Posted: April 13, 2010 |(1) Comments

Whitefish Bay distance coach Mike Miller just laughed when I asked him whether or not we had the "stone-cold killer" back after senior Megan Palmer easily dissected and disassembled quality fields in both the 1,600 and 800 meters at the North Shore Conference Indoor on March 31.

But then he straightened his face and said with great anticipation and hope: "It appears so."

And that is decidedly bad news to the young women of the North Shore who make up one of the deepest distance running contingents in the state so far this season.

For it does appear that Palmer has the form back that won her the 2008 state 800 meter track title, a condition people haven't seen from her in awhile.

Her freshman and sophomore years, Palmer was devastating in both cross country and track. With her inscrutable face betraying no effort, she made herself a star.

But an uneven 2008 cross country season (despite the fact that the Blue Dukes won the state title) was followed by a 2009 spring of mono and pneumonia. She made a heroic effort in the regional and sectional to qualify for state in the 800 but couldn't come close to defending her title.

She got better over the summer and had a solid if unspectacular year in cross country as the Blue Dukes finished second at state.

But now the sense of urgency is upon her. She signed on early at Brown University where she intends to run track and cross country, but she wants to make a few bold statements yet while still in high school.

"I've always liked the team concept of cross country but I've always loved the pure racing aspect of track," Palmer said. "I love it as much as I ever did. My confidence level is good. I'm not sure where it will take me but right now the workouts are going well, and I feel I'm at a good fitness level."

She'll need that in a conference that's just loaded with women's distance talent. On her own team alone, she has defending state 3,200-meter track champion Kenzie Vicker and all-state cross country runner Emma-Lisa Murphy.

Over at Germantown, 2009 state 800 runner-up Liz Wendt leads a powerhouse crew of middle distance runners, who would like to do one better than their state runner-up 3,200 relay finish of last season.

Wendt already has the state's second best time of 2:19.02 in the 800 to her credit while teammate Caitlin Dillon has turned in the sixth-best 1,600 (5:13.57) and Andrea Sielicki has the ninth-best 800 (2:23.37).

But Germantown's 3,200 relay may not even be the best in the conference as a talented team of runners from Homestead lead the state in that event by close to 20 seconds with an astounding 9:41.06.

Homestead distance coach Victor Vilar is playing it cautious, however, saying "We have a lot of work to do yet."

But other distance coaches should have Vilar's problems as Lauren Holtz has already turned in a 2:21 relay split 800 and is fourth on the 1,600 list with a 5:10.75 effort.

Holtz gets plenty of help from the likes of Sarah Miller, who upset Vicker at the North Shore indoor 3,200. Caity Bobber (3,200), Keali Bjork (800) and Kelsey Boyle (3,200) are other Highlanders who appear high up the state honor roll.

Further complicating things is that looking to the state qualifying series, all these runners will be butting heads in the WIAA regionals and sectionals, fighting for berths in La Crosse.

"All these quality people," said Germantown coach Greg Siegert. "I hope the WIAA looks to make some special stipulations (for advancement) because some good people aren't even going to get out of the regional."

But that doesn't bother Palmer, who thrives on the high-octane personal competition that track provides.

"It's a little scary," she said, "but mostly it's just exhilarating. The conference has always been this way in distance. It's good for everybody because it keeps it exciting."

Palmer's bests so far this season are 2:22.93 in the 800 (eighth on the honor roll) and 5:20.13 in the 1,600 (12th). She's not worried about those comparatively low spots as she has always been a racer who has run to the level of her competition.

She's ready for the brisk spring weather and the outdoor season.

"I really feel like this year could be a good one," she said. "I'd like to improve on my best times and set some personal records. … I'm ready to go."