Lilly Beshears has been a busy individual this spring season and is just getting started.
The freshman from Har-Ber High School has made an immediate impact in her first high school season, collecting a state championship at the Arkansas Indoor HS Championships in the 6A 1600m race, as well as finishing second in the 800m event and Arkansas Cross Country Championships this fall.
Following her stunning 3200m and 1600m races at the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays in Dallas, Texas over the weekend, she is Arkansas Milesplit' inaugural 'Distance Runner of the Week'.
With her performance at the prestigious distance event in Texas, Beshears puts herself in elite company, becoming just the third girl to go under 11 minutes in the 3200m in the state, as well as second in Division 6A. Beshears' mark of 10:59.34 also ranks her as the second-fastest freshman in the state in the event.
Beshears' stellar weekend did not stop there.
The following day, Beshears' raced to a 12th-place finish in the loaded 1600m field, running a 5:08.65, which was the fastest time by an Arkansas girl in the event. Beshears currently owns the fastest 1600m time in the state, already having run a 5:00.61 at the Texas Distance Festival a week prior.
Not only is Beshears one of the fastest distance runners in Arkansas, but she is also one of the fastest freshmen in the entire country. In the 3200m, Beshears is the 12th-ranked freshman while in the 1600m, she is the 13th-ranked freshman.
The standout freshman from Springdale, Arkansas is no stranger to the spotlight, as she owns the 8th grade Arkansas state record in the 1600m and hopes to continue building on her success throughout her career.
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The Arkansas Milesplit 'Distance Runner of the Week' is a new series that will be published every Wednesday, awarding one distance runner from the state the unique distinction of being the best of the best. Statistics will be gathered every week, counting each meet from Monday to Sunday prior to Wednesday's publication. This week, performances from March 20th-26th were considered for the award.
