CHARLESTON — Lincoln's star athlete wrapped up her decorated sports career with two golds at the IHSA girls track and field state finals on Saturday.
Becca Heitzig snapped up her third straight gold medal in the Class 2A 800-meter run at O'Brien Field in Charleston. She crossed the finish line in 2:09.55 seconds for her best run of the season.
It was her second best state performance. The unflagging senior previously set the 2A state meet record in 2:09.99 as a sophomore before breaking her own record the following year in 2:08.48 . Her best mark earlier this season was 2:09.70.
Rockton Hononegah’s Courtney Clayton holds the overall state record of 2:07.05 from 2013.
Heitzig subsequently seized her first ever top podium in the 1600 with a time of 4:58.82. She previously went runnerup in the 1600 at last year's state meet in 5:00.44.
She concluded her dazzling high school sports career with ninth place in the 4x400 relay.
That adds up to 10 state medals overall in track and she departs with at least several school records in the 800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x400 relay and the sprint medley relay over her four years with the Railsplitters.
Heitzig, the State Journal-Register's reigning Female Athlete of the Year , did so much more, of course.
She ultimately seized a state title in each season over the school year. She won the 2A girls cross country state title over the fall — the first female champion in the Springfield area since 1998 — while also ascending to second place on the volleyball team as a libero.
She subsequently contributed as a key guard alongside Ms. Basketball of Illinois, Kloe Froebe , en route to the 3A girls basketball title in March before diving into track and field.
She will continue to run at Iowa State University.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Lincoln's Becca Heitzig claims third straight gold medal at 2A girls track state finals
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