Mimi Duffy made the right call.
Since the early spring, Central Bucks West’s Duffy has been slowed by shin splints, which have affected her time in the 100 meter and 200 meter, as well as for the 4x400 relay team. Those were both events that Duffy qualified for the state meet last season, and she took seventh in the 100 in the process.
Running the 400 in the past, Duffy decided to make her first attempt in the event at the Jim Kelly Invitational April 6-7 at Hatboro-Horsham High School.
The junior paced the field in a time of 57:11, and her accomplishment helped the Bucks’ girls team capture the team title.
“I hadn’t run it since last year at leagues,” said Duffy, who ran a 58.24 at the SOL championships last year. “My ultimate goal was to get a low 57 or a high 56 and that’s just what I did.
“Looking back at it, I feel like I could have definitely pushed it more and gotten a sub 57, but it is early in the season. I couldn’t be happier with my time.”
Aside from Duffy, other locals who took top honors were Central Bucks East’s Devon Sutton, (1,600, 5:12.32), Aleta Lyzinski (3,200, 11:43.15) and Jacob Tannenbaum (discus, 147-09); Central Bucks South’s Jacquelyn Waddell (pole vault, 8-06), Aiden Carey (long jump, 19-11.5) and Lucas Knappenberger (pole vault, 13-06); Council Rock North’s Kaitlyn McCoy (discus, 100-07) and Brady Ott (3,200, 9:45.44); Pennridge’s Ashley Landis (800, 2:14.56), Lindsey Balmer (high jump, 5-01) and Jared Hess (triple jump, 45.02.75, meet record); and Quakertown’s Kaitlin Calvello (long jump, 16-08.25 and triple jump, 32-09.5), Sabine Muse (shot put, 35-0.75) and Otani Ekpe (300 hurdles, 40:09).
CB South’s girls 4x400 (4:02.65) and 4x800 (9.33.32), and CR North’s distance medley boys team (10:32.98) also brought home gold.
CB West head coach Kiki Bell was impressed with Duffy’s showing as well as the Bucks’ overall grit and character. She noted the team’s recovery from a tight loss to CB East a few days earlier.
“The highlights of the meet came from Mimi’s performance in the 400, and athletes in the field who scored points,” said Bell. “We bounced back well from CB East with a no-nonsense, focused and determined effort.
“We face a stacked North Penn squad this week, and hopefully, we rise to meet them and beyond.”
Duffy, who began her running career in the Mount Carmel CYO program in Doylestown, appears ready to improve her times in the 100 and 200.
“I have gotten my shin splints under control,” she stated. “It’s exciting to run pain free. In my opening meet, I ran 12:18 in the 100, and I still feel like there is room for improvement there. My 200 was a 25.4 and my goal is to get that time down as much as possible, hopefully in the mid-24s. I ran a 55.4 split vs. East’s 4x4 team as the anchor, which was another PR and helped the team win the relay.”
Looking ahead, Duffy is bubbling over with optimism.
“I’m really excited about some times this early in the season,” she beamed. “Overall, I have had very solid times that I can’t wait to build off as the season progresses.”
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