Andover High’s Mullins Runs on ESPN2

Most high school track and field athletes can’t say they’ve competed in the same meet as Olympic medalists and even a World Champion. Most can’t say they’ve run in front of national television cameras and a few thousand fans.

However, Maggie Mullins isn’t like most high school runners – she’s a whole lot faster.

Mullins, an Andover High School junior, took part in the girls’ Junior Invitational Mile at Saturday’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the Reggie Lewis Track in Boston.

“It was a lot different than what I’m used to,” she said after the race.

The meet was aired from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2. Check out more about the event on rise.espn.go.com.

Mullins finished 11th in 5 minutes, 9.64 seconds, in a race that featured the top high school talent from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

The event pitted the New England runners against those from outside the region, and the home team won 36-22.

Lindsay Crevoiserat, a junior from Glastonbury, Conn., crossed the finish line first in 4:52.60. In the women’s mile, Marina Muncan, of Serbia, took first in 4:34.46.

Mullins said she was nervous before the race but eventually settled in. The meet featured American record-holders, including Alan Webb and Jenny Simpson, and Olympic silver medalist and World Champion Lauryn Williams.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Mullins, who had a number of her Andover High teammates cheering her on.

Mullins said she will focus on the two-mile for the remainder of the season.

She is the only runner in the state who has gone under 11 minutes this season. She won the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) Invitational last week in 10:59.82, the third fastest time in the country this season.