Normal Community’s Ali Ince and the Lady Iron relay team sparkle on track
NORMAL, Ill. — Days after competing in eight races over 30 hours, Ali Ince was still feeling the after-effects of intense competition in her legs.
Her mind was still trying to process all that happened, too.
The Normal Community High School running sensation ran her state gold medal haul to eight for her career with three more remarkable victories at the IHSA Class 3A State Track and Field finals in Charleston in May.
Ince, a junior, won the 800 meters for a third straight year and added championships in the 400 meters and 4×400 relay along with teammates Queen-Patricia Lubala, Lily Cavanaugh and Abigail Ziemer.
“It was an exciting few days with the girls,” Ince said. “I’m still trying to get my head around it. It was so awesome.”
With two golds already locked up, Ince had to play catch-up when her turn came to carry the baton in the relay. Ince caught and passed two competitors in clocking a championship time of 3:53.83. The quartet set a school record nine days earlier with a 3:51.74 in the sectional.
“I knew it was going to be a fun race,” Ince said. “We tend to run our best when there are people to chase.”
Ince’s anchor leg sent her to the podium to collect gold for the eighth time in her spectacular career.
“The second Ali crossed the finish line excitement rushed through me,” said Cavanaugh. “It was such a special moment it almost felt unreal. It was such an exciting moment, and I’m so glad I got to run it with my favorite people.”
Ziemer said she felt pride in the state medal and also in how the team performed when it mattered most.
“The team and the incredible support system we had was what kept me going this season and the win with definitely symbolized the hard work of the year,” Ziemer said. “I’ve been on this relay since freshman year and to be able to watch not only myself but also the other girls on the team grow through track as athletes and as people is something that I’m really proud of.”
Lubala was overwhelmed on the medal stand.
“I had made everyone proud — my relay, my team, my family and myself. I had run the hurdles the day before and didn’t make the finals, which deflated me more than I’d like to admit,” she said. “But in those moments after the 4×400, it was like I had showed everyone and myself that I was worthy.”
Ince rolled to the title in the 800 with a time of 2:10.40, more than three seconds faster than the runner-up. She had just a 40-minute window to recover for the 400.
“I finished the 800, got my spikes off, went to the bathroom and sat in the shade,” Ince said. “Then it was back to the tent to get ready for the 400. That was the race I was most nervous about. It was definitely the most competitive.”
Ince felt Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge’s Rylee London steps pounding behind her but held her off by one-tenth of a second. Ince won with a time of 55.18 seconds.
“It was super close,” Ince said. “You want it to come down to the end and have someone pushing you.”
While Ince celebrates her success in individual events, she calls the relay events her favorite because of the team camaraderie.
“Whenever I think of the state meet, I think of the 4×400 team,” she said. “You have to be somewhat focused on yourself to make sure you’re prepared. But there comes a point where if you’re only focused on yourself, it becomes stressful. It’s fun to run for someone other than yourself. It was so much fun when we won. We were all there screaming and a big group hug.”
Ince, who says she still hasn’t run “all out” in the 800 yet, is entertaining a couple dozen interested colleges pursuing her running talents. She’s leaving the decision until fall when her senior year begins. Meanwhile, her time in the 800 is about a half-second shy of being good enough to participate in the U.S. Olympic qualifier, so the options of what track could do for her are considerable.
“I’d like to run in college and after,” she said. “It’s about seeing how fast your body can go, but the running community is so special. It’s fun to win and set records, but at the end of the day, it’s about the people you meet and the opportunities you get from the sport.”
U High relay in top three: In the Class 2A meet, University High’s 4×200 relay team of Lydia McIntyre, Jersey Jones, Rachel Ogunleye and Reese Mitchell finished third.
Whitaker, Peterson vault to victory in boys’ meet
Central Catholic freshman Isaiah Whitaker is quickly making a name for himself on the national pole vault scene.
He officially put his stamp on the state scene by setting a state record of 5.1 meters to win the Class 1A title to add to his world record in the event for 14-year-olds.
Meanwhile, Bloomington High School senior Tyler Peterson won the 3A pole vault by clearing 4.75 meters.
Normal Community’s Alex Sohn, an Illinois recruit, was second in the 3A shotput (18.47 meters) and third in discus (51.72). Teammate Chris Taylor was second in the high jump (2.04 meters).
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