Wilkins surrounded by top-notch talent

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Attending running camp at the University of Wisconsin was good for Lindsey Wilkins.

Every day, all around her, Wilkins saw top-notch running talent.

Runners who could push her to the limit.

“It was motivation for me to keep going and push myself,” the Richmond-Burton senior said. “You’re running with people you compete with and are at your level. Even in practice, there are hard runs.”

Wilkins enjoyed spending time with Vernon Hills’ Danielle Dickman and Libertyville’s Hannah Reilly, two girls she ran against last spring at the IHSA Class AA Grayslake North Track and Field Sectional. The timing of the camp – one month before Wilkins embarks on her senior year – seems ideal.

“Sometimes we ran in big groups, sometimes we had a group of 12,” Wilkins said. “We usually ran twice a day. We got real close.”

Wilkins also made a tour of some of Illinois’ NCAA Division I schools – Bradley, Illinois State, Southern Illinois – to let college coaches know her interest. Most of them know about her already.

“Northern [Illinois] is real interested,” R-B coach Keith Forth said. “She has a wide range of schools from D-I to D-III looking at her. It will come down to who she will have the best opportunity to compete with.”

Wilkins finished 16th in the Class 2A Cross Country State Meet last fall, earning All-State honors. She followed that by qualifying for the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs in the Class AA  Track and Field State Meet. She took 11th in the 3,200 (11:13.50) and 14th in the 1,600 (5:06.98).

“Mentally, I’m so much stronger,” Wilkins said. “Having a good track season changed my whole racing.”

Wilkins began her high school career as a soccer player, but R-B assistant coach Ryan Carlson, who works with the distance runners, convinced her to try track as a sophomore. Since that point, Wilkins has become more and more a force among area runners.

“She’s bought into and accepted everything Ryan and I have told her to do,” Forth said. “She’s done everything we’ve asked and more. The key thing is if she stays healthy, not only physically, but mentally as well. It’s scary. So far, she shows no signs of letting up.”

Forth thinks Wilkins could contend for the 2A state cross country title. Wilkins ran the McHenry River Run in July in 18:06, faster than her time [18:10] from last year’s state meet.

“If she’s running that now, with more speed work and tapering, what’s it going to be in early November [at state],” Forth said. “It’s exciting.”

Everything is good for Wilkins. She’s running well, she feels great, she has D-I colleges’ interest and she will have her two sisters – sophomore Sydney and freshman Samantha – on her team this fall.

“It’s going to be a blast,” Wilkins said. “Hopefully, we can make it down to state [as a team] and they’ll be running with me.”