EVENT DESCRIPTION

Distance Night in Palatine is a unique fusion of elite distance racing, music, and fun. This year’s event is on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Due to our meet’s growth, we will offer two separate sessions - The Undercard at 5:30 pm and The Main Event at 8:00 pm.

Designed to bring the best high school runners together from throughout Illinois and the Midwest, the event also serves as a charity fundraiser for Special Olympics and the Ray Mills Fund. Amid the distance racing, we also host a Special Olympics 800 meter race. This race allows us to celebrate the true meaning of competition – to run the race to the best of your ability.

We also run the 1 Mile/2 Mile rather than the 1600/3200 meter runs. We will have FAT cameras set up at the 1600 and 3200 marks, though, so athletes can get accurate marks and seed times for both distances.

In the Mile, the top 32 entrants gain entry into The Main Event. Due to this event’s popularity, we will also run two additional sections of boys varsity (64 athletes total) and three additional sections of girls varsity (80 athletes total). For the boys, we also run a freshman Mile (20 athletes).

In the 2 Mile, we will run four heats with the top 32 gaining entry into The Main Event (64 entries total for each gender).

In the 800, we will run four heats with the top 28 entries gaining entry into The Main Event (56 entries total for each gender).

The approximate schedule of events is included below.

LOCATION

The meet is run at Chic Anderson Stadium on the grounds of Palatine High School. Our school is located at 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd., Palatine, IL 60074.

ENTRIES

Review our entry procedures and minimum marks for consideration here.

ENTRY COST

Cost is $35 per individual athlete. Entry fees will be payable via cash or check at the registration area. Checks should be made payable to Palatine High School. Each athlete competing will receive a racing singlet. Sizes will be pre-bought and given out on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Schools who have not paid registration fees from previous years may be denied entry into the meet.

ADMISSION

Admission for spectators is by donation of either $5 or a pair of used running shoes.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

The Undercard will start at 5:30 pm with the following order of events:

  • 5:30 pm Girls Mile - Section 1

  • 5:38 pm Freshman Boys Mile - Section 1

  • 5:45 pm Girls 2 Mile- Section 1

  • 5:59 pm Boys 2 Mile - Section 1

  • 6:11 pm Girls 800 - Section 1

  • 6:16 pm Girls 800 - Section 2

  • 6:21 pm Boys 800 - Section 1

  • 6:25 pm Boys 800 - Section 2

  • 6:29 pm Girls Mile- Section 2

  • 6:37 pm Girls Mile - Section 3

  • 6:45 pm Boys Mile - Section 1

  • 6:52 pm Boys Mile - Section 2

  • 6:59 pm Girls 2 Mile - Section 2

  • 7:13 pm Boys 2 Mile - Section 2

The Main Event will start at 8:00 pm with the following order of events.

  • 8:00 pm National Anthem

  • 8:04 pm Girls 800 - Section 3

  • 8:09 pm Boys 800 - Section 3

  • 8:13 pm Girls 2 Mile -Section 3

  • 8:27 pm Boys 2 Mile - Section 3

  • 8:39 pm Girls Mile - Section 4

  • 8:46 pm Boys Mile - Section 3

  • 8:55 pm Special Olympics 800

  • 9:03 pm Girls 800 - Section 4

  • 9:08 pm Boys 800 - Section 4

  • 9:13 pm Girls 2 Mile - Section 4

  • 9:28 pm Boys 2 Mile - Section 4

  • 9:41 pm Girls Mile - Section 5. We invite the fans out onto the track to line the final straightaway.

  • 9:50 pm Boys Mile - Section 4. We invite the fans out onto the track to line the final straightaway.

EVENT AND RACE CHECK-IN PROCEDURE

All coaches and athletes should check in upon arrival at the field building (located next to the admissions gate) in the northwest corner of the stadium. Coaches can check in and pay registration while athletes will receive their event race jersey and their race bib. These bib numbers will be pinned to their race jersey.

Athletes should check in to the tent at the north end of the track (the end near the tennis courts) fifteen minutes prior to their race. 

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS 800

My brother, Chad Quick, competed in Special Olympics throughout his childhood. As a cerebral palsy kid, he competed in wheelchair races and many other events associated with track and field. His influence led us to make Special Olympics one of the beneficiaries of our event. Our goal is to bring both financial support and awareness to Special Olympics. To that end, we schedule an open race halfway through The Main Event. Around 8:55 pm, I will say a few words and then introduce our Special Olympics athletes. Each of them will receive an event T-shirt and be introduced by name and affiliation prior to the race.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS 800 ENTRY PROCEDURE

Entries for this race will not be processed via Athletic.net. Each entry should be communicated via e-mail to cquick@d211.org and include the participant’s name, age, and affiliation (if any). If school affiliated, we would like the name and location of their school. If associated with an organization (such as NWSRA), I would like that information as well. Race entry for Special Olympic athletes is free.

For the Special Olympics race, parents and/or coaches are free to enter the check-in area if needed for assistance. The check-in time for this race will be 8:25 pm near the main gate and merchandise tables.

CO-ED COSTUME 4 X 400 METER RELAY

Participation in the Co-Ed Costume 4 x 400 Meter Relays is on a “first come, first served” basis. Sign up with a team name and the names of each participating athlete at the Awards tent upon arrival. We will take 16 total teams.

Community Races

We will once again offer Community Races this year. We are offering a Mile run for both middle school boys and girls capped at 40 athletes for each gender (two heats of each). These heats will be seeded based on entry times, and the top 40 entrants for each gender will earn their way into the meet. Entries will be published along with the high school Distance Night entries on Tuesday, April 19. There will be no race day registration for these middle school races.

We will also offer a youth 800 meter run for sixth grade and below and an open 1600 meter run for adults. There is no cap on these races and participants can enroll both online prior to race day via Athletic.net and in person at the Community Race registration area on Saturday, April 23.

All entries will be processed through Athletic.net in a separate meet entitled “Distance Night in Palatine Community Races.” Cost for each athlete entered in the meet is $10 and is due at registration in order to obtain a race bib. Please consult our Entries page for further information about how to sign up.

These races will be run prior to The Undercard as a separate meet on the following time schedule:

  • 4:30 pm Middle School Boys 1 Mile - Heat 1

  • 4:38 pm Middle School Girls 1 Mile - Heat 1

  • 4:47 pm Middle School Boys 1 Mile - Heat 2 (faster section)

  • 4:56 pm Middle School Girls 1 Mile - Heat 2 (faster section)

  • 5:03 pm Youth Boys and Girls 800 meters - Heat 1

  • 5:08 pm Youth Boys and Girls 800 meters - Heat 2

  • 5:13 pm Open Adult 1 Mile

AWARDS

Awards will be given to the top five finishers in each event in both The Undercard and The Main Event. Winners of The Main Event races will receive a special Vinyl Record trophy with the Distance Night logo.

All award winners should report to the Awards tent in the middle of the field to get their awards and be announced to the crowd.

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES

Please direct all specific questions to meet manager Chris Quick at cquick@d211.org. Let me know any special accommodations you or your athlete may need in order to compete. We will do our best to meet those needs and can best do so if we know in advance. Thanks again for agreeing to participate and for being part of this exciting event!