Glenbard West runner in class by herself with 10:02.42 time

By Michael Newman

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Glenbard West’s Katelynne Hart usually starts her indoor track season with a race on her home track followed by a big meet seasonal debut at the University of Kentucky. Hart opted to start her 2019 track season at Grand Valley State University for the Gazelle Elite 3200 Meter Run.

We thought she would run fast in this race especially in a field that included Cross Country All-Americans Erica VanderLende of Rockford HS MI and Abby VanderKooi of Western Michigan Christian HS. Not too many people expected the times that this race produced.

RESULTS | RACE VIDEO

Hart ran the fastest 3200-meters in the nation in winning the race with a 10:02.46 time. In the process, she set a new Illinois Indoor All-Time best for the distance. Hart surpassed an almost three-year old record set by Judy Pendergast when she ran 10:11.56 at the DuPage Valley Conference Championships at North Central College in 2016.

VanderLende also set a state record for Michigan runners as she finished second (10:02.81) less than a second behind Hart. Vanderkooi was close as she finished third (10:04.18). Zofia Dudek of Ann Arbor Pioneer MI finished fourth (10:07.03). Four runners under 10:10 boggled the minds of those watching the race on the 300-meter track at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

It was a typical Hart race as soon as the gun was fired with the Glenbard West junior taking the lead at the beginning. She went past 800-meters in 2:23 with the pack of the three Michigan runners three seconds back.

She was doing all of the work going past 1600-meters in 4:55 with the pack still five seconds back. The pace setting was starting to take a toll on Hart as the pack closed to within three seconds of her with 600-meters left. Still, the 8:10 time that passed that mark at was on pace to run under 10:05!

The gap continued to close as they entered the final lap. VanderLende could sense that Hart was hurting as they entered the final curve. The Michigan senior Hart tired to make the pass as the two runners were passing a lapped runner. Hart would not relinquish the lead.

We have seen Hart unleash a kick at the end of races in her two plus years of High School running. When thought she had nothing left, Hart digs down to find that extra 33% that no other runner in the field has. Vanderlende stayed close but would have to settle for second.

What’s next for Hart? We can’t wait to find out.