The challenge was issued to some of Illinois’ best distance runners before any meet preview was written.  Some of it was put down in a physical form and perhaps another coming from the subliminal. 

Lukas Verzbicas (Orland Park Sandburg IL) did not even ran a single high school race in Illinois this spring but was still regarded as the best prep runner in the state.  A few ago he ran 3:56.88 for a road race mile that had the entire Illinois running community buzzing.  But when he produced a legit 4:04.38 at the Jim Ryun Dream Mile in New York, it became talk prior to the start of the Gala (which was delayed by rain).  Still, mum on the faces of Jack Driggs (York), McKinzie Schulz (Benet Academy), Justin Rehfeldt (Rockford Christian), Aaron Beattie (Neuqua Valley), and several others who had something in store for the faithful.

Girls 800-
Laura Roesler (Fargo ND) 2:07.00 MR
4) McKinzie Schulz (Benet Academy) 2:10.56 PR
5) Michelle Frigo (York) 2:12.51 PR
9) Jahnell Horton (Evanston) 2:14.37
10) Rachel Price (Loyola Academy) 2:16.31
Summary: some of the “let’s get it going credit” should be given to Price after she won heat 1 over state mate Katie Porada of Benet Academy.  Price aggressively took charge during the last 200m and won comfortably in a near personal best.  The championship heat pitted the all world Roesler, who is regarded my many as the best half-miler in the country.  She won rather easy after laying back in the pack.  However, let’s give Horton and the Illinois girls a round of applause for at least going for it.  The talented Evanston sophomore had a goal of running 2:10 despite not racing since the state championship three weeks ago.  Also, she had to endure a sore back that kept her out of workouts for a full week.  The opening pace was a brisk 62.8 with Shelby Houlihan (Iowa) leading the charge and Horton on her right shoulder.  Horton eventually gave way to main players around the 500m mark, with Schulz and Frigo among the scrum.  Schulz looked marvelous in what may have been her final high school race.  She showed the expectations that many pundits have given to her in the pre-season by racing and not thinking.  There was no talk of “what should I do”- just go!  She went and ran her best ever race with a solid finish to boot.  Frigo, a sophomore, ran a lifetime best and supplanted her older sister Meghan, who had been the main York fixture the past few years.

Girls MILE-
Molly Seidel (Wisconsin) 4:52.61
4) Margaret Connelly (Fenwick) 4:55.84 PR
5) Molly Dahlquist (Peoria Notre Dame) 4:59.68 PR
6) Marie O’Leary (Normal Community) 5:04.21 PR
Summary: Seidel dueled with Emma Brink of Kentucky to the very end for the narrow victory… Connelly should be commended for even wanting to run another race after a tough state final finish.  She didn’t contest the “mile” there to concentrate on the 3200m to possibly become a state champion or at least garner all-state honors.  She obtained neither. At the Gala, Connelly got herself into great position and stayed there and ran a lifetime best.  Afterwards, with a smile on her face she reflected: “I ran my best time and this makes up for [state]… I’m not much of a kicker, but I saved enough for the finish.” It was a final job well done for Connelly who endured many unpleasant experiences in her prep career.

Boys 800-
Austin Mudd (Indiana) 1:50.89
Dominique Manley (Collinsville) 1:52.38
Joe McAsey (Minooka) 1:53.05
Nathan Prom (Dundee-Crown) 1:53.26
Steve Blazer (Fenwick) 1:53.86
Justin Lee (Springfield HS) 1:54.93
Summary: Mudd and Gabriel Genovesi (Wisconsin) went 1-2 as expected… Manley hung tough among the heavyweights throughout much of the race as he is Illinois class leader for the season.  It wasn’t until the final stages that he began to tie up and drop from 3rd to 4th.  McAsey made one final grand finish to his junior year and make a name for his team in 2011.  He went out near front on the outside at 300m with no rabbit assistance through the first 400m in 55.9- a tad off of the leaders.  McAsey dropped off the pace a bit at 600m, but not out of the race.  It was less than 100m that he began a furious kick and passed two runners to win the exciting “B” heat.  Blazer finished strong in earning a great personal best.  In all, there were three Illinois finishers in the top 6.

Boys Mile (section 2)-
John Luterbach (Wisconsin) 4:17.06
2) Justin Rehfeldt (Rockford Christian) 4:17.84
3) Paul Zeman (Belvidere North) 4:18.24
5) Sergio Miranda (Romeoville) 4:21.58
Summary: Rehfeldt’s only goal was to come in and proved he belonged with the big boys. “All season I ran to win my races.  I know that Class A is different than the [other leagues], but my best was 4:21 coming in and I have a kick… with this competition I knew I could run a fast time.” Rehfeldt did just what he planned to do.  He was able to situate himself comfortably and move along when the pace picked up after the halfway point.  He continued to glide along and then struck with a searing kick the entire homestretch and through the finish line.  He even passed the more heralded Zeman along the way.

Two-mile-
Tim Cousins (Texas) 8:56.13 PR
9) Nico Composto (Loyola Academy) 9:10.92
Summary: Cousins surprised the field by storming ahead of fellow Texan Ryan Dohner on the last lap for the win… it was a not a very good showing here for the home state overall.  It’s true the field was void of many of the hotdogs but still more was expected other than from Composto.  Composto got out reasonably well but fell back at 2k.  He appeared as if he was going to fade into oblivion until he mustered up a second wind over the final lap and a half to make it a respectable race.  He was not totally disappointed in his effort though: “I wanted to go sub-9:00 but I may have psyched myself out a little in the beginning.  But I’m not totally bummed though- I got it going with [a half-mile left in the race].”

2000m Steeplechase-
Kodi Mullins (Indiana) 6:01.05
2) Billy Toohy (Fenwick) 6:06.52
3) Aaron Beattie (Neuqua Valley) 6:09.27
Summary: Beattie came in this one without any big expectations, just a simple goal of competing well.  He mentioned earlier in the week that he wanted to try a new event before going off to college.  Well, the steeplechase might be something he should strongly consider in the future. Beattie ran the first several laps conservatively despite having the best flat personal bests of anyone in the field.  It appeared as if he was trying to negoitate his rhythm of the race and jumping pattern over the hurdles.  Finally, Beattie began his assault on the field, he began his chase after Toohy and Mullins.  Although he came up short he learned alot about his new found event.  "Umm, it was fun out there... I may consider as an event down the line."  We may all be watching a future great steepler at the University of Washington in a few years.
Steeplechase quotes:
Kodi Mullins: “My goal was to stay close to the leaders and then take over with two laps to go...”  “this may be a race for me in the future.”  Mullins personal bests are 4:21 (1600), 9:40 (3200), 1:58 (800)