Ince again resets Illinois 800 Meter Run record at Arcadia

David, Schager, and Hogan set their standards high in the Saturday 3200 Meter Run races

By Michael Newman

Every time that Ali Ince of Normal Community runs a new personal best in the 800 Meter Run, she resets the Illinois State Record for that distance.

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Such was the case for the junior Saturday evening in the championship race at the Arcadia Invitational just outside of Los Angeles. Ince led throughout the race looking to repeat the title that she earned in 2022. She led for all but the final two meters of the race as she was caught by MacKenzie Browne of John W North CA. Browne was timed in a new meet record of 2:03.07 just a tenth a second ahead of Ince.

It was a typical race for the Normal Community runner as she pushed the pace at the start of the race. She was even for the first lap of the race passing the 200 in 29.8 and the 400 in 60.3. She pushed the third 200 like she has in past races passing 600-meters in 1:30.8. Unlike last year, she had company right behind her as Browne, Hannah Riggins of Del Norte CA and Madison Shults of Niwot CO were all within a second of Ince.

Browne made her move with 100-meters left in the race with Ince holding her off until just before the finish.

Ince ran 2:03.17 to finish second. Shults ran 2:04.28 to finish third. Riggins ran 2:06.69 to place fourth. This race produced the top four times in the nation so far in this outdoor season.

Ince’s time set a new all-time Illinois best for the distance surpassing the 2:03.98 effort she ran as a freshman in 2021. She now holds the top eight times ever run by an Illinois High School female runner for 800-meters.

The question in the Girls Invitational 3200 Meter Run was who would try to stay with NXN National Champion Irene Riggs of Morgantown WV. Tatum David of Richland County shot out of the pack on the first lap of the race and stayed with Riggs for the next 500-meters.

Riggs ran 71 second laps for the first three laps of the race passing through the first 1600-meters of the race in 4:48. David fell off the pace settling in to leading the chase pack that included Grace Schager of Glenbard North. The group fell nine seconds behind Riggs halfway through the race passing that point in 4:57. It was a new territory for most in that group.

The lead for Riggs grew to 10 seconds on the next lap. The effort of going after a new national record and the entailing pace seemed to have an effect on her as the lead started to shrink. It was down to five seconds on the final lap as Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery CA was the runner making the moves.

The top nine runners in this race ran under 10-minutes led by Riggs’ winning time of 9:52.68 holding off Thomsen (9:55.31).

David finished tenth overall running a four second personal best of 10:00.71. Once she got back to the pack, she ran smart staying close to 77 seconds a lap in the final four laps closing with a 71 second closing 400.

The same can be said about Schager as she did not let the early fast pace get to her. Th Glenbard North senior was one place behind David running a huge personal best of 10:03.27. She stayed within the pack throughout running 4:58 / 5:05.

Both runners set new Illinois standards in that race. David’s time moves her up to #3 all time in Illinois for the 2-miles/3200 Meters. Schager moves up to IL #5. Both have a month to get under 10 minutes.

Ethan Hogan’s mission after a double win at Illinois Top Times last month was go to California and run a fast 3200 at Arcadia. He was hoping to run near 8:55 after running 9:00 at top times. He went much faster than that.

The Columbia junior did not get caught up in the fast early pace set by the leaders. He stuck in the never ending pack in this 32 runner field. Three runners broke the year-old meet record of 8:34.99 with Simon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens SD running 8:34.10 to edge Daniel Simmons of American Fork UT (8:34.14) and Rocky Hansen of Christ Church NC (8:34.78).

Hogan ran the tenth fastest time ever for an Illinois runner in the 2 Mile Run / 3200 Meter Run with an 8:49.61 time. He ran at a pace that distance runners dream of. The pace was consistent passing 4:24 for the first 1600-meters and closing in 4:25. You can see his splits below:

1:06.884 (1:06.884)        2:12.641 (1:05.757)        3:18.480 (1:05.839)

4:24.409 (1:05.929)        5:30.419 (1:06.010)        6:38.052 (1:07.633)

7:43.933 (1:05.881)        8:49.603 (1:05.670)

He’s only a junior and is figuring out this elite level running that he has grown into this 2023 season. The sky is the limit for him as we will see him churn out impressive race after race the rest of this season.

Other Arcadia Notes

Akili Parekh of Latin School is winding back into shape after missing the entire indoor season due to injury. Parekh competed in the 3200 Open Race #2on Friday evening. He ran 9:15.55 (IL #3) to finish 13th overall in that race. Owen Forsberg of Oak Lawn Richards is known for the success that he had last year earning all-state honors in the Class 3A 3200 Meter Run. In only his third race at the 3200-meters distance, Forsberg ran 9:17.44 (IL #4) to finish 28th in the seeded section at that distance. Hunter Whitney of Lane Tech ran 9:45.24 in the rated 3200 Meter Run section.

Mia Kotler of Latin School ran in the Girls Invitational 3200 Meter Run with a 10:46.13 (IL #5) season best.

Caleb Levy of Warren Township opened with a 55 second opening lap and went on to run a state leading 1:53.32 to finish second in the Boys Open 800 Meter Run.

Will Kozlowski of Lane Tech closed with a 61.96 final lap to run 4:19.71 to finish second in the second section of the Boys Open 1600 Meter Run. The junior finished seventh overall in that event.

Javaris Ambrose of Thornton unleashed a state leading 61-2 in his third of six attempts to finish second overall in the Boys Invitational Shot Put.

Defending 3A State Champion Homewood-Flossmoor sent a few of their athletes to Arcadia to participate in the Girls events. Angela Alozie ran a state leading 56.77 to finish fifth overall in the Girls Open 400 Meter Dash. Alozie came back to run 25.52 (IL #4) in the Girls Open 200 Meter Dash. Caroline Schoen doubled in this meet running 5:16.75 in the Girls Open 1 Mile Run and then 2:25.76 in the Girls Open 800 Meter Run.