For Immediate Release:  April 20, 2016

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2016 U.S. ARMY MIDWEST DISTANCE CLASSIC IS NOW OPEN!

LISLE, IL—Registration for the 2016 U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic on Saturday evening, June 11, is now open at www.midwestdistanceclassic.com.  Hosted at the world-class track at Benedictine University in the western Chicago suburb of Lisle, the post-season meet draws the premier high school distance runners from 12 Midwest states.  The limited-format meet features boys and girls competition in the 800 meters, 1600m, freshman 1600m, 2000m steeplechase, and 3200m.

“The U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic is designed to be an opportunity to run FAST with the help of pace-setters and great competition, and without the burden of having to run qualifying rounds or multiple races for team points”, says meet director Skip Stolley. 

Last year’s meet suffered a 90-minute weather delay because of lightning in the area.  But when the meet commenced, it produced lightning on the track as the boys’ races produced scintillating winning times of 1:49.73 (800m), 4:09.85 (1600m), 8:56.06 (3200m), and 6:01.79 (2000m steeplechase).  The girls’ races also produced excellent marks as the winners splashed to times of 2:13.42 (800m), 4:44.79 (1600m), 11:02.68 (3200m) and 7:22.53 (2000m steeplechase).

That competition saw Aurora’s 2-time Illinois state champion and 2A record holder Karina Liz come from behind to win the girls 800 and Orland Park’s Sean Torpy break away from the field with 600m to go to run a 4-second PR and break 4:10 in the 1600.   Other highlights included Iowa's Thomas Pollard holding-off Kansan Dylan Hodgson to win the 3200, 8:56.06 to 8:56.34...Minnesota’s Shane Streich run 1:49.85—the 3^rd fastest time in the nation—to win a loaded 800...and Michigan's Audrey Belf, now at Georgetown University, lead start-to-finish to win the girls’ 1600 in 4:44.74.

“The end result was that we had 47 athletes run lifetime bests, Stolley noted.  So despite the drizzle and puddles on the track, the competition among these great athletes produced great times…such as five boys under 1:52 in the 800, eight under 4:15 and the 1600, and six under 9:10 in the 3200.”

CONTACT:

Skip Stolley

Meet Director, U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic  www.midwestditanceclassic.com

Chairman, Chicago Area Track & Field Organizing Committee, Inc.

[email protected]   310-200-5527