Girls-
800: Things got started with Gabi Walker (So., Chicago Depaul Prep) trailing Julianna Ferrara (Jr., Cary-Grove) after the first lap. But Walker was able to run down Ferrara and produce a serious personal best out of 2:19.60 out of section 1.
The pace was a little slower at the beginning of section two which enabled Katie Melzer (Jr., Yorkville) to close out the race in 2:22.69.
Perhaps the most thrilling race of the event was section 3. Teammates Ashleigh Anderson (Sr) and Sofia Munoz (Jr) of Mt. Zion set the pace and were rewarded with a 1-2 finish 2:18.71 and 2:19.84.
The final section and main event race were set up to be one of the fastest races of the day and possibly of the season on Illinois soil. Becca Heitzig (So., Lincoln) roared out to a blazing start and was comfortably ahead of the equally talented Bella Domier (So., Grayslake Central) through the opening 400 in 1:00.82. The race was all but over with 200 remaining as Heitzig rigged up a bit on the homestretch (72-second final circuit)- still won in 2:13.61. Domier held off a fleet of pursuers in 2:16.71.
3200: The section 1 undercard started with Lane's Olivia Ide (Jr) taking the lead pace for several of the opening laps. But in the end it was St. Charles North's Camille Sabau who came with the comfortable victory in a personal best 11:46.02.
The following section two started out a bit more conservative in terms of pacing but ultimately things began to pick after the first mile in 5:44. On the bell lap, it was a battle to the tape between Anna Todd (Jr., Vernon Hills) and Paige-Elicia Caruth (So., Lakes). Todd would get the win 11:27.51-11:27.97.
Section three began as part of the main event and it felt like one. The entire 16-runner field was under 80-seconds for the first 400. A good chunk of the field stayed together past the first mile in 5:36 and later the second kilometer which was just over seven minutes. Katie Stabb (So., Oak Park-River Forest) had the lead on the bell, but Sofia Arcuri (Fr., Maine South) and Jenna Buchanan (Sr., Bartlett) would decide the outcome. Arcuri won by the slightest of outcomes 11:06.01-11:06.06. It is personal bests for both girls.
The final race of the main event was branded the championship section and there were new and familiar faces. Veterans Peyton Schieppe (Sr., O'Fallon) and Lianna Surtz (Sr., Aurora Rosary) were among them. Catherine Sommerfeld (Jr., Lyons Twp) and Delaney Fitzgerald (Sr., Normal U) are experienced runners but relatively new to the spotlight. A quick first half in 5:15-17 saw more than a half-dozen girls together and it would shink to two with Fitzgerald and Sommerfeld dueling it out. Sommerfeld held on for the win in a big PB 10:37.74. Fitgerald would also break 10:40 at 10:39.87.
1600: The featured event had five sections to meander through. In the first one, Audrey Boles (Sr., Minooka) was the only runner to go sub-80-seconds for her final lap and won with a lifetime best 5:23.18.
Section two was another fast affair start but the little-known Leigh Ferrell (Fr., Lyons) came home for the victory in 5:21.43. There were a total of four girls who eclipsed the previous section's best.
Things really begin to heat up in section three. The opening pace was hot for the field (72 seconds) and Scarlett Lestina (Jr., Lyons) was the leader. She along with Brenda Torres (Jr., Wheeling) hit the halfway point in 2:31. It was still a pack of eight runners, Margaret Hunter (Sr., Yorkville) moved to the front on the backstretch of the final lap. She was joined by Savannah Fraley (Jr., Homestead, WI) who had more gusto on the homestretch and won in 5:08.84.
Section four was similar to the previous race in terms of the speed of the pace. The unknown but talented Ahry Comer (So., Pope County) ventured out of the deep south for the first time this season. She was in the thick of the race out of the gate as the leaders hit the first 400 in 72 seconds. Though there was a tight group at the 800, Comer led in 2:31.2. Anna Hunter (Sr., Yorkville) put on a similar move just as her twin sister Margaret, bolted to the front and lead on the backstretch of the final lap. However, Comer turned on the jets as well and burst into the lead with less than 200 remaining and won in 5:03.60.
The final race was the one that many fans were waiting for. Some even lined the field in anticipation of greatness. As expected. Normal Community sophomore Allison Ince "Ali" bolted to the front along with a tailing Elia Ton-That (Sr., Chicago Northside Prep). They were dropped 68.6 and 69.3 to dismiss the remaining field for the time being.
Ince was relentless against Ton-That and whoever else thought of challenging her as the 800 was clocked in 2:21.81. Ince began to pull away on the third circuit and Ton-That was starting to fade- a string of earlier pursuers finally caught up. Ince would trot to a resounding win in 4:46.84- the #1 time in the state and a punctuated ending debate as to who is the best miler in Illinois.