There will be new Main Event AND Undercard champions in all three events on the Girls' side this year. The meet will be a slow crescendo up to section five of the 1600m
800m -
Main Event Record: Allison Ince "Ali", Normal (Community) - 2:04.10 (2021)
Undercard Record: Stephanie Kriss, Highland Park - 2:12.82 (2017)
2021 Main Event Champ: Ince
2021 Undercard Champ: Kelly Andrews, Lisle (Benet) - 2:21.25
-This will be the first event to run its fastest section. The defending champion Ince is in the field, but not here so there will be a new champion in 2022. The 3A state runner-up in the 800m in 2021, Bella Domier (So., Grayslake (Central)), is the best bet to claim the trophy this year. Domier led Central in every event from the 200 to the 3200 in 2021 and has the wheels to win on a kick from any distance out. She is also maturing with more measured race tactics, an area of improvement from last year. This was evident in her Top Times 3A two-lap jaunt, a narrow win over Catie McCabe (Sr., Hinsdale (Central) and Isabella Marsico (So., Lake Forest (H.S.).
Her chief competition will come from Becca Heitzig (So., Lincoln) and Jordyn Miller (Sr., Mundelein). Miller was all-state in the same 800m state final race, and like Domier, has shown range for Mundelein particularly with strong 200m performances so far this season. However, Miller is ten months removed from any half-mile races under 2:18, so it will take a big season's best to take the win at Palatine. Conversely, Heitzig is one of the hottest 800m runners in the state at the moment, after grabbing the second-best time of 2:11.80. With endurance (10:45.78) and speed (59.62) to match most foes, it should be a great all-around clash.
An up-and-coming star who can't be discounted if the race comes to a kick is Isabella Orozco (Jr., Aurora (Central Catholic), the Top Times 2A 400m champion in 59.51. Orozco bested that time narrowly coming outdoors in 59.44 and also clocked an 800m best at Batavia Distance Madness in 2:17.21, her DNIP seed time. The champion will likely be one of these four, but let us watch for some surprises to emerge in this open event.
There are some entries that have state 4x800 implications as well. In section 3, watch for Minooka's Kathryn Cichon (Sr.) and Cassie Fuhrman (So.), as well as Mt. Zion's Ashleigh Anderson (Sr.,) and Sofia Munoz (Jr.). Keep an eye also on Holly Johnson downers grove south (Fr., Downers Grove South) as well.
On the undercard, Madison Perez (Jr., Lake Villa (Lakes)) is the fastest seed narrowly over Kate Tueting (So., Naperville (Central). The entire undercard field is seeded within 2.8 seconds, however, so the field is so open for the 800. Perhaps Gabi Walker (So., Chicago (DePaul College Prep)) or Bryn Sato (Sr., Grayslake (Central)) can win the Undercard out of section 1. If not, look for Reina Hill (Jr., Vernon Hills) out of section 2 to grab the victory.