Chatham Glenwood freshman sends shockwaves at IHSA Class 3A girls state track meet

CHARLESTON — Katelyn Lehnen mastered the rain — and any lingering doubts — in the 200-meter dash at the Class 3A girls track and field meet at O’Brien Stadium on Saturday. 

The Chatham Glenwood freshman bolted just ahead of Chicago Whitney Young’s electric twins, Rachel and Sydney Robinson, in her third and final race at 24.75 seconds.  

“I'm in shock a little right now,” Lehnen said. “Right when I heard Katelyn Lehnen first, I was like, 'Oh my gosh Katelyn, you just did that,' and I was not expecting that.  

“Just being able to hear that and experience it is a little like, 'Oh my gosh,' so I'm just trying to realize what I just did. I'm extremely really happy right now, which is very easy to tell.” 

Lehnen also claimed third place in the 100 (12.23) and 400 (56.43). 

She posted the top preliminary time in the 100 and fifth-best in the 200 before Saturday. Although the Robinsons surged to gold and silver in the 100, Lehnen put that nettlesome finish right to bed.  

“My start (in the 200) felt really good, and I've just been working on that all year (and) coaches have been working with me,” said Lehnen, who also beamed with pride over her time in the 400. “Then coming off that curve as you saw them right on my shoulders, I was like, 'You're in this Katelyn. You can fight with them.’ 

“My seed place wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, so just knowing that you're right with the girls that are ranked first, that's a great feeling.” 

More:How this Chatham Glenwood sprinter became one of the fastest freshmen in the country

The preceding weather delay evoked memories of her last official state meet in sixth grade. A storm front suspended Saturday’s races for more than two hours and rain clouds returned near the end of the meet.

The results largely turned out to be the same. 

“It definitely brings me back to my sixth grade state (meet) because I got delayed right before the 200, so it just really matched the atmosphere for that and being able to know that I can compete in the rain,” Lehnen said. “At first I was a little nervous because I was like, 'Oh, I don't want to be cold,' but it felt good.” 

Lincoln runner sets state record

Lincoln sophomore Becca Heitzig has been running the 800 for several years. She led throughout the race and set a new 2A state record in 2:09.99. 

“I felt a lot stronger than I usually feel,” Heitzig said. “I don't know, but it felt good. I got really excited and it went well.” 

Only Rochester junior Colleen Zeibert challenged Heitzig toward the end and went runner-up in 2:13.83. 

Heitzig and Zeibert went second and third place, respectively, in last year’s state meet. 

“I was worried,” Heitzig said of Zeibert. “That's why I had to continue pushing because you never know when someone's going to come and get you.” 

Senior teammate Reese McCuan cheered her on from shouting distance.  

More:More than genes: How 2 Lincoln High siblings became elite runners

Heitzig, McCuan, Mallory Short and Alyssa Company finished the evening with second place in the 4x400 relay at 3:58.96.  

“I'm so proud of her, so proud of Becca,” McCuan said. “To see her win this year, she totally deserves it. She's worked so hard all year round to be at this place and get the medal.” 

Rising near the top 

McCuan also helped carry the Lincoln banner with second place in the triple jump. She reached 37 feet, 1 inch while Sterling junior Alice Sotelo won at 37-3 ¼. 

“It's a great accomplishment,” McCuan said. “I was here last year and I got fifth, so getting second is amazing because it's better than I did last year and I PR'd and improved by like almost a little over a foot-and-a-half.” 

McCuan prefers an outdoor jumping surface but didn’t mind the cramped confines of Lantz Fieldhouse with coaches and family nearby.  

More:Here are the Springfield area's top performers at the Illinois Prep Top Times indoor meet

“I'm sad that I scratched on my last jump, which I think would have been a state winning jump,” McCuan said. “But I think the girl that won deserves it. She's a great jumper as well. That was my biggest competition, and all of the people that made it did great too.  

“Everyone was PR'ing on indoor, which is really unlikely because most people say it's really hard to be on an indoor track because the runways aren't as hard so you don't get enough momentum to go forward but everyone came out to jump and it was great.” 

Other top finishes 

Mount Pulaski senior Cassidy Clark and Hillsboro senior Kaci Papin led the area’s Class 1A performers with third place in the discus throw and high jump, respectively. Clark recorded 134-5 1/5 while Papin hit 5-4 ¼. 

North Mac’s 4x100 relay posted 51.03 for sixth place with Emma Crawford, Addison Earley, Kaelyn Swift and Alexis Bowman.  

Williamsville freshman Louisa Wilson was ninth in the 3200 with a time of 11:32.24, and Riverton senior Jolie Foreman threw 36-5 for ninth in the shot put. 

Sacred Heart-Griffin's 4x800 relay — featuring Sterling Scarlette, Ava Hancock, Maggie Fleischli and Kaitlyn Lee — grabbed fifth place at 9:48.51 in 2A. Lee, Scarlette, Fleischli and Macie Rolf also led the Cyclones to ninth place at 4:09.35 in the 4x400. 

Southeast senior Brianna Jones earned eighth place at 47.02 seconds in the 300 hurdles.  

Contact Bill Welt: (217) 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt