Girls track and field: High achievement for Prospect, Wheeling at Lake Park

Wheeling senior discus thrower Gloria Wide finished 11th at last year's Class 3A girls track state meet, two places and fewer than 3 feet from all-state honors.

On Friday, Wide came close to that all-time best of 122-7 in qualifying again at the Lake Park sectional.

"I'm coming in with a completely different mindset. I'm not just excited that I'm going to state. I'm excited to have that chance again," said Wide, who threw 121-10. "I know what to expect and I'm ready for it now."

Several returnees - and some promising newcomers - are headed to the state meet with high hopes after qualifying with top-two sectional finishes or achieving state-qualifying standards at the meet.

Prospect looks stronger than ever after winning its second straight sectional title and qualifying an impressive 14 entries.

Wheeling earned six qualifiers, Hersey four, Elk Grove two and Conant and Rolling Meadows one.

The Knights' massive list included six event champions - senior Brenda Kendziera in the 300 low hurdles and long jump, senior Cassidy Selep in pole vault, senior Maya Mason in the 100 high hurdles, and senior Jes Skudlarek, Mason, sophomore Annie Walsh, freshman Sam Berman in the 400 and 800 relays. Great competition resulted in eight 1,600 qualifiers, seven in the 800 and five in pole vault, high jump, discus and the 3,200.

"We're super excited for state," Skudlarek said. "I know we have a lot of girls going and if we can really pull through to get a placing in state, it would be amazing for the team."

Also advancing were Brooke Wilson in the 3,200 and 1,600, Angela Mason in shot, Skudlarek and Kendziera in high jump, Mason in the 300 hurdles, Selep in the 100 hurdles and Walsh in the 200.

"We've got a lot of seniors, a lot of qualifiers, just a lot of great kids," Prospect coach Pete Wintermute said. "We had a great day. The kids stepped up and didn't let the weather affect them."

Last year, Prospect tied for 23rd. Wilson led the way by taking second in the 3,200 to Naperville North standout Judy Pendergast and sixth in the 1,600. She ran a personal best in the 3,200 Friday by two seconds.

"I felt really good today so I think I'm ready for next week," Wilson said. "Last year, I was the only one that was entered in and went through with the (3,200/1,600) double. This year, there are a whole bunch of girls that are doing it."

Wheeling freshman Alexis Knight won the 400 in 58.84 and then had a 57.6 anchor split to help the 1,600 relay prevail. Also qualifying for the Wildcats were Michaela Vasey in shot, triple jumper Timber Terrell and Yailene Leon in the 800.

"I was so exhausted (after the 400). I was just dying on the inside," Knight said. "I think (the 1,600 relay victory) was way better because you get to go down with a relay team. You get to have friends going down with you."

Hersey qualifiers were Maggie Berigan in shot, Barbara Rydzewski in discus and two distance runners - Hailey Bowes in the 3,200 and Sarah Harden in the 1,600.

Bowes, seeded at 11:26.50, enjoyed a 23-second time drop to break the 11:12.45 state cut. She even beat the lap splits she carefully wrote on her left hand and that goal time of 11:11.

"I didn't think I had that much to sprint in with so that was a surprise," Bowes said. "I kept telling myself that I was going to make it. With all of these amazing athletes, they really helped me run fast."

Elk Grove's Emily Stegmeier qualified again in the 800 and added the 1,600 this season. Conant's Kayla Wartman was the last qualifier from the 800, and Rolling Meadows' Gaby Sanchez advanced in the 1,600.

Stegmeier was edged for the 800 title down the stretch by York freshman Sarah May, but Stegmeier's 2:16.09 was a personal best in her stronger event.

"I didn't see her coming at all until the last 50 meters so she deserved to win that race. I gave it my all in the 800," Stegmeier said. "Then I knew if I could just qualify in the mile it would be something extra. It's nice to have a backup."

- Bill Stone

at Hoffman Estates: Geneva took top honors in the team competition, finishing with 94 points to outdistance Batavia and Cary-Grove, who tied for runner-up position with 74 points.

Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, the Mid-Suburban League's representatives, will be represented at state by multiple qualifiers.

Schaumburg got a victory from its standout 3,200-meter relay, which finished in 9:20.63.

Saxons sophomores Lauren Kubinski and Maddie Marasco also advanced as individuals, in the 1,600 and 800 runs, respectively.

The host Hawks had a champ in the 100 high hurdles, as junior Destinee Jackson won in 15.45. And senior Meagan Biddle will race at state in the 1,600 after finishing second in 5:02.23.