Coy, Barrington enjoy a winning effort at Palatine

From start to finish Saturday, Barrington sophomore girls track standout Addi Coy made quite an impression at the 83rd Palatine Relays at Chic Anderson Stadium.

Coy gave the Fillies an early jolt in the opening event, taking first in the 300 low hurdles with a season-best 44.32.

She closed the day by helping the Fillies cement the team title with a state-best time and first-place finish in the 1,600 relay (3:54.58).

In between, Coy helped Barrington to victories in both the frosh/soph 800 medley (1:52.41) and 400 high hurdles shuttle relay (1:07.76).

Coy definitely earned the G.A. McElroy award as the top female athlete in the meet.

"It was definitely worth it," said Coy of her long day. "We were well prepared, and when someone gets a good time we all get hungry."

Coy and a slew of Barrington athletes pulled it all together in helping hold off a hard-charging Palatine squad as the Fillies eked out a 151-147 victory on a picture-perfect spring day.

Coy just missed a school record in the 300 low hurdles. She anchored the 800 medley relay with a crisp 400 (57.0) and then ran the fastest 400 (57.7) in the meet-ending 1,600 relay.

"She's definitely special," said Barrington coach Jody Gitelis of her sophomore standout. "But there were great efforts by all the girls today. If we dropped the ball, there was someone there to pick it up in other events … total team effort."

Palatine had nipped Barrington at the Mid-Suburban League West Division meet on Tuesday, 194-191. The Fillies were able to return the favor on Saturday as the two teams dominated the day by combining to win 16 of the 21 events, including 14 of the 15 events on the track in a neck-and-neck battle.

Fremd (56 points) took third followed by Wheeling (49 points), and Sandburg (48 points) in the 15-team field.

Senior Nina Hodges was instrumental for the Fillies, winning both the 100 (12.71) and 200 (25.99). She also supplied a nifty 400 (58.6) in helping secure a third-place finish in the distance medley.

"Palatine brings out the best in our team," said Hodges, who has made her mark in the sprints this season. "I'm feeling more confident this season and taking things more seriously."

The Fillies definitely showed their depth as sophomore Kelsey Mclaurin, freshman Katie Ketel, freshman Lauren Caffe and sophomore Jocelyn Long won the frosh/soph 1,600 medley (4:15.60).

Caffe then ran a 2:21.6 800 leg in helping the Fillies to a season-best in the 3,200 relay (9:35.07).

But Barrington saved its best race for last. The Fillies already had staked claim to the best 1,600 relay time in the state, having gone 3:55.11 in early April at the Homewood-Flossmoor Invite. But they bettered themselves at Palatine.

Junior Sarah Kate Capel and junior Anna Cossio combined with Coy and Mclaurin in speeding to a state-best mark, putting Barrington among the favorites for a state title in the event.

"We knew what was at stake," said Coy of the meet-ending relay. "But we know each others' strengths and we're comfortable passing the baton. We just go out and attack it."

Palatine gave Barrington all it could handle in matching the Fillies' eight event victories.

Junior Kelly O'Brien took a lead role, winning with a season-best and state-best mark in the 800 (2:12.22). She came back to take first in the 1,600 (5:01.55) and finished her day by anchoring the Pirates to a second-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:03.39).

O'Brien holds the top mark in state for the 1,600 (4:54) and kept the Pirates close to Barrington on Saturday.

"They're not going anywhere, and we're going to see them for the next three weeks," said O'Brien of the rising stakes with Barrington in the postseason. "But it's good to have that competition."

Senior Gabbie Heidrich also did her part for the Pirates. She had the had the third-best mark (16-09.75) in helping Palatine cement a first-place finish in the long jump relay. The Pirates senior (34-08.5) combined with senior Megan Thabuteau (34-10.25) in pushing the Pirates to a win in the triple jump relay

Heidrich also excelled on the track, combining with Basirat Iginla, Tiana Henderson and senior Ashley Proska to lead Palatine to a victory in the 400 relay (48.79). Heidrich also combined with Iginla, Henderson and Thabuteau on a winning 800 relay (1:46.16).

"We wanted to do well as a team today," said Heidrich. "We've been working hard and just want to keep cutting down the time."

Iginla won the 400 (58.84), and Pirates senior Caitlin Riedy put Palatine in great position in the distance medley (12.23.98), with senior Kara Burton and Meagan Beach helping cement the victory.

"Seeing teams compete and battle is fun," said Palatine coach Joe Parks of the two-team contest. "It's back and forth. We have two good teams that are closely matched - it should be fun the rest of the year."

Linda Varela, Anayia Veremis, Hanna Murakami, and Cara Ogilvy combined to give Fremd a big boost in taking second in the 800 relay (1:46.72).

The Vikings' 800 relay was disqualifid at the MSL West Division meet, then lost Bethany Ekwonwa to an injury. But the relay responded on Saturday, with Ogilvy replacing Ekwonwa.

"I think they had something to prove today," said Fremd coach Jeremy Herriges. "They responded today and were able to hit on their hand-offs."

Senior Ally Pagones (5-0) and sophomore Kailyn Bryk (5-0) also responded in the high jump for the Vikings, and junior Nora Finegan had a nice third-place finish in the 800 (2:17.93).

Wheeling concentrated on the field events on Saturday, which paid off.

Senior Alanah Greenberg had the top mark in the shot put (38-11.5), combining with Gloria Wide and Michaela Vasey to give the Wildcats a victory in the shot put relay (107-05.5).

Wide came back to combine with Hannah Dobrowski and Ayana Blair to give Wheeling a first-place finish in the discus relay (309-03). Senior Ashley Talken set a school record (10-0) in taking second individually and leading the Wildcats to second place in the pole vault relay (18-0).

Senior Hailey Dammeier took first in the high jump (5-02), helping Wheeling win the high jump relay, and the Wildcats senior also had an impressive leg in the distance medley.

"All-around, Dammeier is our best athlete," said Wheeling coach Tim Nowicki of his senior standout. "She can cover a lot of events."