Tatum David returns back to Illinois

David returns for her final three semesters of high school running at Richland County HS

By Michael Newman [email protected]

2019 IHSA Class 2A State Cross Country Champion Tatum David has re-enrolled at Richland County High School in Olney, Illinois after attending the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida the past two years. David is in her junior year of high school presently and will have three semesters of eligibility remaining. Her father Rob David confirmed this information on Saturday.

There has always been speculation that David may return to her roots. When the family moved to Florida just before the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Rob David did confirm that they would not be selling their house in Olney.

The David family attended the IHSA State Cross Country Meet at Detweiller Park so that Tatum could watch her good friend Ava Parekh of Latin School compete and win the 2A State Championship. Soon after, the family made the decision to return to Illinois.

“We all returned (Tatum, her mother Stephanie, and her father Rob) back to Illinois just before Christmas,” Rob David confirmed. “ We got back in time so that Tatum could be enrolled for the second semester (at Richland County HS). We are all excited to have returned.”

David was part of IMG Academy’s quartet that won national titles at the adidas Indoor Nationals in the Distance Medley Relay and the 4x800m Relay at the end of last February. She did run 4:49.63 in winning a 1600 Meter Run race at IMG last March. David did have success in 2020 during her sophomore year that culminated in finishing eighth at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions in Terre Haute that November.

Injuries slowed down David after last year’s indoor season.

“Tatum had a fairly bad stress reaction in late April 2021. It was not identified very quickly, and she continued to run,” her father said. “Thus, her recovery went well into XC season. That part was very unfortunate. When I saw you in Peoria, she had just begun to run again.”

David’s first competition of the 2022 track season will come next Saturday at the Louisville Games in Louisville’s new Norton Healthcare and Learning Center Indoor Track.

“She is now able to train at full speed,” added Rob David. “It feels like a long time since she has competed. Next Saturday should be interesting.”