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<a alt="Warrior Running Camps - High School Cross Country Distance XC Running Summer Camp, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina" href="http://http://warr10r.com/"><img src="http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/1/40346/warrior-w.png" style="float: right" /><img div="" src="http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/1/40346/warrior-title.png" /></a></div>
(Photos by Mike Leary
GIRLS WINNER: Stefanie Kurgatt - Junior @ Maclay
Stefanie Kurgatt has already broken the five minute mark twice in 2012 so it came as no surprise to Maclay head coach Gary Droze when the junior did it again at the Coaches Invitational in Georgia. Kurgatt crossed the line in 4:49.62 becoming the first Floridian to break 4:50 since University of Florida's Shelby Hayes did it two years ago at Winter Park. Droze knew she had the capability of being that fast because he had seen it in prior years before she hit the injury bug. He says the last year or so has been about keeping her healthy.
"We also wanted to gradually increase her aerobic capacity. Stef is blessed with natural 60 second 400 meter speed. Whenever you find that in a female miler job one is to build aerobic power because the last lap is already taken care of."
The trip to Georgia was a chance for Kurgatt and her teammates to experience a new state. Droze says it was less about strategy and more about enjoying their spring break. Usually the team stays in a cheap hotel, but Droze admits this year they got a bargain, and that might also play a role in Kurgatt's strong performance.
"I usually cram the team into cheap hotels on overnight trips, but we got a ridiculously good deal at the plush Buckhead Hyatt. Stef may owe her new PR to soft pillows and free breakfast. From the heat sheets, we knew it would be a time trial, so the plan was to sit for one lap and then have a go at the clock. On the one hand, more competition could have helped. On the other hand, Stef didn't need to spend any energy on mid-race tactics."
As a result, Kurgatt cruised to her time of 4:49.62 more than 15 seconds faster than her nearest competitor. That mark also puts her at number five on the all-time combined mile/1600m list in Florida. The time pushed her past Stephanie Schappert and Kelly Parrish and only behind the likes of only Hayes, Jackie Areson, Jenny Barringer, and Betty Jo Springs. Droze says Stefanie is a student of the sport and certainly realizes she is in grasping distance of the greatest female distance runners the state has seen.
"She possesses both the wisdom to keep her accomplishments in perspective, and the balance to care about other things. Stefanie wrote down her goals for the season months ago, and they were based on the knowledge that the top prep girls in the nation have a decent gap on her; her goals are based on gradually chopping away at that gap, rather than unrealistically erasing it in one season.
Kurgatt exemplifies the word leader. While she is successful on the track she remains humble and low key. Off the track she is actively involved in clubs and organizations in school and in the community. Droze explains that is just the type of person she is.
"The day before a weekend trip to crush a state-leading 1600m PR, where would you expect your most elite athlete to be? At home, getting extra rest? Taking a self-involved easy run? Stefanie was out baking in the sun at a local freshman-sophomore meet, cheering on one of her teammates to a win in the discus. I did not ask her to do this. I also don't ask her to babysit new runners, volunteer at local road races, mentor underprivileged kids, grab a tent for away meets, or make the high honor roll. But she does."
Only a junior Kurgatt is on the fast track to success. Droze has no plans to gush about senior goals just yet. He says next year he hopes she will be competing with the top prep distance runners from across the country, and believes she is likely to do so if he doesn't get in her way.
"That is the idea, but for now Stefanie is working hard, having fun, and helping lead her team to what should be a well-deserved Friday off from school to attend the State Track Meet. A nice reward for what Quentin Cassidy (via John L Parker, Jr.) called "miles of trials." I see many more such miles in Stef's future."
BOYS WINNER: Artie Burns - Junior @ Miami Northwestern
Artie Burns was one of the top hurdlers in the nation as a sophomore. The Miami Northwestern star is picking up where he left off with some blazing times. At the Bob Hayes Invitational, Burns posted two nation leading marks and two meet records. He started out the day with a US #1 time of 13.35 in the 110 hurdles and answered that by laying waste to the talented field again with a 36.14 in the 300 Intermediates. Northwestern coach Darryl Elmore says it was a great performance by Burns, one he has been working hard for since the beginning of the season.
"His hurdle coach Ben Kearse had been working with him on driving out of the blocks and attacking the first few hurdles. That was something he didn't do last year until the finals. We wanted to set him up to have a good prelims and a good finals. Coach Kearse tells him he can get hurt at anytime and he needs to take the hurdles seriously. He is and it's showing in his performances."
At the Louie Bing Classic, Coach Elmore had Burns clocked at 13.0 in the 110's. However, a clock malfunction listed the mark at 13.6. This year the Northwestern star will also compete in the 100,200, and 400. Elmore says the increased track work is part of the reason the junior has continued to improve over the past year.
"He's matured a lot and he has taken practice more serious. He also has a different hurdle coach. He's doing more track work as well. Last year he ran the 100,200 and quarter in dual meets and now he is doing that in big meets to get him faster. It's something he's buying into now and it's paying off. To me he is better at the 300's because of his endurance and hurdling technique. His technique is flawless once he understands that as we speed him up the hurdles will come faster he will be even better."
Burns feeds off the competition. He is hungry and fierce. In order to keep him humble, it takes those races not involving hurdles. Coach Elmore says by putting him in the quarter miler against guys like Arman Hall where isn't the number one guy, he knows he has to work that much harder. His 110 meter hurdle mark is the best all-time in the state at the strict 110 meter distance. His 300 hurdle time is fourth all-time behind his own set at Louie Bing, a 35.3 hand time by Arthur Blake from 1984, and one by one of his mentors Bershawn Jackson of 35.39. Elmore sees similarities in both Burns and Jackson.
"He reminds me of Bershawn as far as the times, but as far as the killer instinct Bershawn would run whatever it took . He ran a 4x4 and split 44.2 for Miami Central to win the state meet. He was dog tired after running the other events and he had to split a 44 to win the track meet and he did. He came from 150 meters back. Once Artie gets that killer instinct in him like that then the sky is the limit."
The Olympics is the next goal on Burns' plate. 2012 is an Olympic year and all eyes are on London. The Miami Northwestern junior's times aren't too far off. Burns has a personal best of 13.35 and 13.13 was believed to be the time that won the Olympic Trials. As of now, he Coach Elmore believes he has the time, but has to get in the right state of mind.
"His goals are 12.92 -12.93 and around 35 seconds in the 300's. His times are there, but he has to prepare himself for the Olympic Trials. He has to have the mindset and I don't think he has it yet to compete with those guys on that level. They are going to bring it and bring it every race because that is what they do. If he can get his mindset right I think he can go in there and compete with everyone."