HS Girls Indoor Athlete Of The Year — Katelyn Tuohy

IN SELECTING OUR world men’s AOY winner we noted that it was so close that there was some sympathy for a tie. The margin between national recordsetters Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland, Thiells, New York) and Athing Mu (Central, Trenton, New Jersey) was similarly tight. Mu’s signature race was the 600, where her 1:23.57 was not only an HSR but was also an American Record. She also produced the event’s Nos. 2 & 4 HS clockings ever. Tuohy’s record run came in the 3000 (9:01.81) where she also produced all-time marks 4 and 6.

Each was prominent in other events, with Tuohy producing the No. 5 time ever in the 1500 (4:19.72 HSL), No. 8 in the mile (4:39.15 HSL) and No. 2 in the 2M (9:51.05 HSL). Mu moved to No. 5 in the 400 (52.55 HSL), No. 4 in the 800 (2:03.98 HSL) and No. 3 in the 1000 (2:44.43 HSL). If the voting had happened before the NBIN meet, Mu would likely have been the winner, but her loss to another prep there (while Tuohy never lost to a prep) took some of the shine off her credentials. So, the narrowest of edges to the defending No. 1.

Honorable Mention: Anna Hall (Valor, Highlands Ranch, Colorado) raised the pentathlon record to 4302 and followed that up with the No. 2 score ever, 4209. Chloe Cunliffe twice broke the national record in the vault, first clearing 14-5¼, then 14-9. Dominant walker Taylor Ewert (Beavercreek, Ohio) set new records in the 1500 (6:02.85), mile (6:28.21) and 3000 (13:24.76).