Lianna Surtz came on strong late last season to easily win her first state track title
1600m
2019 State Champion: Lianna Surtz (So., Aurora [Rosary]) 5:09.07
Key Athletes: Surtz, Tatum David (Fr., Olney [Richland County]), Ava Parekh (So., Chicago [Latin]), Marianne Mihas (Jr., Chicago [Latin]), Lydia Roller (Jr., Staunton), Ella Bittner (Jr., Normal [University]), Payne Turney (Sr., Clinton), Olivia Rosenstein (Sr., Urbana), Bea Parr (Jr., Chicago [Latin]), Amelia Mclain (Sr., Benton), Emma Skinner (So., Morton)
Outlook: It's a strong argument but the 1600m is destined to be the best distance event. With the addition of three running superstars (Tatum David, Ava Parekh, and Marianne Mihas), it's hard to imagine a dull race. Defending state champion Lianna Surtz is, of course, is the fourth girl with sub-4:56 marks. While the 3200m is likely to be dominated by Tatum David and the 800m is looking to be owned by Mihas, the 1600m is anyone's game. All four girls are within seconds of each other and the 1600m combines the 3200m's endurance and the 800m's speed which levels out the playing field.
As an eighth-grader, David clocked 4:54 for 1600m and later as a freshman hit her personal best indoor mark of 4:51 in early March. Her cross country state performance, where she split 5:02 en route to a cross country state championship, suggests that she can take down this time much further.
Parekh has already established herself in this event, potentially even as a favorite with her season thus far. Last September, she competed at the 5th Avenue Mile in New York City and ran a 4:48 full mile, the equivalent of a 4:46 1600m, and that was the day after the grueling Hornet Red Devil race. During indoors, she posted a 4:51, which is a career strongest performance on the track for the mile.
Although the half-mile seems to fancy Mihas' palate, she holds enough endurance to be a phenomenal 1600m runner. She's coming into the 2020 season with IL #7 returning time, not to mention she holds the 1A state title in both the 800m and 1600m. Although she has proved her mile fitness this season like her teammate, Mihas could be able to fight off the competition if the race comes down to a kick.