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
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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
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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.
