4. Jacqueline Gaughan Posts U.S. No. 1 time Of 16:48.00
Returning to the Brown Northeast Invitational in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on Saturday, Jacqueline Gaughan still had yet to really let loose on a cross country course in 2017.
That all changed quick.
The Exeter (NH) High senior took command almost immediately, flying through advantageous terrain en route to a U.S. No. 1 and course winning time of 16:48.00.
"I just wanted to run faster than last year," said Gaughan, who posted a time of 17:12.00 in last year's race. "I was hoping to break 17 minutes."
Gaughan's plan was pretty simple. With just two races on her resume this fall, she wanted to test her legs a little more and went out for a hard first mile in 5:20.
From there, Gaughan, a Foot Locker Nationals qualifier in 2016, controlled the race in the final miles, adding that she tried to "hang on for the last two," and sustained through the final tape.
"I think just going into any race, I just want hang with that top pack," she said. "So that's what I did today."