Babcock sets another record, qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials

Christine Babcock added to her record collection Sunday night.

Babcock turned in the fastest 1,500-meter run ever by a U.S. high school girl, breaking a national record that stood for 26 years and landing a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the process.

The Woodbridge High senior, running by herself for the final 700 meters in essentially an all-comers meet at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, finished in 4 minutes, 16.42 seconds. She lowered the previous national high school record set by Pennsylvania's Kim Gallagher in 1982.

Just as significantly, the mark booked a trip to, Eugene, Ore., and the Olympic Trials at storied Hayward Field (June 27-July 6). The 30 fastest runners under the provisional qualifying standard of 4:19.5 earn spots in the Trials. As of Sunday night, Babcock's mark was the 27th fastest among all American women. The Trials field will be finalized Wednesday.

Sunday's record comes just two weeks after Babcock knocked three seconds off the national high school 1,600-meter record with a 4:33.82 victory at the CIF State meet.

“It was an amazing, amazing performance,” Woodbridge coach George Varvas said of Sunday's race. “Because this was basically nothing but an all-comers meet, no enthusiasm (in the stadium), no crowd. An outstanding performance. It ranks right up there with her performance at the state meet.”

Contact the writer: sreid@ocregister.com