Maryjeanne Gilbert rolled out at NBIN in the 5k (Mary Ann Magnant)
It will be a Maryjeanne Gilbert show. If you don't think so, flashback to just a few months at the New Balance Indoor Nationals 5k championship where the Peoria Notre Dame senior and future University of Notre Dame runner finished second in a blazing 16:28.74- the fastest time ever for an Illinois girl and one of the best ever long distance efforts nationally. Gilbert's 3200m time was clocked in 10:29 enroute. That on paper would make her #2 indoors or outside behind the amazing Judy Pendergast (Sr., Naperville North). Maya Stovall (Fr., Macomb), Lauren Whitehouse (Sr., Mahomet-Seymour), and Vivian Overbeck (Sr., Vernon Hills) is entered and will fight. Overbeck is especially happy to see Grace McLauglin (So., Rockford Boylan) in the field. Grace was a two second winner in March at the indoor championship.
Karina Liz (Sr., Aurora Central Catholic) has run well at times in the 800m and on other occasions just ok... but if you asked any champion what really matters at the end of the day, they probably would say: "all that matters is the championship." Liz is a prime time runner who has been to the mountain top several times so let's not worry about a loss to Rachel Hickey (So., Lasalle-Peru) at her home sectional. Liz has the #4 time in the state at 2:13.32- one of her victories was against Hickey at the Palatine Distance Night meet. She will be fine. However, a devil's advocate would argue that a win is a win and it happened at the most important time of the season. Hickey is young, experienced and hungry. She could have a long memory in placing a very distant second to Liz in last year's final. Liz may win her third title in a row but she is going to earn it and it is going to feel like she scraped with a deranged bobcat. Madeline Bruce (Jr., Marion) seems to be the forgotten one here despite having the second best sectional time. Liz's teammate Abby Fioresi (Jr.) was just a tick behind indoors at Top Times.
The question that everyone wants to know if Gilbert will finally win her first 1600m title. It is hard to believe that she has never broken 5:00 much less been dominant in an event that demands some closing leg speed. If Gilbert is to become a double champion she will have to get past classification leader Delaney Appino (Jr., Rockford Boylan) who has ran 5:00 and change. Top Times winner Kara Martin (Sr., Herrin) is in the field as well.