Hart starts senior track season with 5k state record

By Michael Newman

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The past two seasons Katelynne Hart has started her seasons with convincing races at the 291-meter track at University of Kentucky her sophomore year and last year at the 300-meter supersized track at Grand Valley State in Michigan.

Hart moved east to Boston University and their banked 200-meter track to start her final high school season. Her results showed she is ready to do some special things.

The senior from Glenbard West High School in Illinois ran 16:09.56 to finish ninth in the Open 5000 Meter Run Friday evening. Her time is the fastest time in the United States so far this indoor season. The time makes Hart the fastest Girls High School runner ever at the distance as well as the fourth fastest indoor time ever for a Girls prep  athlete. It also the fastest time ever run by an Illinois High School Girls runner either indoors or outdoors. The time equivalent for 3-miles from 5000-meters is15:36.2.

Hart had originally entered the 3000 Meter Run in the Valentine’s Day meet. She changed her mind on Thursday night and switched over to the longer distance. The senior was the only prep runner in the section of the event headed by World Champion and Olympian Jenny Simpson. Hart was able to stay close to Simpson for the first four laps of the race before the Olympian pulled away. Simpson won the event (14:58.67) with the third fastest time even by an American Women’s runner indoors.

Hart went through the first 1600-meters of the race in a swift 5:06.58. She went through the second mile in 10:16.26. If she would have stopped there, it still would have been the fastest time in the state.

Hart began to push the pack in the final mile of the race when the pack started to slow down. The pack responded staying with her. She passed through 4800-meters in 15:30.

Hart’s first race of the year shows extreme promise for what is to follow this spring. She now holds Illinois All-time bests for 1600-meters, 1-mile, 3200-meters, 2-miles,and now 5000-meters.

Hart said after the race: “I’m excited for the rest of the season!”

We agree.

Photo: Katelynne Hart with Jenny Simpson (Photo courtesy of Katelynne Hart Instagram)