Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year: Through injuries, illness and other adversity, Glenbard West’s Audrey Allman is a gamer

Glenbard West senior Audrey Allman is a gamer.

Despite injuries, illness, weather or course conditions, Allman somehow manages to achieve solid cross country races, often great ones.

“I think every runner has this experience. Even when I’m not feeling my best, I have the drive to do my best for the team,” Allman said. “Not everything has fallen into place for me, but I’m always able to go on, to focus on everything’s not going to be perfect, especially as a runner, and getting past that and where my mind and my priorities have to be.”  

Allman’s greatest showcase of physical and mental fortitude came when she finished fifth in a personal-best 16 minutes, 50.76 seconds for 3.0 miles at the Class 3A state meet Nov. 6. With a phenomenal kick, Allman moved from 17th at two miles and 13th with 1,000 meters left.

Allman collapsed just before the finish yet willed herself across the line, .087 ahead of sixth.

“Honestly I kind of laugh at it, looking back at the video, seeing how I literally fell,” Allman said. “I focused on having a great kick. Having the 800 (meter) training and being a distance runner, I was able to hold it a bit longer. I’m grateful to have made it to the end.”

Allman returned to school two days earlier battling a cold that plagued her at sectionals.

“I was really living off DayQuil and NyQuil that entire week,” Allman said. “My body definitely reminded me I was still sick (afterwards), but I was able to trick myself long enough.”

Allman previously recovered from stepping on a tree root and aggravating her calf and shin during the Falcon Classic Oct. 2. She returned at the West Suburban Conference Silver Meet Oct. 16 and finished second to Oak Park-River Forest senior Josephine Welin, the 3A state champion.

“The mental toughness (Allman) shows is something to behold. She might look horrible all week, but when the race goes off, she’s right where she needs to be and gives you everything she has,” Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said. “She was really sick at sectionals. She proved that same mind over body at the state meet. Her mind was willing, her body gave out, but she still managed to hang onto fifth.”

Even when Allman finished an all-state 18th as a sophomore, she wasn’t 100 percent. Allman was 158th as a freshman but had just returned from a stress fracture. During the COVID-affected 2020 summer, Allman maintained her high training level with four Glenbard West cross country alumni – four-time state champion Katelynne Hart, four-time all-stater Lindsey Payne, two-time all-stater Katie Hohe and Lauren Pappas.

In track, Allman is the Hilltoppers’ only multiple 800 all-stater, taking fourth in 2019 and sixth in June. Allman now adds to Glenbard West’s rich girls cross country history of at least one top-five, all-stater for the ninth consecutive time.

“I’m happy I was able to place and continue the legacy, but that’s definitely no mistake. That’s definitely how great the Hasses (Paul and girls track head coach Kelly) know how to do things, know how to work with high schoolers,” Allman said.

Allman will continue running at Vanderbilt. When their spring break trip was near Nashville, Tenn., Allman’s parents asked if she wanted to visit, but she declined. Once Allman researched and became interested during the summer, the program was undergoing coaching changes and emails went unanswered. New assistant coach Michael Porter came from Kentucky and already was following Allman.

“It’s just crazy how it all worked out, fell into place,” Allman said. “I knew in my gut right away (visiting) that’s where I want to be.”

Suburban Life Girls cross country All-Area team

* -- 2020 All-Area selection as well

Louisa Diamond, junior, Benet*; Kelsey Casella, senior, Downers Grove South*; Holly Johnson, freshman, Downers Grove South; Sophia McNerney, senior, Downers Grove South*’ Bella Daley, junior, Fenwick; Audrey Allman, senior, Glenbard West*; Sarah Fischer, junior, Hinsdale Central; Catie McCabe, junior, Hinsdale Central*; Erin Milligan, senior, Hinsdale Central; Carly Manchester, senior, IC Catholic Prep*; Catherine Sommerfeld, junior, Lyons Township*; Colette Kinsella, junior, Nazareth*; Annie Macabobby, senior, Wheaton Warrenville South; Nicole Poglitsch, freshman, Wheaton Warrenville South; Bria Bennis, junior, York*; Brooke Berger, junior, York*; Katherine Klimek, sophomore, York*; Maggie Owens, sophomore, York; Michaela Quinn, sophomore, York*; Katelyn Winton, senior, York*.