Hoffman Estates' Aguirre striding toward West Alabama

Last season, Hoffman Estates' Alondra Aguirre answered a late-season call in helping the Hawks' 3,200-meter relay squad reach the finals at the Class 3A state meet in girls track.

This season, Aguirre answered a call of a different kind.

In late April Aguirre signed a scholarship to run cross country and track at West Alabama in Livingston, Ala.

"It felt like a good time to explore my options," said Aguirre of her interest in WVA. "I just felt really comfortable with the program."

The Hawks senior has been a key member of the Hoffman Estates cross country and track team for four years and will be studying special education at WVA.

"She entered Hoffman Estates as an established runner, but had a lot to learn," said Hoffman Estates coach Kirk Macnider. "She has had her ups and downs, but she has battled back. She's a champion and one of the toughest kids I've had."

A big turning point for Aguirre was at the 2014 Metea Valley sectional, she led off the 3,200 relay with a 2:21 leg, helping propel the Hawks to a first-place finish. It didn't stop there as she was instrumental in helping Hoffman Estates set a school record in the Class 3A preliminaries (9:23.68) and a berth in Saturday's finals, where the Hawks finished in 11th place.

"It started at sectionals, she brought it all the way home and we fed off that energy," added Macnider.

"It was a big race," said Aguirre of her breakthrough sectional race. "It was emotional time because everything was starting to work out - it was our big shot."

Aguirre kept it going this school year, capping her cross country season with 57th place finish in Class 3A with a career-best time of 17:52.

This track season Aguirre ran the fourth-best Hoffman Estates time in the 3,200 (10:52), and the 10th-best time in the 1,600 (5:14).

"Physically she is an incredible athlete," said Macnider of his team captain. "She has been fully committed and I think she will be very successful at the next level."

And on Friday, Aguirre once again helped the Hawks qualify its 3,200 relay team for the fourth straight year with a third place finish at the St. Charles North sectional in a season-best 9:32.40.

"It has been so different from last year," said Aguirre of her big senior season. "I started believing in myself and I knew I could do it. I've been really motivated."

She is hoping to use that motivation at the Class 3A state meet at Eastern Illinois this weekend answering the call one more time.