Columbus North’s Carys Glyn-Jones crosses the finish line just ahead of Whiteland’s Tori Jackson and Center Grove’s Hallie Mimbela in the 800 meters in the May 21 Shelbyville Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Carys Glyn-Jones is a little more accomplished in the 800 meters than in the 1,600, so after she learned she had earned a call-back to the state meet in the 1,600, Columbus North coach Rick Sluder asked her if she wanted to drop the 1,600 at state to focus on and be fresh for the 800.
While it is common for runners who do distance doubles to drop the 1,600 to be fresh for the 800 or 3,200, which are later in the meet, Glyn-Jones wanted to compete in both the 1,600 and 800. So on Friday, the junior plans to do both events in the Girls Track and Field State Finals at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
“We think she can medal in both, and she’s earned it, to be a double qualifier,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “So it’s kind of fun to see her take advantage of those opportunities. We think she’s going to run really well in those. She likes having an event before she races the 800, so this will be something we can use to get her legs ready and have her all set for the 800. So we can have her set up for a couple medals, hopefully.”
Carys Glyn-Jones
Glyn-Jones, who is the only area girl to qualify for this year’s state meet, is seeded sixth in the 800, based on her regional-winning time of 2 minutes, 14.98 seconds. She is 11th in the 1,600 at 5:04.80, but her sectional time of 5:00.59 would put her fourth, within a fraction of a second of the second seed.
Delta senior Nicki Southerland, the defending state champion in the 1,600, is way out in front of the field in both races with her 4:54.18 in the 1,600 and 2:08.10 in the 800. But Glyn-Jones is right in the mix for second in both.
The top nine earn spots on the medals stand.
“That would be amazing,” Glyn-Jones said. “My main goal is just to go and run the best I can possibly run, and if that means I medal, then I’d be extremely happy.”
Glyn-Jones was part of the Bull Dogs’ state champion 4×800 relay team last season. She finished 11th in the 800.
“Doubling is not something that scary to her, so we felt really comfortable with her doubling,” Sluder said. “She’s ran well in the 800 after the 1,600, and we feel even if she misses it barely in the 1,600, we feel like she can still come back and medal in the 800. She has a great chance to medal very high in the 1,600. She’s a fast finisher, so that obviously helps. If she can be in the top nine going into that last lap, we know she’ll get a medal. We think the sky is the limit for her. She’s training really well, and she’s gotten better every week.”
