Nobody’s close

Woodstock’s Kayla Beattie leads the rest of the field on her third lap of the 1,600-meter run Saturday during the IHSA Class 2A Girls Track and Field State Meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Beattie set a state record in the 1,600 (4:43.65) and in the 3,200 (9:56.96). (Clark Brooks ())

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CHARLESTON – So many times this season, Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie ran eye-popping times, yet still walked away from races dissatisfied.

Not this time.

This time she was beaming. Her mission was complete.

Beattie provided the perfect ending to her brilliant season and high school career at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet on Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium by running the fastest 3,200- and 1,600-meter times in state history.

Beattie incited the crowd early in the meet by running the 3,200 in 9:56.96, becoming the first Illinois girl ever to break 10 minutes in that race. Later, she came back and cranked out a 4:43.65 time in the 1,600. In both races, Beattie broke state-meet records set by Peoria Bergan’s Suzie Tuffey in 1984. Tuffey ran 10:13.24 in the 3,200 and 4:46.74 in the 1,600.

Beattie also beat Tuffey’s 3,200 state record of 10:03, which was not run at the state meet.

“It will probably sink in tomorrow,” Beattie said. “It was definitely a fun day and a great way to end my high school season.”

Beattie has been edging her way toward Tuffey’s records all spring, serving notice with a 10:15 at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic. Beattie worked closely with Woodstock boys head track coach Matt McCulley all year, often running with McCulley or members of the boys cross country and track teams.

“Last year, I wouldn’t have thought of those records,” said Beattie, who won the Class 2A 3,200 last year. “I’ve improved a lot.”

McCulley had different thoughts.

“I told her this was coming in August,” McCulley said. “I told her she was going to get both records. We don’t talk about goals, but she accomplished them here. We just trusted each other. I believed in her, and she trusted me.”

It became apparent that Beattie was going to crack 10 minutes when she finished the first four laps in 4:49. After six laps, she was at 7:21 and the crowd came to life even more.

Along with her two Class 2A state cross country championships, Beattie finished her high school career with five state gold medals.

No one all season has been able to push Beattie, she was just too fast. On Saturday, she was able to keep up her record pace by looking at a clock near the finish line on each lap, then heard times on the backstretch from assistant coach Bill Macaulay.

“It’s … I’m pretty speechless,” Woodstock head coach Steve Erwin said. “She works so hard and is so dedicated to everything that’s important for her, and it pays off.”