Scouting DuPage County girls track
Top teams: Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Naperville North, Downers Grove North, Wheaton Warrenville South, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Glenbard West, Glenbard South, Metea Valley.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Lynette Banuelos, jr., sprints, jumps; Maria D'Ugo, sr., sprints; Lauren Kroll, so., sprints; Kim Schonder, sr., sprints, jumps; Benet: Emma Jones, so., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Ali Munson, so., sprints, jumps, pole vault; Rachel Strons, so., middle distance; Downers Grove North: Jaida Green, jr., jumps; Isabel Maletich, fr., jumps; Grace Maletich, jr., middle distance; Emma Moravec, so., sprints, middle distance; Downers Grove South: Shaliyah Dixon-Tucker, jr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Michaela Hackbart, jr., sprints, middle distance; Amanda Thate, sr., distance; Fenton: Val Andrews, sr., hurdles, jumps; Emelia Burris, jr., sprints, jumps; Hailey Stillabower, sr., hurdles, jumps; Hinsdale Central: Alexa Haff, so., distance; Kathryn Sluman, jr., sprints; Anne Zaher, jr., distance; Hinsdale South: Nakiyah Darden, sr., sprints, hurdles; Kailey Hoel, jr., sprints; Sarah Leganski, sr., sprints, middle distance; Glenbard East: Allison Hansen, sr., distance; Angela Kerndl, sr., sprints, hurdles; Glenbard North: Keisha Suggs, jr., sprints; Allison Wahrman, sr., hurdles, jumps; Glenbard South: Caroline Arlasky, sr., distance; Taylor Bivins-Blohm, sr., sprints; Becca Everhart, sr, sprints, hurdles; Kate Rumel, sr., pole vault; Becca Sippel, sr., middle distance; Mercedes Whitaker, so., throws; Glenbard West: Emma Gambol, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Lindsay Graham, jr., middle distance, distance; Kathryn Kenwood, jr;, distance; Lisa Luczak, sr., distance; Mary Nevins, sr., sprints; Julia Sakach, sr., middle distance; IC Catholic Prep: Kierstin King, fr., sprints, jumps; Lake Park: Mani Lock, jr., sprints, jumps; Anne Mou, jr., jumps; Michaela Smith, jr., throws; Danielle Wojciechowski, sr., hurdles, pole vault; Lisle: PJ Bonga, fr., springs, jumps; Edoise Omoike, so., sprints; Kaitlyn Stanley, sr., middle distance, distance; Natalie Takahashi, fr., sprints; Metea Valley: Nicki Cast, so., sprints, middle distance; Holly Julifs, sr., throws; Courtney Morgan, so., throws; Montini: Madeline Jamrozek, sr., sprints, middle distance; Emma Makowski, jr., middle distance; Gi Salzbrunn, jr., hurdles, middle distance, jumps; Jasmine Woodley, sr., throws; Naperville Central: Josilyn Dostal, jr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; D'Jenne Egharevba, jr., sprints; Alissa Gorzak, jr., sprints, jumps; Jada Haynes, jr., sprints, hurdles; Katie Hoffman, sr., middle distance, distance; Rachel Hoffman, sr., middle distance, distance; Naperville North: Elise Chao, so., sprints, jumps; Elly DeTurris, sr., middle distance, distance; Ella Guppy, jr., middle distance, distance; Claire Hamilton, so., distance; Emily Hamilton, sr., distance; Judy Pendergast, jr., middle distance, distance; Neuqua Valley: Olivia Griswold, sr., throws; Tashee Hargrave, jr., sprints; Samara Miller, jr., sprints; Maya Neal, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Katie Sheehan, sr., middle distance; St. Francis: Brianna French, jr., sprints, hurdles; Molly McCarthy, so., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Amanda Peterson, so., sprints, hurdles; Timothy Christian: Hannah Boseman, jr., middle distance, jumps; Olivia Hoekstra, so., sprints; Waubonsie Valley: Dana Dwyer, so., sprints; Brion Hughes, jr., sprints; Cassie Tsagaris, so., distance; West Chicago: Maddie Brontow, fr., middle distance; Cindy Mendez, jr., sprints; Raechel Sweeney, fr., sprints, jumps, pole vault; Ashley Tijernia, jr., sprints; Wheaton Academy: Karyn Best, fr., sprints; Annika Pearson, sr., distance; Lauren Thomas, jr., sprints, jumps; Wheaton North: Sarah Cassel, sr., sprints, jumps; Jessica Klisch, jr., pole vault; Wheaton Warrenville South: Sara Atkins, jr., middle distance; Alex Enright, sr., hurdles, jumps, throws; Heidi Nassos, sr., pole vault; Emma Schroer, so., middle distance; Willowbrook: Stefania Enescu, sr., sprints, hurdles; Shannon Jones, jr., middle distance; Shantel Powell, jr., throws; York: Shante Dansby, sr., sprints; Josephine Jelinek, sr., sprints; Abby Waltz, sr., pole vault.
Scouting report: Naperville North and Glenbard West have captured the last two Class 3A girls cross country championships. As the season turns to spring, the impact of the local distance runners' influence on the track and field landscape is inescapable. "Iron sharpens iron," said Mike Newman, editor of the authoritative website dystatil.com. "The distance teams in DuPage County are unbelievable. There is so much competition. When you compete against teams like that every week, you're only going to get better."
Glenbard West junior Lindsay Graham is the reigning individual state champion in cross country. The junior never tasted defeat last spring in the 3,200-meter run during the regular season. But teammate Madeline Perez, who captured the triple crown of distance racing - state cross, the 1,600 and 3,200 runs in track - the year before defended her title at Charleston in only her second race of the season at the distance. Graham had to settle for runner-up as the Hilltoppers became the first team in state history to sweep the longest race in track and field. "For Lindsay it's just instinct to get back out there again," Glenbard West coach Kelly Hass said. Last weekend at the West Suburban Silver indoor championship, Graham was on another level. The junior ran the third-fastest time in the nation at 3,200 meters at a shade under 10 minutes, 31 seconds. "A lot of people are speculating on what (Graham) can do this spring," Hass said. "I don't think I can put a cap on her." The Graham performance certainly attracted much attention from local coaches. "Ten years ago that kind of time (at 3,200 meters indoors) was unheard of," Benet coach Scott Brooks said. "It's not unheard of anymore. It didn't surprise me." Graham will almost certainly attempt to duplicate the feat of Perez - a freshman at Georgetown - from two years ago. "Absolutely, she will attempt the (1,600-3,200) double," Hass said. According to Newman, Graham is ranked in the top 10 nationally at 1,600 meters. The Hilltoppers could have yet another devastating 1-2 punch in the distance events if senior Luczak can overcome the same type of nagging injuries that derailed Perez for virtually the entire outdoor season last spring.
Conference rival Hinsdale Central also has a formidable distance duo in Zaher and Haff. The former is the defending state champion at 1,600 meters; the latter was sixth in the 3,200.
The seven members of the Naperville North state-champion cross country team - DeTurris, Pendergast, the Hamilton sisters, Sarah Schmitt, Natalie Dunnett and Jenny Gibson - are all out for track. The Huskies' combination of depth and interchangeability is hard to fathom. The Huskies swept every distance between 800 and 3,200 meters at the DuPage Valley Conference indoor championship in placing runner-up to Naperville Central last week. "We already have four kids under state-qualifying time in the 2-mile and three in the mile," said Dan Iverson, the Huskies' distance coach. "That's not counting Elly DeTurris, who has had health issues." The central issue for Iverson and head coach Joanna Wilson will be targeting specific events for his double-digit deep group of distance runners. "Trying to get them all to grow at the various meets is going to be a challenge," said Iverson, the Huskies' acclaimed cross country coach. "It's a nice problem to have." There is a degree of envy among local coaches when it comes to the Huskies' extraordinary collection of talent at the longer distances. "I would like to have that problem as a coach," Brooks said of the Naperville North coaches' decisions on whom to select for each race. Brooks, also the Redwings' cross coach, said the quality of distance running in the area may be unprecedented. "I think this might be the best I have ever seen," Brooks said. A brief survey of track and field coaches who also coach cross country reveals similar opinions on the dynamics of the rich history of distance running in the area. "I really believe the reason is two-fold," St. Francis' Scott Nelson said. "No. 1, the quality of coaching is amazing. The second reason is it's a working-person sport. Runners have that old-fashioned work ethic. There are no timeouts on the track." Downers North distance coach Tim McDonald has had multiple 3,200 relay all-state contingents in the last decade. "You have a lot of good people (coaching in the area) who really care about the sport," he said.
It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Neal could be for Neuqua Valley what Emma Spagnola was for West Aurora last spring. The latter almost single-handedly earned West Aurora state runner-up status. Neal was third in the pentathlon at a national competition two weekends ago and will be among the top competitors in the three events Spagnola dominated at state last year: the 100 and 300 hurdles as well as the long jump. Naperville Central is another program to watch after its sprinters and hurdlers dominated the DVC indoor championship en route to their first title in 13 years. "You need sprinters and jumpers to win in track and field," Naperville Central coach Mike Stine once famously said. The Redhawks' coach has both in abundance this spring.
Metea Valley tied for fifth last spring to earn the high state finish of any program in school history. Morgan and Julifs scored all of the Mustangs' points as the former won the shot put and edged out her teammate for second in the discus. "They're both very good technicians," said Metea Valley coach Jim Braun, who also oversees the throwers. "They are very quick across the ring. We are looking to vie for a discus state championship."
Downers South junior Hackbarth is the reigning state runner-up at 800 meters. The Mustangs will be prohibitive favorites to capture the West Suburban Gold after winning a 35th consecutive indoor crown last week. The DuPage Valley Conference should be a barn-burner between the two Napervilles and WW South. "They're two great teams," WW South coach Rob Harvey said of his two rivals. "I hope we can narrow (the margin) for outdoors. We're always a better outdoor program than we are indoors."
In Class 2A, Glenbard South and Montini are the two programs to watch. Montini has been state runner-up in the 3,200 relay the last three years. Salzbrunn is the heart of the program as the junior was not only on the relay but also all-state in the long jump and 300 hurdles. "(Salzbrunn) is better than she was last year," said Montini coach Pete Connolly. "I would imagine she will be one of the top girls in the state. We have a lot of state-scoring potential."
Lisle sophomore Omoike anchors the Class 1A aspirations in the area. "We're hoping she can make it in the (finals of) the one, two and four this year," Lisle coach Kristin Mullin said of her two-event sprint all-stater last spring.
Key dates: April 11, Downers Grove South Invitational; April 11, St. Charles North Invitational; April 11, Lincoln-Way Central Invitational; April 17, Downers Grove North Ritter Invitational; April 17, Wheaton North Blue and Gold Falcon Invitational; April 17, Naperville North Gus Scott Invitational; April 24, Lockport Invitational; April 24, Glenbard East Ram Invitational; April 25, Glenbard West Sue Pariseau Invitational; May 7-9, conference championships.
Marks in parentheses are 2015 fully automated state-qualifying standards for Class 1A, 2A and 3A, respectively.
*** - 2014 Class 3A state qualifier
100 meters (13.04; 12.74; 12.54)
*** Mani Lock (Lake Park, jr.) 12.18
200 meters (27.04; 26.64; 25.94)
Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley, sr.) 25.43
400 meters (1:02.04; 59.90; 59.44)
*** Michaela Hackbarth (Downers Grove South, jr.) 58.71
800 meters (2:26.64; 2:23.34; 2:19.74)
(2nd-3A) Michaela Hackbarth (Downers South, jr.) 2:13.00
1,600 meters (5:35.14; 5:25.24; 5:14.24)
(1st-3A) Anne Zaher (Hinsdale Central, jr.) 4:58.50
3200 meters (12:12.24; 11:40.04; 11:16.04)
(2nd-3A) Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West, jr.) 10:36.83
100 high hurdles (16.64; 15.94; 15.34)
Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley, sr.) 15.13
300 low hurdles (49.04; 47.84; 46.94)
*** Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley, sr.) 45.67
400 relay (51.94; 50.84; 49.44)
*** Naperville Central 48.78
800 relay (1:50.34; 1:48.04; 1:45.74)
(7th-3A) Waubonsie Valley 1:42.24
1,600 relay (4:14.34; 4:10.04; 4:04.24)
*** Glenbard West 3:58.16
3,200 relay (10:22.24; 9:58.04; 9:38.24)
(4th-3A) Downers Grove North 9:14.16
Pole vault (9-3; 9-9; 10-6)
*** Danielle Wojciechowski (Lake Park, sr.) 12-1
High jump (5-2; 5-2; 5-3)
Mani Lock (Lake Park, jr.) 5-7
*** Kenna Lonergan (Neuqua Valley, jr.) 5-7
Long jump (16-4; 16-11; 17-6)
(4th-3A) Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley, sr.) 18-7¼
Triple jump (33-8; 34-8; 35-8)
*** Allison Wahrman (Glenbard North, jr.) 36-9¼
Shot put (35-6; 37-0; 37-8)
(1st-3A) Courtney Morgan (Metea Valley, so.) 45-3½
Discus (108-0; 112-3; 117-6)
(3rd-3A) Holly Julifs (Metea Valley, sr.) 154-0