Katelynne Hart interviews after another successful race
Virtually every inside of Fornelli Field on the campus of St. Ignatius High School near downtown Chicago came to see the freshman phenom Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West run. Hart would get her turn at the end of the night. But first a full slate of races would preclude the main event: The women's elite mile. One such race was the girls race #2 in which Grace McCabe (Jr., Hinsdale Central) won going way in a big personal best.(1600m 4:55.xx enroute). McCabe lead a stream of girls through the first first half mile in approximately 2:31. The tardy pace allowed four other girls stick on McCabe. However, McCabe has excellent leg speed and she was able to separate soon after the bell lap. With 200 to go it was all McCabe looking smooth and fast in 4:57.39 (1600m- 4:55.78). Chicago Latin incoming freshman Marianne Mihas gave a sneak peak of her soon to be high school career by running 5:03.85.
Hart entered into the elite women's race where the pacesetter was supposed to go through the first half in 2:20 and 2:21. Since no one could Hart handled her own chores. In a pair of racing flats Hart set sail in sub 70 seconds for the first lap. Matters only got worse for the rest of the field by the halfway mark in 2:21. Meet announcer Billy Poole-Harris got the crowd charged up as Hart began her penultimate lap. It was Hart vs. the clock on the gun lap, she opened her stride and charged him in 4:46.54/4;44.16- 1600 reroute. Hart's times rank inside the US #10. The markings for all-time state reference #1 and #2.