Cary-Grove girls, Huntley boys are McHenry County champs
A major injury during the cross country season.
Didn't matter.
Driving, annoying rain showers.
Didn't matter.
Cary-Grove senior standout Morgan Schulz wasn't going to let adversity bother
her at Friday's McHenry County Track & Field Meet held at Huntley High School.
Schulz started her evening with an impressive win in the 800 meters. Schulz's time of 2:14.93 edged Jacobs standout Lauren Van Vlierbergen, who ran a 2:16:44.
Schulz added the 300-meter hurdles championship in a time of 43.93 to her trophy case.
"I didn't run all winter," said Schulz, who suffered a stress fracture to her sternum. "I did a lot of swimming. I want to look forward not backward. It was a great night
even with the bad weather. Beating Lauren, who is awesome, was great."
Schulz's efforts catapulted the Trojans to a seventh straight county title with 153 points. Huntley was a solid second with 146½ points.
"We had a good meet," said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. "We exceeded our seeds in all but one event. Morgan was being Morgan. She was outstanding. We need to get over some illness and aches and pains. We certainly have some things to iron out."
Nicole Robins (high jump) and Nikki Freeman (discus) started the Trojans on the fast track to the county championship with first place efforts on Thursday.
The Trojans also took top honors in the 800 relay (1:48.50) and 1,600 relay (4:12.59).
Runner-up Huntley got an excellent individual effort from Macy Tramblay, who won the 100 hurdles (14.87) in addition to her win in the triple jump on Thursday.
"I like this meet because I can concentrate on separate events," said Tramblay. "Tonight with the terrible weather I just had to concentrate on the running events."
Freshman Cassidy Lackovic gave the Red Raiders a first place finish in the 100 in a
clocking of 13.00.
The Red Raiders won the 400 relay in 50.40.
Crystal Lake South, with a win from Kianna Clark in the shot put on Thursday,
was third with a score of 89.
Van Vlierbergen bounced back from a disappointing runner-up finish in the 800 to claim the 1,600 in 5:23.39.
"I paced myself in the 1,600 and had a good finish," said Van Vlierbergen. "I just needed to block out the weather."
Jacobs, which was fourth with 89 points, also got a first place finish from Caleigh Walsh in the long jump on Thursday.
Boys: When the Huntley boys track team meets in January before the indoor season one of the goals is to win the McHenry County Meet.
For the fourth straight year, mission accomplished.
The Red Raiders scored 160 points to claim the title. McHenry was second with 125 points.
"One of our major goals is to win the county," said Huntley coach Jim Rolando. "There is so much talent in this county that it is quite an accomplishment to win this meet. Our kids fought through the bad weather."
Connor Boos was one of the top individuals for the Raiders winning the 200 in 22.22.
"I just needed to concentrate and not let the weather bother me," said Boos. "Myself and this team is getting better every meet."
Sean Patel won the triple jump on Thursday.
The Red Raiders claimed first place efforts in the 400 relay (42,51) and 800 relay (
1:30.17).
Cary-Grove behind two first place finishes from hurdler Mike Saxon was third with 93.
The Cary-Grove senior won the 110 hurdles in 14.69 and the 300 hurdles in 39.22.
'It was a good night for me," said Saxon. "I was really hitting the hurdles in stride."
Ricky Hurley added a first place finish in the discus.
The Trojans ended the evening by winning the 1,600 relay in 3:29.79.
Jacobs was fourth with 85 points. Matt Goldby took the 800 in 1:57.49.
"I actually like competing in the rain and bad weather," said Goldby. "It makes me mentally tough."
The Eagles won the 3,200 relay in 8:16.05.
Crystal Lake South, led by Kyle Hedge's win in the shot put, was seventh with a score of 41 points.