It was a memorable return to racing for Leah Starkey.
Ocean Township High School’s speedy sophomore crossed the finish line first in 9:48.02 in the two-mile at the Nike Indoor National Championships at the Nike Track and Field Center at The Armory in New York City.
The Spartans’ time is eighth all-time in girls’ indoor track and field in the United States. Second was junior Averi Lowen of Bowdon, Ga., in 9:52.37–the 13th fastest time in United States girls’ indoor history. Starkey’s showing was the second-fastest time by a sophomore in United States indoor history and the second-fastest this season.
Lone swifter sophomore is Elizabeth Leachman (9:44.16) of Boerne Champion in Texas. She sped to the standard in 2024 at the Nike Indoor National Championships.
Starkey competed for the first time since Jan. 24 after sustaining a slight gluteus medius injury, according to Jim Lambert of njmilesplit.com. One of 28 athletes in the field, Starkey was third at the one-mile mark in 4:55.91. She moved to the front and led Lowen by one stride with a quarter mile to go before pulling away with a 69.8 point final two laps, which included a 34.2 final 200 yards to secure the win and an Ocean record. She broke the tape smiling, arms raised in triumph after speeding through 16 laps.
“Leah started off the race methodically,” Ocean coach Alexander Lynch said. “She sat in the middle pack, and then as each lap turned, she slowly chipped away at the leaders. At around the one-mile mark, she caught up to the leaders. By the 2400-meter mark, it was just Leah and Lowen.
“I couldn’t believe it. This was meant to be a confidence-builder, trust-buster race. I always knew Leah had this capability at the national level, but we both weren’t expecting it in the first race after the injury. She is really one of one. She is an incredible talent and person. The only goal was to feel confident again.
“She was incredible. Her form was textbook. She looked like her old self again. She put the nation on notice that her talents were no fluke. She has all of the capabilities in the world,
and now it’s her job to maintain this for the rest of her high school career.”
The injury was discovered Jan. 24 when Starkey placed second in the mile in a personal-best 4:48.33 at the Puma International Showcase at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Complex on Staten Island, N.Y. The gluteus medius is a fan-shaped hip muscle in the buttocks beneath the gluteus maximus. It is essential for stabilizing the pelvis and abducting the leg (moving it away from the midline. It is critical for maintaining balance during walking, running, and single-leg standing. Common names include “the forgotten butt muscle” or “shelf” upper glutes.
“We noticed her form was off,” Lynch said.
Ocean was fifth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group II 4×800-meter relays in 10:38.09. Competing for the Spartans were Avery O’Hara, Sara Zraly, Danielle Dwyer and Starkey. But Starkey missed the majority of the balance of the indoor season.
“It was ultimately my decision to keep Leah out for the majority of the season after careful consideration for her health and future,” Lynch said. “Her rehabilitation program consisted of lots of physical therapy and cross-training to maintain her fitness levels while also making sure she was taking care of her injury.
“She was a rock mentally during rehab. Yes, it sucks not being able to race, and Leah wasn’t happy about it, but once she understood our decisions and what we were doing, she was more motivated than ever to get back on the track. Her training prior to the nationals consisted of low mileage and high-intensity workouts. Nothing has changed her form or strides. I would say the injury helped Leah understand to not be 110 percent all of the time and to take care of her body.”
Starkey will compete on the Spartans’ outdoor track and field this spring.
“We are targeting the 3200 the most with some 1600 and 800 races mixed in,” Lynch said.
Starkey won the NJSIAA 3200 title as a freshman last spring in 10:28.18. She’s a two-time Meet of Champions winner. She’s a cross-country All-American. She won the MOC in 17:15 last fall in cross country at hilly Holmdel Park. Her time was the third fastest in Holmdel Park history. She broke several course records.
“She puts all of her focus into her sport, so I am never truly shocked at the end of the day,” Lynch said. “She knows how to compete with just the right amount of intensity.”