Full results and photos at: http://www.illinoisrunner.com/home.htm
High school distance runners came from seven states to participate in the inaugural running of the Midwest Distance Gala held Saturday night in near perfect weather at Vernon Hills H.S., site of one of the finest prep track facilities in Illinois. Located about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, Rust-Oleum Field has a European-sized soccer field in the middle of the eight-lane, 400-meter Recortan track. It was hog heaven for distance-running fans with only four races on the evening. The first, the Craig Virgin Invitational Two Mile, run precisely at 8:40 p.m., followed by the Running Unlimited Girls' Mile at 8:58 p.m., the Donald Sage Invitational Mile at 9:12 p.m., and the Jim Spivey Invitational 800 at 9:25. Awards followed the last race and everybody was out of the stadium by 10 p.m. Each race had a rabbit, and techno rhythmic music was played during the two mile. Only one senior won a race while a freshman and a couple of eight graders served notice for next season. Charlie Jern, a coach at famed York High School, took the two milers through six laps with several lead changes happening behind him and some after he stepped off the track. At the tape, it was Jon Thomas, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa stopping the FAT system at 9:07.53. Next up under the lights was the the girls' mile that featured a sister's act with a couple of eight graders in the final mix. Jenny Morgan, a junior from Clarkston, Mich., made it look easy winning in 4:52. Her eight grade sister, Stephanie Morgan, followed at 5:01 (PR is 4:52), and the Illinois High School Association 1600m champ, Hailee Elmore, a junior from Springfield, was third at 5:06. A couple of ticks behind Hailee was another Haley, Haley Staples at 5:08. This Haley - from Crystal Lake, Ill. - just finished eight grade. The boys' mile featured freshman Andrew Perkins from Watertown, Wis. Perkins holds the national indoor freshman mile record at 4:16.58. Going into the bell lap, Perkins took the lead, lost the lead, took the lead again, but was past 30 meters from the finish by winner Matt Dettman, a junior at York H.S., in a time of 4:14. The last race of the evening, the boys' 800, saw Stephen Williams and his front-running style challenged, but only by the rabbit. Williams, a junior from Marion, Ill. and the IHSA state champion, cruised home in 1:52.87 and was followed by fast-closing Jack Sachse from Ottawa, Kan. finishing in 1:53.86. All in all, a great night of distance running and a great first show with a second Midwest Distance Gala planned for next June. - Mike Prizy
