Cory McGee against the clock... 4:09.00

Jul 10, 2013 by Jimmy Stevenson

It’s simple. If Cory McGee runs 4:09, then she spends the end of her summer in Moscow, Russia for the World Championships. If she doesn’t then she’ll be heading back to Gainsville, Florida for her senior year, a bit earlier than she would wish.

Cory McGee’s description of herself on her twitter account reads:

If it’s all about the red, white and blue, you would think when most Americans are stuffing their faces with burgers and dogs on July 4^th, McGee would be sporting the tri colors and watching fireworks in the states. Rather, she was prepping for her July 6 race in Belgium to be granted the opportunity to represent the country she loves at the World Championships.

In Belgium, McGee ran 4:09.85, a new personal record and University of Florida school record. For her, that wasn't good enough. She needs to dip under 4:09.00 or she’ll be watching Worlds on a television back in the states.

A 1 second PR today and another step closer to the dream. Only better things to come as this summer in Europe unfolds. #OperationMoscow
— Cory McGee (@CoryMcGeeRuns) July 6, 2013

Can this dream actually become a reality? Her 4:10.55 at the Payton Jordan Classic and recent 4:09.85 shows that it’s possible. It's not just her times that are impressive, but her competitive nature. At the NCAA Championships, McGee gapped the field with 200m to go and hung on for 2nd. At the US Championships, she once again kicked for home and finished 3^rd.

McGee is certainly capable of breaking 4:09.00. Let’s take a look at a little NCAA 1500m history…

There have only been ten other collegians to break 4:09.00.

Jenny Simpson (Colorado) 3:59.90 June 7, 2009

Hannah England (Florida St) 4:06.19 June 14, 2008

Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) 4:06.67 June 14, 2008

Tiffany McWilliams (Mississippi St) 4:06.75 June 14, 2003
Emma Cobrun (Colorado) 4:06.87 May 17, 2013

Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) 4:07.50 June 14, 2008

Lena Nilsson (UCLA) 4:07.69 May 24, 2003

Suzy Hamilton (Wisconsin) 4:08.26 June 2, 1990

Brie Felnagle (North Carolina) 4:08.54 May 17, 2008

Susan Kuijken (Florida St) 4:08.90 May 2, 2009

Here's a quick list of the accomplishments of the athletes above:

- Jenny Simpson: Gold at the last World Championships in 2011 in Daegu, Korea

- Hannah England: Silver behind Simpson in Daegu

- Sally Kipyego: Silver in 10,000m at Daegu and London Olympics

- Sarah Bowman: The person who beat Kipyego at 2009 NCAAs preventing her from capturing her tenth NCAA individual, set a few American and World records with Tennessee relays

Those are the women's at the top of the list. But what about Brie Felnagle and Susan Kuijken, who just dipped under 4:09.00?

At the '08 ACC Indoor Championships, Felnagle got third in 4:37.67. The next year, Kuijken won ACCs with a 4:34.11. This winter, McGee won the SEC Championships in 4:35.33, but had a best time of 4:32.10 earlier in the season.

These stats favor McGee’s chances to break 4:09.00, but the thing is both Felnagle and Kuijken focused on the 3,000m the indoor season that they broke 4:09.00. It's difficult to tell how fast those two could have run if they dialed in on the mile that season.

The outdoor season for Felnagle (’08), Kuijken (’09) and McGee (’13) included two rounds at their respective conference championships (except Kuijken), two rounds at NCAA Regionals, two rounds at NCAA Championships and one other opportunity to focus solely on running fast, not having to worry about the tactics of championship racing.

For Felnagle that was the Elite Meet in Chapel Hill where she ran 4:08.54 on May 17; for Kuijken it was the Payton Jordan Invite on May 2 (4:08.90); for McGee, it was Payton Jordan on April 28 (4:10.55). Felnagle ran the Olympic Trials, but DNF’d. Kuijken went on to drop a 4:05.86 back in her home country of the Netherlands before competing at Worlds. McGee, of course, finished third at USAs.

McGee was all smiles at USAs

What does this mean for McGee? Quite frankly, it could go either way. She is hovering over the mystical 4:09.00 mark, but isn't quite there. In order to hit the mark she would have to pull off another PR, this time almost a full second.

At USAs, she was only beat by two people. In Heusden, she is up against the clock. Sure, Felnagle and Kuijken have faster collegiate PRs than McGee, but keep in mind, as collegians they were never in McGee's situation: Run under this time and you are going to Worlds.

Cory McGee will step up to the starting line in Heusden this Saturday and the thought, "If I break 4:09.00, I represent the RED, WHITE and BLUE at the World Championships" will cross her mind. That thought could either spark an overwhelming onset of fear, or it could fuel her fire of desire.

The real question isn’t, "Can Cory McGee break 4:09.00?" Rather, can she stare fear right in the eye at a place far, far from her Mississippi home and say, “This gator has the chomps to take care of business."