Becca Heitzig breaks her own school record in the 1600 meter
Finishes second in Palatine meet

 

[April 23, 2024] 

Just how incredible is Becca Heitzig?

On Saturday night she ran the Girls 1600 Meter Main Event at Palatine and finished in second place, the winner was a junior from Missouri, but Heitzig beat her own school record and ran a PR of 4:50.63.

That is very impressive since she’s only ran the 1600m one other time this spring. She’s just that good. She also ran the outdoor race Saturday at 9:41 p.m. in 39 degree weather after she and all the other runners spent time in their vehicles waiting to be called to the track. With just a little time to warm up, all the runners hit the track “cold” to run.

The night race at Palatine features the most elite runners from the state of Illinois and surrounding states and Heitzig’s finish puts her in the no. 1 spot in Illinois. She is also ranked 36th nationally in the 1600m.

Heitzig is no stranger to Palatine.

This was her fourth time running the Palatine night race. Her freshman year she ran the 800m and finished fourth overall. Her sophomore year she won the 800m in the main card. Her junior year she got second to Ali Ince of Normal in the 800m in the main card.

Heitzig would still like to shave time off her current PR but for now the race was definitely a big confidence booster.

Incidentally, Heitzig beat Elyse Wilmes last summer in the 800m at Hoka. Wilmes is a junior at Father Tolton Regional Catholic in Columbia, Missouri.

Top finishers at Palatine 1600m

Elyse Wilmes ~ Father Tolton 4:49.64

Becca Heitzig ~ Lincoln 4:50.63

Elena Rybak ~ Glen Carbon 4:54.25

Annika Swan ~ Chicago St. Ignatius 4:54.73

Liv Phillips ~ Naperville 4:55.61

[Teena Lowery]