Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:57 PM CST
Shelbyville's Duckett repeats all-state cross country performance
By SCOTT RICHEY, Staff Writer
PEORIA — Katelyn Duckett figured grabbing something to eat before Saturday’s IHSA Class 1A state cross country meet was probably a good idea.
The Shelbyville sophomore should know. Duckett said she passed out following her 15th place finish at the Decatur St. Teresa Sectional after running what she readily said was not one of her best races.
Saturday’s healthy pre-race snack proved to be just what Duckett needed, as she ran a personal best time of 18 minutes, 19.6 seconds to finish in 10th place — three spots better than her finish at last year’s state meet as a freshman.
“She was looking good from the beginning,” Shelbyville coach Kevin Kramer said. “She was about 15th at the mile and pacing herself well. I was just worried about her being hydrated from last week. We made sure she was eating and drinking before the race today.”
Kramer said he felt Duckett was now in position to make the transition to being one of the top five runners in Class 1A after back-to-back all-state finishes. He said last year’s 13th place finish was part of the reason for Duckett’s improvement at this year’s state meet.
“There’s nowhere to go but up,” Kramer said. “Unfortunately that puts the pressure on her, but she is one of the best competitors I’ve ever had. I’ve been fortunate to coach a couple of state champions, and she’s every bit the competitor they were if not better.”
Shelbyville finished in 16th place as team edging out Monmouth-Roseville, Carlinville, Columbia and Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran. The Lady Rams’ other finishers included Alicia Pizzo (66th), Jackie Eberspacher (84th), Erin Yockey (88th), Kayley Brown (110th), Carisa Wilson (134th) and Allie Pasley (137th).
“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Kramer said. “I felt all of our kids really ran pretty decent–either close to their (personal records) or a (personal record) today. Wherever we finish I’m pretty happy because we ran about as good as we could.”
What was also different about this year’s state meet for Duckett was her view during the final leg of the race. Last year–even in 13th place–the leaders were out of Duckett’s line of sight as she charged up the final hill.
This year Duckett had the lead runners in sight and caught full view of Bloomington Central Catholic senior Kelly Curran overtake Freeburg’s Kristen Busch in the final 200 meters for a repeat state title.
“Last year when I ran I got 13th, but I couldn’t see the first place girl,” Duckett said. “When I looked up and I saw they were just 200 meters ahead of me that made me just want to push harder.”
Duckett nearly finished higher in the top 10, as she was running just ahead of Eureka sophomore Kalla Gold and Winnebago senior Alex Palm in the final straightaway. Gold put on a burst of speed to overtake both Duckett and Palm, and Palm shot ahead of Duckett in the chute to take ninth place by one second.
“I didn’t think there was anyone really near me because I couldn’t see anyone out of the sides of my eyes,” Duckett said. “I was focused on the person in front of me, and I started dying down. Two girls went past me, but, oh well, I’m still very happy.”
Duckett was part of a 20-25 runner lead pack through more than a mile of the race. That pack stayed together, for the most part, nearly to the two-mile mark before spreading out during the final mile. That pack, however, made Duckett a little nervous early in the race when she found out she was running 17th at almost one mile.
“I tried to keep with the middle of that pack, but I didn’t want to get blocked in,” Duckett said. “When we’d go on turns, I’d try to cut over to the sides and not get cut off on the turns. Once it spread out a little bit, I just tried to go with the pack going forward.”
Duckett did just that moving up several places after almost one mile and just past the two-mile mark en route to her 10th place finish–something Kramer said he still finds amazing considering Duckett split her time with volleyball this fall.
“She’s having to come in the morning and run by herself and run after volleyball,” Kramer said. “For her to do that–be in two sports and finish top 10 in the state–is just amazing to me.”
Back-to-back all-state finishes could have Duckett rethinking splitting her time next fall with multiple sports.
“I’m happy I’ve done that good, but I think I did better this week,” she said. “I felt like I was more in shape because volleyball got over and I was focused just on running so my legs weren’t as tired. Next year that might be my decision so I can just keep getting better.”
Shelbyville results
10. Katelyn Duckett 18:19.6; 66. Alicia Pizzo 20:33.6; 84. Jackie Eberspacher 20:56.6; 88. Erin Yockey 21:01.7; 110. Kayley Brown 21:44.7; 134. Carisa Wilson 24:48.8; 137. Allie Pasley 26:32.8;
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