Tuohy shakes off recent illness with national sophomore record in 1,500

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Wednesday's 1,500 meters at the Section I, New York state championship showed Katelyn Tuohy at her best: front-running, hard-driving and tough to beat.

Tuohy, who had initially planned to run the 1,000 meters along with the 1,500 but backed off because she'd recently been sick, rocketed to a US#1 4:23.91 in a tuneup for the New York State championship March 3.

"The goal was just to qualify for states," said Tuohy, who broke the national high school sophomore record of 4:24.25 set by former Bronxville star Mary Cain in 2012.

"I was using it as a fitness check because I'd been a little sick."

Tuohy split 66 and 2:17, gapping the field immediately, and remained strong in the final 400 for a statement win, elevating her to the No. 9 all-time prep performer in the 1,500.

"I didn't know what to expect (tonight) because I had the flu," Tuohy said.

She is still figuring out which races to focus on at New Balance Nationals Indoor.

"I'm definitely really looking forward to running some relays," said Tuohy, who said North Rockland might field distance and sprint medleys. "I haven't had the chance to do that. (Individually) it'll be the mile or the 2-mile."

Pearl River's Matt Politis had a commanding lead in the boys 1,000 meters final at 700 meters. The split at 800 was 1:58. Then the chase pack closed in a hurry. As Politis, Bronxville twins Alex and Matt Rizzo and Arlington's Mark Scanlon grappled for position, the race had all the makings of a classic.

"It was a cage fight," Alex Rizzo said. "I took the lead with 300 meters to go and I looked around and knew that there were four of us and only three spots for the state meet."

With Politis sticking with him, Alex Rizzo drove toward the finish. Then Matt Rizzo buzzed alongside them, 50 meters out, for the 2:27.81 win.

"I looked up and saw someone go by me," Alex Rizzo said. "I thought it was Politis but it was Matt."

Alex Rizzo finished second in 2:28.34, Politis third in 2:29.04 and Scanlon fourth in 2:29.95.

Ursuline School junior Lily Flynn won the girls 1,000 in 2:56.96, then anchored Ursuline's 4x800 relay to a 9:19.66 win.

Flynn combined with Claire Wilson, Sarah Flynn and Lily Sheahan for the win. In addition to shooting for a New York state championship in the 4x800, they'll run a distance medley at New Balance Nationals Indoor.

Harrison senior Robert Blue, a former basketball player competing in his first indoor season, jumped 47-5.75 to win the triple jump.