 312 Dreanna Wallace       12 FL, FL                 2:30.31  
 14 289 Lisa Scarlino         11 Marlboro, NJ           2:34.91  
 15 240 Jillian Gil           12 Miami, FL              2:42.48  


2:09.9 for 880 yards is equivalent to 2:09.34 for 800 meters.

Click here to register for Flo Golden South, to be held on 5/19/2018.