Batavia wins 1st sectional title

The ultimate measuring stick of the depth of any girls track and field sectional championship is the number of at-large qualifiers.

The 1,600-meter run Friday night at the Class 3A St. Charles North meet was a testament in a singular race.

St. Charles East senior Torree Scull, fourth in the state last year, fended off fellow all-stater Gabby Juarez, Streamwood's Bradley-bound star who earlier had dominated the 3,200 run, to win in 5 minutes, 1.41 seconds.

Audrey Ernst (St. Charles North), McKenzie Altmayer (Geneva), Brooke Nusser (Geneva) and Hoffman Estates' Meagan Biddle were in the next wave, clearly under the automatic time to gain inclusion to the state finals next weekend in Charleston.

But then the quintet of Dakota Roman (Batavia), Leana Goldman (Metea Valley), Addie Kelly (Streamwood), Lauren Kubinski (Schaumburg) and Miranda Rae (Batavia) crossed the finish line comfortably within the 5:14.24 time window.

Eleven athletes in all qualified in the event.

"That's a lot of girls," Juarez said.

But it was Batavia who had the brightest of nights in St. Charles.

Hannah Schlaman swept the 100- and 200-meter dashes for the second consecutive year, and freshman sensation Tori Ortiz teamed with the former as well as Audrey Jonke and Catie Ross to give Batavia two more wins in the sprint relays.

The Bulldogs totaled nine individual qualifiers and its three scoring relays gave the team their first sectional title in history with 93 points.

St. Charles East was equally electric behind its four returning state champion members in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays to finish second with 86.5 points.

Geneva edged defending champion and reigning state runner-up West Aurora for third.

Metea Valley was fifth behind its throwing dominance, and St. Charles North junior Hannah Schilb swept the long and triple jumps to power the host North Stars.

South Elgin had a pair of state qualifiers, and Bartlett rounded out the programs with a single nominee in the 200 state finals.

"First time ever in school history that we have won this meet," Batavia coach Justin Allison said. "It's surreal. It hasn't sunk in yet."

Schlaman was indispensable with her four combined wins.

"This is absolutely amazing," said Schalman, who captured the 100 dash in 12.65 before not even being tested in the 200. "This is probably the best day of the entire season. I am so happy and surprised for only being a sophomore."

Ortiz ran a blistering final 400 meters to earn a third trip to the state finals in the 1,600 relay.

"I wanted to help the other girls qualify," Ortiz said.

Courtney Glassman had the Bulldogs' fifth championship in the pole vault.

Scull and Anastasia Honea are returning relay state champions for the Saints' 3,200 unit.

The Liberty University-bound Scull reversed a significant deficit over the last 800 meters to give St. Charles East the win in 9:23.91.

But the open 1,600 was the unquestioned event of the night.

"I didn't feel too great during the race," Scull said. "I was so thankful to be able to do this. When I'm feeling good, I usually have my kick. I didn't want to expend too much energy for the mile (in the relay)."

Senior twins Allison and Elizabeth Chmelik, the two-time 1,600 relay state champions, have the Saints' meet-ending quartet on pace to defend a third possible title.

The sisters' pulsating legs helped St. Charles East to one of the fastest times of the season at 3:54.06.

Geneva will also have ambitions to make the state finals in the event after Foster Ignoffo held off fellow 400 returning all-stater Tamia Rayford (West Aurora) in the open event at 57.99; the junior piloted the Vikings' runner-up 1,600 relay to a sub-four-minute result.

The Vikings also received championship efforts from Kristen Higgins in the high jump, and senior Janie McCloughan in the 300 hurdles.

Higgins' 5-feet-5 effort matched her program record from earlier this season.

West Aurora has had a stranglehold on the 100 hurdles at the sectional the last five years behind former state champions Shanise Andrews and Emma Spagnola.

Andrews' little sister, sophomore Rajiyah, made it six consecutive sectional victories for the Blackhawks at the distance.

"I had some big shoes to fill," Andrews said. "I have come a long way. I didn't even hurdle last year."

Schilb was the only other double-winner Friday night.

The junior eclipsed 38 feet for the first time outside to claim her second triple jump sectional title in three years.

"It's all about experience down there (at state)," Schilb said. "Experience is what's going to help me. I hope to place this year in the triple jump."

Juarez, the Sabres' two-event all-state distance runner in the two longest disciplines last year, had few issues.

"The 2-mile didn't go like I wanted it to," Juarez said. "I thought Biddle would be in there pushing me. I still ran a personal-best in that alone."

"(Biddle) can't run the 2-mile at state if she runs the 4-by-8," Hoffman Estates coach Kirk Macnider said of withdrawing the top seed at the distance. "She is a team player. It was a mutual decision."

Juarez was boxed in the first 400 meters in the mile, only to make one of her signature moves to close the gap on front-runner Ernst.

But, as Streamwood distance coach Dennis Lau explained, Juarez had no answer for Scull down the stretch.

"Scull made a great move," Lau said.

"Five: 04 was exactly what I was looking for," Juarez said of her runner-up time. "I am happy with where I am (heading to state)."

But decisions loom for the Sabres' now program-record-owner in the open 3,200 after her championship time of 10:48.11.

"With (cross country state champion and reigning 3,200 runner-up) Lindsay Graham (of Glenbard West) being out, that really changes things for state," Juarez said.

"She has never run a mile fresh," Lau said of one possibility.

South Elgin Caroline Muller earned a state berth in the high jump by clearing 5-3.

Storm pole vaulter Ann Miikulecky added a second qualifying mark by finishing second in the event.

"It's the first time getting more than one girl (to state)," South Elgin coach Jorie Bartholomew said. "In the entire South Elgin program history, we have only had one qualifier (Jordan Tuit) advance."

"I hope to get 5-5 at state," Muller said. "It's definitely the best way to end a year of school."