Big Times Ahead for Ladue Track Standout

Samantha Levin had one thing in mind as she prepared for her final high school track and field meet, the Class 4 state meet.

"I just wanted to leave my mark," said Levin, a recent Ladue High graduate.

Levin certainly did that as she shattered a long-time state record individually and then was part of another record setting relay team.

Ann Heffner of Hazelwood Central had set the record for the 800-meter run in 1992, running a 2:09.78.

That mark would hold for almost 20 years until Levin beat it at this year's prelims at state, running a 2:08.55. But that was only the appetizer for the main event in the finals in which Levin ran a 2:06.74, unbelievably breaking the long-time record by over three seconds.

"I had prepared for it all year and it was great to do what I set out to do," Levin said.

She then put an exclamation mark on the 2011 state meet and her high school career as she teamed with Shayla Arnold, Montenea Roye and Emily Warner to win the 4x400-meter relay in record setting time of 3:48.00.

That also beat the previous record by over three seconds in a record which held for 25 years.

Levin has run a local meet in University City, the United States of America Track and Field (USATF) Juniors in Oregon and the AAU Regionals in Bloomington, Il.

But the big meets are still ahead for Levin who leaves Thursday for the United States Regionals in Tulsa, Ok.

She comes back home the next Monday and leaves a couple of days later for Miramar, Fl. for the Pan-Am Games.

"That will be the biggest meet I have ever run in," Levin said. "Last year and the year before I didn't make it and I am so excited to run it in this year."

Levin said she will run the 800 at the Pan-Am Games and possibly the 4x400.

The summer ends with the USA Nationals in Wichita and the AAU Nationals in Louisiana.

"At the beginning of each season I train for these kinds of meets which are coming up," Levin said. "I just want to have some fun and leave my mark again."

And hopefully that mark will include an even faster time than she ran at state.

"My goal is 2:03," Levin said. "For once, I feel fine and I am going to see how fast I can go."

There will be little time for Levin to rest after the busy summer schedule as she is scheduled to leave for LSU in Baton Rouge on Aug. 15.

Levin and Roye along with Gateway City United teammate Kendra White, who is from McCluer North, will bring a taste of St. Louis to the Bayou.