HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD : Landau Wins Two-Mile, Sets Sophomore Record

Coming off what she called her worst race of the season, Kate Landau set a national two-mile record at the National Scholastic Track and Field championships Saturday at Birmingham High in Van Nuys.

Landau, of Grahamsville, N.Y., finished in 10 minutes 20.3 seconds to break the sophomore-class record of 10:25.1, set by Julie Shea in 1975. Landau’s mark is the fastest in the nation this season, eclipsing Maryland’s Amanda White’s 10:24.71, and was just off the 16-year-old national age 15 record of 10:19.0, held by Aileen O’Connor.

“I was looking through the program before the race and was hoping for a record, but not expecting it,” Landau said. “I was running my own race and wasn’t really trying to think about anything else.”

Landau took command by the 1,200-meter mark, passed through the halfway point at 5:06.3 and 3,000 meters at 9:35.3, and was never challenged by Maribella Aparicio of Fillmore (10:48.9).

Landau ran the 3,000 meters--about 200 meters short of the two miles--nearly 30 seconds faster than she did in placing second at the New York State championships last week.

“It was a factor that got me psyched for this race,” Landau said. “I just had an awful race, and I was trying to avenge that.”

Kim Fisher of Aston, Pa., won the girls’ mile in a nation-leading 4:46.73 to complete an undefeated season. Miesha Marzell of Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, the state 800-meter champion, was second in 4:57.81.

Fisher is also the national leader at 1,500 meters.

“I didn’t take anything for granted,” said the University of Florida-bound Fisher. “I just came prepared to have a lot of competition. I was running scared against the California girls and tried to go out and take the lead.”

Corrisa Yasen of Coeur D’Alene, Ida., won the girls’ high jump at 6 feel one-half inch. Danny McCray of Killeen, Tex., the national leader in the 400, was the meet’s only double winner. McCray won his specialty in 46.62 seconds and the 200 in the 21.48. Andre Inniss of Brooklyn Robeson (N.Y.) held off Long Beach Poly’s Bryan Woodward to win the 800 for the second year in a row in 1:50.35.