Marengo girls track and field coach Brian Tveter suggested a bold strategy last year with his distance star Katie Adams.

If Adams held back in the 3,200 meters at the Class 2A Vernon Hills Sectional Meet, she could qualify, but run in the slower heat at the state meet. That would have given Adams an additional two hours of rest to come back and try to double in the 1,600 meters.

Adams likely would not have had another runner pushing her in the slow heat, but Tveter figured she still could run a winning time just on her pace.