Foot Locker runner-up Katelynne Hart Wins 800, 1600 and 3200 at Illinois State Meet

Just to give more context: Those results were finals. The day before, she ran prelims in 800 (2:11.78) and 1600 (4:53.04). She's been remarkably and impressively consistent. I assume she was "all-in" on the decision to try the triple. I for one worry about over-racing. But, she's been healthy her HS career, so far as I know.

Vanderlende (4), Starcher (4), and Tuohy (3) have all recently done multiple race meets as well. It does seem like a lot for 17 year old kids, although for the most part the times are not that fast. Vanderlende did PR in the 1600 (4:42) as part of hers though. I know Hart did not have that much rest in between some of her races, as well.

more-info wrote:

Just to give more context: Those results were finals. The day before, she ran prelims in 800 (2:11.78) and 1600 (4:53.04). She's been remarkably and impressively consistent. I assume she was "all-in" on the decision to try the triple. I for one worry about over-racing. But, she's been healthy her HS career, so far as I know.

If she is only racing the high school season, I wouldn't worry about over racing. If she is adding a bunch of AAU or USATF juniors meets, then I would be concerned.

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

reer wrote:

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

Not sure on the weather, but she’s in the largest classification in a competitive state. Illinois is easily a top 5 distance running state (likely top 3 with California and New York).

Winning three races at ANY state meet is that impressive. 5 races (2 prelims) in 24 hours - winning them all - is impressive.

2:11

4:53

10:24

2:13

4:52

Not sure what else you’re looking for at a state meet. Most of those are near the top 25 in the country. Her PRs put her near top 10 across all track events and her specialty is clearly the longer distances (very excited to see her in 5k/10k at the next stage).

I checked it out, these are races, not time trials.

Macdaddy wrote:

reer wrote:

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

Not sure on the weather, but she’s in the largest classification in a competitive state. Illinois is easily a top 5 distance running state (likely top 3 with California and New York).

Winning three races at ANY state meet is that impressive. 5 races (2 prelims) in 24 hours - winning them all - is impressive.

2:11

4:53

10:24

2:13

4:52

Not sure what else you’re looking for at a state meet. Most of those are near the top 25 in the country. Her PRs put her near top 10 across all track events and her specialty is clearly the longer distances (very excited to see her in 5k/10k at the next stage).

I was there....it was EXTREMELY windy. For reference, the girls 200m had a wind reading of 5.6 and the 100m had a reading of 4.5 so they ran them backwards. Taylor Gilling deserves a shoutout as she won both events and had a huge margin of victory to set the Illinois all conditions record and a #2 in both the 100m and 200m all conditions this year.

reer wrote:

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

Really hot weather and extremely windy. The Illinois kids are racing in 45-60 degree temps for most of the Spring and then head 3 hours South and it's 85 degrees and windy. Add to the fact her prelims were late in the afternoon Friday it is pretty remarkable. She's capable of low to mid 4:30's right now and mid 9:40's if not faster for 3200!

There's only a few HS girls at her level nationwide.

Onceafastcat wrote:

reer wrote:

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

Really hot weather and extremely windy. The Illinois kids are racing in 45-60 degree temps for most of the Spring and then head 3 hours South and it's 85 degrees and windy. Add to the fact her prelims were late in the afternoon Friday it is pretty remarkable. She's capable of low to mid 4:30's right now and mid 9:40's if not faster for 3200!

There's only a few HS girls at her level nationwide.

If she can run those times, she is probably the best in the country right now. Nothing against her, but I don't think she can.

Macdaddy wrote:

reer wrote:

Those are really slow winning times for a state meet, so is this even that impressive? Is IL just that mediocre of a state, or was it 90+ degrees? Or is she in a really small school classification?

Not sure on the weather, but she’s in the largest classification in a competitive state. Illinois is easily a top 5 distance running state (likely top 3 with California and New York).

Winning three races at ANY state meet is that impressive. 5 races (2 prelims) in 24 hours - winning them all - is impressive.

2:11

4:53

10:24

2:13

4:52

Not sure what else you’re looking for at a state meet. Most of those are near the top 25 in the country. Her PRs put her near top 10 across all track events and her specialty is clearly the longer distances (very excited to see her in 5k/10k at the next stage).

no, likely not top 3 as Michigan would be in front of them.

Onceafastcat wrote:

Really hot weather and extremely windy.

That explains it, thanks!

Starcher ran 4 as well . She now has 13 state championship titles . Rough weekend weather wise

3200- 10:30 after 4 hour storm delay ( run close to midnight )

1600- 4:46 (early next morning )

800- 2:08

4x400- 56 split

All of these done in scorching 90 degree weather - pretty impressive to still have that in the tank at the end of 2 days

KH is a very smart runner and did only enough to allow her to win on a very bad event day. She has run far faster time than she did here, but so what? She did what Marius Bakken could not- win all three events in the toughest division in the state. She has been winning for years, and perhaps only Katelyn Touhey is a better runner than she is. Her best times are around 2.10 for 800, 4.43 for 1600 and 9.52 for 3200 and 9.56 for 2m.

ParityCuber wrote:

Is it just me, or is KK Hart not the most attractive female runner?

Did you seriously just sexualize a minor? How can you be so repulsive? Brojos, how has this person not been banned yet?

At least based on PRs, Starliper and Vanderlende are very close to Hart, and not that far off of Tuohy (other than the 4:33.87 mile). Right now I am not sure who you can say is the best, although if Tuohy peaks in June as she did last year and the others do not she will remain the fastest. I still think Starcher is showing the greatest long term potential as a miler of this group. As yet she has not shown she is with the others at 2 miles. A lot of talent here.

For more reference, here are the times from the official schedule for her races, along with performances. For the finals I took the time for the small class, but all 3 classes run back to back 1 heatbon only so time gap should be the same).

Friday:

2:33- 800 (2:11.78)

3:31- 1600 (4:53.04)

Saturday:

12:10- 3200 (10:24.33

1:55- 800 (2:13.11

3:55- 1600 (4:52.99)

I was actually more impressed with her sectional performance the week before, when she pulled the same triple in a compressed window (probably 2.5 hours) running 10:18.41/2:11.99/4:51.40.

Pr's

800- 2:10.81

1600 - 4:43.07

3200- 9:52.02

Starcher will be a miler in college.

Have to agree, Starcher will run the 1500, mile and probably DMR. I am interested to see once she gets into a training program in college, what kind of 3000 she can run. She has never run a 3200 or a 2 mile in a loaded field. She has always run by herself. She has such speed it could be interesting.