by Chris Pfaff

Xavier Track & Field took a very talented group of runners to the Arcadia Invitational, a huge two-day meet in southern California. Six hundred ninety-two schools participated in this national competition that saw 362 out-of-state schools register to participate.

It was Friday night, and the 7:22 PM start time for Julia Russo’s 3200m race loomed ahead.

Begin Backstory

Julia finished the 2023 track season with 3200m PR of 11:31.21 in the Division 1 Championships. Her PR was 30 seconds away from making the Xavier All-Time Top-Ten List for the 3200m.

Sitting at #10 was Breanna Perrone, who ran 11:01.12 back in 2011 and whose time was the only top-ten mark above 11:00.

The last time there was a top-ten mark in the 3200m was seven years ago in 2017.

This happens to be Coach Dave Van Sickle’s last year of his 30+ years of coaching Xavier Cross Country and Track & Field distance runners — all but this season as head coach.

The Time Line:

• May 6, 2023: 11:31.21 PR at Division 1 Championships: 30 seconds from Top-Ten list.
• Mar 2, 2024: 11:13.76 (18-second PR): Aztec Invite: 12.64 seconds from Top-Ten list.
• Mar 23, 2024: 11:03.96 (10-second PR): Chandler Rotary: 2.84 seconds from Top-Ten list.
• Apr 5, 2024: Arcadia Invite: CAN SHE DO IT?

Being the Xavier Track & Field stat person so being aware of the history leading up to Friday night’s race, and not being at the meet myself, I had to wait until I could check the results online sometime after the race was over.
End Backstory

So, when I clicked on the Results button for the Women 3200 Meter Run Open race — anticipation building up inside — and found “Julia Russo” and looked at her time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I yelled out loud, “SHE DID IT!”

— 10:57.12

— #8 on Xavier All-Time 3200m Top-Ten list

— broke the 11:00 barrier

— making all times on the Top-Ten list below 11:00

— during Coach Van Sickle’s last year at Xavier

— and the SEASON IS NOT OVER