Ava Parekh (#1) and Marianne Mihas (#3) on the move during the 2019 1A 1600m final
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Poston Butte HS; San Tan Valley AZ-
There have been dynamic duo distance peers of large portions before. In fact, if you studied the landscape of Illinois, you could spend hours reading about it all. However, it would be hard to find any of them that has lasted the test of time. Ava Parekh and Marianne Mihas have been the best of friends as well as frienemies on the battlefield since the third grade. We are talking about their days on the youth circuit for the Chicago Speed Track Club to the current Chicago Latin High School.
Now, as a rising junior and rising senior, the list of accomplishments is as long as it from Chicago to Phoenix. Ava has state titles in the 3200m and 1600m. Marianne has state titles in the 1600m and 800m. Collectively, they have been a wrecking ball force against the best competition in the state and country.
Marianne Mihas and Ava Parekh were a tremendous force during the 2019 state championship run
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As the country is recovering from the devastating effects of Covid-19, there have been some positive sample sizes of competition around the country. Most recently, there was The Quarantine Clasico: The 2020 Sub-4:00 Attempt. That was on May 23 in California and review of that meet was true of classic proportions. Now, track and field organizers in Arizona are eager to create opportunities for athletes on their soil.
Ava and Marianne will be on the move again this weekend...
Some of the nation's top athletes are heading to San Tan Valley, Arizona this weekend to compete in the Desert Dream Last Hurrah Invitational. The meet is slated to take place Thursday, June 11th through Saturday, June 13th at Poston Butte High School.
MileSplit will be live streaming the track events on Friday and Saturday, click the link below to watch some of the nation's best compete:
Look for Ava and Marianne to compete in a total of four events in Arizona on Friday and Saturday
We could see a sub 2:10 from Mihas and Parekh go under 4:50 under the ripe conditions. Parekh spent six weeks at 8750 feet in Telluride, Colorado. Not only was it a relief away from suspect weather and Covid-19 stricken Chicago, but it was also an opportunity to get in some great training. Mihas too was away in sunny Florida for a pretty significant time. Both of these young ladies are in great shape!
Sophomore Micah Wilson of St. Charles East will be in the 3200m field. He was one of the top young harriers of the past cross country season. Look for freshman Akili Parekh (Ava's younger brother) to shine in the 3200 and 1600.