Thomas excels in role as LC’s leader

Updated: April 26, 2011 7:09PM

Lake Central girls track coach Ron Fredrick was cautiously optimistic in assessing the strength of this year’s team in the preseason.

With the loss of seven key performers from last year’s talented group, it’s understandable to see why Fredrick wasn’t quite sure how good his 2011 Indians might be.

Fredrick said it would largely depend on whether this year’s seniors and juniors could assume the leadership void left by the departed seniors, and, how quickly his ninth-graders would contribute.

One of the keys to LC’s leadership this spring hinged on how senior Isis Thomas — known more for her defensive prowess on the basketball court — responded to being a team leader.

To her credit, Thomas has not only helped provide the Indians with needed leadership, but has performed very well for the Indians (3-0 in Duneland Athletic Conference meets) on the track as well.

Thomas, who was unbeaten in the 200 in the league last year, has gone a personal record-best 59.96 in the 400-meter dash — and recently handled the switch of running lead leg to running anchor leg on the Indians’ 1,600 relay team, which has run an area-best 4:04.

Fredrick said the team’s goal is to run a 3:56.9, which it accomplished at the state meet last year.

“I’m very, very pleased with the leadership role Isis has taken on with the team this year,’’ Fredrick said. “With all the seniors we’ve graduated, she’s done a super job for us of stepping up and leading our younger, and more inexperienced athletes, while at the same time, performing very well for us.’’

Fredrick believes Thomas is capable of running in the 58s or high 57s.

“Right now, we’re getting used to the distance and training for the base,’’ Fredrick said. “We’ve put that in, and now we’re at the point where we’re switching over to speed work.’’

Thanks for the assist: Kankakee Valley distance runner Kristin Fritts said at the start of the outdoor season that even though she didn’t compete during the school season as a junior last year, she learned a great deal about herself as a runner thanks to help of a personal trainer.

Fritts said Steve Batey deserved a lot of credit for helping her become a better runner when she ran last season as an unattached runner.

“He definitely helped me a lot,’’ she said. “I give him a lot of credit for my success. He taught me a lot about my running form, strategy and pace. He definitely helped me a lot.’’

Before working with Batey, Fritts was coming off an injury-plagued sophomore season (she had an injury close to a stress fracture and hip problems requiring therapy).

She had run a 5:03 mile at state and finished fourth as a freshman.

“I want to get my fastest time ever, this year, make it to state again and place,’’ Fritts said. “I’d like to at least get back to that point this year, and hopefully, do better.’’

Lofty goals: Hammond sprinter Tiara Reed placed seventh at the state meet in the 200 last year.

The talented senior believes she can do even better this postseason.

“I’m trying to get down to a 12-flat in the 100, run 24 in the 200, and go around a minute in the 400.

“I want to try and place at least third at state in the 200 and qualify for state in the 100 this year (she was sixth at regional as a junior),’’ she said.

As for running the 400 this spring?

“This is my first year running the 400,’’ Reed said. “The back 100 is really tough, but it’s helping me to get better in my other races and it’s making me a better runner.’’

Reed also anchors the Wildcats’ 400 relay team.

“It’s one of the best teams we’ve had since probably my freshman year,’’ she said.

 

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.