Upset Of The Year Countdown 2015

Christina Aragon became a national name in the spring of 2015 when she ran 4:16.36 for 1500m as an unattached athlete at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. The then-junior at Billings High School took fourth place in Section 3 versus professional and collegiate athletes; the stiff competition aided her to what ranks as the fifth-fastest prep 1500m performance in history.

Three weeks later, the eight-time Montana state champion placed third at the Prefontaine Classic High School Mile, a full second behind Ryen Frazier and Dani Jones. 

Sure, Aragon was fast. But she seemed to lack the race experience and tactical finesse to be a national champion.

All 10 girls at the Pre Classic ran 4:44 or faster for perhaps the deepest prep mile field in history. Most returned to race each other again just two weeks later at the adidas Dream Mile. 

Before the Dream Mile, held as part of the adidas Grand Prix, Aragon said the Pre race caught her off guard as she had never competed against such a high-quality field before.

The Dream Mile featured not only Frazier and Jones, the 1-2 finishers from Pre, but added California state champions Amanda Gehrich and Destiny Collins, two-time Foot Locker Nationals champion Anna Rohrer and Texas state 1600m record holder Julia Heymach, among others.

As soon as rabbit Marissa Sheva stepped off the track at 800m, Frazier took control of the pace as she led a pack of eight girls through the bell lap in 3:29. Only Aragon and Hannah Long of Missouri hung on and it was Aragon this go-round who timed her kick perfectly -- she ricocheted off the final curve and powered through the final straight with a speed that no one could match. Her final time of 4:37.91 stood as a new U.S. No. 1 mark for 2015 and No. 10 All-Time.