Glenbard South edges Rosary for sectional title
Scoring Friday night's Class 2A Glenbard South girls track sectional ahead of time, the Glenbard South coaches predicted a Rosary championship.
Doing the same thing, the Rosary coaches thought Glenbard South would win.
The Rosary coaches were right.
The Raiders scored 123 points to Rosary's 100 to win the team championship in Glen Ellyn. Montini was third with 74 points and St. Francis came next with 70.
“You look at the meet ahead of time and you score it, Rosary had 18 points on us,” Raiders coach Mark Tacchi said. “So you just roll out your lineup and you hope for the best. ... So we weren't anticipating this.”
“Well, we were fourth last year, so that's two places up, so that was good,” Rosary coach Vic Mead said. “We thought maybe there was a chance to win, but actually when we scored it beforehand, Glenbard just has too much strengh in the field events. I had them with a possible 59 points in the field events. That's a lot of points.”
In the pole vault Raiders Melissa Nelson and Ashley Ellis finished first and second, respectively. Samantha Howard won both the discus and the shot put.
Ellis also qualified second in the 100-meter dash, though she doesn't plan to run the event next week to concentrate on pole vault and the 400 relay, which she helped finish first with Talia Benware, Quirstin Snow and Katelyn Hill. Benware finished third in the 100 behind Ellis.
In the pole vault Ellis, a senior, went just 9-6, below her 10-0 best, because of issues in her foot left over from gymnastics season.
“It's a little tough, but we'll be good to go for next week,” Ellis said. “I've been doing gymnastics my whole life, and hence the pole vault. It just kind of works out.”
As usual, sprinter Anna Deufel set the pace for Rosary, winning the 100 and the 200. In the 800 Deufel took the baton a distant third place for the anchor leg, but she kicked past both teams in front of her to give Rosary the win in 1:46.97.
“It's just such a great feeling when you win the (100) and the (200) at sectional,” Deufel said. “That's really exciting. It's a good day.”
Sara Nyaeme won the triple jump for Rosary with a leap of 33-11, and Grace Petry placed second in the high jump.
Rosary also snuck through its 1,600 relay team to close the meet, taking second behind Glenbard South.
“That's a neat relay because Anna's not helping that team through,” Mead said. “Those are average kids who work hard and have gotten their times down. And the 4x8, that's huge, because I don't think we've gotten a 4x8 down ever.”
St. Francis got a first-place finish from Katy Garcia in the high jump, and Kelly McShea coasted to win the 1,600 by an easy 11 seconds. McShea also helped the Spartans' 3,200 relay win in 9:47.96.
“I'm really excited about state,” the Illinois State-bound McShea said. “It's kind of what we've been building for all season.”
IMSA placed sixth with 38 points behind Amber Farrell, who won the 100 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and took second behind Rosary's Deufel in a thrilling 200.
“My times are better than they've been all season,” Farrell said. “It's not the best weather, but at state it's always beautiful, so it'll be good.”
“Last year was really close between us too,” Deufel said of the 200 battle with Farrell. “I knew she was going to be pushing me. I was like, don't slow down, she's right behind you, I know she is.”