Lindsey Payne had the right moves on the track when it counted most
3200m-
2016 State Champion: Lindsey Payne (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard West) 10:35.40
Key returners: Lindsey Payne, Brooke Wilson (Sr., Prospect), Ashley Tutt (Sr., Minooka), Mackenzie Callahan (Sr., Minooka), Emily Shelton (Jr., Minooka), Jocelyn Long (Jr., Barrington), Audrey Ernst (Jr., St. Charles North), Sarah Schmitt (Jr., Naperville North), Brett Chody (Jr., Lake Forest), Melissa Manetsch (Jr., Libertyville), Maggie Scholle (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech)
Outlook: We all enjoyed every second of the 2015-16 school running calendar from the cross country season up until the moment that at the Ottawa Sectional that defending state champion Judy Pendergast from Naperville North got hurt. The masterful star had already given the fans so much to happy about duing the fall with record breaking performances virtually every weekend. The track season started off well in its own respect. Pendergast ran 10:11.56/4:49.30 indoors. Then in April she dropped a US #1 10:07.56 at the Sue Pariseau Invitational. The only thing left was the state all-time best 9:56.96 by Kayla Beattie of Woodstock. It was almost a given that a healthy Pendergast would have gotten the mark if not scared it.
Now comes Glenbard West. The Hilltoppers are a distance power when it comes to individual talent. The Glen Ellyn based school has won three of the last four state championships and the defending champion Lindsey Payne finished second at the cross country state meet to new teammate freshman Katelynne Hart. So, it is safe to safe that Glenbard West coaches Paul and Kelly Hass will have joy in coaching this group. Payne is a fast starter as most of her competitors know. Track is a speedy sport even in the distance races compared to running 5k on the grass. Payne's confidence has to be sky high in that her losses this school year were to her underling. Plus, throw in the fact that she made the Footlocker National Championship. It is going to be a fast year for sure. Hart has run 9:36 converts to 10:18 for 3200m. Based on all of the pre-hype projections, these are the times that will be expected of Hart at some point in 2017.
The returning cast is very strong. The "Minooka triplets" of Ashley Tutt, Emily Shelton, and Mackenzie Shelton are the best trio in IHSA history that have run together for more than two seasons. All three girls have run under 11:00 in the same calendar season- something that has never happened before. Tutt and Shelton gave Payne a serious challenge in last year's final before settling for second and third respectively.
Brooke Wilson has been a top distance runner for four years now. Watch for her to continue improving. Her conference rival is tough as well in Jocelyn Long. Overall, it is going to be another great year in this event. There are girls on here who are amazing distance runners but may not contest. One is 2A state xc champ Jenna Lutzow of Belvideren North. She ran the 4th fastest 3-mile time in 16:35. One believes Lutzow could top out in the 10:20s if she gave it a few tries. Lutzow has never ran the deuce outdoors. Keep your fingers crossed.