Haggerty churns ahead for Grayslake Central

Claire Haggerty, a swimmer who sprints around a track in the spring, surely wouldn’t swim laps outside Thursday.

She ran laps outside, though.

She sprinted into a northeast wind that howled, as temperatures plummeted into the lower 40s.

“It’s freezing,” said Haggerty, quickly bundling herself in warm warm-ups. “It’s one of the coldest nights ever.”

The Grayslake Central sophomore ran inspired, as if the conditions were ideal.

While Warren ultimately chilled everyone, producing seven first-place efforts in winning Grayslake Central’s track and field invitational with 132 points to easily outdistance runner-up Stevenson (114), Haggerty showed her speed isn’t limited to a pool.

A state swim qualifier in the 50-yard freestyle last fall, she started the finals by anchoring Grayslake Central’s victorious 3,200-meter relay and ended her night by winning her only other race, the 1,600 run.

“I just wanted to go after it and get it,” Haggerty said of her 1,600. “I got out fast and wanted to hold it.”

Haggerty (5:23.92) finished well ahead of runner-up and fellow soph Meg Tully (5:34.67) of Warren, raising her arms triumphantly after crossing the finish line.

Her pure excitement was understandable. Hannah Hobson, Elsie Rehberg and Mia Gomez joined her on the 3,200 relay (10:01.37). Grayslake Central (86 points) placed third in the eight-team field.

“Earlier today and yesterday, my dad and I were texting back and forth, ‘Should I run? Should I not run?’ because I have shin splints,” Haggerty said. “I was really worried that I wasn’t going to run today. I was glad I ran with no pain.”

Mundelein’s Megan Geldernick endured pain but also gained, displaying more than speed in winning both hurdles races. Her resiliency was equally impressive.

The knee-high-sock-wearing senior sped to a 15.96 in the 100 high hurdles and later clocked a 49.29 in the 300s. Geldernick also pulled a double, just as she did at Grant last week, as after winning the 100 hurdles, she quickly changed into her sprinting cleats and hustled to the opposite end of the track to run the 100 final.

She settled for second (13.22) to Stevenson’s Christina Pritchett (13.12).

Geldernick came up lame after the 100 dash, explaining she sprained the bottom of her left foot. Despite the cold air, she iced.

“It just hurts a little bit, but I’m fine,” Geldernick said.

Her dad wasn’t convinced initially. He sought out his daughter to check on her health.

“We’re OK, Dad. We’re fine, Dad,” Geldernick assured.

“Scared me,” Scott Geldernick said.Carmel took no chances with star Megan Paul. The junior won the 100 and 200 prelims but was scratched from those finals as well as the 400 final because of what coach Lisa Halford thought was an achy quadriceps.#147;She#146;s not injured,#148; Halford said. #147;She#146;s just feeling tightness.#148;Warren#146;s run of first-place finishes started with Tully, who cruised to victory in the 3,200 (11:57.99).#147;It#146;s definitely cold,#148; Tully said. #147;The 200 (on the east side of the track) is so bad.#148;Her strategy to combat the conditions?#147;I try to push the first and last 800, and just try to hold it steady for that middle mile,#148; Tully said.#147;I#146;m still working on that middle mile,#148; she added, smiling.The meet ended with Warren sophomore Savanah Shrake anchoring the winning 3,200 relay (4:19.98). She was joined by seniors Caroline Szostak and Gabby Nystrom and freshman Greta Doden. The Blue Devils#146; other firsts came from Shrake in the 400 (1:04.35), Nystrom in the 800 (2:26.46), Alyssa Phillips in the high jump (5 feet 2) and long jump (16-1frac12;, tie with Highland Park#146;s Elena Zifkin), and Amber Cook in the triple jump (36-3).Besides the 100, Stevenson#146;s Pritchett also raced to first in the 200 (27.43), edging Carmel#146;s MaryBeth Berg (27.77). Geldernick (28.06) was third.Stevenson had another double-winner in Rachel Redmond, as the senior claimed both the shot put (36-10) and discus (113-9). The Patriots#146; 800 relay clocked a winning 1:52.13.Grayslake Central#146;s Alexa Cabaltera won the pole vault (7-6). Mundelein#146;s Alina Shumov and Grayslake Central#146;s Hannah Ososaki also cleared 7-6.