1600m -
Main Event Record: Katrina Schlenker, Batavia - 4:51.36 (2019)
Undercard Record: Alyssa Norris, Barrington - 4:59.88 (2019)
2021 Main Event Champ: Ava Parekh, Chicago (Latin) - 4:52.81
2021 Undercard Champ: Maeve Norman, Wilmette (Loyola Academy) - 5:15.79
-Forget how many notable names aren't in the meet- this race is still loaded and could produce something memorable. Just put aside the name Ali Ince for a second, if you can... section four of the 1600m collects many of the great names who have been running great in the recent past.
Start with Elia Ton-That (Sr., Chicago (Northside)), who has found another gear during the indoor season going 4:53 at New Balance Nationals Indoor for the full mile, after dropping a 10:26 two-mile there in what has been her best performance to date. Ton-That also made waves at Distance Night last year, when she tactically bridged the gap between the pack and eventual winner Parekh before finishing third in the race.
Then there is Catie McCabe (Jr., Hinsdale Central), who seems to be the most unheralded 4:52 miler in the state, and brings similar top-end speed to Ton-that. They lead a litany of accomplished runners from Illinois running great times recently. Scout Storms (Fr., Barrington) opened eyes going 10:26 for 3200 in Raleigh before the indoor season ended. Brooke Johnston (Jr., Lake Zurich) ran 10:41 for 3200m solo and has quickened her pace after a slow start to the season. Aly Negovetich (Sr., Fox Lake (Grant)) has already traded blows with Storms this season and dipped under 5:00 at NBNI. DNIP 1600m record holder Katrina Schlenker cannot be overlooked.
Finally, the steady rise of Grace Schager (Jr., Carol Stream (Glenbard North)) continues. Mirroring her racing style, she has just gotten faster and faster with each passing race. Schager has the makings of a true aerobic monster and has dominated a heavy racing schedule including her Top Times 3200 title with a massive negative split.
As amazing as this field is... do any of them have a chance to unseat IL state meet record holder Ince? Ince's current fitness is no mystery. She has run a heavy host of meets with races ranging from 400 to 1600 and every relay for Normal Community, national caliber meets to dual meets.
Most recently, Ince provided Arcadia with a season's breakthrough in the 800 of 2:05.42, her 4th-fastest time in the event and best overall performance since running 2:03.98 at the Brooks Invitational. All eyes will be on Ince-both of spectators and her competitors. How will the field try to go at her? Ince's dominance in Illinois comes from her immunity to any kind of race tactic run against her. Regardless of how slow or fast a race is taken out, Ince possesses an unmatched closing speed. Any kind of quick pace set in the first few laps should ensure that Schlenkers 3-year old meet record of 4:51.36 will be going down.
Section four is headlined by Evelyn Hett (Jr., Chicago Jones) after making her return from injury official with a 11:07 3200m from the same Arcadia meet. She will have to contest with two Wisconsin entries, Fran Peterson (Barron) and Caitlyn O'Neil (Cedarburg).
Rachel Soukup (Jr., Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)) enters with a 5:11 seed, but she has run sub-5 already. Loyola Academy runs three in this race, with 2021 Undercard champion Maeve Norman (Jr.) being joined by teammates Ellie Grammas (Jr.) and Jane Lynch (Fr.).
In cross country, Ahry Comer (So., Golconda (Pope County)) rose out of nowhere and finished all-state in 1A. She's entered in this section and gets a major crack at the big-school competition, as do Kaylee Woolery (Jr., Winnebago), Kate Ahmari (Jr., Urbana (University)), and Zoe Carter (Fr., Normal (University)).
The Undercard has three sections of runners hoping to run as close to five minutes as possible. In section three, watch Juliet Frum (Fr., Northbrook (Glenbrook North)) who flashed serious potential in cross country in 2021, and Josephine Dziedzic (Jr., Chicago (Payton)) whose focus has been on shorter events to this point. Saniya Mathew (Jr. Dunlap) is in the field so expect her to take the pace out. Marissa Magana (Jr., Naperville (North)) is the fastest Undercard seed.