2020 ILXCTF.com Illinois Track & Field Previews - 2A Girls Distance Events

By Michael Newman

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The four distance events that will take place in the 2A classification this year would have been great even before the IHSA posted the classification changes last June. There were supposed two state champions returning along with a boatload of talent that would challenge for a championship.

The announcement of Latin School with their state champions Marianne Mihas and Ava Parekh moving up to Class 2A made things that more interesting.

The emergence of Richland County freshman Tatum David during last cross country season makes these races that more dynamic.

If you are a distance event connoisseur (like I am), you can’t miss these three events in Charleston. It will be like Christmas in May.

The New Kid on the Block

We realized how good Tatum David was when she ran 16:37 at Detweiller Park last September, then the fastest time of the day in November (16:04) at the IHSA State Meet. That was just the beginning last fall for this freshman. David in consecutive weekends in December became the first freshman ever nationally to earn all-state honors in both national races. David finished 17th in the Nike Cross Nationals on December 7.  The following weekend at the Foot Locker Nationals, David finished 10. Not bad for a freshman in her first two high school national meets.

The interesting thing to watch is how this freshman handles this first track season. It will be something different for her. She has never run an indoor track before. Her first high school race could be at the EIU Girls Invitational on March 14 according to the Richland County schedule.

David has never run a 3200 Meter Run on the track. She passed 2-miles in 10:31 in last November’s state meet. David does have a personal best of 4:54 for 1600-meters in middle school.

Let the fun begin.

The Two Events with Returning 2A State Champions

The 800 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run have two athletes back that won state championships in these events.

The way that the 800 Meter Run races were contested in last year’s state meet, it makes what could be in May extremely interested. Class 1A champion Marianne Mihas cruised away to win her race by more than four seconds. The same held true in the 2A race where Payne Turney of Clinton won her state title by more than three seconds ahead of Benton’s Amelia McLain.

There are nine all-state runners back in this event including Mihas and Turney. You can add in Macy Priess of Dunlap who just missed the 3A finals in this event by one spot. She could be a factor in this race along with McLain. The dynamics of this event will get interesting especially with the two runners in front most likely not racing each other until possibly April at Distance Night in Palatine.

Both Turney and Mihas doubled back in the 1600 Meter Run in their state meets. Turney finished 11th in her 2A race. Mihas won her state title. The difference between the two runners is that Mihas ran her prelims on Thursday while Turney had to turn the double on consecutive days. It will make things interesting on what Mihas decides to do in this state meet especially with what kind of meatgrinder the 1600 Meter Run could be on State Final Saturday.

If everything turns out as written, we could see Mihas face off against 2A state champion Lianna Surtz of Rosary. Surtz cruised to the win last year after missing most of the season due to a growth plate injury. She also ran in the 3200 Meter Relay helping her team to an all-state finish. She is in better shape entering this season. We could see her run the 3200/160 double.

Three athletes in this classification enter this season with 2019 high school bests under 5-minutes with Surtz, Mihas, and Ava Parekh. The 4:53.58 that Parekh ran came at Magis Miles ahead of Mihas and Surtz. Add in Tatum David who ran 4:54 last year in middle school. Eight runners that were all-state last year come back with hopes of finishing in the top nine.

The Longest of the Three State Races

If it comes down to seasonal bests from 2019, Ava Parekh should be the overwhelming favorite at this distance. Parekh took a step up last track season dropping her 3200 Meter Run time down to 10:27.35. The 16:34 for 3-miles that she ran during the cross-country season displays that her 3200 PR time could come down even more.

Lianna Surtz did not run the 3200 much last year because of coming back from an injury. She displayed her fitness level last fall winning the Class 1A State championship. What about Tatum David? We will see how she transfers her cross country success to the track. She did run 10:31 at Detweiller Park on her way to 3-miles.

Six all-state runners are back in this event. Let us not forget about Lydia Roller of Staunton. She an 10:50.25 last year as well as finishing fourth at state. She looked stronger during the fall. She takes a step up the ladder this track season. The same can be said about Olivia Rosenstein of Urbana. She came on strong last track season just missing out on a state championship finishing second. She looked strong throughout cross country season. I could see a time for her well under 11-minutes.

Relay Notes

It is hard to determine who the favorites will be in this event. We usually have some idea of what could happen by the beginning of May. Dixon finished four seconds behind state champion Normal University and returns all their runners from that team led by Taylor Renkes and Paige Stees.

Rosary could be a factor this year as they return all four of their runners. The question will be is if Lianna Surtz runs that event or opts for the 3200 Meter Run. Remember, they have until May to make that decision.

Rock Falls and Monticello, two teams that have talent and depth, could become a factor in this event.

Top Returning Class 2A Girls Distance Runners

800 Meter Run

1600 Meter Run

3200 Meter Run