Spagnola leads West Aurora to DVC crown
Emma Spagnola authored the final pages to the most prolific individual career in the history of girls track and field in the DuPage Valley Conference.
In the process the Minnesota-bound superstar propelled West Aurora to its third conference championship - in its last attempt - in the last six years Thursday night in Aurora.
Spagnola became an individual quadruple-winner for the third time in the league, claiming varsity sweeps in the long jump and two hurdles events.
With her victory in the 100-meter dash moments after her win in the 100 hurdles, Spagnola ended her West Aurora track days with 15 individual gold medals.
Naperville North senior Stephanie Mueller will go down in history as the only DVC athlete to defeat Spagnola - in the high jump last year.
Maya Marion swept the two throws, and Tamia Rayford had the shock of the meet with her victory over Glenbard North senior Simone Carr - the three-time defending champion at 400 meters.
With its equally improbable win in the 400 relay, West Aurora amassed 124 points to turn back two-time defending champion Wheaton Warrenville South by 19 points.
Naperville North, Naperville Central, Glenbard North, Lake Park, Wheaton North and Glenbard East rounded out the field.
The defending Class 3A state champion settled for her shortest distance of the outdoor season - almost 18 feet - before winning the 100 hurdles and 100 dash in respective times of 14.72 and 12.48 seconds.
Spagnola and Central Michigan-bound teammate Kayla Walton essentially clinched the championship for the Blackhawks with their sweep of the 300 hurdles.
"The 1-2 punches that they have are spectacular," WW South coach Rob Harvey said of West Aurora.
WW South tried to counter the Blackhawks' seven championships with double-scoring, but the gap was simply too wide at the end.
"That's the best lineup we have," Harvey said.
Erin Zappia broke the 29-year-standing conference record in the high jump; the Tigers' senior complemented her indoor league title with another.
In turning back star Lake Park sophomore Mani Lock, Zappia cleared 5-7.
The Tigers' foursome of Elona Snitko, Alex Enright, Sabine Fahey and Emma Dalan captured the 1,600 relay.
Naperville North and Naperville Central had some prime-time battles in the longer races.
Maria McDaniel and Elly DeTurris began their night for Naperville North with participation on the victorious 3,200 relay.
The former later held off DeTurris' determined final 400 meters to give the Huskies a sweep of the open 1,600 run.
"We were running on adrenaline," said McDaniel, who was timed in 5:10.7 to DeTurris' 5:11.12.
"We run together every day in practice."
"It's the best feeling in the world when you have a teammate to push you the entire way," DeTurris said.
Claire Hamilton added the 3,200 run for another Naperville North distance win.
Jenny Gibson denied Redhawk siblings Rachel and Nikki Hoffman to chalk up a third victory for the Huskies at 800 meters.
Naperville Central sprint-relay all-staters D'Jenne Egharevba, Lauren Erickson and Mary Beth Blank won the 800 relay.
Lock came back to win the 200 dash for Lake Park; the Lancers' Danielle Wojciechowski defended her indoor championship in the pole vault.
Glenbard North sophomore Allison Wahrman won the triple jump.