After advancing through sectionals, Loren competed in three events in the Illinois State Track Finals on May 22nd and 23rd. On Friday, she ran the 1600M. I don't think she really had a feel for the importance of the event. She placed about 5th in her heat and 20th of 43 girls. On the last strait away where the runners usually kick it up to 5th gear she was still going at the same pace. She didn't turn it on until she was really close to the finish line. Her personal best is 5 minutes 42 seconds. In this race she ran 5:46.90.
On Saturday she ran two relays where she ran anchor in both. The first was the 4 X 200M and her team was in first place in their heat, but 12th overall.
Her second relay was the 4 X 400M. This was an amazing race! Her team started out in 1st place with the first runner. However, after the 2nd and 3rd runner had gone, Loren received the baton and started her run in 4th place. She was in 4th place for nearly the whole 1st straight away, and there was a even distance between 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Loren. It didn't look possible for her to catch up. However, by the time she got to the turn she had overtaken the 3rd place runner, and was gaining on the 2nd. She took the 2nd place runner and was gaining on the 1st by the end of the turn, and the whole stadium was pulling for her as she made amazing come from behind. As they were heading into the straight away Loren was on the heels of the 1st place runner... literally. She accidentally caught the heel of the 1st place runner, and she stumbled. There was collective, "OH!" from the stands. Unfortunately, she could never make up the ground after the stumble, but she still pulled off an amazing come from behind race and place 2nd for that heat. The team placed 10th overall in the 4 X 400M.
Loren seems to be a natural, and I think she has great potential for the coming years if she sticks with it. Pretty soon, she'll be back at it with cross country.
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