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Geneva ends West Aurora's run

The symmetry for Foster Ignoffo could not have been more striking in the final event of the Kane County girls track and field invitational on Thursday in St. Charles.

The Geneva junior, a returning all-stater in the 400-meter run, raced past St. Charles East anchor Elizabeth Chmelik to complete the Vikings' come-from-behind win.

Chmelik, along with her sister Allison, are returning members of the Saints' two-time defending Class 3A state champions in the event.

Geneva scored 108 points to end the five-year West Aurora run in the county meet. The Blackhawks, fourth with 88 points, are the reigning state runner-up.

St. Charles East, third at state last year, was second with 100 points, four more than Batavia collected.

"To bring home a state trophy is pretty special," Geneva coach Peter Raak said. "To be a year removed, to beat (West Aurora and St. Charles East) is special."

In a rematch of the 400 state finals, West Aurora sophomore Tamiya Rayford edged out Ignoffo by one-hundredth of a second. But Ignoffo came back with a flourish in her next attempt in the distance.

"My adrenaline just (took over)," Ignoffo said. "Going against St. Charles East, the state champions: they're all great athletes. For the last 100 meters I was just trying my best to pass (Chmelik)."

Kaneland was fifth, followed by St. Charles North, Burlington Central, Rosary, South Elgin, Aurora Christian, Streamwood, Aurora Central Catholic, Dundee-Crown, St. Edward, Larkin, Elgin and East Aurora.

McKenzie Altmayer also had her imprints all over the Vikings' second county championship in school history. The junior made up a 50-meter deficit to give Geneva a victory in the 3,200 relay (nine minutes, 40.42 seconds).

But Altmayer saved her best for a sizzling 1,600 showdown with Streamwood returning all-stater Gabbie Juarez.

The Sabres' Bradley-bound star had already dominated the 3,200 run with a 22-second run, but Altmayer passed Juarez. State-ranked Rosary milers Emily Martin and Madison Ronzone were also in hot pursuit.

"Our 4-by-8 killed it earlier today," Altmayer said. "We were slow in the (first) 800 (of the 1,600), and that's when I made my move. I just wanted to hold on."

Altmayer did just that to deny Juarez a second title in 5:05.8.

Kristin Higgins' 5-foot-2 clearance in the high jump gave Geneva its final win.

Batavia sprinter Hannah Schlaman was part of three victories.

The sophomore won the 100 dash in 12.53 seconds and contributed legs on both championship sprint relays.

"The keys (in the relays) were to hit our marks (handoffs) and push through the weather," Schlaman said. "My start (in the 100) needs a little work here or there."

Batavia senior Courtney Glassman won the pole vault with an 11-foot effort.

St. Charles North two-jump state qualifier Hannah Schilb won both, the long and triple jumps with respective distances of 17-1 and 38-7.

West Aurora had three champions as Rajiyah Andrews won her third major title in the 100 hurdles this spring.

SaMya Hunt prevailed in the discus for West Aurora before Rayford nipped Ignoffo in the open 400.

Aurora Central defending Class 2A state champion Karina Liz broke her own meet record in dominating the event (2:11.80).

"I didn't expect to run a 2:11 tonight," Liz said.

Shea Brown captured the lone title for St. Charles East in the shot put.

It was a whirlwind night for Juarez.

The Sabres' two-event returning all-state runner ran 4,000 combined meters in two of the first three events on the track: the 3,200 relay and open variety.

Juarez gave Streamwood the lead on the first leg, but disaster befell the unit when Cassidy Winger and Sam Harding collided on the anchor exchange with the team in the lead.

The relay had to settle for seventh place.

But one race later - the 400-meter relay - Juarez had few issues in demolishing the field in her victorious time of 10:53.38.

"The St. Charles East girl (Hannah Ewald) stayed with me for the first two laps," Juarez said. "It definitely gets lonely (without competition). It was better when I lapped the two girls."

Juarez said her energy level was "a lot better than I thought it would be in the mile."

But the all-stater had to settle for runner-up in 5:05.85.

"I have only done the triple once before," Juarez said of her mentally and physically demanding event sequence. "I'm not disappointed, necessarily (about the 1,600 results)."

"Everything we do for the next two weeks - the 4-by-8, mile and 2-mile - is (geared toward) state," Streamwood distance coach Dennis Lau said.

Two-time Class 2A state qualifier Jasmine Castillo won her specialty event - the 300 hurdles - to claim the only other Elgin-area crown.

"I have been injured for all of indoor season and half of outdoor," Castillo said. "I just wanted to PR so bad, because I have been out for so long."

Castillo did establish a new personal-best with her 46.86 time.

  St. Charles North's Hannah Schilb in the long jump at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Geneva's Paige Korte in the long jump at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Elizabeth Spencer in the long jump at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Elgin's Alana Dawson in the long jump at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  West Aurora's Joslyn Noel in the long jump at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles East's Keeley Flanigan takes the final heat of the 200 meter dash prelims at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Geneva's Molly McQueeny leads the 3,200-meter relay with Streamwood's Gabby Juarez on her heels at the Kane County meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  West Aurora's Kiyanna Rodgers in the 100 meter hurdles at the St. Charles East Kane County track meet Thursday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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