17minutes and 12 seconds earlier............
Competing at the Foot Locker South Regional, Carlos came in to the meet as one of the top ranked females in the nation. The lone Alabama competitior in the girls seeded race, her first mile came through smooth and what her coach told her to hit.
1st mile......5:28. (18th Place) Time for negative splits............
"Carmen wouldnt have run at state had it not have been her senior year", according to Drew Bentley, Carmen's coach and the Head Coach at McGill. "She had a terrible cold and was drifting coming through to the finish." Today however the cold weather (it was 44 degrees at race time) would not keep her from qualifying for the National race. Carlos has competed in the Foot Locker South Regional before. Several times in fact. Her previous best showing was in 2009 finishing in 17:49 in 16th (9th Grade).
2nd mile......(10th Place) Time to move up............
Alabama historically has not had many athletes make it to the national race. In fact, only Margaret Robinson (Huntsville) & Tara Lenn (C/O 2005, St. Pauls) have qualified in the past. Robinson qualified 5th (18:12) in 1990 while Lenn qualified 4th (18:06.20) on the same course in 2002.
Push To the Finish............
Carmen Carlos became the third girl from the state of Alabama to qualify to the Foot Locker Nationals race. Finishing in a blazing 17:12 (5th Place) Carlos accomplished her goal of getting an invite to San Diego.
I just ran 17:12....I'm 5th, Im going to San Diego.
