Two of the state's top returning distance runners in Cambridge Christian seniors Mary Ellen Eudaly and Caroline Lehman competed unattached against college competition this past weekend at the Tampa Track Classic in the women's 3K. The two high school runners proved superior to their college competition in the race pulling away to go 1-2 in the event with Mary Ellen Eudaly winning in 9:41.79 and teammate Caroline Lehman close behind in second place at 9:42.81.
The Notre Dame Commit Lehman actually had a good size lead on her teammate Eudaly and rest of field splitting around 5:13 1600 meters as well as going into the last lap before the University of Arkansas teammate Eudaly closed strong to narrow the gap and make the pass on Lehman off the final turn.Their 3K times converts to roughly 10:23-10:24 range for 3200 meters. Within range of their best times from last year when Lehman set the Florida high school two mile state record in 10:14, while Eudaly has an all-time best of 10:17 for 3200 meters.
They were not only high school athletes competing in the college meet. Cypress Creek junior Zack Poekert rolled to a stellar 1500 meter time of 4:00, which would convert to a 4:17 1600 and 4:19 mile for one of the top distance runners out of Pasco County. He only has a 1600 meter best of 4:28 from last spring, so the recent 1500 meter performance indicates a big PR in the 1600 might be on the way too early this outdoor season. Poekert had a breakout cross country season dropping his 5K time down to 15:17.
Meanwhile, the Cambridge Christian duo of Eudaly and Lehman races next again in their first official high school meet of the season with their Cambridge Christian squad on Friday at the Calvary Christian Warrior Invitational in Clearwater.