Jacobs' Van Vlierbergen in good position to repeat
CHARLESTON - Jacobs senior Lauren Van Vlierbergen has already earned six state medals combined in cross country and track, the Golden Eagles' senior is looking to add a few more on Saturday at the Class 3A state finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
On a picture perfect spring Friday afternoon at O'Brien Stadium, Van Vlierbergen put herself in good position.
Van Vlierbergen, the defending Class 3A 800 meters champion, eased to a victory in the first heat of the 800 preliminaries hitting a (2:15.87).
She then came back to take second in her preliminary heat of the 1,600 (4:59.49).
"The plan wasn't to kill myself today," said Van Vlierbergen of her somewhat conservative races. "I feel really good and ready for the two races (Saturday)."
As a sophomore Van Vlierbergen hit some pretty impressive numbers in qualifying in the 800 (2:11) and 1,600 (4:55), but then she admitted she had little left in the tank for Saturday finals.
"I pretty much died in the finals," said Van Vlierbergen. "I learned from sophomore year to coast a bit more in the prelims."
That approach worked last year when she took the 800 title and now the senior is hoping to put an exclamation on her career.
And despite all her accomplishments the Michigan-bound senior has not let complacency enter into the picture.
"She's still fighting hard and she's in a much better place this year condition-wise," said Jacobs coach Ryan Lemanski of his star senior. "She'll be ready to go."
Streamwood senior Gabby Juarez also looks like she is ready to go. The Sabre standout took the lead in the final lap to take first in her heat of the 1,600 preliminaries in an impressive (4:58.48).
The Bradley-bound Juarez took seventh in the 3,200 and ninth in the 1,600 last year and has positioned herself well to add medals in both events this year.
"I feel like I'm more stronger and more confident in the 1,600," said Juarez of her improvement. "I just feel like I have better kick this season."
Huntley senior Macy Tramblay and Cary-Grove senior Eva Burk also hit big on Friday in the 100 high hurdles.
Tramblay missed making the finals her first three seasons, but she left no doubt on Friday taking first in the opening preliminary heat to seal her spot in Saturday's finals qualifying in 14.84.
"It's a first and it feels awesome," said Tramblay who used a quick start to solidify her position. "I wanted to leave no doubt and I just focused on my own lane."
Burke also rose to the occasion. The Trojan senior took third in her heat but her time of 14.79 left no doubt.
Evanston senior Remy Amarteifo (14.41) and Lincoln-Way East junior Alexis Pierre-Antoine (14.74) finished 1-2 in the heat and Burk followed their lead.
"I never had people pushing me like that," said Burk, who hit a career best mark. "It's huge and I'm so excited to make finals."
Huntley also had senior Delaney Lyman (11-0) qualify in the pole vault and senior Tess Miller qualify in the triple jump (37-02.25).
Cary-Grove junior Nikki Freeman advanced with the second best mark in the discus (135-07).
Jacobs junior Caleigh Walsh advanced with the 10th best mark in the long jump (17-02.75).
In Class 2A, Hampshire advanced two individuals and one relay to Saturday's finals.
Junior Elizabeth Evans, sophomore Aimee Jarvis, sophomore Marie Mayer, and senior Natalia Sztuk Val Szlukowski combined to lead Hampshire to a spot in the 3,200 relay final 9:45.31.
"I feel like we can still run faster," said Jarvis of her team's performance. "We are all pushing hard and we all want medals."
Hampshire junior Jacqueline Pytel and senior Dallas Krueger both qualified in the high jump clearing 5-02.
"It's exciting that we both get to do it together," said Pytel of the pairs marks. "I felt really strong today and I feel confident for Saturday."