Marvin Ridge Middle School 8th grader Athena Pluchos took home a fourth place finish at New Balance Indoor Nationals running 4:57.74 for the Full Mile. The mark converts to a 4:56.01 1600m in Pluchos' first time under the 5:00 barrier for either 1600m or One Mile.
The field was strong and went out incredibly fast in 2:16.62 for 809m by Amelia Bazeley out of Canada. Pluchos did not let the early pace throw her race off letting everyone else go out faster than expected while Pluchos went to the back crossing in 12th through the opening 400m and 11th through 809m in 2:28.58, 12 seconds back of the lead.
While other athletes tired from the fast opening pace, Pluchos slowly maintained her pace through the middle of the race clicking off 38.x 200m laps from 609m through 1209m and moving up in the process getting to 7th place. She'd close in 72.3 seconds moving up to fourth passing the majority of the field.
Her splits would be 1:11.16 for 409m, 2:28.58 for 809m and 3:45.29 for 1209m.
Brianna Reilly of South Dakota was able to reel in Bazeley for the individual win holding off Molly Mocko of Illinois running 4:52.04.
Pluchos has been just off the sub 5 mark for 1600m for the previous two indoor seasons running 5:06.75 in 6th grade, then 5:00.65 in 7th grade in addition to a 5:01, 5:02 and 5:02.7 Full Mile.
The mark only trails Kaitlyn Estep for middle school 1600m/Miles in North Carolina history for Middle School athletes. Estep ran a 4:49.94 1600m (4:51.83 Full Mile) at Brooks PR Invitational in 2024.
With personal best now of 2:14.68, 4:56.01 and 10:41.43 for 800m, 1600m and 3200m it opens the door for a big outdoor season before joining the high school program at Marvin Ridge.
Marvin Ridge Middle School 8th grader Athena Pluchos took home a fourth place finish at New Balance Indoor Nationals running 4:57.74 for the Full Mile. The mark converts to a 4:56.01 1600m in Pluchos' first time under the 5:00 barrier for either 1600m or One Mile.
The field was strong and went out incredibly fast in 2:16.62 for 809m by Amelia Bazeley out of Canada. Pluchos did not let the early pace throw her race off letting everyone else go out faster than expected while Pluchos went to the back crossing in 12th through the opening 400m and 11th through 809m in 2:28.58, 12 seconds back of the lead.
While other athletes tired from the fast opening pace, Pluchos slowly maintained her pace through the middle of the race clicking off 38.x 200m laps from 609m through 1209m and moving up in the process getting to 7th place. She'd close in 72.3 seconds moving up to fourth passing the majority of the field.
