Girls 800m
Lauren Tolbert (Highland Tech) and Sanu Jallow (West Mecklenburg) battled last week each clocking 2:11 for NC#13 and NC#14 all-time. The juniors squared off again as the two favorites in a stacked 800m field. Tolbert has always been one not afraid to take the pace out hard and she did just that as Jallow stuck on her outside shoulder while Tolbert held the rail. The two sat that way a few steps ahead of the field as Jallow crossed the 400m mark at 1:01.98 as she seemed to be trying to push ahead of Tolbert before the third turn. Tolbert held the inside line and crossed with a split of 1:02.00 with Jada Jones (Rock Hill, South Carolina) just behind in 3rd at 1:02.69.
Just as they were the first time around Tolbert and Jallow were side by side over the next 300 meters as they got to the final 100 meters. The battle for third also heated up as nearly the entire rest of the field were fighting to the finish line off the fast start.
Tolbert was able to get a half step on Jallow over the final 50 meters and charged to the line in 2:07.77 with a 1:05.76 final 400m. Jallow was just behind in 2:02.28 closing in 1:06.29. The two girls lead the fastest 800m race in state history with their marks now being good for NC#3 and NC#4 All-Time Outdoors! Their 2:11 battle last week was a personal best for both, but the rematch just a week later exceeded all expectations!
Both Tolbert and Jallow are only juniors as will be gunning for Mackenzie Pierce's 2:06.66 North Carolina State Record. Forsyth County Day grad Pierce, now Mackenzie Pierce Wartenburger, is the current Head Women's Cross Country Coach at the University of Wisconsin.
Jones would be able to hold on to her third-place finish in 2:14.16 as the field was right on her heels. Madison Roush (South Carolina) would take 4th in 2:14.44, 8th grader Avery Belk (South Carolina) would take 5th in 2:14.50. Madeline Strolberg (Lake Norman), Linde Fonville (Charlotte Country Day), Hannah Vroon (South Carolina), and Natalia Martin would all set personal bests in the fast section each breaking 2:16.
We'd say it'll be hard to have a better 800m field as this race came together as one of the best in state history, but none of the field are seniors and have bigger and better marks to come!