Cross Country notes: Glenbard West's Audrey Allman reconnects with running at Colorado camp

Glenbard West junior Audrey Allman traveled far to be close with Katelynne Hart one more time.

The four-time Class 3A state cross country champion now a freshman at Michigan, Hart made Team Prep USA distance running camp in Crusted Butte, Colo., a training ritual.

Allman spent most of July participating there. Sophomore teammate Paige King also attended for the first time.

“I knew I wanted to get away and learn some new things and run in a new environment. (Hart) was really recommending it to me so it really played a big factor,” Allman said.

“It was just a really great program and I’m really lucky that I got to go. I’m really proud that Paige got to go and I got to run with Katelynne, to train kind of one more time together.”

A Class 3A all-state 18th in 2019, Allman distinguished herself again in a home meet Oct. 1 against Oak Park-River Forest at Camera Park in Glendale Heights.

Allman won (16:45) with the sixth-fastest time on the 2.88-mile course. It was also the fourth-fastest Glenbard West personal best behind only Hart (course-record 15:57.84 in 2019), Lindsey Payne (16:09.5 in 2015) and Lindsay Graham (16:42 in 2014).

King, juniors Delaney Engel and Anna Nickoley and senior Olivia Cline also return from the 2019 state lineup.

King tried unsuccessfully to attend the 2019 camp. Allman and King were in different training groups but saw each other occasionally.

“I definitely got in a lot better shape, I made a lot of friends and it made running fun,” King said. “Over quarantine, I was running with (sophomore Hannah Moffatt) but also by myself sometimes so it was nice to run with more people.”

The camp motivated Allman after the pandemic halted track in mid-March. Allman was returning from mononucleosis, which she probably competed with at state.

“(The camp) really got me back into the mindset of cross country and running and just feeling good physically and mentally,” Allman said. “I learned a lot there, I made a lot of friends and it really kind of re-connected me with running cross country.”

Hello, Neumann

Downers Grove South junior Tim Neumann essentially is a new runner.

With a year of competition, training and illnesses behind him, Neumann owns the state’s eighth-best boys 3.0-mile time (14:53) according to Athletic.net from the Mustangs’ 19-44 victory over Hinsdale South Sept. 18. Second-place Hinsdale South senior Julian Watson (15:16), 28th at 2A state in 2019, is ranked 39th and No. 2 in 2A.

“I definitely knew I was fit enough to run sub-15. I just kind of went for it,” Neumann said. “Mentally over quarantine I did all of the running on my own, doing lots of time trials. Learning how to push myself helped me to be successful this season.”

Neumann ran cross country at O’Neill Middle School but as a freshman exclusively played club soccer. With encouragement from Downers South coach Brian Caldwell, Neumann raced at the 2018 Nike Cross Regionals and continued running that spring in track.

“One of the reasons I was attracted to soccer was the running aspect,” Neumann said. “Coach Caldwell was so inclusive and open, and the experience with soccer just wasn’t the same.”

At last season’s 3A state meet, Neumann (189th, 16:11.52) was the 21st-place Mustangs’ No. 7 finisher still battling a flurry of ear and sinus infections.

On Oct. 3, Neumann (15:05) won by 75 seconds. The Mustangs defeated Morton to finish 6-0 in West Suburban Gold duals.

“He kind of sneakily had a breakout track season (9:40 in 3,200), but no one really noticed since things got shut down,” Caldwell said. “Now he’s looking really strong in spite of the fact that he’s generally running alone in races.”