CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) – Taylor Mabry found herself in utter disbelief.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she admitted.
Mabry clocked an impressive 5:07 in her heat during the 2A 1600 preliminaries at the IHSA girls’ state track meet on Friday. As she spoke with WCIA shortly after the race, her initial shock was quickly replaced with excitement. Her time not only set a new school record but also secured her spot in Saturday’s finals.
“My main goal was to break the school record,” Mabry shared, shattering the previous 5:09 benchmark set in 2021. “I wasn’t sure it was possible, yet somehow I managed it. I felt great on the track and I’m geared up for tomorrow’s finals.”
This achievement marks a six-second personal best for Mabry and is nine seconds quicker than her previous outdoor record.
“I kind of had a rough outdoor season with injuries and stuff, but it feels good to be back,” she said.
Mabry will admit the lack of results, despite her best efforts, was taking a toll throughout the spring.
“I was really doubting myself the past month or two,” Mabry said. “But today I wrote in my journal before the race ‘Why not me?’ I’ve done all the work to get here, so make it happen.”
Advancing in the 1600 sets Mabry up for the long distance double during Saturday’s finals, she will also run the 3200.
What has her time with Monticello track meant, through three seasons?
“So much,” she said. “This sport has made me who I am. It’s so much fun, the people and just challenging yourself everyday.”