Ava Parekh put on a show in last year's state final
High school sports are 360 degrees in nature- a full circle if you will. Most long-distance runners will begin their quest during the early months of summer training for cross country. The three months of training that kids put in are an attempt to run in the state championship in November. For the few lucky ones, they will go on and compete in Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker, or some other post-season meet.
But what has been lost in the sauce is the entire school calendar which runs through the winter indoor campaign and finally back around to the all-important outdoor track and field season. We wanted to chronicle the very beginning and end. Obviously, athletes get lazy after cross country or hurt. Some play other sports in the spring-like lacrosse, club soccer, baseball, volleyball, etc.
1. Ava Parekh (Sr., Chicago [Latin]) 16:23.88- 1600m State Runner-Up, 4:49.22; 3200m (10:25.17)
2. Mary Grace Hegberg (Sr., Arlington Heights (St. Viator) 16:38.91- 3rd state/3200m (10:14.58 PB); 3rd/state 1600m, 4:45.79 PB; 800m (2:13.29 PB)
3. Mia Kotler (Fr., Chicago [Latin]) 16:41.37- 4th/state 3200m (10:28.03 PB); 6th/state 1600m, 5:01.47 PB
4. Hadley Ferrero (Fr., Crystal Lake [Central]) 16:55.30- Did not run track
5. Elia Ton-That (Sr., Chicago Northside) 16:57.80- 3200m State Runner-Up (10:12.45 PB); 4th/state 1600m, 4:55.59
6. Isabella Marsico (So., Lake Forest (H.S.) 17:12.24- competed in 3A; placed 9th in state 800m (2:16.45 PB); 1600m (5:02.28 PB)
7. Rachel Soukup (Sr., Crystal Lake [Prairie Ridge) 17:18.43- competed in 3A; 10th place/1600m (5:04.45); 3200m (11:16.02)
8. Lucia Ton-That (Fr., Chicago Northside) 17:28.15- 16th/1600m state prelims, 5:19.59 PB; ran on third place state 4x800 relay
9. Isabella Gonzalez (Jr., Crystal Lake South) 17:31.40- competed in 3A; 24th/3200m state (11:24.22); 1600m (5:19.33)
10. Bella Domier (So., Grayslake Central) 17:35.93- competed in 3A; 3rd/state 800m (2:14.22 PB); 400m (58.35 PB); 1600m (5:13.11)
11. Reina Hill (Jr., Vernon Hills) 17:36.78- did not advance to any state event; 800m (2:29.19 PB); 1600m (5:36.53)
12. Becca Heitzig (So., Lincoln) 17:43.43- 800m state champion (2:09.90 PB); 400m (59.06 PB); 3200m (11:20.10 PB); 1600m (5:07.43i)
13. Colette Kinsella (Jr., LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) 17:44.77- did not run track
14. Anna Todd (Jr., Vernon Hills) 17:46.83- did not advance to state in any event; 3200m (11:20.20 PB); 1600m (5:26.67 PB)
15. Abby Machesky (So., Crystal Lake South) 17:47.76- competed in 3A; 16/1600m state prelim, 2:18.92 PB
16. Emma Smith (So., Dixon) 17:47.77- 11th/state 1600m (5:11.93 PB)
17. Josephine Dziedzic (Jr., Chicago Payton) 17:48.16- competed on 7th place 4x800 squad; 13th place/1600m prelim, 5:18.61 PB; 3200m (11:26.23 PB)
18 Delaney Fitzgerald (Sr., Normal (University) 17:51.20- 5th/state 3200m, 10:31.72 PB; 8th/state 1600m, 5:03.93 PB
19 Hannah Meiser (Jr., Bethalto (Civic Memorial) 17:56.50- 9th/state 1600m (5:09.06 PB); 14th/state 3200m (11:30.09 PB)
20 Sarah Armstrong (So., Grayslake (Central) 17:58.67- did not compete in track
21 Madison Perez (Jr., Lake Villa (Lakes) 17:59.99- 10th place/800m (2:22.68 PB)
22 Jocelyn Onstot (Jr., Cary-Grove) 18:02.13- competed in 3A; did not advance to state in any event; 800m (2:24.46)
23 Bella Daley (Jr., Oak Park [Fenwick]) 18:07.24- 13th/state 3200m (11:23.11 PB); 17th/1600m prelims
24 Teagan Cover (Sr., Peoria (Notre Dame) 18:07.86- Did not advance to state in any event; 1600m (5:19.85 PB)
25 Addie Frisch (Sr., Crystal Lake South) 18:11.19- Did not advance to the state meet in any event; 800m (2:46.32)