2016 Class 3A Girls Pre-Season Distance Preview

The jubilant Michaela Hackbarth surprised the field in winning her first state title last year (Tony Jones photo)

800m-

2015 State Champion: Michaela Hackbarth (Downers Grove South) 2:11.24

Outlook: A defending champion coming in to the next season has to be the favorite unless some circumstance proves otherwise. 2015 was a year in which Michaela Hackbarth took advantage of every opportunity out there. She ran at New Balance Indoors and Outdoor Nationals as well as the famous Arcadia Invitational outside of Los Angeles. The final result of all of the top notch racing paid off. Foot injuries and other outside factors have certainly taken its toll on Hackbarth at times, but she has been able to maintain her resolve. She will need it. This upcoming season promises to be one of the best overall if not the best in terms of overall performance. There are over 30 returners who broke 2:20- the same amount in coincidence under the state qualifying mark. 

There are eight of the 12 state finalist returning. This set up and improvement of some other names should yield some great times. 2:11 or even 2:10 will not be the fastest time this season. The all-time mark by Courtney Clayton (Rockton Hononegah) 2:07.05 is going to get seriously challenged this season by several girls. One girl in particular is Imani Davis. Davis has the #1 basic tool needed to go after such a record: SPEED. 57.xx open is more than good enough to run under 2:07. Another factor for Davis and someone like Emma Moravec is competition. Illinois now has enough quality girls to run extremely fast times. Moravec is a front runner and that attitude will get the job done. Kelly O'Brien has done well here but half-mile is probably her secondary if not tertiary event. She will be a threat to crack 2:10 at some point in 2016.

Top returners in 2016-

*Complete List