Hart runs Illinois All Time Best in Magis Miles win

By Michael Newman for DyeStat

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CHICAGO – A cool, crisp and windy evening on the St. Ignatius Prep campus was warmed up by a record run by Katelynne Hart.

The Glenbard West sophomore won the women’s elite mile with a new Illinois all-time state best time. Her 4:44.63 breaks a 33-year-old record of 4:45.3 that Suzie Tuffey of Peoria Bergan had run in 1985. Hart also surpassed Kayla Beattie’s 1,600-meter record of 4:43.65 at the 2011 IHSA state meet.

Hart’s 1,600 was clocked at 4:43.07.

RESULTS | PHOTOS

The race took shape like the state meet final two weeks ago on May 19. Hart took the lead from the start with Enyaeva Michelin of Evanston Township right on her side. Northwestern University’s Kelly O’Brien, who ran 4:48.01 in this race two years ago as a high school senior, was right behind Hart for the first three laps. Hart and Michelin began to pick the pace up with 500 meters left and went past the bell together in 3:35.2 with O’Brien beginning to drop back.

Hart continued to accelerate on the backstretch but could not drop Michelin from her side as they entered the last turn. It was with 100 meters left that Hart shifted into a final gear that Michelin did not have on this night.

“Katelynne did a great job taking it out strong. I’m not complaining about the splits. It went smoothly,” said Michelin, whose time of 4:46.29 was the third-fastest full mile ever for an Illinois girl, trailing only Hart and Tuffey.

“I try to stay comfortable with someone on your shoulder. Enyaeva would just come up on my side. I’ve learned to stay relaxed,” Hart said about racing against Michelin. “We both pushed each other in this race. She had a huge PR also. I just pushed pace on that third lap and hoped to have something at the end.”

Hart's next race is next Friday at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, which fans can watch live on RunnerSpace beginning at 5:55pm CT.

WATCH THE RACE HERE

Both of the elite high school miles came down to the final 440 yards to decide a winner. Campbell Petersen, who will transfer to Naperville North from Dunlap this fall, had been known for her strong kick over the last 200. In Friday’s race, the freshman took the lead with 450 meters left pulling away for the win (4:59.42) more than four seconds ahead of Neuqua Valley’s Corinna Pena (5:03.06).

“My main goal today was just to break five minutes today. I was tired of being close to that time,” Petersen said. “It was not about pace. It was about breaking five. I saw the pace was too slow (went through 800 in 2:31). I had to pick up the pace from there.”

Petersen is just getting to know her new coach, Dan Iverson.

“This week was the first chance to talk to Campbell,” the Naperville North coach said. “I told her that people would expect her to wait and kick. So why not take off a little earlier? It seemed to work in this race.”

Danny Kilrea of Lyons Township ended his high school career with a win in the boys mile. The lead changed hands three times in the final lap with Neuqua Valley’s Zach Kinne first taking the going to the front at the bell, followed by Thomas Shilgalis of Naperville Central taking over with 250 left.

Kilrea took the lead for good with 80 meters left, holding off Shilgalis and a charging Zach Albrecht of Jacobs.

Kilrea’s winning time of 4:13.52 was a second ahead of Shilgalis (4:14.54) and another second ahead of Albrecht (4:15.52). Shilgalis’ time was impressive considering that he ran 1:51.83 for 800 meters the night before at Festival of Miles in St. Louis.

“I decided to kill the suspense and go with the pacer right at the start,” Kilrea said. “I did not really overthink this race. I went to prom last night. I just wanted to come out here and have a good time.”

Taylor-Floyd Mews of Bradley University closed in 58 seconds to win the men’s elite mile (4:03.86), holding off Martin Martinez (4:03.95) and Joe Coffey (4:04.96).