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DS IL 2015 Season Preview – 2A Girls Distances

Published by
DyeStatIL.com   Jan 29th 2015, 2:03pm
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Gilbert and Liz will lead the way in 2A

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

 

I don’t think we have to elaborate any further on the exploits last fall of Maryjeanne Gilbert (Notre Dame HS, Peoria). The Peoria junior ran the second fastest time ever for a girl at Detweiller Park in winning the 2A state championship, earned All-American honors at the Foot Locker Nationals, and was awarded the top Girls Runner in the State by Gatorade and DyeStat Illinois. The talent in 2A this spring in the distances has diminished some due to graduation and some due to some schools moving up to 3A for track including state champion Yorkville. Nevertheless, Gilbert is still the runner to beat in the distances as she goes for the distance triple crown (Cross Country, 1600, 3200).

 

Karina Liz (Aurora Central Catholic HS) set the track on fire in the 800 finals when she set the 2A record last May. The junior is back now looking to do something special this spring. She will have competition but her biggest competition could be the clock. The 3200 Meter Relay could be up for grabs. There are a number of teams back looking to dip under 9:20. The talent to achieve that is there.

 

Here is a look at the three individual events. We will also look at the 4x8 relay to give you an idea of the teams to watch for in 2015.

 

 

800 Meter Run

 

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Karina Liz – JR – Aurora Central Catholic HS – 2014 AA Champion

2:10.73 Karina Liz - JR Aurora Central Catholic
2:15.84 Madeline Bruce - SO Marion
2:18.39 Aurora Breeden - SR Carterville
2:19.45 Lesley Rocha - SR LaSalle-Peru
2:20.10 Shayna Phillips - SR Effingham
2:20.33 Mackenzie Dixon - SO Mascoutah
2:20.73 Megan Shaffer - SR Mattoon
2:20.83 Sharana Baker - SR Richton Park Rich South
2:22.00 Hayley Einsweiler - SR Galena
2:22.22 Delaney Appino - SO Rockford Boylan
2:22.66 Abi Richter - JR Troy Triad
2:23.23 Kara Martin - JR Herrin
2:23.27 Twinkle Mehta - SR Mahomet-Seymour
2:23.55 Elizabeth Evans - JR Hampshire
2:23.57 Kyrston Scifres - JR Roxana
2:24.48 Meagan McNicholas - JR Rochester
2:24.70 Kaylia Fann - SO Carbondale
2:24.75 Carissa Fagiano - SR Chicago Resurrection
2:24.94 Tatiana Nieves - SR River Forest Trinity

 

PreviewKarina Liz is the runner to beat in this event. There are only two other runners who made last year’s finals that return. What could make Liz even more dangerous in this event is the strength that she showed during the cross country season last fall culminating with a 12th place finish. She dropped her personal best at Detweiller Park by almost a minute in the last year. Liz ran 2:10.73 to break the 2A state record. She will look to lower that in 2015.

 

Madeline Bruce (Marion HS) ran 2:15.84 as a freshman showing that she has a bright future ahead. She finished 6th a year ago and should be Liz’s chief competition. Aurora Breeden (Carterville HS) ran 2:18.39 to finish 3rd in 1A last year. In 2A, she could bid for another top three finish in the 800. The event is wide open after that. Lesley Rocha (LaSalle-Peru HS), Shayna Phillips (Effingham HS), and Mackenzie Dixon (Mascoutah HS) are some of the runners that could challenge for a top three finish.

 

 

1600 Meter Run

 

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Megan Shaffer – SR – Mattoon HS – 2nd AA

5:05.70 Allison Zobrist - JR Highland
5:06.33 Maryjeanne Gilbert - JR Peoria Notre Dame
5:06.85 Megan Shaffer - SR Mattoon
5:07.87 Madison Ronzone - JR Aurora Rosary
5:08.09 Lesley Rocha - SR LaSalle-Peru
5:08.33 Abigail Nadler - SR Chicago Latin
5:12.15 Natalie Krol - JR New Lenox Lincoln-Way West
5:12.87 Abby Jockisch - SR Dunlap
5:17.76 Lauren Whitehouse - JR Mahomet-Seymour
5:18.31 Shelby Siltman - SO Stanford Olympia
5:19.91 Vivian Overbeck - JR Vernon Hills
5:20.30 Kate Jacobs - SO Woodstock
5:20.42 Mercedes Sanchez - SR Sterling
5:21.07 Kara Martin - JR Herrin
5:22.49 Bridget McClain - SR Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin
5:23.36 Shannan Supan - JR Normal University
5:23.37 Abby Fioresi - SO Aurora Central Catholic
5:24.87 Madison Tutich - SR Monticello
5:26.08 Caitlyn Allen - SR Marengo
5:26.52 Samantha Hershman - SR Vernon Hills

 

Preview – If Maryjeanne Gilbert wants to complete the Triple Crown and win the 1600, she will have to go against some stiff competition in what could be the strongest of the three distance events. Gilbert has the second fastest time returning this year (5:06.33). We have to remember how dramatically she improved in cross country. I am sure she will dip below 5 minutes this spring. Megan Shaffer is the highest placing returnee. She also has some good leg speed having run 2:20 last spring in the 800. She could be the biggest threat to Gilbert in this event.

 

One of the biggest questions could be that of Allison Zobrist (Highland HS) and her health. She missed basically all of her cross country season due to a stress fracture. She ran 5:05.70 last spring in the 1600. If she is 100% healthy, she could challenge for the championship. Madison Ronzone (Rosary HS, Aurora), Lesley Rocha, and Abigail Nadler (Latin HS, Chicago) are all within two seconds of the above mentioned athletes. They could threaten for a top finish. Frannie Verville (Dunlap HS) won the IESA championship last year in 8th grade running 5:12. I would keep an eye on her this spring.

 

 

3200 Meter Run

 

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Maryjeanne Gilbert – JR – Peoria Notre Dame HS – 2014 AA Champion

10:34.37 Maryjeanne Gilbert - JR Peoria Notre Dame
11:02.50 Allison Zobrist - JR Highland
11:04.09 Vivian Overbeck - JR Vernon Hills
11:14.40 Lesley Rocha - SR LaSalle-Peru
11:15.22 Abby Jockisch - SR Dunlap
11:15.51 Megan Krolak - SR LaSalle-Peru
11:16.62 Lauren Whitehouse - JR Mahomet-Seymour
11:21.96 Caitlyn Allen - SR Marengo
11:23.49 Grace Oetting - SR Charleston
11:26.19 Brianna Bower - JR Maple Park Kaneland
11:26.80 Kate Jacobs - SO Woodstock
11:32.23 Abigail Nadler - SR Chicago Latin
11:34.37 Madison Ronzone - JR Aurora Rosary
11:36.98 Shannan Supan - JR Normal University
11:38.55 Alexandra Singleton - JR Bethalto Civic Memorial
11:41.10 Caroline Arlasky - SR Glen Ellyn Glenbard South
11:42.04 Shelby Siltman - SO Stanford Olympia
11:45.72 Maura Farrell - JR Herrin
11:46.57 Anna Lowry - SO Taylorville
11:51.97 Mercedes Sanchez - SR Sterling

 

Preview – I just can’t see anyone in 2A challenging Maryjeanne Gilbert in this event this season. She ran a PR 10:34.37 to win the state meet last year. I can see her dropping that time considerably in 2015. Allison Zobrist has the next fastest returning time (11:02.5) and she is almost 30 seconds behind. Vivian Overbeck (Vernon Hills HS) ran 11:04 last spring and could challenge for a top three finish.

 

Kitty Allen (Marengo HS) showed improvement during the cross country season when she finished 4th at the state meet. I think she will be a threat this spring of finishing among the top runners. Lesley Rocha and Megan Krolak (LaSalle-Peru HS), Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet-Seymour HS), and Abby Jockisch (Dunlap HS) would be other runners that you could see towards the front.

 

 

4 x 800 Meter Relay

 

2014 AA State Champion – Washington – 9:23.76

 

PreviewWashington is the defending champion in this event but they only return Sophomores Hailey Tranchatella and Kassidy Dexheimer. They do have a good freshman class coming in that could put them back in all-state contention. Montini is a perennial favorite in this event. The Broncos should be towards the front in 2015 led by Gianna Salzbrunn.

 

Mattoon should have a good team led by all-state runner Megan Shaffer. Normal University returns all of their runner’s from last year’s team that finished 6th. They will be in the mix for a championship this season. Rockford Boylan, Highland, Rosary, and Stanford Olympia would be teams that I would watch this season.

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