Young Prepares For Big Race In Charleston

From Pulitzer-Prize winning Woodford County Journal sportswriter Wade Sauder:

CHARLESTON, IL -

Kelsey Young of Eureka High School has qualified for the state finals in the 16 x 800 relay in Charleston this weekend.

The smooth-striding junior will face stiff competition as she runs nearly four miles around the track against a legion of her family members alternating 800-meter shifts.

Family patriarch/coach Duane Freidinger released his lineup to the media on Monday in accordance with IHSA rules.

Young should feel right at home during the first quarter of the race, lining up alongside dad Troy "Man of Steel" Young at the gun. After the baton's passed to 5K specialist Jane Freidinger, exchanges will follow to Peachtree veteran Dona Young and future Freshman of the Year Macie Sauder.

More sneaker jockeys will push Young's second wind in the next leg. Seven-miler aunt Dena McDonald, half-marathoning Darren Freidinger and Joe McDonald, and Chicago marathoner aunt Zina Young will do their best to outsprint her while minimizing calf, hamstring and groin pulls.

If the heart and soul of the Eureka 4 x 800 relay team needs to gain ground, she might find opportunity against the higher-mileage pistons of Roanoke legend Jeff Sauder, Vermeda "Kangaroo" Freidinger, Thad "Gunner" Heffren and great-grandmother Lucille Young.

Record crowds are predicted to cheer on the home stretch, as Young's resolve is matched up against the uber-competitive engines of Hornet Hall-of-Famers Jodie Sauder and Tracy Heffren. All-stater-in-training Lane Young will empty the tanks against his sister to the final handoff, when all-sport Roanoke-Benson Rocket Taylor Sauder will dash to the finish line with all-conference speed.

While Vegas oddsmakers give a slight edge to the family, Young's camp was brazenly optimistic.

"Handoffs are important. She doesn't have to do any," said strategy coach Kristin Smead.

"She's extremely mentally strong right now," said conditioning coach Trish Guinee. "She gets in the zone and blocks out all distractions. While texting, that is. Usually while running too."

"We've done a lot of core exercises, interval training, and tapered her distance the last few weeks," said strength coach Kurt Freidinger. "She's ready to go."

The undercard to the main event will showcase a spirited hybrid contest of freeze tag, wrestling and Beyblade. World's Strongest Man prodigy Tyler Heffren is a favorite to contend against an assortment of siblings and cousins officiated by sister Courtney Heffren, who will make up the rules as they go, and to her advantage.

In the event of rain, Elisabeth Freidinger will attempt to set a world record for most laps run consecutively in increasingly random directions.