Highland’s Neipp Pursues High Standards for 3,200

Andrea Neipp of Highland High is not sure how many races she’ll run in the Golden West Invitational at American River College in Sacramento today, but she is positive about one thing.

She wants to run a personal best in the 3,200 meters.

The Brigham Young-bound Neipp ran a then-yearly national leading time of 10 minutes 19.55 seconds to win the 3,200 in the Pasadena Games at Occidental College on March 29, but that remains her best.

“I want to [set a personal record],” she said. “But I’ve been saying that for how many races now?”

Neipp laughed when she said that, but there was a certain amount of frustration in her voice, as she’s been shooting for the 10:10 range for weeks.

She felt that goal was attainable at the Southern Section divisional championships May 24, but she clocked 10:25.57 to win the Division I title. She followed that with a victory in the Southern Section Masters Meet six days later, but her time of 10:23.34 was again disappointing.

Then came last Saturday’s state championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. Neipp led for the first 2,800 meters, but finished a distant third in 10:26.07 after getting left behind by Santa Rosa’s Julia Stamps (10:15.17) and Concord Carondelet’s Kristen Gordon (10:19.84) on the last lap.

“Julia ran such a good race,” Neipp said. “But I didn’t push the pace. I don’t know why, but I didn’t make a move and then when she went by me, I just let her go. And then when Kristen went by me, I let her go. It wasn’t disappointing that I got third. . . . but I just didn’t go after them. That’s what got to me.”

Neipp won’t have to face Stamps or Gordon in the 3,200 today, but she will have to contend with Amy Swier of Aztec (N.M.), who has run 10:18.31 this season.

Neipp isn’t sure if she’ll run in the mile, which is 80 minutes after the 3,200, but if she does, she’ll be up against Stamps again.

“I’m going to run the 3,200 first and then the mile if I feel good,” Neipp said. “This is going to be the last meet of my high school career so I hope I can [set a personal record].”

Heather Sickler of Camarillo and Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley will also be shooting for personal bests in the girls’ pole vault and boys’ 800 today, but each of them has another year of high school.

Sickler, the region record holder in the vault at 12 feet 3 1/2 inches, is looking to redeem herself after failing to advance to the final of the state championships.

Meuse is gunning for an elusive school record in the 800.

The Pioneer junior clocked 1:52.57 to place second in the Arcadia Invitational on April 12, but he has been unable to get closer to the school record of 1:51.6 set by Dave Bogard in 1965.

“This is my last chance of the year to break that record so that’s my No. 1 goal,” Meuse said. “I’m probably going to have to take the initiative on the first lap. I want to go out in 54 and see if I can come back in a 57.”