Olson makes short work of Warren's 800 record

The shortest race Heather Olson runs took her the longest time to break the school mark.

Was there any doubt that the Warren senior would get it, though?

In a magnificent high school career in both cross country and track that has seen her clock multiple school records, the Rice University signee ran her final Lake County meet Thursday night and made it a memorable one, naturally.

She won the 800-meter run in a school-record 2:15.75, as Warren went on to win the meet in a literal runaway. The Blue Devils totaled 129 points to easily outdistance runner-up Lake Zurich (67) and third-place Libertyville (62).

"I'm thrilled," Olson said of setting the school mark in the 800, "because that was going to be the hardest one for me. The 800 is not my natural race I guess. It's kind of hard to get the legs churning over so fast."

Olson started her night by running on the Blue Devils' victorious 3,200 relay (9:34.80) with Sarabeth Jones, Gabby Nystrom and Natalia Jovanovic. She capped it by taking the 1,600 (5:20.43).

It was her 800, however, that had Olson especially pumped up.

She already owns Warren's school marks in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, ran on the team's school record-breaking 3,200 and owns the cross country course record at Warren's O'Plaine Campus.

"I was going for the school record (in the 800)," Olson said. "It was 2:16.4 and I got 2:15.75, so I was thrilled. I'm ecstatic."

Janet Wodek held Warren's 800 record. She set the mark way back in 1981.

"So it's pretty exciting to come in and make it change," Olson said. "That was the big goal. Mission accomplished."

The 1,600 saw Olson win ahead of Libertyville's Hannah Reilly (second) and Warren's Julie Wiemerslage (third), who sped to a surprising early lead.

"I was laughing with her (afterward)," Olson said. "Man, that first 200 ... But she hung on. That was so impressive."

The junior Jovanovic and the sophomore Wiemerslage are soccer players who have been a huge lift to Warren.

"Those two girls now on the distance crew have totally changed the game for us," Olson said.

Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen sped to easy wins in the 100 (12.28) and 200 (26.04). She also ran on the winning 400 relay with Marissa Wagner, Kelly Doheny and Nicole Trittschuh (49.47).

Carmel freshman Megan Paul finished second to Allen in the 100 but withdrew from the 400 and 200 final. She's been slowed by injury this season.

"I was fine like all today," Paul said. "I've had this off-and-on hip flexor. I wouldn't say it's strained. It just (acts up) when I do sprinting and stuff, but I'm going to be running in the next meet (in the East Suburban Catholic Conference meet next Wednesday)."

Carmel ended the night by winning the 1,600 relay in 4:04.94 with Hilary Halford, Stephanie Richartz, Marybeth Berg and Shannon Howell.

"It was a great way to finish," Corsairs coach Jim Halford said. "We wanted to break four minutes this season, and even without Megan it looks like maybe we can do that."

Howell won the 300 hurdles (47.54), while Richartz took the pole vault by clearing a school-record 10 feet 6.

Other winners included Wagner in the 400 (1:00.36), Reilly in the 3,200 (11:34.59), Lake Zurich's Herel Hughes in the 100 hurdles (16.61), Stevenson's Brittney Gescheidle in the high jump (4-10), Vernon Hills' Jamie Rucks in the shot put (37-4) and Lakes' Amber Larsen in the discus (110-07).

Mundelein's Crimea Baker won the long jump (16-01) and triple jump (34-04).