Track and field: Biddle's 1,600 bid is golden
Hoffman Estates senior Meagan Biddle seems to have been chasing Palatine senior Kelly O'Brien for the better part of the past four years.
But the Hawks senior standout finally had her day on Saturday at the inaugural Palatine Distance Night at Chic Anderson Stadium.
With a full moon rising in the distance, Biddle passed O'Brien with one lap remaining to take first placing in process setting a school record in the 1,600-meter run (4:54.29).
"I haven't beaten Kelly (O'Brien) since freshman year," said Biddle who ran a controlled first three laps. "I thought it would be kind of sweet to do it again."
O'Brien (4:57.84) set the pace early, but Biddle came on strong in the final two laps to erase her deficit.
"The goal was just to run a solid race today, then the last lap see what I could do," said Biddle. "And I just told myself to go for it."
O'Brien has looking to break the five-minute mark all season, and the Pirates senior did exactly that on a cool evening.
"I'm so happy because I've been on that borderline," said O'Brien. "I trusted the last half that I could go, but I didn't go as hard as I should have."
Stevenson's Isabella Sparreo took third (5:01.49) followed by Grant senior Madison Romig (5:02.49).
Schaumburg sophomore Lauren Kubinski (5:04.89) hit a career best in finishing in sixth place.
Aurora Central Catholic's Karina Liz, the two time defending Class 2A 800 champion, took first in the 800 (2:13.32), holding off Lasalle-Peru's Rachel Hickey (2:14.29) and Libertyville sophomore Avryl Johnson (2:15.33).
"I went out with a different strategy, I wanted to stick with the pack for the first lap," said Liz. "I started to pull away with 400 remaining - it felt really good."
Johnson hit a career-best with her third-place finish and is hoping it sets things up for a big finish later this season.
"It felt good," said Johnson, whose effort set a school record. "I was looking to have a good race and I'm happy to get the p.r."
Batavia senior Dakota Roman made her winning move with 600 meters remaining to take first in the 3,200 (10:42.38), she was followed by Lake Zurich senior Caitlin Shepard (10:49.16) and Naperville North's Claire Hamilton (10:50.36).
"I was just confident I could finish it," said Roman of her impressive move. "I just want to go out with a bang this season and make my mark."
• Maine East's Torrain Haughton definitely made his mark on Saturday. He used a burst with 300 meters remaining to win the boys' 800 (1:55.50), holding off Hinsdale Central's Nathan Hill (1:56.53) and Plainfield South's John Partee (1:56.74).
Illiana Christian's Colin DeYoung took first in the 3,200 (9:13.65), just ahead of Lincoln-Way West's Evan Mitchell (9:13.85).
In the much-anticipated 1,600, Sandburg senior Sean Torpy charged through the final two laps to win in 4:08.64, topping Oakwood senior Jon Davis (4:11.66), the Class 1A cross country champion, and Grayslake Central senior Jack Aho (4:12.27), the Class 2A cross country champion. West Aurora's Connor McCue (4:12.79) took fourth.
"I wanted to make my move when I felt the pack start to slow down a bit, and I just went from there," said Torpy who helped Sandburg to the Class 3A cross country title in the fall. "I felt strong and really in control that last lap."
Distance Night was something Palatine distance coach Chris Quick has been thinking about for a long time, and on Saturday he was gratified to see it become a reality.
"I kind of took all the ideas of a track meet that I would want to go to, and made it happen," said Quick of a meet format which featured music and plenty of energy. "It's cool opportunity to see everyone race, and a big party for everyone to come see."