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Girls track: Neuqua Valley gets a little help from a friend

Nicki Cast suddenly had plenty of supporters from Neuqua Valley.

The final event of the DuPage Valley Conference girls track and field championship, the 1,600-meter relay, had long been conceded to Neuqua Valley after 100 sprint champion Tashee Hargrave gave the Wildcats a commanding lead on the first leg.

But Neuqua Valley did not control its destiny for the team title; Naperville North had a 3-point lead entering the last race.

Cast, a Metea Valley junior, passed Naperville North anchor Jenny Gibson in the waning meters to secure the Wildcats' 110-109 victory over the Huskies on Thursday night at Wheaton Warrenville South.

"We knew we had a strong (relay) team out there, but we needed some help to finish it off," Neuqua Valley coach Gretchen Parejko said.

WW South and Lake Park tied for third with 63 points; Metea Valley, Naperville Central, Glenbard North, Waubonsie Valley and Wheaton North rounded out the field.

The Wildcats' Purdue-bound Samara Miller had a magical night to power the Neuqua Valley victory.

The senior began her evening by winning the 800 run in 2 minutes, 16.9 seconds; Miller and Hargrave swept the 400 two events later.

Miller completed a historic sweep by denying Naperville North 300 hurdles champion Halle Bieber in the 200.

"I just started picking up the 800," said Miller, who won the two dashes in 25.5 and 56.3 seconds. "This is only my fourth time running it. It's a good race for me between the four and the two. I still have that nice kick at the end."

"(Miller) is an outstanding student of her sport," Parejko said.

Neuqua Valley picked up its other win from high-jumper Kenna Lonergan.

Naperville North was without the services of defending Class 3A 3,200 state champion Judy Pendergast, author of the fastest time in the nation this year at the distance.

"We're being safe with (a foot injury)," Pendergast said.

But Claire Hamilton also has a state-championship pedigree for the Huskies.

The junior ran a brilliant anchor leg as the only competitor of three returning members of the Huskies' 3,200 state-championship quartet.

Hamilton came back to win the metric mile in state-qualifying time.

"We're a really deep team, so we weren't really worried about Judy being out," Hamilton said. "It was another chance to run really well."

Former state champion Courtney Morgan swept the two throwing events for Metea Valley.

The junior denied conference record-holder Michaela Smith with her 146-foot-2-inch discus effort; Morgan then added the shot put over the Lake Park senior with a throw of 44-2½.

"I like this conference," Morgan said. "The competition is really good."

Naperville Central senior Alissa Gorzak upset defending champion and record-breaking Glenbard North senior Allison Wahrman in the long jump.

"I thought it was realistic," Gorzak said.

Iowa recruit Wahrman defended her title in the triple jump.

  Ryan Baltrus of Naperville Central took part in the discus throw during the DuPage Valley Conference girls track meet Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Isabella Hennage of Wheaton Warrenville South comes down the home stretch during the 4x100 during the DuPage Valley Conference girls track meet Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Mikenna Robinson of Neuqa Valley,left, and Gabby Champion of Naperville North vie for position in the 4x800 during the DuPage Valley Conference girls track meet Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Hannah McDaniel of Naperville North flys through the air at the DuPage Valley Conference girls track meet Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Lauren Kainrath of Naperville Central flys through the air during the long jump at the DuPage Valley Conference girls track meet Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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