Mount Tabor junior Rachel Riley solidified her emergence on Saturday running a 2:47.27 1000m at the Just Don't Lose Classic to break Charlotte Bell's State Record of 2:49.32. Riley had run 2:56.90 as a sophomore and 2:58.36 as a freshman in the 1000m and was 3rd at last years NCHSAA 4A Indoor State Championship in the event.
Riley has been good since middle school coming into high school with 2:18 and 5:07 personal bests for the 800m and 1600m, but had showed some flashes ahead of a massive day on Saturday. She finished 7th at the NCHSAA 6A State Championships in cross country running 18:49, but one month later dropped a major personal best at Brooks XC South finishing 15th in 17:42. She'd open the track season in December with PRs of 4:53 for the 1600m and 1:14.94 for the 1000m showing she's going to be on another level for this track season.
On Saturday, she went out had in 32.8 for the first 200m followed by a 33.8, 34.2 and 33.4 to go through the 800m in 2:14.46. She'd close with her fastest lap of the race with a 32.8 to win by 13 seconds in a 2:47.27 in a solo effort for an unexpected North Carolina State Record.
North Carolina Girls Top 10 All-Time 1000m Performances (Full List)
| Rank | Time | Athlete/Team | Grade | Meet Date Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:47.27 | Mount Tabor | 2027 | Just Don't Lose Classic 1st F |
| 2 | 2:49.32 | Cuthbertson High School | 2024 | |
| 3 | 2:49.79 | Leesville Road | 2017 | |
| 4 | 2:50.37 | Cuthbertson High School | 2024 | |
| 5 | 2:51.07 | Pinecrest | 2027 | |
| 6 | 2:51.08 | Cuthbertson High School | 2024 | The VA Showcase 3rd F |
| 7 | 2:51.51 | Cardinal Gibbons | 2025 | |
| 8 | 2:52.36 | Metrolina Christian Academy | 2025 | |
| 9 | 2:52.69 | Marvin Ridge | 2027 | |
| 10 | 2:53.23 | Community School of Davidson | 2015 |
Riley will head to Virginia Beach for the VA Showcase this Friday and Saturday to compete in some of the strongest fields one can find over the course of the indoor season for the 1000m and the Mile. You can watch the Mile at 5:45 PM on Friday and the 1000m at 5:35 PM on Saturday live on MileSplit!
