The chase for distance supremacy will be on this season
The loss of the German import Mailin Struck will be felt not only in this classification but also in the state of distance running as a whole. The 2A state cross country champion junior from Riverside-Brookfield returned home to her native country during the Christmas holiday break to finish up her studies. There are other defections and additions due to IHSA enrollment classification cutoffs that will affect this event.
3200m-
2013 State Champion: Maura Beattie (Sr., Woodstock) 10:55.77
Key returners: Beattie, Maryjeanne Gilbert (So., Peoria Notre Dame), Diane Lipa (So., Glen Ellyn Glenbard South), Olivia Ryan (Jr., Oak Park Fenwick), Allison Zobrist (So., Highland), Rebecca Sippel (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard South).
Outlook: The battle for the long distance supremacy crown is going to be fierce. Maura Beattie is the defending champion who hails from a running family pedigree. After finishing a somewhat disappointing fifth in the cross country state championship, she more than likely took some time to mentally regroup. If so, we should see some amazing times. Maryjeanne Gilbert has two runner-up finishes in her last two state championship races. She will be itching to get to get her first state title this year. Diane Lipa has been one of the most consistent young runners in the state after producing a fourth on the track and then a third on the track. Lipa is quietly moving up the charts. It is conceivable that she could run in the 10:40s this season. One name that hasn’t been mentioned yet is Olivia Ryan. Ms. Ryan also comes from a running family. Her older brother James Ryan is a key member of the LaGrange (Lyons Twp.) cross country and track teams. Olivia rebounded nicely from an injury riddled 2013 track season that limited her to just a 5:12 mile and no measurement in the 3200m. That should change as the fall was once again a healthy one. There are a few good choices to watch out for this season. The key name to look for this spring is Allison Zobrist. Zobrist has already clocked 11:34 this winter on the strength of conditioning training.
800m-
2013 State Champion: Michelle Dobbs (Rochelle) 2:10.78
Key returners: Karina Liz (So., Aurora Central Catholic), Leilani Hill (Jr., Metropolis Massac County), Allie Sprague (Sr., Marengo), Tyra Buss (Sr., Mt. Carmel), Zoe Mead (Sr., Princeton), Twinkle Mehta (Jr., Mahomet-Seymour), Karyn Paisley (Sr., Macomb).
Outlook: Karina Liz will lead a strong cast of half-milers that are on line to have the best ever year for this classification. Liz ran 2:13 last spring and continued the momentum through the summer track season. There is possibility that she could dip close to the 2:09-2:10 range along with a few other patrons. Allie Sprague ran 2:14 last year in the shadows of long-time teammate Katie Adams. Sprague enjoyed her first breakout cross country season that netted all-state honors. Hopefully, she will be able to parlay that into an unforgettable track season. Leilani Hill and Tyra Buss are from the same area but appear to have taken a different path to stardom. Hill is more of a speed merchant who competed in the 200m at the state qualifying level. Buss on the other hand is one of the classification’s best long hurdlers who happened to place 40th in the state cross country meet last fall.
Maura Beattie will have a say in how fast this event will be this season
1600m-
2013 State Champion: Katie Adams (Marengo) 5:00.84
Key returners: Allie Sprague (Sr., Marengo), Meagan McNicholas (So., Rochester), Adrienne Brauer (So., Petersburg-Porta), Maryjeanne Gilbert (So., Peoria Notre Dame), Olivia Ryan (Jr., Oak Park Fenwick), Sydney Billingsley (Sr., Normal University), Diane Lipa (So., Glen Ellyn Glenbard South), Allison Zobrist (So., Highland), Maria Brauer (So., Petersburg-Porta), Maura Beattie (Sr., Woodstock).
Outlook: The incomparable Katie Adams has finally moved on to the University of Iowa after a stellar high school career. Her former teammate Allie Sprague is the prime target in this event because she is the supposed heir apparent after placing second in the 1600m seven seconds back in 5:07. However, with a solid field returning, there will be a host of girls looking to gain the top spot. Meagan McNicholas ran 5:09 and placed third at the state meet. The Brauer twins Maria and Adrienne are tough and will link together in the meets that matter at the end of the year.