Sophomore Kristabel Doebel-Hickok has been the anchor of the Palisades High girls’ track team all season. By far the Dolphins’ most consistent performer, she had won every race she ran in Western League competition and qualified third at the City Section preliminaries. All signs pointed to a top three finish and a possible trip to the state meet. But in the City Section track and field finals last Thursday at Birmingham High, Doebel-Hickok learned that experience and strategy can be as important as speed and endurance in big races. Against a strong field, Doebel-Hickok ran a strong race and finished fourth in 5:23.42. ‘Kristabel ran a very good, smart race and I’m proud of her,’ Palisades High coach Ron Brumel said. ‘She was just up against older and more seasoned runners. This is the first time she didn’t run her final lap as fast or faster than her first one.’ Defending champion Emmaline Hartel of Birmingham took the lead early in the 1,600-meter race and held off several game challengers on the final lap to repeat as champion in 5:10.62. Hartel also won the two-mile (3,200 meters) event. Doebel-Hickok ran in the middle of the first half of the race, then stepped up her pace in the third lap to move within striking distance of the leaders. She was unable to make a serious threat at Hartel, but finished fourth by a comfortable margin. ‘This was a great learning experience for Kristabel,’ Brumel said. ‘She’ll have an even better shot at winning next year.’ In the field events, sophomore Angela Liberatore cleared 8-0 to finish fifth overall in the pole vault. She cleared the same height to finish first at the Western League finals two weeks ago.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.