Maryjeanne Gilbert of Peoria Notre Dame will look to crown herself state champ on her home course at Detweiller Park this November
The 2A classification should be one to follow all season long as many of last season's top distance runners return. The anticipation of many in season match ups will take shape each weekend up to the state championship.
1. Maryjeanne Gilbert (Jr.) Peoria (Notre Dame)- 2nd in 2013 state; the pre-season favorite is the logical choice here with a tremendous resume to prove it. Gilbert was clearly the second best harrier last season behind Mailin Struck (Riverside-Brookfield). The track season was just as outstanding for Gilbert who rolled to a convincing 3200m state title in 10:34.37- the third fastest time in the entire state. She will have several opportunities to produce big numbers on her home course, the famed Detweiller Park oval this fall. Watch for against all classes in late September at the Richard Spring Peoria Notre Dame Invitational.
2. Skyler Bollinger (Jr.) Yorkville- 16th; Bollinger spent the entire indoor and outdoor track seasons working to regain her status as a supreme distance runner back. It appears as though she is indeed back after putting up some stout numbers. Bollinger ran 10:45.73i to show her long range on the track to go along with the state’s second best 1600m (4:56.09i). The one-time prodigy won the Detweiller at Dark meet for the second year in a row albeit a tab bit slower in 17:16- still nearly 30 seconds faster than her nearest competitor and top emerging 3A talent junior Rachael Lau of Plainfield North. Bollinger started fast last year as well, but hopefully she will have more in the tank down the stretch to challenge Maryjeanne Gilbert.
3. Allison Zobrist (Jr.) Highland- 6th; building up to be the queen of the south after producing two outstanding seasons. Allison could vie for more this season and possibly move into elite company. After producing 11:02.50 and 5:05.70 marks on the track, it is almost certain that Zobrist's 17:35 three-mile personal best will be toast at some point during the season. The match-up against Skyler Bollinger during the second weekend at the First of The Finish Invite should be one to watch.
4. Vivian Overbeck (Jr.) Vernon Hills- 11th; The Cougars leading lady enjoyed a great 2013-14 campaign in which she earned an all-state honor on the track (11:04.09). Overbeck is excited about her team's opportunity to win another team state trophy in November, but her individual prowess cannot be overlooked. As evidenced by a solid base of summer training, Overbeck has already run 18:33 for 3-miles. Perhaps we see some big numbers at the end of the season for Ms. Overbeck.
5. Caitlyn “Kitty” Allen (Sr.) Marengo- 13th; Allen was once in the dark shadows of stars Katie Adams and Allie Sprague. She has blossomed into a star of her own and it will continue again. It is not a stretch to think that Allen is a top 5 caliber type of runner this season. Oh yeah she ran 11.21.96 on the track.
6. Jenna Lutzow (So.) Belvidere North- 14th; a good cross country runner with a personal best of 17:50 for 3-miles. But it is the track that Lutzow did not falter as she garnered all-state accolades in the 800m- placing 4th in 3A (2:14.53). She also ran 5:09.89 and 11:36 to show off her depth.
7. Rebecca Sippel (Sr.) Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)- 7th; the track resume is not great by any means but it hasn't stop Sippel from producing back to back solid xc seasons. Sippel will be the ace of the staff until Diane Lipa returns.
8. Megan Shaffer (Sr.) Mattoon- 19th; one of the top middle distance runners from central Illinois will look to maintain that honor this season. Shaffer finished second in the state 1600m (5:06.85). She has a personal best of 17:55 for 3-miles.
9. Lesly Rocha (Sr.) LaSalle-Peru- 20th; perhaps the most underrated runner in the state. LaSalle-Peru is not exactly a hot bed of distance running talent. But Rocha ran 17:45 on the grass last year. However, on the track she burned rubber with two all-state medals in 11:14.48 and 5:09.76.
10. Alexas Grandys (So.) Yorkville- DNR; the Lady Foxes are so deep that some of Grandys’ talent was unable to break into the playoff line-up. When the opportunity for her to shine this past spring’s track season she did not waste a second. Alexas broke foes off with an 11:00.92 3200m and qualified for state. We could possibly see the next Yorkville superstar.
11. Abigail Nadler (Sr.) Chicago (Latin)- competed in 1A in '13; Nadler was not just a top runner in 1A but in the entire state on the track. She ran 5:08.33 to show off her miler exploits. The transition to 2A should not be very difficult with a 18:08 personal best from last season.
12. Abby Jockisch (Sr.) Dunlap- 10th; one of the top runners from the Peoria area has felt the love of being a good distance runner. Jockisch produced 5:12 and 11:15 marks on the track.
13. Lauren Whitehouse (Jr.) Mahomet-Seymour- 26th; Whitehouse recently ran in the Detweiller at Dark challenge and competed well during her summer training. The time of 18:54 bodes well for a kid who has came up with two unlucky numbers for a runnner: 26 and 10. She missed all-state honors by one spot in cross country and on the track. There will be no added incentives needed this fall.
14. Megan Krolak (Sr.) LaSalle-Peru- 86th; Krolak, just like her teammate Lesly Rocha, hid under the radar for much of last season until the season really mattered. She earned her first all-state honor on the track with a 8th place finish in the 3200m. The cross country season should follow suit.
15. Shannan Supan (Jr.) Normal University- 23rd; one of the top runners from central Illinois who is a member of one of the top teams in the state look to continue her exploits this fall on the grass. Supan was consistent down the stretch eventually running 18:01.
16. Brianna Bower (Jr.) Maple Park (Kaneland)- 37th; Bower ran 18:09 last season which should set her up for mid 17:00's this fall. Plus, the Knights have an excellent team to help boost the confidence.
17. Madison Ronzone (Jr.) Aurora (Rosary)- 32nd; 18:34 was the solid number that Madison produced in late July at Detweiller at Dark. She also earned all-state honors on the track in the 1600m.
18. Alexandra Singleton (Jr.) Bethalto (Civic Memorial)- 27th; a bad state finish in the 3200m will not deter Singleton. She will be more than motivated to bust out especially if you add that she missed getting on the podium.
19. Caroline Arlasky (Sr.) Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)- 24th; another solid runner from the Glenbard South camp. Don't expect anything different despite a less than impressive track season.
20. Maddie Dearborn (So.) Aurora (IMSA)- Dearborn leaves the Yorkville nest to Illinois Science and Math Academy because of the opportunity that the school presents. Obviously things will be less intensive in terms of the talent level athletically, but talent is talent at the end of the day. Dearborn was able to run 5:14 on the track and 18:20 on the grass. She will be ok in her new digs.
Others to watch: Erin Reynolds (Jr.) Yorkville, Grace Oetting (Sr.) Charleston, Sadie Elliot (Jr.) Danville, Diane Lipa (Jr.) Glen Ellyn Glenbard South, Sami Staples (Sr., Crystal Lake Central), Kate Jacobs (So.) Woodstock.