It was a memorable return to racing for Leah Starkey.
The speedy sophomore from Ocean Township High School crossed the finish line first in 9:48.02 in the two-mile event at the Nike Indoor National Championships at Nike Stadium Center at The Armory in New York City.
The Spartans’ time is 8th in the US in girls indoor track and field. Junior Avery Lowen of Bowdon, Ga., was second in 9:52.37, the 13th-fastest time in United States girls indoor history. Starkey’s performance was the second-fastest time in United States sophomore history and the second-fastest this season.
The lone fastest sophomore is Elizabeth Leachman (9:44.16) of Boerne Champion, Texas. He reached the standard at the 2024 Nike National Indoor Championships.
According to Jim Lambert, Starkey competed for the first time since Jan. 24 after suffering a minor gluteus medius injury. njmilesplit.com. Starkey, one of 28 athletes in the field, was third in the mile in 4:55.91. He moved to the front and led Lowen by a quarter-mile before he pulled away with a 69.8 over the final two laps that included a 34.2 final 200 yards to secure the win and the Ocean record. He broke the tape smiling, arms raised in triumph after pacing 16 laps.
“Leah started the race methodically,” said Ocean coach Alexander Lynch. “He sat in the middle of the pack and then as each lap went by he slowly pulled away from the leaders. With about a mile to go he caught up with the leaders. At 2,400 meters it was just Leah and Lowen.
“I couldn’t believe it. This should be a confidence-building, confidence-losing race. I always knew Leah had this ability at the national level, but neither of us expected it in the first race since injury. He really is the one. He is an incredible talent and person. The only goal was to feel confident again.
“He was incredible. His form was textbook. He looked like his old self again. He pointed out to the nation that his talents were no accident. He has all the possibilities in the world.
and now it’s up to him to maintain that for the rest of his high school career.”
The injury was discovered on January 24 when Starkey finished second in the mile with a personal best time of 4:48.33 at the Puma International Showcase at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Complex in Staten Island, NY. It is important for stabilizing the pelvis and abducting the leg (it moves it away from the midline. It is important for maintaining balance during walking, running, and standing on one leg. Common names include the “forgotten gluteal muscle” or “rack” upper glutes.
“We noticed his form was off,” Lynch said.
Ocean was fifth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group II 4×800-meter relay in 10:38.09. Competing for the Spartans were Avery O’Hara, Sarah Zraly, Danielle Dwyer and Starkey. But Starkey missed most of the balance of the indoor season.
“Ultimately, it was my decision to sit Leah out for the majority of the season after careful consideration of her health and future,” Lynch said. “His rehabilitation program consisted of a lot of physical therapy and cross-training to maintain his fitness while making sure he took care of his injury.
“He was a mental rock in rehab. Yes, it hurt not being able to run and Leah wasn’t happy about it, but once she understood our decisions and what we were doing, she was more motivated than ever to get back on track. Her training before nationals consisted of low mileage and high intensity training. 110 percent all the time and take care of his body.”
Starkey will compete in outdoor track and field for the Spartans this spring.
“We’re targeting the 3,200 the most, with about a 1,600 and 800 race mixed in,” Lynch said.
Starkey won the NJSIAA 3,200 title as a freshman last spring in 10:28.18. He is a two-time Meet of Champions winner. He is an All-American. She won the MOC last fall in 17:15 in cross country at hilly Holmdel Park. His time was the third fastest in Holmdel Park history. He broke several course records.
“He puts all of his focus into his sport, so I’m never really shocked at the end of the day,” Lynch said. “He knows how to compete with the right amount of intensity.”
