3A Girls Distance Preview: The Final Destination

At the end of the day, it's about respect, friendship, and recovery

3200m-

2018 State Champion: Katelynne Hart (Jr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard West] 10:12.96

Key returners: Hart, Alex Morris (Sr., Naperville North), Katherine Olsen (Sr., DeKalb), Brenna Cohoon (Jr., Downers Grove South), Mckenna Revord (Jr., Hinsdale Central), Abby Lopez (Jr., Summit [Argo]), Rachel Richtman (Jr.) Maple Park [Kaneland]), Alice Abbott (So., St. Charles East), Juliana Stogsdill (Sr., Plainfield North), Leah Ulrich (Sr., Winnetka (New Trier), Gianna Sagona (Jr., Belvidere North), Olivia Borowiak (Sr., Yorkville), Isabelle Christiansen (Sr., Oswego), Molly Fitzpatrick (So., Barrington), Fatima Giron (Jr., Round Lake), Vivian Van Eck (Sr., Minooka), Helena Kleronomos (So., Yorkville), Campbell Petersen (So., Naperville North), Kailey Fox (Jr., Yorkville), Kelli Tosic (Jr., Grayslake North), Kate Dickman (So., Lyons Twp.), Juliana Stogsdill (Sr., Plainfield North), Kayla Byrne (Sr., Hinsdale Central), Ella Behrens (Sr., Chicago Whitney Young), Madison Diercks (Jr., Belvidere North)

Breakdown: 2018 was a record-breaking year led by the great Katelynne Hart of course. Prior to winning her second straight 3200m title, she clocked an all-time state best 9:52.02. Hart's mark was US #2 and one of the fastest in high school history. Hart will look to add to her legacy on the track .. there are so many top choices to pick from.

It is going to be another banner year leading off with the second fastest returner Alex Morris whose 10:33.40 placed fourth in the state meet. After producing a cross country season similar to former teammate Sarah Schmitt, we should expect the All-American honors to pay off on the track. A time under 10:20 would not be a stretch for Morris who improved her endurance strength and finishing kick this past fall... Brenna Cohoon will be built on her 10:49 track performance and followed by a great harrier season.

Newcomers Katrina Schlenker of Batavia and Aly Negovetich of Grant proved what others saw in them at the junior high school level last year- they came to the big leagues and turned the party out. Schlenker's debut resulted in the fastest three-mile clocking in IHSA history at 16:07. She would go on compete in the highest level of cross country, the Nike Cross Nationals where she finished 27th. Negovetich issued a proclamation as well. She won her first several contests and later broke the school record, taking fourth in 16:33. The future is extremely is extremely bright for this youthful pair. They will have to avoid the pitfuls of injury, maturity, and peer pressure.

Katherine Olsen will get one last shot at her moment of truth this season. She returns with the third fastest time of 10:42.48. Olsen is a gamer who was not happy about missing out of the cross country state meet. The motivation to prove that her off-peak sectional performance was an aberration.

Dunlap transfer Campbell Petersen transitioned well in her first half year at Naperville North. Petersen earned all-state honors with the Huskies and earned a trip to NXN. There were a few growing pains along the way, but she is a champion and will have an outstanding track season.

The Yorkville trio of Helena Kleromonos, Kailey Fox, and Emily Eberhart may be split up for the 4x800 relay. This may be the year that Kleromonos takes a serious dive into this race. She has never officially been clocked in the deuce.