Denver East’s Arria Minor sets records in 200 and 400, now has top time nationally
LAKEWOOD — Arria Minor knew Thursday was the day to take aim at the state record book.
The Denver East junior was on the mark. Minor set all-classification records in the 200 and 400 meter prelims at the state track and field championships as she ran in great conditions — mid 70s, relatively little wind. The forecasts for Saturday’s finals are calling for rain and wind — poor conditions to chase records.
“I knew I had to go for it today,” Minor said. “Colorado’s weather is terrible. I was definitely trying today for those records. … I tried to take advantage of (the good weather) as much as I could.”
Minor’s time in the 400, 51.92, broke the previous record of 52.49 set Regis Jesuit’s Ana Holland in 2013. It is also now the fastest outdoor 400 time in the nation by a high school girl this season, besting the previous mark by exactly 0.6 seconds, according to MileSplit. In addition, she ran the fastest 400 indoor time this season.
“I wanted to run 51 so bad,” Minor said. “I was telling all my friends — they are probably annoyed with me — ‘I want to run 51!’ ‘OK, Arria, then run it.’ So I definitely came out pretty hard. I was maintaining, I was tired, but it paid off.”
Earlier this season, Minor set the all-classification record in the 200, going 23.18. She broke that record again Thursday, finishing in 22.89. That time ranks second nationally.
Minor has won the 100, 200 and 400 in each of her first two seasons. She has the top time heading into Saturday’s finals in each event.
