Christ Our Rock Senior Sarah McKowen is headed to the IHSA State Track & Field Meet for the 3rd year in a row! This time she is going as the IHSA Sectional Champion for the 2nd year in a row in the 3200 meter run, but she will also make her first trip to Eastern Illinois University in the 1600 Meter Run after winning it as well today at the Class 1A Sectional at Fairfield High School!
According to coach Tim Koch, “In one of the most exciting races I’ve seen her win in the 3 years I’ve coached her, Sarah out kicked Fairfield’s Ella Sager in the final 5 meters of an amazing race between the two for the Sectional Championship by just :00.2 of a second to claim the crown in the 3200 meter run (12:13.82.).”
Mckowen then attempted to qualify in the 800 meter run with minimal rest time and came up just short finishing as the 3rd place medalist (2:39.15). But she wasn’t done yet! She bounced back just a short time later in the 1600 meter and broke free again of Fairfield’s Sager in the final lap as the two ran step for step for 3 laps again until lap 4, where Mckowen would gain the lead and hold on for the win(5:55.6)! It was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever seen as a coach! She proved to everyone today, if they ever doubted that Sarah can’t do something, when she sets her mind to it she can and will! I give all the glory to God that I have been blessed and fortunate to have had the pleasure to coach her these last 3 years! She always steps up big time in big meet situations!
Her distance running teammate Junior Rylee Brammeier also has a lot to be proud of at today’s IHSA sectional as Brammeier was a 3rd place medalist in the 3200 meter race (13:45.1) and a 5th place medalist in the 1600 meter run (6:27.0)! Brammeier qualified for State in the 3200 last season in the IHSA Sectional and in many ways today is a passing of the torch from Sarah on to Rylee to continue the distance running success we have built these last few years at COR. Without a doubt, I know we will see Rylee back at the IHSA state track meet next season! She works her tail off and deserves to hold her head high and be very proud of her 2 sectional medals today!
The Lady Stallions also had 2 girls compete very well in the throwing events today as Junior Madi Nolte and Soph. Chloe Tate would both make the finals in their events. Nolte threw a Personal Record of 81’0″ in the Discus, good enough for 7th place scoring 2pts and also a PR in the Shot Put of 26’6″ finishing 8th and scoring a point for the Lady Stallions. Tate made the finals in the Discus and finished 9th overall (73’03”).
The Lady Stallions finished 6th as a team with out of 12 Sectional teams with only 4 athletes competing!
Sarah Mckowen will now go on to compete in the 1600 meter prelims at the IHSA State track and field meet next Thursday May 16th and Saturday May 18th in the finals of the 3200 meter run, as there are no prelims for the 2 mile distance race.
This young Lady has given her coach Tim Koch, as well as her dad Chris Mckowen , who both share a Birthday on Sunday May 12th, an early Birthday present today! And also her mom Beth McKowen an early Mother’s Day present!!
