The 2016 girls distance scene was arguably the deepest in IL history (Mark Capapas photo)
High school sports are 360 in nature- a full circle if you will. Most long distance runners will begin their quest during the early months of summer training for cross country. The three months of training that kids put in are an attempt to run in the state championship in November. For the few lucky ones, they will go on and compete in Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker or some other post-season meet. But what has been lost in the sauce is the entire school calendar which runs through the winter indoor campaign and finally back around to the all important outdoor track and field season.We wanted to chronicle the very beginning and end. Obviously athletes get lazy after cross country or hurt. Some play other sports in the spring like lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, etc.
Below are the 2015 top 25 Class 3A cross country all-state placers. We chronicled indoor and outdoor track seasons as appropriate
1. Judy Pendergast (Sr., Naperville North) 15:54
-Did not compete in IHSA state championship due to injury; ran IL #2 all-time 3200m in 10:07.18 (US #1 at the time); blazed 10:11.56 indoors (IL #1 all-time indoors); clocked IL #1 all-time for 1600 indoors with a sizzling 4:49.30; also dropped down to 800 and ran 2:16.35; Pendergast graduates from high school as one of the most celebrated athletes in Illinois history
-Ran track for the first time and won the state 3200m title; ran personal best 10:29.30; Illinois Top Times 3200 champ; 1600 personal best is 4:58.49
-Placed 5th in state 3200; personal best 10:43 for 3200; broke 5:00 for 1600m
-Completed a great school calendar with a state runner-up finish in the 3200m (10:32.12); 3rd in Illinois Top Times
-Great range from 800-3200; 7th in state 3200; personal best 10:42.41; ran 2:15.50 for 800m
-Did not run a single 3200 race indoors or outside; logged 2:15.11 for 800 and 4:53.63 for 1600; won the Illinois Top Times 1600 title; anchored her team's 4x800 relay to a state title which was US #4 at the time
-Produced one of the top school year earnings in all of Illinois. Altmayer ran 10:45.25 and 5:01.49 indoors; clocked 10:39.97 to finish a close 4th place in the state 3200; also ran 4:51.39 in the 1600
-Took 8th in the state 3200 and 1600; 10:46.96 and 5:01.79 was Ernst's season bests
-Got season off to a great start with an 8th place finish in the emerging elite 2 miler at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Shepard ran 10:48 and 10:49 respectively inside and outdoors. Shepard would place 20th in the state 3200m championship
-23rd in the state 3200; personal best 10:53.21 on limited racing
-Did not contest 3200s indoors or outside; concentrated efforts in the 800m where she placed 6th in the state final running 2:14.95; ran 5:07.03 for 1600
-Rough 2016 campaign that did not include any state championship run; race highlight was 5:10.23 1600m effort indoors
-11:21.61i for 3200m; competed in the 1600 at Hoffman Estates Sectional
-Wrapped up great career with 5th place state championship finish in the 1600 (5:00.60); competed in 4x8 relay
-No 3200; 5:07.26 for 1600 and a berth in the state meet
-Marasco enjoyed the 800 and did not compete in an event over 1600 during the track season. The sophomore standout ran 2:16.60; 19th in the state prelims for 800m and ran on 6th place 4x8 state relay
-Incredible comeback calendar season was completed with a state championship in the 4x8 relay. Zaher ran a personal best 4:53.58; took second in the state 1600
-Finished 19th in the state 3200; personal best 10:53.75
-Placed 3rd in the 3200 state championship with big 10:39.36; 10th in state championship 1600; ran personal best 5:00.29 in state prelims
-12th in state final 800 (2:26); personal best 2:14.30; 10:57.22 for indoor 3200m
-13th in state final 3200; ran season best 10:52.81 at Sue Pariseau Invite; ran on state final qualifying 4x8 relay
-12th place in state final 3200; 10:58.19 personal best
-Took 14th in state 3200 final; ran in NBIN 2mile running 10:54.47; ran 5:08.65 for 1600m
-Led off 7th place state championship 4x8 relay; ran 5:05.93 for 1600
-6th in 1600m state championship; won Niles West Sectional 3200m in 10:50.42 but did not run at state. House competed in 4x8 relay in addition to the 1600 in Charleston
