Posted: May 29, 2009 |(0) Comments

She was the 2008 state track champion in the 800 meters and a key member of the first-ever state title-winning cross country team later that fall, but this spring Whitefish Bay's Megan Palmer found herself doing something she never had to do before:

Fight her body.

A late winter bout of pneumonia turned in a debilitating case of spring mono and left her weak, unable to run more than a couple of miles at a time and wondering if she would ever get back to her once lofty status. She ran a couple of early meets this season, but hadn't stepped on the track in more than a month.

"It was really a day-to-day thing, just very hard to deal with," she said. "No one could tell me when I was going to feel better or when I could start running hard again."

But the competitor in Palmer started feeling better two weeks ago. A few tenative but encouraging workouts later, she won the WIAA regional 800 on May 26 and then on Friday in the WIAA sectional at Homestead, she came full circle. She found her way back to next week's state meet with a third place showing in the 800 (2:18.12) and then anchored the 1,600 relay to an encouraging season-best fourth-place finish of 4:04.74.

It all helped the Blue Dukes advance individuals in seven spots and finish second in the 16-team sectional field with 83.5 points. Arrowhead won the meet with 127.5 points.

"A marvelous story, a heck of a comeback," said Blue Duke distance coach Mike Miller. "We never thought she'd get to this point this season."

But Palmer was always hopeful if not completely sure what would happen, especially against high-level competition.

"Day-by-day, I'd be closer to feeling like my normal self," she said. "I knew I was going down the right path. I just didn't know what would happen.  ...I'm just so happy I was able to get something out of this season. Feel like myself again."

Palmer lost only to North Shore competitors Liz Wendt (2:17.55) and Andrea Sielicki (2:17.6) of Germantown in the 800.

Teammate Kenzie Vicker, who won the 1,600 (5:22.82) and who also advanced by finishing second in the 3,200 (11:25.42) to fellow Blue Duke Emma-Lisa Murphy (11:24.69), was ecstatic to have Palmer back.

"It was just like old times," Vicker said. "It was so hard not having her around. She's such a big part of the team. She really brought a positive quality when she came back and it helped everybody step up."

Seniors Becca Schmidt and Hannah Wallace also stepped up as Schmidt finished second to state powerhouse Tasha Allen of Milwaukee North in both the 100 (12.12) and 200 (25.31). "I can't worry about her, I'm just going to go out and run my race," Schmidt said of Allen.

Meanwhile, 2008 state runner-up in the pole vault Wallace made a great case for her ultimate goal of a state title by recording another school record in winning with a clearance of 11-6.

"I can still improve on last year's finish," she said lifting her index finger straight up. "There's only one goal left."

Nicolet and Homestead girls teams also achieved lofty goals. The Knights finished seventh with 52 points and advanced two individuals and two relay teams.

Roni Thompson was third in the triple jump (36- 3/4) and then helped both the 800 relay team of Ashley Jones, Carly Freedman and Ashley Green to a third-place showing of 1:44.81. She, Green and Freedman also joined with Sharon Cross to bring the 1,600 relay home with a runner-up showing of 4:02.45.

Freedman, a one-time state qualifier in the open 400, was ecstatic to anchor the 1,600 relay and re-establish the school's tradition in the event.

"This feels really good," she said. "This is the first time since I've been at Nicolet (she and Cross are seniors) that we've gotten this relay to state. ...They'd (the Knights) won a state title in this event just before we got here, so to bring it back to state feels great. I think we surprised everyone."

Nicolet also advanced third-place finisher Kati Fitch in the pole vault (10-0).

Host Homestead was eighth with 48 and advanced hurdle powerhouse Marissa Savitch in the 100 high hurdles (state best 14.44) and in the 300 low hurdles (personal best victory of 45.57).

The sophomore knows she will have the favorite's target on her back when she heads to state next week.

"It's been on my back all season," said Savitch, "Ever since I got to the top of the state honor roll. I just have to keep moving along. ...I was really happy today. These were some of my cleanest races of the year and they came at a good time too. It was the biggest meet of the season and the competition was so intense."

The Highlander 3,200 relay team of Keali Bjork, Sarah Miller, Caity Bobber and Lauren Holtz were intense for another reason, as they advanced with a runner-up season-best of 9:34.48. The relay was still running with heavy hearts as they were still mourning the passing of assistant coach Andy Edington earlier this season. Bracelets honoring him were on sale at the concession stand with proceeds benefitting his family.

"This feels so good," Miller said. "We knew that he wasn't actually here, but it felt like he was. It helped make it such a beautiful day."