Batavia's Sampson shows she belongs with best in 800

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Chad Hillman got his point across to Alexis Sampson and it showed last Friday at the Waubonsie Valley Sectional.

The Batavia sophomore, a standout in the 800, met some of the best competition in the state. And just like her coach has been telling her all season, proved she belonged.

She ran second to another sophomore, Benet Academy's McKinzie Schulz, and they rank 3-4 heading into Friday's IHSA state track meet.

"That's the biggest thing, especially with a younger kid," said Hillman. "Getting them to understand that, 'You're in that league with those (top-notch) kids' and (Sampson) has done a great job this year of understanding that.

"She's not scared when I tell her that, 'You're not a freshman anymore.' She's looking at me, shaking her head saying, 'Yeah, yeah I am (in their league.)'"

Friday's sectional 800 included a two-time state place-winner (3rd and 7th) in junior Shakeia Pinnick of Waubonsie Valley; a one-time state place-winner (9th) in senior Toni Ogundare of Waubonsie Valley; and a one-time state place-winner (7th) in senior Sara Hartley of Neuqua Valley.

Schulz (2:14.90) and Sampson (2:15.90) beat them all.

"That's four unbelievable 800 runners there," said Hillman.

"The girls got out probably in 27 (seconds) the first 200 (meters) and they strung (Sampson) out a bit but she didn't panic. She moved right up with them a hundred meters later. Then, it was a race. She's running very smart."

As the pack headed towards the final 200, Schulz made her move. Sampson kicked a bit later, and it may have cost her.

"I would have liked to see her move a little earlier and she may have had a shot at her (finishing one second behind Schulz)," said Hillman. "It turned into a fight for second (with Ogundare) and she ran great to get that."

Last year's state runner-up, Bloomington's Ashley Verplank ran 2:10.70 to lead all qualifiers. But don't count out Pinnick, who ran 2:12 in finishing third last year.

Waubonsie Valley coach Jim Braun thought Pinnick, the early leader Friday, may have set too fast a pace early. Pinnick didn't agree, saying she felt tight later in the race.

Even so, after she came back to win the 300 hurdles and take second in the 200, Braun exclaimed, "That's better. The thing I like the best is she doesn't give up. She comes back. She's a competitor."

Pinnick and Tarter are ranked 1-2 among all qualifiers in the 300 hurdles and another Batavia super soph, Kathryn Warner, ranks sixth. Kaneland's Lindsay Gierke is 11th.

Tarter and Pinnick are ranked 1 and 5, respectively, in the 100 hurdles.

Other top medal threats from the area figure to be Batavia's No. 1-ranked 1600 relay that includes Tarter, Sampson, Warner and Brooke Bernardoni; Gierke (5th in the 200); H-BR freshman Tess Godhardt (3rd in HJ); and Aurora Christian's Ann Schuette (8th in 3200). Girls State Track Preview