LCHS Track and Field Coach Rademaker and athletes Heitzig and McCuan
reflect on IHSA State Championship
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[June 17, 2021]
Reese McCuan and Becca Heitzig represented Lincoln Community High School
in the IHSA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships. Their events
took place on Friday, June 11, 2021 on the campus of Eastern Illinois
University in Charleston.
Both athletes brought home medals, with Heitzig placing second in the
800m and McCuan placing fifth in the Triple Jump.
It was a very hot and humid day for competition, but both of these girls
did amazing in their events.
Below are comments from the Lady Railers Track and Field Coach Gayal
Rademaker, who is in her third season guiding the team. She summed up
the season these girls had perfectly. There are also comments from both
of the girls, telling in their own words, what happened in Charleston.
McCuan competed in her field event early in the afternoon that day.
Heitzig competed in her track events later in the afternoon. It was a
long, nerve-wracking day filled with heat and humidity but these
athletes rose to the occasion and performed very well.
Congratulations girls!
Coach Gayal Rademaker
History was made on Friday, June 11th as it was the first time that two
Lincoln Community High School girls medaled in the same IHSA State Track
and Field Meet. This is a huge feat as Lincoln has had only six other
LCHS girls bring home medals from the IHSA State Track and Field Meet.
Reese McCuan brought home the fifth place medal in the triple jump and
Becca Heitzig brought home the silver medal in the 800m run.
Reese and Becca are truly amazing young ladies who strive to do their
best in all aspects of their lives. On the track their work ethics are
second to none and in the classroom, they are one of the tops in their
class. They are truly an inspiration to all.
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Reese, a junior, who is also a 400m runner, set the goal of setting the
school record in the triple jump at the beginning of her freshman year.
This was a lofty goal. She started this season with jumps about 3 feet
short of the LCHS record. Reese trained intensely on this technically
challenging event by improving her speed on the runway and dissecting
the phases of the triple jump. She worked endlessly on drills. Her hard
work paid off when she set the LCHS school record on May 14th at the
Olympia Coed Relay meet and she continued to improve that record three
more times. Her last jump at the IHSA State Meet was her best jump of
the season, with a jump of 10.86 meters or 35 feet 7 ½ inches. Reese
radiated with pride as she knew what she just accomplished. After a long
wait, the official results were posted, and Reese was awarded the fifth
place medal at the IHSA State Track and Field Meet.
The plan for Reese was to get a mark on her first jump, which she did at
10.45m. This was a decent mark for a first jump, so I felt comfortable
at this point. Her second jump appeared beautiful, but was a scratch,
her third jump was much shorter at 10.19m. Based on my notes of the
other jumpers, I felt Reese was out of medal contention at this point.
To say I was on edge is an under-statement. This is where mental
toughness takes over. Is she going to break or is she going to dig down
deep and do it? From my vantage point, her fourth jump looked great, but
it seemed like eternity before the judge read the laser measurement and
posted her mark of 10.82m. I was elated for her. I knew she had just
jumped her PR, set the school record again and earned a place in the
state meet. It was hard to hold back the tears and the joys.
Becca Heitzig, a freshman, is one-of-a-kind. She has endurance and she
is fast. She is also mentally tough and feisty. She trains hard with the
boys, and she doesn't like to lose. Becca’s name will be added to the
LCHS track record board three times when it is updated. She holds the
record in the 800m with a time of 2:13.9, the 1600m with a time of
5:07.4 and the 3200m with a time of 11:24.6. This is quite an
accomp-lishment. Becca also holds the Apollo Conference record in the
800m with a time of 2:16.35.
At the state meet, it was a long wait in the field house at EIU before
Becca got on the track. This is where I realized that Becca is human and
young. She was a basket case going through her pre race warm-up and
preparations. She kept questioning different race scenarios and what
ifs. Becca knew that the top five ladies in the race could all be
contenders for the championship. She also knew that the 800m would be a
literal physical battle, not just a race. Thank goodness, LCHS graduate
and UIS track star, Blake Jones was there sharing his experiences and
giving her sound advice. I was just trying to keep her calm and cool.
When the first call was made for the 800m, my heart started racing as I
knew what Becca was capable of accomplishing. It was a long walk to the
staging tent and after a hug she was on her own from this point on.
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On the track, Becca’s race plan was to go out fast and lead from the
start. She did just that. She went out fast and led a very competitive
field. This was a gutsy move for a freshman. If anyone were to beat her,
they were going to have to chase her down on this extremely hot and
humid day. Becca set a very fast pace for the first 500 meters before a
very strong senior, Marianne Mihas from Chicago Latin, passed with lots
of bumping and elbows for the win.
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The battle for second played out on
the home stretch as rival Rochester sophomore Colleen Zeibert had a
kick left for the last 100m. The excitement could be felt in the
stands as these two fought, but Becca dug deep and never let her
pass. It was a great finish to a tough race. Becca peaked at the
perfect time, running her fastest 800m race of the season, with a
time of 2:13.9, earning her the silver medal at the state meet.
It was so tough not to be at the
finish line congratulating her and holding her up as her legs were
about to collapse. I was beaming with excitement for her and what
she just accomplished.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/14/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
Becca went on to run in the 1600m finishing 15th about 30 minutes
later. She was wiped out after giving it her all in the 800m, but
that being said, her time of 5:24.93 in the 1600m state race would
have broken the LCHS school record that was set in 1977 if Becca had
not already broken that record earlier in the season. Now that is
saying something!
For all those who have been around
Lincoln’s Track and Field Boys and Girls Teams this year, you
understand that this group of young people are unique and are
winners. They train hard and they play hard. They support each
other, challenge each other and bring out the best in each other.
They are mentally and physically strong. Lincoln’s Girls and Boys
Track and Field team has a bright future. This was evident at the
IHSA Girls Track and Field Meet when a bus load of track athletes
and friends cheered Becca and Reese onto victory and I could not be
prouder of all of them.
I can not end my comments without thanking the legendary Johnie
Meisner for his time and dedication to our athletes. Lincoln’s track
teams would not be where they are today without him. He is not easy
on them, but he knows how to get results. I have learned so much
about track and field from this “grumpy old man” and I am beyond
grateful for all he has done for our track and field programs. It
has been a fun and exciting season that ended perfectly with two
amazing young ladies and athletes getting their PR’s, improving
their own school records and coming home with IHSA state medals in
their last meet of the season.
Congratulations to Reese McCuan and Becca Heitzig!
Reese McCuan
I was very excited throughout the weeks I trained for State. I
worked hard everyday and when the meet came I felt composed and
ready.
I relaxed and warmed up in the field house feeling very confident.
When it came time to jump, my first jump I knew wasn’t very good
from the moment I did my first phase (hop in the triple jump). I
shook it off and focused on the next jump. Then after my second
jump, which I scratched, and my third jump, I was starting to feel
the pressure. I had not jumped a medal-winning jump yet, so I
started to panic.
Fortunately, I calmed down and looked at Johnie (Meisner). He told
me to hold my step and silently reassured me, which calmed me down a
lot. I was super focused and I said a silent prayer before I went
up. On the last jump, I attacked and jumped the best I could,
focusing on the technique that I had trained for. When I landed in
the sand I knew it was a good jump and the cheering from the Lincoln
student section lifted my spirits. When the man calling out
distances said 10.86, my face lit up. I was soooo excited! And later
when I found out I got fifth, I was even more excited. Later that
day I thanked God for the wonderful day I had.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/14/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png)
Becca Heitzig
For the first race (800m) my coaches and I decided that it was best
for me to run MY race. Which is going out fast, then seeing what I
have left for the second lap.
The first lap went as planned, except it was a little slower than
I’m used to going out. Then came the second lap. In the first 100 of
the second lap a senior from Chicago Latin School was getting a
little physical with me. She was almost trying to cut me off and was
throwing some elbows. I wasn’t going to let her just bully me so I
threw some back. Then she passed me on the second 100 of the second
lap. She’s a very good runner so I was expecting that anyway. I
think she’s going to Harvard. I was just hoping to hang on as long
as I could.
Then there was the last 200 and it was time to ‘run with my heart’
as Mrs. Rademaker would say. I wasn’t going to let anyone pass me in
that last 100. In our workouts this week before the race Johnie (Meisner)
had my mindset set that no one would beat me in the last 100.
I pushed and barely beat Colleen Siebert by only .09 of a second.
The winner finished in 2:13 flat. I finished in 2:13.90 and Colleen
finished in 2:13.99.
It was a great race and I couldn’t have been happier with how it
turned out. With great coaches, teammates, and fans THE PLAN CAME
TOGETHER as Johnie would say!
The 800m and mile had about 30-45 minutes in between but it felt
like five minutes.
For the mile race I was just going to run it and see what I could
do. Unfortunately, I was tired from the 800 and the heat and I
didn’t run my best race.
[Intro by Teena Lowery]
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