A Brief History of the Mile – West Virginia High School Girls

A Short History of the Mile -

The word “mile” comes from the Latin “mille”, meaning thousand, and a mile was 1,000 Roman strides, a stride being two paces. A mile is equal to 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards or approximately 1,609 meters. Currently, the United States and Great Britain use the mile as a measurement unit. The mile became standardized as exactly 1609.344 meters by international agreement on July 1, 1959.

In the early 1980s, U.S. high school state federations switched from the Mile to the 1600 meters because new tracks were 400 meters instead of 440 yards and thus, the 1600 meters (9 meters short of a Mile), due to convenience, unfortunately and sadly, replaced the Mile at high school State Meets (except Massachusetts and a few states that run the 1500 meters). ~ Source BringBacktheMile.com

A Brief History of the Mile is a record of West Virginia High School girls who have gone sub-5:00 in the 1600-meter run/Mile Run for Outdoor Track & Field. Sub-5:00 runs span over a twelve-year period from 2006 to 2017. This Brief History of the Mile records all West Virginia High School girls who have ran sub-5:00 minutes. Having said that, let’s not forget those girls who paved the way… such as: Susie Comer of Pennsboro High (1970’s), Anderson of Parkersburg (1970’s), Dawn Nease of Parkersburg (1980’s), Margaret Blake of West Fairmont (1980’s), Sylvie Valey of Wheeling Park (1980’s), Mary Hines of Huntington East (1980’s), Shelly Wallace of Huntington High (1980’s), Cindy Campbell of Huntington East (1980’s), Sarah Ogle of St. Albans (1990’s), Holly Hunter of East Fairmont High (1990’s), and Jessica Taylor of Fayetteville High (1990’s).

Since the 1970’s, only seven West Virginia high school girl runners have broken five-minutes for the mile. It wasn’t until the mid-2000’s before we would see the first sub-5:00 minute performance. From 2006 on, we’ve seen them in clusters. Two girls did it between 2006-07, two did it between 2012-14, and three did it in 2017. Here is a brief history of the mile:

West Virginia High School Girls Sub-5:00 Milers

In 2006, Kaylyn Christopher was a junior at Preston High School in Kingwood, West Virginia. She became the first West Virginia high school female to break 5-minutes in the 1600-meter run. On April 13th, at the Erickson/Camden-Clark Invitational, Christopher ran the 1600-meter run in four minutes and 58.18 seconds.

On April 21st, 2007, senior Kaylyn Christopher, would better her time in the 1600-meter run by running 4:54.82 at the Morgantown High/WVU Invitational. Her 4:54.82 currently puts her fourth on the West Virginia all-time prep list. Christopher would finish out her high school career with three sub-5:00 minute performances.

On May 19th, 2007, there was a showdown between former teammate’s, Preston's Kaylyn Christopher and University's Amber Riley. Christopher led throughout, but Riley was close on her heels well into the 3rd lap before Christopher started generating a gap. Christopher pulled away to take the event by over 2 seconds as the pair became the first to go under 5:00 at the West Virginia High School State Track & Field Meet. Christopher's 4:55.85 was the Best All-Time State Meet Performance regardless of Class and the Best Class AAA All-Time State Meet Performance and the Best Class AAA Performance for this decade. Riley would become the second West Virginia high school female to break 5-minutes in the 1600-meter run. Her 4:58.01 was the second-Best All-Time State Meet Performance regardless of Class and the second-Best Class AAA All-Time State Meet Performance and the second-Best Class AAA Performance for this decade. Riley’s 4:58.01 currently puts her sixth on the West Virginia all-time prep list. She would finish out her high school career with only one sub-5:00 minute performance.

In 2012, Maggie Drazba was a junior at St. Marys High School in St. Marys, West Virginia. She became the third West Virginia high school female to break 5-minutes in the 1600-meter run. On April 13th, at the Pizza House Invitational, Drazba would run the 1600-meter run in four minutes and 51.88 seconds. She would also become the new state record holder in this event and the fastest junior for West Virginia High School female’s to run sub-5 minutes. Drazba is the only West Virginia High School class ‘A’ female runner to accomplish this feat, while all other sub-5:00 minute performances were by class ‘AAA’ runners. Her 4:51.88 currently puts her second on the West Virginia all-time prep list.

On May 19th, 2012, junior Maggie Drazba runs 4:56.23 at the West Virginia High School State Championships to break her own Class ‘A’ girls 1600-meter record.

In 2013, St. Marys Maggie Drazba would run three more sub-5 minute races during her senior track season. Drazba has run the second most sub-5:00 minute Miles for a West Virginia High School female distance runner, six.

In 2013, Amelia Paladino was a junior at University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia. She became the fourth West Virginia high school female to break 5-minutes for the Mile run. On April 25th - April 27th, at The Penn Relays Carnival, Paladino ran a true mile in four minutes and 56.57 seconds. Her 4:56.57 for 1 mile converts to 4:34.68 for 1500m and 4:54.85 for 1600m.

On May 24th, 2014, at the West Virginia High School State Championships, senior Amelia Paladino runs 4:51.74 in the AAA girl’s 1600-meter run. That time would give her the All-Time Best State Meet Performance and the All-time Best Class AAA State Meet Performance. Preston’s Kaylyn Christopher held the previous class ‘AAA’ girls record of 4:55.85 back on May 19th, 2007.

On April 24th, 2014 - April 26th, 2014, at The Penn Relays Carnival, Paladino ran the fastest outdoor true mile time in West Virginia high school history of 4 minutes and 45.34 seconds. Her time of 4:45.34 for 1 mile converts to 4:24.28 for 1500m and 4:43.69 for 1600m. Paladino has run the most sub-5 minute Miles for a West Virginia High School female distance runner, eight. Her 4:43.69 puts her first on the West Virginia all-time prep list.

In 2017, Tori Starcher was a freshman at Ripley High School in Ripley, West Virginia. She became the fifth West Virginia high school girl to break 5-minutes in the Mile. On April 15th, at the Russ Parson/United Way Invitational, Starcher ran the 1600-meter run in four minutes and 55.48 seconds.

On April 29th, 2017, a pair of freshman go sub-5:00 in the AAA Girls 1600-meter run at the Gazette/Friends of Coal Relays. Ripley High’s Tori Starcher won the event over Parkersburg High’s Madison Trippett, 4:55.58 to 4:58.23, respectively. This would be Starcher’s second time going sub-5:00 in the same track season, while Madison Trippett became the sixth West Virginia high school sub-5:00 Miler. Trippett’s 4:58.23 currently puts her seventh on the West Virginia all-time prep list.

On May 20th, 2017, at the West Virginia High School State Championships, Ripley’s Tori Starcher and University’s TaShala Turner both ran sub-5 minutes in the class ‘AAA’ girls 1600-meter run. The Vikings’ standout freshman was clocked at 4:53.91 to become the individual state champion, while the Hawks’ junior finished runner-up with a time of 4 minutes and 56.98 seconds. Starcher’s time would give her the second All-Time Best State Meet Performance and the second All-time Best Class AAA State Meet Performance, while Turner’s time would rank her fourth. Starcher’s 4:53.91 and Turner’s 4:56.98 currently puts them third and fifth on the West Virginia all-time prep list, respectively. Tori Starcher finished out her freshman track season with three sub-5:00 minute 1600-meter runs.

West Virginia High School Girls 1600m (Outdoor Rankings):

1. 4:43.69 – Amelia Paladino - University High - April 24th, 2014 - April 26th, 2014 [Senior Year]

2. 4:51.88 – Maggie Drazba – St. Marys High - April 13th, 2012 [Junior Year]

3. 4:53.91 – Tori Starcher – Ripley High – May 20th, 2017 [Freshman Year]

4. 4:54.82 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston High - April 21st, 2007 [Senior Year]

5. 4:56.98 - TaShala Turner – University High – May 20th, 2017 [Junior Year]

6. 4:58.01 – Amber Riley – University High - May 19th, 2007 [Senior Year]

7. 4:58.23 – Madison Trippett – Parkersburg High – April 29th, 2017 [Freshman Year]

Note: Only top times were used for each individual. Paladino’s time is converted from the Mile.

Sub-5:00 1600m/Mile Run (By Individual):

Kaylyn Christopher (Preston High / Class of 2007)

4:58.18 - Erickson/Camden-Clark Invitational on April 13th, 2006 (1600m)

4:54.82 - Morgantown High/WVU Invitational on April 21st, 2007 (1600m)

4:55.85 - West Virginia High School State Track Meet on May 19th, 2007 (1600m)

Amber Riley (University High / Class of 2007)

4:58.01 - West Virginia High School State Track Meet on May 19th, 2007 (1600m)

Maggie Drazba (St. Marys High / Class of 2013)

4:51.88 - Pizza House Invitational on April 13th, 2012 (1600m)

4:56.23 - West Virginia State Championships on May 19th, 2012 (1600m)

4:53.67 - New Balance Outdoor Nationals on June 16th, 2012 (1 Mile)

4:59.47 - Pizza House Invitational on April 12th, 2013 (1600m)

4:54.97 - LKC (Little Kanawha Conference) Championship - May 3rd, 2013 (1600m)

4:54.43 - New Balance Outdoor Nationals on June 16th, 2013 (1 Mile)

Amelia Paladino (University High / Class of 2014)

4:56.57 - The Penn Relays Carnival on April 25th, 2013 - April 27th, 2013 (1 Mile)

4:59.43 - West Virginia State Championships on May 18th, 2013 (1600m)

4:45.34 - The Penn Relays Carnival on April 24th, 2014 - April 26th, 2014 (1 Mile)

4:47.29 - Gazette/Friends of Coal Relays on May 2nd, 2014 (1600m)

4:54.94 - Ohio Valley Conference Championship on May 10th, 2014 (1600m)

4:51.74 - West Virginia State Championships on May 24th, 2014 (1600m)

4:54.81 - New Balance Outdoor Nationals on June 13th, 2014 - June 15th, 2014 (1 Mile)

4:46.69 - Brooks PR Invitational on June 21st, 2014 (1 Mile)

Tori Starcher (Ripley High / Class of 2020)

4:55.48 - Russ Parson/United Way Invitational on April 15th, 2017 (1600m)

4:55.58 - Gazette/Friends of Coal Relays on April 29th, 2017 (1600m)

4:53.91 - West Virginia State Championships on May 20th, 2017 (1600m)

Madison Triplett (Parkersburg High / Class of 2020)

4:58.23 - Gazette/Friends of Coal Relays on April 29th, 2017 (1600m)

TaShala Turner (University High / Class of 2018)

4:56.98 - West Virginia State Championships on May 20th, 2017 (1600m)

Submitted by Mike McMillion (Last updated 5/21/2017)

Results courtesy of RunWV