MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Maggie O'Connell, 11, of Fall River, shatters 6-minute mile mark at state meet

And she’s only a sixth grader.

Maggie O’Connell of Fall River ran a 5:52.47 in taking 11th place in the Large School mile run at the Massachusetts Middle School Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Clinton.

An accomplished soccer player, basketball player and cross-country runner, O’Connell, 11, of Kuss Middle School, came into this spring season with the goal of running less than six minutes for the mile. Her seeding time coming into the race was 6:15.

The No. 3 female finisher at this spring’s Thomas Giunta Memorial Road Race in Fall River, O’Connell on Saturday ran in an unseeded heat in the heat and humidity.

“Maggie had an incredible performance,” Talbot coach Patrick Chilabato said in an email. “She was virtually running by herself as no one in her heat pressed her. That said, she had a great time of 5:52 but if placed in a more appropriate heat, she could have finished with a better time as she really responds well to that kind of competitive environment.”

O’Connell ran in the second of four heats. The top-seeded runners were in the fourth heat. The next-best time in O’Connel’s heat was 6:04. Eight of the top 10 finishers were from the fourth heat, with runners from the third heat getting sixth and 10th place.

Ava Criniti of Diamond Middle School in Lexington won the race in 5:36.62 and was immediately followed by teammate Mirra Payson (5:38.05). The third-place time was 5:43.18 and 10th place, one in front of O’Connell, was 5:52.20.

O’Connell, who turns 12 at the end of July, ran a Fall River middle school-best 6:11 mile last year when she was allowed to compete though still in elementary school.

Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.