May 23-25, 2:00 PM UTC
IHSA Boys Outdoor Champs
May 23, 7:00 PM UTC
MPSSAA Outdoor Champs
May 24, 4:00 PM UTC
Continental Tour: Samorin
May 25-26, 12:00 AM UTC
CIF Outdoor Championships
May 26, 10:20 AM UTC
Great Manchester Run
May 28-30, TBD
CIAC Outdoor Champs
May 28, 4:00 PM UTC
Continental Tour: Ostrava
May 30-Jun 1, TBD
KHSAA Outdoor Champs
May 30-Jun 1, TBD
OHSAA Outdoor Champs
May 31-Jun 1, TBD
VHSL Outdoor Champs | Class 5-6
May 31-Jun 1, TBD
VHSL Outdoor Champs | Class 1-2
May 31-Jun 1, TBD
VHSL Outdoor Champs | Class 3-4
May 31-Jun 1, TBD
WIAA Outdoor Champs
Jun 1, 9:50 AM UTC
Stockholm Marathon
Jun 3, TBD
CIAC Open Outdoor Champs
Notre Dame Meyo Invitational 2014

Women's Meyo Mile Preview

Women's Meyo Mile Preview

Feb 6, 2014 by Isaac Wood
Women's Meyo Mile Preview
The last four years of the Women's Meyo Mile, the winner has run 4:44 ('10), 4:40 ('11), 4:38 ('12), and 4:39 ('13). That comes out to an average of 4:40.66. If there ever was a race that brought some of the best NCAA mile talent, the Meyo Mile is the spot. The 2010 race is the outlier of the four, since the winner didn't go sub-4:40. Since then, the event's name was changed to the "Meyo Mile" and the winner of the women's mile has run 4:40 or better. This, the 4th edition of the official women's Meyo Mile, we can almost guarantee a sub-4:40 performance. 

The field in this race has a perfect combination of quality post-collegiate milers and some of the best collegiate milers in the Great Lakes area. An interesting statistic to note is that although there have been some solid unattached or sponsored runners in this race before, none of them have ever won (at least since 2011). That being said, the returning champion Rebecca Tracy (4:33.53 Mile PR) will be running this race unattached. 

Last year, Tracy blew by Diane Nukuri-Johnson of ASICS with a lap to go, and held off Shannon Osika in the last 100 meters. As you can see below, the crowd went nuts:


I really like the Michigan v. Notre Dame feel this race has. Both programs have had awesome milers over the past few years and it will be interesting to see if Tracy (formerly of Notre Dame) can out kick the very strong Amanda Eccleston (4:37.33 mile PR, formerly of Michigan).

Beyond the Wolverine-Irish rivalry, there is also an up and coming Michigan State athlete in Leah O'Connor in the field (4:38.74 Mile PR). O'Connor is one of the strongest steeplechasers in the NCAA and has a risen to a different level after a great cross country season. She will definitely be in the mix.

The women's Meyo Mile field already has five runners that have run sub-4:40, so don't be surprised to see the entire field beat that mark or be right near it.

Another interesting story is Michigan's Erin Finn (4:46.29 HS Mile PR). Coming off of her 30th place finish at NCAA XC Nationals, this under-distance race will be the biggest challenge of her young collegiate career. Still, Finn has never failed to bring it when it mattered and proved that in cross. A sub-4:40 race is nothing out of reach for her. 

Prediction
1. Amanda Eccleston- Unattached- 4:34.88
2. Rebecca Addison- Unattached- 4:35.23
3. Rebecca Tracy- Unattached- 4:35.95
4. Kelly Curran- Notre Dame- 4:36.44
5. Leah O'Connor- Michigan State-4:37.10
6. Erin Finn- Michigan- 4:37.22 

Click here to watch the Women's mile LIVE on Saturday at 3:10pm CT.


Related Content