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2026 Pre-Season Track & Field Previews: Girls 1600m


The Illinois high school track season has delivered exceptional competition in the middle distances, and the Top 10 ranked girls in the 800 meters across Classes 1A through 3A represent the elite performers in the state. This demanding event requires a unique balance of strength, speed, and race strategy, and these athletes have consistently risen to the challenge with standout performances throughout the season. From commanding front-runners to explosive finishers, each runner on this list has earned her place through consistency and success against top-level competition. Collectively, they showcase the depth, competitiveness, and excitement of girls 800 m racing across Illinois high school track and field.


3A

  1. Annika Swan (Sr., Chicago [St. Ignatius])

PR - 4:42.56

  • 17th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals

  • State Champion at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • St. Ignatius Sectional Champion

  • GCAC Conference Champion

  • GCAC Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Mia Sirois (Jr., Barrington)

PR - 4:45.85

  • 30th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals

  • 3rd at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • Round Lake Sectional Champion

  • MSL Conference Champion

  • 8th at Nike Indoor Nationals


  1. Ally Shutler (So., Chicago [St. Ignatius])

PR - 4:50.41

  • Runner-Up at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • Runner-Up at Illinois Indoor Championships


  1. Ali Londrigan (Jr., Chatham [Glenwood])

PR - 4:52.49

  • 4th at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • Bloomington Sectional Champion

  • CS8 Conference Champion


  1. Meg Peterson (Sr., Mt. Prospect [Prospect])

PR - 4:52.49

  • MSL Nagel-Saylor Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Marlie Czarniewski (Jr., Plainfield North)

PR - 4:57.27

  • 9th at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • Downers Grove South Sectional Champion

  • SPC Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Alexa Novak (Sr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard West])

PR - 4:59.11

  • 10th at IHSA 3A State Meet

  • Rolling Meadows Sectional Champion

  • WSC Silver Conference Champion

  • WSC Silver Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Macy Ermitage (So., Downers Grove North)

PR - 4:59.61


  1. Lily Hodneland (Sr., Hinsdale Central)

PR - 4:59.80


  1. Sofia Borter (Sr., Geneva)

PR - 5:00.33

  • 11th at IHSA 3A State Meet


2A

  1. Sundara Weber (Sr., Sandwich)

PR - 4:41.90

  • State Champion at IHSA 2A State Meet

  • Sterling Sectional Champion

  • Illinois Indoor Championships Champion


  1. Klarke Goranson (So., Manteno)

PR - 4:51.07

  • 3rd at IHSA 2A State Meet

  • Pontiac Sectional Champion

  • ICE Conference Champion

  • Distance Night In Palatine Champion

  • Illinois Top Times Champion


  1. Margaret Andrzejewski (Sr., Wheaton [St. Francis])

PR - 4:58.87

  • 10th at IHSA 2A State Meet


  1. Emaline Foster (So., Crystal Lake [Prairie Ridge])

PR - 5:02.54

  • 9th at IHSA 2A State Meet

  • FVC Conference Champion

  • McHenry County Champion


  1. Abagail Baumann (Sr., Rockford Lutheran)

PR - 5:02.56

  • 7th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Lena-Winslow Sectional Champion

  • Big Northern Conference Champion


  1. Sydney Gertsen (Sr., Lombard [Montini])

PR - 5:01.23

  • 14th at IHSA 2A State Meet


  1. Avery Sommer (Sr., Mt. Zion)

PR - 5:05.44

  • 13th at IHSA 2A State Meet

  • Apollo Conference Champion


  1. Erin Hinsdale (Jr., Wheaton [St. Francis])

PR - 5:05.65

  • 16th at IHSA 2A State Meet

  • Glenbard South Sectional Champion

  • ESCC Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Lydia Huffman (Fr., Waterloo)

PR - 5:07.52

  • State Champion at SIJHSAA Class L State Meet

  • Cahokia Conference Champion

  • SIJHSAA Class L Region Champion


  1. Paityn Brady (So., Springfield [Sacred Heart-Griffin])

PR - 5:08.16

  • 15th at IHSA 2A State Meet


1A

  1. Molly Farrell (Sr., Marshall)

PR - 4:52.74

  • Runner-Up at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Little Illini Conference Champion

  • Runner-Up at Illinois Top Times


  1. Kyla Babb (Sr., Westmont)

PR - 4:55.56

  • 3rd at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Seneca Sectional Champion

  • Chicago Prep Conference Champion


  1. Isabella Keller (Jr., Effingham [St. Anthony])

PR - 4:55.81

  • 4th at IHSA 1A State Meet


  1. Aubrey Denning (Jr., Effingham [St. Anthony])

PR - 5:01.84

  • 5th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Newton Sectional Champion

  • National Trail Conference Champion

  • Illinois Top Times Champion


  1. Emily Downing (Sr., Cambridge)

PR - 5:04.14

  • 6th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Rockridge Sectional Champion


  1. Kate Foltz (Sr., Tuscola)

PR - 5:04.06

  • 10th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Tuscola Sectional Champion

  • CIC Conference Champion


  1. Madeleine Fox (Jr., Marshall)

PR - 5:06.79

  • 8th at IHSA 1A State Meet


  1. Klaire Eighner (Sr., Maroa-Forsyth)

PR - 5:07.48

  • 9th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Maroa-Forsyth Sectional Champion

  • Sangamo Conference Champion

  • Macon County Champion

  • Sangamo Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Dusti Smith (Jr., Toulon [Stark County])

PR - 5:04.29

  • 11th at IHSA 1A State Meet

  • Mercer County Sectional Champion

  • Lincoln Trail Conference Champion

  • Lincoln Trail Indoor Conference Champion


  1. Henley Parsons (Fr., Champaign [Judah Christian])

PR - 5:13.51

  • State Champion at IESA 1A State Meet

  • Newton (St. Thomas) Sectional Champion

  • Illini Conference Champion

 
 
 
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