Palatine's Allen savors dream run

It's been a dream year for Palatine's Ruth Allen - and the Pirates senior is not quite ready to wake up.

In the past 12 months, Allen has won 3 state medals and helped lead the Pirates to state trophies in track and in cross country.

And she was elected homecoming queen.

Now Allen is hoping to cap a brilliant career and an exceptional year at this weekend's IHSA Class 3A girls state track meet at Eastern Illinois in Charleston.

"She just keeps getting better and better," said Palatine coach Steve Currins. "She just does all the right things and does whatever is asked her."

Allen enters the state meet with the third-best seed time in the 800 (2:13.14), she also qualified in the 1,600 (5:10.94) and she could be a key member in the relays.

Allen already has captured a long list of awards, helping Palatine to three consecutive state medals in the 3,200 relay and also earning a fourth-place medal in the 800 last year as the Pirates tied Waubonsie Valley for Class 3A runner-up honors.

In cross country, Allen has earned two consecutive all-state honors, including last fall when she finished 13th to help propel the Pirates to the state title.

The Pirates later competed in the Nike Cross Nationals, finishing 19th.

"It's kind of weird to think back on having such a successful track season last year, then to have even a better cross country season," Allen said. "It's definitely living the dream."

As a sophomore, Allen opened a few eyes by winning the 800 (2:16.1) at the sectionals. She capped her junior year by taking fourth in Class 3A in the 800.

This season, Allen broke a 24-year-old school record while winning the 800 (2:11.60) at the Palatine Relays. Her mark is the best time in state this season.

"That school record was a big thing," Currins said. "She is just a smooth runner, it's fun to watch."

"She's been a part of a lot of great things," said Palatine cross country coach and track distance coach Joe Parks. "She was not a big superstar coming in, but she steadily progressed and it didn't take long for her to find her niche."

Allen displayed cool leadership helping the Pirates secure their two state trophies. After the Pirates took second in the MSL in cross country last fall, they rebounded behind Allen's leadership to capture the state crown.

"We worked so hard to get there, we weren't going to go out that way," said Allen of the Pirates' title drive. "I wanted to fight for it."

And Allen's determination rubbed off on her teammates.

"Ruth is one of those people you can't be in a bad mood around," said junior Becca Sund. "She's always positive and she makes sure everyone is comfortable."

"She's been a great leader," said freshman Tess Wasowicz. "She really helped out the team a lot and if it wasn't for her we wouldn't have gone as far as we did."

Next season, Allen will continue running at Illinois State, where she will major in special education.

But with Palatine again aiming for a state trophy this weekend at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium, Allen is ready to culminate her high school career with a bang.

"It been exciting," Allen said. "It's been such a roller coaster, starting on junior varsity and now running on the big stage. I'm excited to see what I can do, my coaches have built up the foundation to where I can succeed and now it's just time to prove it to myself."