Way Back Wednesday: Bethanie Brown 1600m State Record 4:50.39
At the 2012 New England High School Championship at Thornton Academy Waterville High School junior Bethanie Brown set a Maine 1600m record with her winning effort of 4:50.39.
Brown followed the fast pace set by Elle Purrier of Richford, VT and defending champion Sarah Gillespie of Connecticut. Purrier took the pace out hard coming through in 68.8, she remained in the lead as the trio came though the second lap in 74.3, for a 800m split of 2:23.1. Unlike in most race the pace usually lags in the third lap but that wasn't the case in this race as defending champion Gillispee took over the lead with 450m to go from Purrier and immediately opened up a 10m gap with 300m to go. She passed 1200m in a brisk 3:34.6. Brown moved by Purrier at the bell and started closing the gap down to Gillispee with 200m to go. With 150m to go Bethanie came even and took the lead with 100m to go, Purrier who was 10m back at this point unleashed a furious kick, but it wasn't enough as Brown powered her way to the win, setting a new personal best and state record 4:50.39, Purrier's time was 4:50.45.
Brown would add a second New England title later in the day when she trounced the field by 13 seconds winning in a time of 10:31.19.
Bethanie is an all-time great distance runner in Maine, she currently holds 1600m, Mile, 3000m, 3200m, 2 Mile & 5000m state records. She went on to compete collegiately at Iowa State University finishing 37th at the NCAA cross-country championship as a freshman.
Elle Purrier who finished second in the race now runs professionally for New Balance set an American record in the indoor mile this past winter with a 4:16.85, it is the second fastest time ever run in the world.
Results
1 Bethanie Brown JR Waterville - ME 4:50.39 2 Elle Purrier JR Richford VT 4:50.45 3 Maggie Christe 11 Immaculate CT 4:57.68 4 Christine Bendzinski 10 Rham - CT 4:59.82 5 Madison Granger 12 Belchertown MA 5:02.01 6 Kirstin Sandreuter SO Greely - ME 5:03.76 7 Charlotte Pierce JR Thornton - ME 5:05.74 8 Stella Worters 10 Shepherd Hi MA 5:07.71 9 Cate Allen 10 Fairfield Wa- CT 5:08.16 10 Kerri Keohane 9 Tyngsborough MA 5:09.74 11 Courtney Hawkins 11 Milford - NH 5:09.79 12 Sarah Gillespie 11 NW Cath - CT 5:11.03 13 Carsyn Koch SO Washburn - ME 5:11.72 14 Shannon Murdock 09 Exeter - NH 5:12.37 15 Alexa Pelletier 11 Winnacunnet-NH 5:13.05 16 Grace Loh 11 Darien - CT 5:13.30 17 Megan Verner-Crist SO Barrington - RI 5:14.08 18 Fiona Hendry SR Cheverus - ME 5:14.19 19 Aleta Looker SO Ellsworth-ME 5:15.98 20 Jessica Bellows FR Coventry - RI 5:17.08 21 Emma Newton 10 Hls/Brookline-NH 5:17.30 22 Smita Boesch-Dining 10 Concord - NH 5:23.32 23 Margaret McCaffrey FR E. Greenwich- RI 5:24.69 24 Sheridan Wilbur FR La Salle - RI 5:25.39 25 Laura Mears JR Independ VT 5:26.20 26 Anna Fay 12 Keene - NH 5:26.83 27 Brooke Davis SR Mill River VT 5:32.07 28 Jaime Thomas 11 Harwood VT 5:36.66 29 Julia Berkowicz 12 Whitinsville MA 5:39.14