Carlisle sophomore Ainsley Erzen won a girls 800 featuring some of Iowa's fastest returnees in the event at the Dickinson Relays. In a race including 5 girls who have lifetime personal bests of 2:12 or faster, Erzen was untouchable taking it out from the gun and never looking back. The fast times as hoped for didn't materialize with the loaded field, but Erzen's victory was impressive nonetheless in a time of 2:15.89.
Erzen was fresh for the race and might have been the most race sharp of the group as the Dickinson Relays was her third meet of the indoor season after racing at the Arkansas Invitational in January where she won the 800 in 2:13 and Iowa State Games in February.
It was the twins of Ottumwa High School in Alli Bookin-Nosbisch at 2:18.50 for second place and Grace Bookin-Nosbisch at 2:20.24. Alli had won the 400 meter dash earlier in 58.35. The two sisters are headed to the University of Iowa in the fall.
The fastest girl in the field in Mackenzie Michael of Cedar Falls (2:08 PR from outdoor) was doubling back from winning the 1500 for the second year in a row at Dickinson Relays, but did not have the wheels left to run as well in the 800 as she finished 7th in 2:24. A similar result occurred for a 2:11 performer in Sophia Jungling of Aplington Parkersburg, who was a runner-up in the 400 earlier to Bookin-Nosbisch and ended up finishing 8th in 2:26.
With Iowa not having a true official indoor season with often brutal winters to train and some of the athletes playing another winter sport instead, conditioning is not as great as where most of these girls will be at say come the Drake Relays in the 800 which could be exciting to see many of these same girls racing head to head once again before they race in different classifications for the state meet.