Bayleigh Minor And Faith Franklin approach the finish line in the 400m at the 2024 Carl Lewis Inv.
The Carl Lewis Invitational always attracts some of the best track and field athletes in the country and this year wasn't any different.
After the preliminary round when Faith Franklin, the senior out of (Harlingen) impressed the crowd with a 54.91 new meet record, it was assumed the finals would be out of sight.
The reason for the anticipation?
Well, because the previous meet record belonged to Bayleigh Minor, the Fort Bend Christian junior. Just a couple of heats earlier, Minor had run 55.49 in her preliminary race just short of the 55.04 mark she ran last season for the meet record.
Both star quarter milers would have plenty of motivation for the finals race. Franklin would want to defend Minor and other finalists from poaching her new Carl Lewis Invitational meet record and Minor of course would be determined to resume the record.
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It was a fascinating race and exhibition of resolution between two talented runners and despite the placement, they both produced personal record performances.
In the end, it was Minor taking back the meet record and coming away with a new personal best indoor performance. Her run in a time of 53.05 earned her the win, narrowly over the Vanderbilt University signee Franklin who finished in 53.74.
Event 19 Girls 400 Meter Dash =================================================================== Meet: # 55.04 1/13/2023 Bayleigh Minor, FB Christian Name Year School Finals H# =================================================================== Finals 1 Bayleigh Minor 11 Ft Bend Chrstn 53.05# 3 2 Faith Franklin 12 Harlingen 53.74# 3 3 Kalie Huck Track Houston 56.21 3 4 Kamree Wolridge LC Express 56.21 1 5 Milan Lathan 10 Lancaster 56.41 1 6 Indya Dotson GU 56.48 1 7 Ayanna Henry Maba Elite 57.12 2 8 Grace Kowalski Woodlands PV 57.77 1 9 Darvinique Dean Red-Line Athl 58.57 2