Payne breezed in the 2019 state championship. If given another opportunity, it is certain that she would relish the opportunity to duel against the likes of Marianne Mihas
800m
2019 State Champion: Payne Turney (Sr., Clinton) 2:17.54
Key Athletes: Turney, Marianne Mihas (Jr., Chicago [Latin]), Macy Priess (Jr., Dunlap), Lydia Roller (Jr., Staunton), Amelia Mclain (Sr., Benton), Megan Garrett (Jr., Tolono Unity), Mikayla Hady (Sr., Springfield [Sacred Heart-Griffin]), Lovanya Perry (Jr., Rantoul), Ashley Heagy (Sr., LaSalle-Peru), Taylor Fox (Sr., Mt. Zion), Avery Andersen (Jr., Burlington [Central]),
Outlook: Payne Turney, after dominating the field last season including a state win by almost four seconds and a 2:16.33 PR is in for a challenge this year with the addition Marianne Mihas into the field.
Mihas is coming off of a 2019 1A state win in both the 800m and 1600m, and likely has her eye on the 800m 2A state title. Mihas won possibly the best race of indoors by taking down Katelynne Hart in 2:10.95 at the University of Kentucky. The addition of Mihas is sure to push the 2A field to run at a higher quality. Only three 2A girls went under the 2:20 barrier last year -- Turney, Macy Priess, and Lydia Roller -- and they will have to work hard in order to close the gap.
Turney has been closest to Mihas in 2020 (2:19.52) but has an uphill climb to challenge for the state title.
Roller should not be discounted considering her stellar cross country season, finishing 2nd in 2A state and running sub-17:00 twice. However, we'll have to see if her cross country prowess translates to 800m speed further down the line.