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 [May 22, 2023]
Becca Heitzig has done it again! The junior defended her
title on Saturday in the 800m at the IHSA Class 2A Girls State Track
and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University in
Charleston, winning with a remarkable time of 2:08.48.
Becca Heitzig stands on top of the podium as the state champion in
the 800m run
Heitzig led the entire time around the track, with Colleen Zeibert
of Rochester finishing in second place with a time of 2:13.00.
Heitzig also set a new state record once again this year, recording
the best time of all the classes. She broke her own state record of
2:09.99 from last year’s state meet.
As soon as the race ended, Heitzig took a few minutes to catch her
breath and get a drink before being bombarded by media. Our Lincoln
girl is quite popular at O’Brien Field on the campus of EIU.
“I just had to keep going,” said Heitzig of the thoughts crossing
her mind as she was racing around the track. “I had told myself to
“Go, go, go!” because I had people chasing me. I wanted to get a
good PR and that’s what I was gunning for.”
She got it and while she’s always aiming for a better time next
time, what Heitzig did on Saturday was incredibly impressive.
Repeating as a state champion is not easy and with the win, Heitzig
continues to be one of the most elite competitors to step on the
track at State.
“The win means a lot because there is a lot of pressure involved
since I won last year,” said Heitzig.
It’s exciting.”
Heitzig also brought home a second place finish in the 1600m.
Heitzig’s time in the 1600m was 5:00.44. She finished behind Tatum
David of Olney, who impressively ran the 1600m with a time of
4:49.73. David, a senior, led the pack here and was followed by
Heitzig. David is one of the best runners in her class in the
country and she will attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
Heitzig finished in second place to
Tatum David in the 1600m run
Heitzig took the second spot on the
podium in the 1600m run
Heitzig is also one of the top runners in the country and she
accomplished an incredible feat on Saturday, medaling in both long
distances.
“I feel pretty good,” said Heitzig after the 1600m. “In my last few
times at State I had not done my best when I did multiple events,
like the 1600 and the 800, so I am happy to pull out a first and a
second so far and now onto the 4x400.”
The competition in the 4x400m was tough and Lincoln impressively put
two freshmen, a sophomore and a junior on the track for this race.
The 4x400m relay team of Ceana Adams, Grace Schneider, Mallory Short
and Becca Heitzig finished in eighth place with a time of 4:07.42 on
Saturday in the finals.
On Friday during the Prelims, the 4x400m relay team of Ceana Adams,
Kyli Lund, Mallory Short and Becca Heitzig ran it in 4:05.25 to
qualify.
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The fab five who represented Lincoln at
the state meet in Charleston. From left to right: Ceana Adams, Grace
Schneider, Becca Heitzig, Mallory Short and Kyli Lund. Photo
courtesy of Gayal Rademaker
As a team, these five girls combined to finish in 11th place overall
in the meet. That is very impressive!
It was a bright sunny day as the 4x400m
relay team accepted their medals. Shown here are Ceana Adams, Grace
Schneider, Mallory Short and Becca Heitzig
The podium is packed with 4x400m relay
teams
"Wait, we gotta get our necklaces," said
Heitzig. Here are Adams, Schneider, Short and Heitzig with those
state medals proudly on display
Upon reflecting on the successful weekend in Charleston, Heitzig
added a few more comments for the LDN readers.
“I want to thank a few people who have helped me during this track
season,” began Heitzig. “First and foremost, my parents for
supplying me with everything I need, whether physical things like
ice packs or mental advice to race well. Secondly, I want to thank
Johnie Meisner for designing my workouts and race strategies, and
for believing in me, Coach Gayal Rademaker for her support and Coach
Jenna Crombie for her motivation and reminders to use my arms. I
also want to thank all my teammates for being so awesome and their
parents for giving encouragement as well. Thanks to all of the
people who sent me kind words and prayers and to all the people who
came out to Charleston to support. Lastly, racing at state or
competing at a high level in any sport can bring a lot of anxiety
but one thing I know for me is when I pray and fix my eyes on the
Lord first and foremost, He wipes my anxieties away.”
That is one decorated athlete as Becca
Heitzig poses with her mom and dad, Kim and Tim Heitzig
Congratulations to all of these amazing athletes who represented
LCHS on the track over the weekend!
[Teena Lowery]
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