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1600m-
2021 Best: Ali Ince (Normal (Community) 4:40.85
3A state champion: Ince 4:40.85 (state record)
2A state champion: Elia Ton-That (Chicago (Northside) 4:58.11
1A state champion: Natalia Martino (Winnebago) 5:05.45
Top returners: Ince, Josephine Welin (Oak Park-River Forest), Elia Ton-That (Chicago Northside Prep), Tatum David (Richland County), Mary Grace Hegberg (St. Viator), Catie McCabe (Jr., Hinsdale Central), Katrina Schlenker (Batavia), Brooke Johnston (Lake Zurich), Naomi Ruff (South Elgin), Aly Negovetich (Sr., Grant), Brooke Berger (Jr., York), Morgan Mackie (So., Loyola Academy), Grace Schager (Glenbard North), Rachel Soukup (Prairie Ridge), Becca Heitzig (Lincoln), Anna Perry (Eureka), Mabry Bruhn (Monticello)
Breakdown: This event was the most competitive and historic event in Illinois in 2021.
Ince and Welin traded blows in a giants' battle at the 3A state meet to both break the all-time Illinois 1600 record, but the pack behind them showed record depth as well.
In all, twelve athletes return having broken 5:00 in 2021, not including 'newcomer' Tatum David, who has run under 4:50 for this distance.
Ince is positioned to lock horns against some of the best in the state several times before the state series. 2A defending state champion Ton-That must be ready to challenge the likes of Parekh, Hegberg, and David. Of all events across both genders, the girls' 1600 is going to be the best in IL in 2022 again.