Alisa Harvey sets WR for indoor 800 as Navy girl’s pacesetter

Alisa Harvey’s record rampage continues. She reports that she ran tonight (Thursday) at the Naval Academy’s Sweetheart Multi-Mix Meet. “I ran 2:14.38 for second place. I broke the Masters W45 American Record (formerly 2:20.99 by Lesley Chaplin-Swann). (In fact, she beat the listed world record as well: 2:16.3.) I ran 63 seconds for the first 400. I slowed badly in the second half. I was hoping to give a challenge to the winner that was trying to qualify for the NCAA’s. I got out off the line in the lead, but the winner passed me at 100.” Alisa, who got an AR in the mile recently, says she plans on another try next weekend at her local Potomac Valley Championships. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for good health,” she says. “I have some type of virus right now. I figure that I may as well run sick. You never know what your body has in store for you.” Be smart, Alisa, and lissen to your body. Best of luck! Here’s a video of Alisa’s race:

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February 10, 2011

22 Responses

  1. BMoney - February 10, 2011

    Wow what an awesome athlete. Way to go Alisa!

  2. Lesley Chaplin-Swann - February 11, 2011

    Congratulations Alisa!

  3. peter taylor - February 11, 2011

    Is Alisa Harvey the greatest ever or what? Jess Palacio of the Naval Academy obliterates that school’s all-time indoor mark in the 800 by running a sensational 2:07.27; just 7.11 seconds behind her is a 45-year-old woman from Manassas, Virginia, who somehow managed to get into the race. Wow.

    When Alisa was outdoor NCAA champion in the 1500 while running for the University of Tennessee, Jess Palacio was simply someone’s dream. I do hope that Alisa’s time will be accepted (important meet, curbed track, FAT, video evidence).

  4. Gary Dixon - February 11, 2011

    What a terrific race! Congrats on the new records. I can stop wondering, if the academies could ever be a viable site for our indoor nationals in the future. But on the other hand, I bet security issues may prevent it from ever happening. When I coached in NJ, way back when, the facility at West Point was new and was fast! Travel there could be a problem, but Annapolis is easy to get to from DC. Any thoughts?

  5. Bubba Sparks - February 11, 2011

    Hope you’re mending well Peter. I’m in agreement. BIG Alisa Harvey fan!! Congrats!!

  6. dasve ashford - February 11, 2011

    Alisa congratulations and enjoy your sucess you trained for it and you deserve your success,you are just getting started so now break your own world record,,,,,,,, dave ashford .

  7. peter taylor - February 11, 2011

    Gary, I picked an arbitrary site in Annapolis and found it was 25.1 miles from Baltimore-Washington International Airport. It is an easy drive from Philadelphia and Washington, DC. A wonderful facility. What’s not to like?

    I’m guessing that the barriers would be (a) cost, and (b) preference of the Academy to use it for current students rather than masters track and field people. You might ask Mike Travers, who I believe is in charge of site selection, whether he has considered the Naval Academy.

    Bubba, I am mending well but will never be the athlete that you are.

  8. Terry Ballou - February 11, 2011

    Alisa, what an outstanding run. You look great–and I don’t care how much you slowed on that second 400, to come through the first 400 in 63 is just tremendous! Nice job and good luck with the rest of the season.

  9. Julie Hayden - February 11, 2011

    Congratulations Alisa! Smashing the AR when you are sick. Amazing! You are such an inspriation. Hope you are feeling 100% soon. I’m excited for the PVA Championships next week 🙂

  10. Julie Hayden - February 11, 2011

    I’m sick too! I meant Inspiration!

  11. Fenton Hugg - February 11, 2011

    Congratulation Alisa you continue to show how great you can be in a small way with your American record you are a woman of excellence in and off the track, continue to use that gift GOD as given you.

  12. Rick Hoebeke - February 11, 2011

    Way to go, Alisa! Congratulations on a fast 800. Now go and run another 800 when you aren’t sick.

  13. Alisa Harvey - February 11, 2011

    “Thank you” to all of the nice comments. I am looking forward to racing another 800 meters soon.
    All the best!

  14. Julie Hayden - February 11, 2011

    I wonder how many masters from the east coast know about the PVA Championships in Alexandria, VA on the banked track at Episcopal High School, Sunday Feb 20? You can register online at Coacho.com. Entries close 2/17.

  15. peter taylor - February 11, 2011

    Thank you, Julie. I live 14.4 miles from the school, am reasonably active in masters T&F, and never heard of the meet until yesterday or even today. I probably was not paying sufficient attention, however.

    Appreciate this notice that the meet is 9 days away and that registration closes in 6 days.

  16. Gary - February 11, 2011

    Great Job Alisa, how do you get in these meets..I would like to enter some open 800’s too!

  17. Gary - February 12, 2011

    yeah, Julie I only found out about that meet by accident. I sent an email to the contact at the Prince Georges meets because they originally had March 12th as the Eastern Regional Champs. Uh, one thing (that was last year). Nice to update your site 🙂 I wish there was one place to go to look for all these meets…and USATF is certainly not doing a good job on this!

    Rock on …see on 2/20

  18. Tom Hartshorne - February 12, 2011

    Congrats Alisa! Looks like you have a fast summer ahead of you. Don’t forget three years ago Alisa ran faster than the Naval Academy gal she was racing when Alisa set the W40’s American indoor record in Boston in a time of 2:05.75. I didn’t see her run that one but I did see her run a 2:07.? in Boston indoor nationals around the same time.
    Nothing like giving the youngsters something to ponder.

  19. Steve Chantry - February 13, 2011

    Outsanding Alisa! What a great run.

  20. Steve Chantry - February 13, 2011

    Outstanding Alisa! What a grat run.

  21. Randy - February 20, 2011

    Alisa, NY/NJ want you to visit. Armory is a great place to come show your stuff.

  22. Jason Grant - March 8, 2011

    Great job Alisa. You continue to inspire so many people. Keep it up!

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