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Richardson standout has
the time of her life
Rosen breaks 5-minute
barrier, wins 1,600 at Jesuit-Sheaner Relays
Richardson sophomore Jillian Rosen said she didn't have high expectations
going into the girls 1,600-meter race Saturday at the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays. Rosen was competing against many of the area's top distance runners in a
crowded field. By the time the race was over, Rosen said she was surprised
by her performance. Rosen not only won the race but also ran below 5 minutes for the first
time in her life. Rosen posted an area-best time of 4:59.03, 14 seconds
faster than her previous best. "I wasn't expecting to break 5 minutes this soon," Rosen said,
"but I've been working so hard. I came into the race knowing that I was
running against the best runners around, and I just wanted to run with them
and see what happened." What has happened is that Rosen has quickly become one of the state's top
runners in the 800 and 1,600. Not bad for a 16-year-old who didn't start
running until the seventh grade and is passionate about club soccer. Rosen provided a hint that she would have a good season when she won the
1,600 in 5:14.84 at the LSU High School Indoor Classic in early January in
Baton Rouge, La. Garland Naaman Forest senior Asia Diaz finished second in
5:19.70. "Jillian is one of these kids who you only get every 10 years or
so," Richardson girls coach Richard Bonner said. "She's a rare
breed." Plano West senior Erin Bedell, the state-record holder in the 1,600 at
4:43.71, didn't run at the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays because she was competing
in the women's junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in
France. Bedell finished 28th in 22:32 in the 6-kilometer race. South Garland senior Matt Harding said he hadn't been pleased with
his start in the 100 meters before racing Saturday at the Jesuit-Sheaner
Relays. Harding said he had his best start yet in the final of the 100. He got
out of the blocks quickly and took an early lead en route to winning in
10.54 seconds. "My start has been my biggest problem," Harding said. "I
definitely have improved on it." Harding, a defensive back who has signed a football scholarship with
Tulane, has the state's top 100 time this season at 10.46. Southlake Carroll standout junior hurdler Clint Renfro didn't
compete at the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays on Saturday because of a strained left
quadriceps. Renfro injured his leg after falling during the 110-meter hurdles race
March 11 at the Carroll/John Lowery Relays. Renfro, who finished second last
year in the 300 hurdles at the Class 5A state meet, said he expects to
compete again within a week or two. Arlington Grace Prep senior distance runner Daniel LaCava, a Hurst
resident, said he has orally committed to Arkansas. LaCava has the state's
second-fastest 800 time this season (1:54.69) and is a standout 3,200
runner. He'll join Plano senior distance runner Scott MacPherson at
Arkansas next season. E-mail bgeorge@dallasnews.com
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