Tracy sets the tempo as Fillies march on

Rebecca Tracy has been instrumental in setting the beat for Barrington's marching band. Tracy has been the drum major for the past two seasons.

But that's nothing new for Tracy; who has been setting a steady beat for the Fillies track team since her freshman season.

Tracy has won the Mid-Suburban League conference title in the 1,600 the past three seasons. She finished fifth in Class AA in the 1,600 as a sophomore, and last year she tied Lockport's Liz Phillips for second in class AA.

Tracy has also been a member of the high-flying Fillies 3,200 relay squad which took first in Class AA the past two seasons and set a state record last year with a time of 9:04.14.

Barrington has won three conse cutive MSL titles, added a state title in 2007 and finished in second at state in 2008.

Not bad for someone who was thinking of joining soccer her freshman season instead of track.

"She has always had the talent," said Barrington coach Jody Gitelis of her senior star. "She just refuses to lose."

At the 2006 MSL meet, Tracy used a devastating kick to reel in Palatine's Amy Laskowske in the final 100 meters to win her first 1,600, finishing with a time of 5:.05.1.

It was a pretty big accomplishment considering Laskowske would finish her career with three state titles in the 3,200.

"First couple times I ran against her it was like 'Oh my God'," said Tracy, who had finished second to Laskowske in three previous races. "It was just a learning process - how much longer could I stay with her."

"We tried all types of mental things, like imagining there is a rope from my stomach to her back. It could only go so far before I was pulled back."

It worked for Tracy at the conference meet as she swept by the Palatine senior, helping Barrington secure their the MSL title.

"I don't think she really knew what she had accomplished," said Gitelis.

Tracy showed that same lethal kick in the 1,600 at a windy 2007 Streamwood sectional when she trailed St. Charles East's Lizzy Hynes with less than 400 meters remaining. Tracy trailed by more than 100 meters, but narrowed the deficit in the first 300 meters before nailing down the victory in the final 100 meters.

"I think she was mad," said Barrington cross country coach and assistant track coach Deb Revolta. "She got that look in her eye and just took off."

Tracy showed that same determination in the state finals of the 1,600 in 2008. Bloomington's Ashley Verplank took first in 4:54.99. But the then-junior came from behind to tie Phillips and pass fourth-place finisher Heather Olson of Warren for second with a lean at the end. Tracy's time of 4:57.23 set a school record and it was her third time with a sub-5:00 mile.

"It was just one of those moments you could just hear the people around you and nothing else," said Tracy of her dramatic finish with crowd at Eastern Illinois standing on the tips of their toes. "The background was just static noise."

Tracy has been anything but static since she entered Barrington.

Last year, Tracy combined with Molly Glantz, Samantha Learch and Kala Bingham in setting a school record (9:03.1) at the St. Charles North sectional. The foursome then came back the following week to win the state title in a record time of 9:04.14.

"That was a very special relay," said Tracy of the two-year run. "We didn't come into meets looking at who we could beat, but we were shooting for times."

Next year Tracy will be attending Notre Dame and participating in both cross country and track and field for the Irish. She will be majoring in psychology and biology.

But the senior has some business to take care of first as she takes over the leadership role for the Fillies.

"She's a great leader," added Gitelis, " And the younger girls really look up to her."

"Gutsy," said Revolta when describing Tracy. "She puts the same effort into her workouts as she does her races."

This year's 1,600 field is loaded not only in state, but also in the MSL Rolling Meadows' Amanda Whowell won the Illinois Top Times Indoor Meet last Saturday, and Schaumburg's Briten Petrey, Hoffman Estates' Hannah Worman and Melissa Schmidt, Buffalo Grove's Olivia Jones, Prospect's Annette White, and Palatine's Sarah McIntosh will all be taking aim at the Barrington miler.

"I'm very excited," said Tracy when scanning the list of her competitors. "It is going to be a really fast field but I think it will push me."

Tracy has already accomplished quite a bit with her conference titles, state championships, and team trophies, but the senior is ready to raise the bar.

"I want to do it faster," said Tracy, eyeing the impending season. "I'll throw some different times and set some new goals."

That's nothing new for Tracy as she continues to set the beat for the Fillies.