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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

O’Reilly ready for takeoff at State 4A

Megan O’Reilly easily won the 1,600 meters at the Eastern 4A regional track meet in Richland last Saturday afternoon, but that’s when the real race began.

She had an hour to cool down, clean up and get to the airport.

The Mt. Spokane senior was headed to the Bay Area for her boyfriend’s prom.

A late plane caused some panic. Her first thought was she missed her teammates running the regional 800 for nothing, but she gambled on making the connecting flight, which she did despite some amusement from other travelers as she skedaddled through the Portland airport.

That was nothing compared to the race O’Reilly wants to run Friday at the State 4A track meet in Pasco. She plans to take another shot at the record of 10 minutes, 8 seconds in the 3,200. She fell just short at districts two weeks ago, but her 10:14.07 makes her No. 3 all-time in Washington.

“More than any other race the 2-mile is special to me,” O’Reilly said. “My goal is to run in the 10-0s. I don’t know if it will be at state or Golden West (next month). I’m ready.”

O’Reilly won the 3,200 as a freshman and sophomore but was a disappointing third to conclude an injury-plagued junior season.

She has come back with a vengeance, shattering cross country records all fall, setting a national indoor record at 5,000 and kicking off the track season with some blistering 1,600s (including a state-best 4:47.98).

“The mile was for the big picture,” she said. “I knew if I had a fast mile time everything else would come along.”

O’Reilly will go for the distance double with the 1,600 Saturday afternoon.

“I plan on leaving it all on the track for the 2-mile,” she said, “and I’ll gut it out in the mile.”

And, yes, she had a wonderful time at the prom. She first met her date, Ben Sitler, when they were on a recruiting trip to Oregon. Though Sitler, the third-ranked 3,200 runner in the nation, chose Princeton, and O’Reilly, No. 2 nationally, picked Montana, they reconnected at a regional cross country meet and began dating after the national meet.

“We compete to see who has the biggest PRs (personal records) in the 3,200 since we both were hurt as juniors,” O’Reilly said. “I’m winning.”