Big finish for Barrington
CHARLESTON - The Barrington girls track team certainly knows how to finish, and that's exactly what the Fillies did Friday.
Barrington slammed the door on Friday's Class 3A girls track and field state meet preliminaries by qualifying for finals in four of the meet's final six events.
Barrington qualified three relays and also advanced two individuals to Saturday's finals at Eastern Illinois O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.
Senior Nina Hodges certainly did her part, advancing with a first-place finish in her heat of the 200 dash (25.13). She also combined with junior Sara Kate Capel, senior Liz Nykaza and sophomore Kelsey McLaurin in helping the Fillies squeak out the final advancing spot in the 800 relay (1:42.23).
Hodges came from behind in the final 25 meters to secure the fourth-fastest preliminary mark in the 200.
"I know what it takes," said Hodges of her final state appearance. "It's my last year and I wanted to make finals - I made it happen in the final 25 meters."
Freshman Julia Piotrowski, senior Stephanie Bergren sophomore Sammie Samaryczew and freshman Jocelyn Long gave the Fillies a huge lift to start the day by advancing in the 3,200 relay (9:22.64) with a season-best mark.
Barrington, which advanced only one individual to finals last season, then was held in check until the dominos started to fall, starting with the 800 relay.
Sophomore Addi Coy kept things rolling by winning her heat with the second-best preliminary mark in the 200 (44.29).
Hodges added to the fun with her finish in the 200, and the Fillies closed the day with the third-best mark and a season-best effort in the 1,600 relay (3:52.64).
Junior Anna Cosio joined Capel, Coy and McLaurin on the 1,600 relay to cap the Fillies' strong finish.
"We did really well today," said Cossio. "We came in with a mindset to go out and perform."
"Last year we didn't make it to final in any event on the track," said Coy. "Today everyone had fire in their eyes. We've been working for this since January. This is where it all counts."
Palatine definitely counted on junior Kelly O'Brien on Friday.
The Pirates junior started her day by combining with senior Kara Burton, junior Sam Lechowicz and senior Megan Beach to give the Pirates the second-best mark in the 3,200 relay (9:16.25).
O'Brien finished her day by qualifying in the 1,600 (4:59.72).
"It's kind of a wake-up call," said O'Brien who finished fourth in her heat of the 1,600. "Tomorrow it's all about who wants it the most."
Palatine's 3,200 relay is in great position to challenge for a state title and they certainly know what is at state.
"We need to trust that everyone is going to run their best race," said Beach. "We need to be focused; it will not be handed to us."
Sophomore Brooke Wilson gave Prospect a big jolt by finishing third in her heat of the 1,600 in an impressive 4:59.71.
Junior Cassidy Selep advanced in the pole vault (11-0) and junior Jess Skudlarek made the cut in the high jump (5-3).
Fremd senior Ayako Higuchi also made quite an impression on Friday. The Vikings senior started her day by combining with senior Katie Escobar, junior Lauren Ciardiello and junior Nora Finegan in advancing the 3,200 relay (9:18.43).
Higuchi took the baton in the 3,200 relay with her team in seventh place but narrowed the gap in her final lap before handing off to Finegan, who closed the race with a flourish.
"It come down to the end a lot of times - I just want to give it our best," said Finegan.
Fremd returned all four of its runners from last year's team that earned a state medal.
"It's our final shot, so it's very exciting," Higuchi said.
Freshman Lauren Kubinski, freshman Maddy Marasco, senior Ali Gutt and senior Erin Falsey combined to advance Schaumburg's 3,200 relay with a season-best time (9:19.32). Gutt made a huge move in the third leg to solidify the Saxons' effort before Falsey sealed the deal.
"It felt really good, especially the final 300 meters," said Gutt. "We haven't qualified for finals in a few years, so it feels really good."
Hoffman Estates Meagan Biddle used a strong finish to qualify in the 1,600 (5:04.82), and Wheeling junior Gloria Wide hit the 10th-best mark to advance in the discus (122-03).