LCHS Track and Field Coach Rademaker and athletes Heitzig and McCuan reflect on IHSA State Championship

[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.

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.
 

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.

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.

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.

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]