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results |
Alissa McKaig 17:55, Rockford MI 99
story and pictures by John Dye
Concordia Fort Wayne IN sr Alissa McKaig came out of a pack of leaders
in the third mile to take firm control of the race to win by 12 seconds.
Pre-race favorites Nikki Bohnsack of Rockford MI and Maggie Infeld duelled
for the lead early, but both staggered at the end. Bohnsack finished fourth,
being passed by Sacred Heart Louisville KY sr Maddie Schueler in the closing
steps, and Infeld finished 9th after slowing to a walk with the finish
line in sight and barely making it there. Bohnsack's freshman teammate
Rachel Wittum was stronger at the end and finished second, helping US#5
Rockford to the team title over Chesterton IN, 99 to 132.
on the starting line
Rockford veteran
Nikki Bohnsack (right) is joined this year
by freshman phenom Rachel Wittum
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Beaumont Cleveland
Heights OH sr Maggie Infeld
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Defending champ
Carolyn Rauen, Turpin Cincinnati senior
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1000m
Foot Locker finalist Maddie Schueler, Sacred Heart Louisville KY
senior, leads a big pack that includes Bohnsack, Infeld, Wittum,
and McKaig. |
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1600m
5:33
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3200m
11:32 - lead pack separates from the field
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Finish
- McKaig surged in the third mile and came through the home stretch with
a 12-second lead
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"I just felt really awesome."
Alissa McKaig talks about the race:
"I felt really good today. It felt real easy. I don't know,
I just felt really awesome.
Dye: What was your plan today?
"Just to stay with the leaders. I knew there were a lot of
good girls here. I just wanted to see how I felt and kind of stick
with them and do the best I could, and then if I felt good to go
whenever. I went for the lead with about 1200 meters to go."
Dye: How do you compare yourself to last year at this time?
"I think I'm about 30 seconds faster. I think the training
that we did this summer is going to pay off. I've worked really
hard."
Dye: What are your goals for the year?
"I want to be up there at the state meet, top 5 or so.
And I definitely want to get out of the Foot Locker regional. San
Diego would be really nice to make it. The main thing is, I don't
want to watch it on TV again. I didn't like that last year."
Dye: Have you made any campus visits?
"Yes, I've been to the University of Arkansas. That was
really nice. But I won't sign early. With cross and training and
everything, I won't be able to make any more visits until later
and it would be too hard to make that decision now. So I will wait
and take some more visits after cross country."
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Rockford MI freshman
Rachel Wittum finished strongly for 2nd.
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Maddie
Schueler sprinted past the struggling Nikki Bohnsack
for 3rd.
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5. Marie
Grabinski, Carmel IN
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7.
Lakota East's Casey Keefer
8. Chesterotn's Cassie Peller
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9.
Maggie Infeld was dazed and barely moving as she
neared the finish line. "You're almost there," shouted friends.
"You can do it." She did, but collased across the finish
line into the arms of a trainer.
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Midwest Meet of Champions
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