As 2015 draws to a close, MileSplit revisits the Top 10 Upsets of the Year... Stayed tuned to this page as the countdown continues every day this week.
6. Destiny Collins Wins CIF State Finals 3200m
The CIF State Finals 1600m has not been kind to Destiny Collins.
In 2014, the Great Oak High School runner tangled with two other runners and tripped in the final straightaway. She rallied for second place.
In 2015, she entered with the fastest seed time and PR of 4:40, which was then the second-fastest time in the nation. She set a hot pace from the gun, but faded to third in the final straight behind Amanda Gehrich (4:39.33) and Marissa Williams (4:39.88).
Just a few hours later, Collins returned to the track for the 3200m.
She was undefeated in the distance and owned a PR of 10:11, but entered as the No. 2 seed behind Fiona O'Keeffe of Davis High School. Distance ace O'Keeffe already owned two D1 California state cross country titles, plus clocked an astounding solo 10:00.85 3200m at the CIF Sac Joaquin Masters meet.
The duo quickly separated from the pack and O'Keeffe set a punishing 75-second quarter mile pace. Collins hung on her shoulder until the final 400m.
Skip to 8:40 in the video below to watch the bell lap:
Collins' devastating final lap surge propelled her across the line first in 9:53.79, a new nation-leading time and PR by 18 seconds. O'Keeffe finished runner-up in 10:01.14.
The race marked Collins' first California state title. The University of Texas signee won her second state title this fall at the D1 state cross country championship.