How to run the mile and other races-meet tuesday!?

Question

In two days, the top 5 kids in the school will be running against eachother. The current leader, my best friend, with a time of 6:25, is 3 seconds faster than me, but the third-best person in the school is only 3 seconds behind ME.

I'm also running the mile, the 200, and doing the standing long jump for a track meet around 5:30 on the same day (the mile run for school is in the morning.).

Does anyone have any tips, especially for the mile run? i.e. how to run each lap, etc.? This is going to be a new experience because most of the time, the other kids are slow. "Staying with the pack" is not an option. I've never given much thought to running AGAINST others before, as opposed to just trying to beat a time.

Thank you! Tips about the 200, standing long jump, or how to prepare for my first meet are welcome also!

P.S. My mile time is 6:28-I'm a 13-year-old girl. The school record is 6:23. Also, I got 6:39 the first time I ran the mile, but the coach let me retake it, running harder.

Answer 1

You said the best time is 3 seconds faster and the next fastest is 3 seconds slower.  Why not run in the pack since you are fast enough to run in the 200m.  However, I would keep my eyes on the two best runners and see how they set the pace. If they run in the pack, can you out kick them in the final 100m.  If not then you are going to have to force the pace especially on the last lap and hopefully you will get a large enough lead or take their kicks out of them.  For the 200m, hug the turn the best you can, stay relax and then make sure you run through the finish line.