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Cary-Grove reloads, wins again at BG

Cary-Grove’s girls track team took a major took a major hit from graduation last season, but the Trojans came back swinging at the Buffalo Grove Invite on Saturday.

On a mild but blustery day, the Trojans showed the cupboard isn’t bare by rolling to their second consecutive BG title with 168 points.

Neuqua Valley took second with 112 points, followed by Lake Park (97 points), Fremd (90 points), Lake Zurich (70.5 points), host Buffalo Grove (50 points), Stevenson (42.5 points), and Carmel (13 points).

The new look Trojans showed they will once again be a force. Cary-Grove won six events and went 1-2 in the discus and long jump.

“We still feel the legacy that those seniors left behind,” said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. “This level of success was kind of unexpected, and we’re real happy with where we are at right now.”

One of the new faces is sophomore Morgan Schulz, who last spring participated in soccer. The Trojans sophomore fit right in on Saturday sweeping the 100 dash (11.8) and 200 dash (25.00).

Schulz also combined with junior Faith Furio, freshman Nicole Robins and junior Lauren Schoepke to take first in the 800 relay (1:47.6).

“It’s fun so far and I’m catching on really quick,” said Schulz. “Last year’s seniors really left a great tradition, and we’re just working off that.”

Schoepke, who is also new to track this season, combined with the freshman trio of Robbins, Maggie Cherveny, and Allie Renner to close the meet with a victory in the 1,600 relay (4:21.2).

Cary-Grove also was stellar in the field events with freshman Nicole Freeman (111-02) and sophomore Oliva Roehri (102-2) going 1-2 in the discus, and Roehri adding a second-place finish in the shot put (34-02).

The Trojans kept it going in the jumps with Furio taking first in the long jump (17-06.75) and sophomore Joslyn Nicholson taking second in both the long jump (15-10.5) and triple jump (36-01.5).

“With a lot of the top girls graduating we were a bit worried,” said Furio, who hit a school record in the long jump. “But we have really added a bunch of new talent, and we’ll see how far it takes us.”

Neuqua Valley was missing senior Savannah Carson, one of its top performers, but the Wildcats still showed plenty in winning three events.

Kenna Lonergan (16.10) edged Cary-Grove’s Robbins (16.20) for first in the 100 high hurdles, and Amber Bosma battled a stiff wind in the home stretch to take first in the 400 (1:05.4) for the Wildcats.

Olivia Griswold added a first for Neuqua Valley in the shot put (35-06).

Tyshai Freeman (5-5) and Mani Lock (5-4) went 1-2 in the high jump to give Lake Park a lift. Freeman then came back to take first in the triple jump (36-11).

“I think I have become much more consistent this season in the high jump,” said Freeman, who tied for fifth in Class 3A last season. “And I’m also improving in the triple jump.”

Senior Kaylee Flanagan, who won the Class 3A state title in the 3,200 last year, switched gears on Saturday in taking first for the Lancers in the 800 (2:23.9). She also was part of the third-place 3,200 relay team.

Lake Park showed plenty of depth in the distance with senior Brianne Murphy (11:17.9) and senior Sam Montalbano (11:49.2) going 1-2 in the 3,200.

Ayako Higuchi ignited Fremd to its first place in the 3,200 relay (10:17.40). Higuchi then came back to take third in the 1,600 (5:25.10).

Senior Leah Ferguson took third for the Vikings in the 100 dash (12.0), Megan Moroney added a third in the 3,200 (12.18.9), Beckie Lutka added a third in the 300 low hurdles (51.40) and senior Anna Johnson took third in the high jump (5-2).

“We have pieces in every event,” said Fremd coach Hali Yoshimura. “We’re working hard and it’s coming together.”

Junior Amanda Papke gave Lake Zurich a lift by taking first in the 300 low hurdles (50.80). Senior Lindsey Moritz also added some punch by taking second in the 400 (1:06.3) and combining with freshman Isabella Murin, junior Shelby Peshek and senior Teagan Hough for first place in the 400 relay (52.0).

Freshman Kaitly Ko led from wire-to-wire in taking first in the 1,600 (5:16.8) for host Buffalo Grove. The Bison freshman also took second in the 800 (2:27.9).

“I wanted to set the tone,” said Ko of her 1,600 victory. “I felt a bit of pressure on the third lap, but I was able extend my lead in the final lap.”

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