Girls Track Athlete of the Year: Batavia freshman Katrina Schlenker had record-breaking year on the track

Katrina Schlenker’s athletic exploits apparently know no boundaries.

Schlenker, who just finished her freshman year at Batavia, recently returned from a five-day trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota with the youth group at Batavia Covenant Church.

They spent five days in the wilderness canoeing and hiking.

“It was really challenging, but it was a lot of fun,” Schlenker said. “A lot of physical stuff. It was a good experience.”

Schlenker has spent the last year pushing the boundaries of what a 15-year-old athlete can do.

Schlenker in the fall took second in the Class 3A state cross country meet with the fourth-fastest time in state finals history – the fastest ever as a freshman.

She carried that onto the track this spring. Schlenker rewrote the Batavia record book as a freshman. She led the Bulldogs to the DuKane Conference title, and qualified for state in three events.

Humble to the core, Schlenker is more than just a precocious talent.

“A freshman coming in with that kind of talent is extremely rare,” Batavia coach Justin Allison said. “But the way she carries herself with the team, with her teammates, both on and off the track – she is just a class act. She has a great personality, great sense of humor and is a great teammate. It seemed like having a veteran athlete on the team. She’s all-around a quality person.”

Katrina Schlenker, after a historic freshman season, also is the Kane County Chronicle Girls Track Athlete of the Year.

Schlenker was a much-heralded athlete entering high school.

As an eighth-grader, she broke the Illinois Elementary School Association records for girls in the 800 and 1,600-meter races with times that would have put her in the top 10 at state in high school.

She carried that success right into high school.

Schlenker ran a 4:55 to break Batavia’s indoor 1,600 record, and went 10:32.62 to break the indoor 3,200 record.

Going outdoors, Schlenker set a Batavia outdoor 1,600 record with a 4:51.36 at Palatine’s Distance Night, and set the 3,200 record of 10:41.59 while leading Batavia to the DuKane Conference outdoor team title. She also ran on Batavia’s 3,200 relays that set an indoor record (9:26.37) and outdoor record (9:17.47), the latter in the state preliminaries.

At sectionals, she qualified for state in the 1,600, in between running on state-qualifying 3,200 and 1,600 relays.

“Asking any distance runner to run multiple distance events and come back and run the 4x4 is difficult for any athlete, but especially a freshman,” Allison said. “But she said, ‘Whatever you need me to do.’ She’s a gamer.”

Schlenker’s finish to the season left her wanting for more.

The 3,200 relay of Schlenker, Mia Gianfrancesco, Audrey Pellico and Jenna Schifferer took ninth.

Schlenker missed the 1,600 finals by one spot and .13 of a second.

Schlenker dealt with shin issues late in the season, but she doesn’t use it as an excuse for her state result.

“Toward the end of the season, there was some stuff going on, it really affected me mentally and I went downhill. Getting through each race, keeping those expectations, it became challenging,” Schlenker said. “State, when you really get down to it, I broke under pressure. But some races suck and you have to learn and grow. I’m glad it happened freshman year.”

Schlenker took a two-week break before training again, which was welcome. She relaxed, hung out with friends, had sleepovers.

“Let my body rest, let my mind rest,” Schlenker said. “I am a 15-year-old kid. Sometimes, it’s hard to always be running. It’s nice to have a break.”

As busy as Schlenker is running, she does allow herself another outlet during the season. Tuesday nights, she meets with her church youth group, even if it means occasionally being late for practice.

“They’ve always been there for me,” Schlenker said. “We’re our own little community. I look forward to it every single week. No matter where I am, it’s a place I can go to be happy.”

Even as she looks forward to the next race, the next milestone, the next record or, ultimately, her college destination, Schlenker is learning to live in the moment. She’s worked with Batavia distance coach Chad Hillman to stay grounded, to not look ahead, and instead enjoy achievements as they come.

“It’s great to hear that all your hard work is paying off,” Schlenker said. “I’m glad I took the time to appreciate my good races, to appreciate all the hard work. You never know when your last win will be. When you run those good times, appreciate what you do.”

Kane County Chronicle girls track and field all-area team

Batavia: Katrina Schlenker, fr.; Amy Zabka, sr.

Burlington Central: Avery Andersen, so.; Carolina Hintz, so.

Geneva: Sophia McDonnell, sr.; Kelly McCloughan, so.

Kaneland: Rachel Richtman, jr.

Rosary: Lianna Surtz, fr.

St. Charles East: Alice Abbott, so.; Katie Kempff, fr.

St. Charles North: Kaylee Hopp, so.; Kayla Mikottis, jr.

St. Francis: Maddie Andelbradt, fr.