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Girls track / Scouting the Mid-Suburban League meet

Girls track / Scouting the Mid-Suburban League meet

When: Friday; field events start at 4:45 p.m., track finals at 5:40 p.m.

Host: Barrington High School

Things to know: Due to weather considerations there will be no preliminaries, with the start time for finals moved up to 5:40 p.m.

Relays: All relays will count for double the points of individual races.

Outlook: Last year's Mid-Suburban League meet was a classic, with Barrington edging Prospect and Palatine by total of 4 points. So will this year offer the same tight finish? Maybe - but the host Fillies look really tough to beat and hold the top seed in nine events. Palatine nipped Barrington for the MSL West division title by 3 points on April 28, but the Fillies came back last Saturday to narrowly defeat the Pirates by 4 points at the Palatine relays. Prospect won the MSL East Division title and will make its presence felt on Friday. Sophomore Addi Coy (400) and senior Nina Hodges (100, 200) hold three of Barrington's top nine seeds and will power a deep and talented Fillies squad. Junior Sarah Kate Capel (300 low hurdles), sophomore Joceyln Long (3,200), senior Jada Jones (long jump) and sophomore Kelsey McLaurin (triple jump) also are top seeds. And don't forget about Barrington's explosive sprint relays, especially the 1,600 relay (3:54.58) in which they hold the second fastest time in Illinois. Palatine could certainly give Barrington a run for its money. It starts with junior Kelly O'Brien, who holds the top Class 3A time in Illinois for the 800 (2:12.22) and 1,600 (4:54.24). Senior Gabby Heidrich (jumps, relays), senior Iginla Basirat (sprints), senior Caitlin Riedy (hurdles) and senior Ashley Proska (sprints) are among the other keys in the Pirates' attack. Palatine will also be looking to make its mark in the relays. The Pirates hold the top time in state in the 3,200 relay (9:20.87) and field strong sprint relays. Junior Maya Mason and junior Cassidy Selep are seeded 1-2 in the 100 high hurdles and will look to give Prospect and early boost. Last year Prospect got a major lift in the field events, and the Knights would love to duplicate that this year with junior Jes Skudlarek (high jump), Selep (pole vault) and Catherine Sherwood (jumps). Hoffman Estates, Fremd, and Wheeling form the chase pack. Junior Meagen Biddle (1,600) and senior Alondra Aguirre (800) are two big pieces of the Hawks attack and will help push Hoffman Estates' 3,200 relay. Senior Ayako Higuchi (1,600), senior Katie Escobar (1,600), and junior Nora Finegan (400) are the keys for Fremd; they will join forces on the 3,200 relay. Senior Haley Dammeier keys Wheeling's attack and will be supported by Alanah Greenberg (shot put) and junior Gloria Wide (discus). Keep an eye on Hersey senior Kelly Hill (pole vault) and senior Venus Jones (discus).

Key races3,200 relay: This will be a dandy of a race to start things off. Palatine has the top time in Illinois, but Fremd (9:25.09), Hoffman Estates (9:26.7), and Schaumburg (9:27.1) are not far behind.

1,600: Last year O'Brien came from behind to nip Prospect's Christina Santiago. This year's race will be missing Santiago, who graduated, but Hoffman Estate's Biddle currently has the fourth fastest time in Class 3A and will challenge O'Brien. Add Fremd's Higuchi and Escobar along with Barrington's Long, Buffalo Grove junior Kaitlyn Ko, Prospect sophomore Brooke Wilson, Rolling Meadows Gaby Sanchez, and Palatine junior Sam Lechowicz and you have a state caliber-field.

1,600 relay: All the sprint relays should be entertaining with Barrington and Palatine going head-to-head. This final relay of the meet shouldn't be close, but any time the Fillies are running their 1,600 relay, it is worth the price of admission.

- Michael Eaken

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