Dani Aragon can run fast in all types of weather. The Montana native has starred in New Mexico and will do the same in Indiana eventually.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Aragon
Dani Aragon, a senior from
Billings (Mont.), has learned to overcome all obstacles - including the weather - during her outstanding running career.
Last weekend she faced 90-degree heat during the Great Southwest Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., but still was able to win the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 11 seconds. It was her first title in her fourth year at the prestigious meet.
Only one week earlier, the University of Notre Dame recruit was battling light snow, wind and a 36-degree temperature while starring in the Montana Class AA state meet. She still was able to win the 800 in a state-record time of 2:08.31. The previous record of 2:11 had stood since 1973. She also won the 1600 in 4:56.43 and the 3200 in 11:09.23. She was the defending state champion in all three events.
In addition, she placed second in the 400 (57.23) and anchored the second-place 4x400 relay to help the Broncs win their third-consecutive team championship.
Aragon, who ran the 400 and 1600 on the first day, told MaxPreps, "It snowed the whole day. It never stuck, but it was kind of weird, warming up and having it in your eyes. The only way it hindered me was that I didn't know what to expect in the first race (the 1600). I didn't wear gloves. I'm used to running in difficult weather, but you usually don't have it at that late date. The second day it snowed at the beginning. Then it rained and was a little slippery."
The Billings star, who has a 3.89 GPA, plans to take pre-med in the fall at Notre Dame. She will be joining her older sister, Alexa, and a freshman class that includes Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year Molly Seidel of
University Lake (Hartland, Wis.). She also will continue the heritage of her father, Charles Aragon, who was a standout miler at Notre Dame, and her mother, Kathy, who competed in three Olympic Trials.
Seidel, by the way, erased her own state record when she won the 3200 in 10:21.93. She also won the 1600 in 4:54.81, but injured her right foot and was unable to later run the 800.
* The 37th Great Southwest produced some other outstanding efforts.
Kendell Williams, Kell
Photo courtesy of Blane Williams
star Kendell Williams set a national junior-class record when she won the heptathlon with 5,383 points. The record of 5,377 had stood for five years. Her brother, Devon, a senior, won the decathlon with with 6,374 points. The girls decathlon was won by Kaija Bramwell, a freshman from
Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.), with 5,200 points. Outstanding times were turned in by Abraham Hall of
South Grand Prairie (Texas), who won the 100 in 10.2 seconds, and Arman Hall of
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) who captured the 400 in 45.39 seconds.
* Several 2012 national bests were turned in over the weekend.
Donovan Robertson, a senior from
Berea (Ohio), ran the fastest 300 (35.96) and set an Ohio record during the Division I state meet. The Ohio State signee also overcame strong winds to win the 110 hurdles in 13.66. Unheralded Tanner Sork of
Union (Vancouver, Wash.) ran a national-best and Washington state-record 1:48.74 to win the 800 during the BorderDuel in Portland, Ore. His focus was so strong that he knocked down an official who was standing five feet beyond the finish line. Favored Marcus Dickson of
White River (Buckley, Wash.) also broke the 1997 state record with his runner-up time of 1:49.33. Both will attend Brigham Young University in the fall.
Bronxville (N.Y.) sophomore Mary Cain lowered her own national best in the 1500 with a winning time of 4:16.52 during the New York Section I State Qualifier. It also is No. 3 all-time and a national sophomore-class record.
The
Grosse Pointe South (Mich.) girls 4x800 relay also took over the 2012 national lead with a state-record clocking of 8:48.29 during the Division I state finals. It also is No. 4 all-time. Members were Kelsie Schwartz and Ersula Farrow, along with juniors Haley and Hannah Meier.
* Senior sprinter Destinee Gause of
Reynoldsburg (Ohio) won four gold medals at the Ohio Division I meet to give her a state-record 12 during her outstanding four-year career. She won the 100 (11.95), fourth-consecutive 200 (23.91) and ran on two champion relays, including the record-setting 4x100 (45.99). Her team also won its fourth-straight championship.
* Futsum Zienasellassie, a senior from
North Central (Indianapolis), broke a 1975 record when he won the 3200 in 8:51.15 during the Indiana state meet. It marked his fourth 3200 title in as many years. The native of Eritrea told the Indianapolis Star, "I love the state of Indiana, the people. It's just been a great four years."
* Senior Ajee Wilson of
Neptune (N.J.) won four gold medals during the Group 3 state championships to cement her status as one of New Jersey's greatest female track & field performers. She claimed the 400 in 54.88, the 800 in 2:12.53 and the 1600 in 4:54.63, while also anchoring the 4x400 relay to a 3:51.44 triumph. Her efforts also helped Neptune earn its first state team title in 25 years.
* Jasmin Gibbs of
El Camino (Oceanside, Calif.) ran the 100 in 11:43 seconds at the trials during the California state meet. That time eclipsed a San Diego Section record (11.51) which was established by three-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers in 1984.
