Girls track and field: Glenbard West's Payne follows the right footsteps
CHARLESTON - Lindsey Payne continued Glenbard West's tradition in the 3,200-meter run Saturday at the Class 3A girls track and field finals at Eastern Illinois University.
With Naperville North defending state champion Judy Pendergast out with an injury, Payne took the lead for good with 700-plus meters to go and never looked back in winning in 10 minutes, 35.4 seconds.
"I am super blessed," said Payne, who played soccer last year as a freshman. "I have never done track before, so that was a great way to end my first year in track."
Two years ago, the Hilltoppers' Madeline Perez and Lindsay Graham became the first athletes from the same school to sweep the 3,200-meter run.
The Hilltoppers were awarded the first combined team state championship when underclassmen Ahalya Lettenberger and Daniela Polencheck combined for three wheelchair race titles.
"We're the first to do that," said Payne, who also scored in the 1,600 run.
Michaela Hackbarth continued another local penchant by employing a devastating kick over the final 200 meters to defend her 800-meter state championship with ease.
The Missouri-bound Downers Grove South senior won the event for the 10th time by an area athlete since 2001.
"I just knew with my training I could take it in to get another state title," said Hackbarth, who won in 2:09.11. "(Breaking 2:10) was the No. 1 goal aside from winning. It set me up great for college."
The 3,200 relay is yet another event with an indomitable local pedigree.
Hinsdale Central distance aces Annie Zaher and Reilly Revold, second and third, respectively, in the 1,600 run, powered the Red Devils' 9:04.27 championship effort.
"We really work together well," Zaher said of teammates Revold, Grace McCabe and Kayla Bryne.
Glenbard West was fourth in the event behind Grace Rogers, Kathryn Kenwood, Katie Hohe and Janine Nabolz.
Downers Grove South finished a mere point away from forging a three-way tie for third with Hinsdale Central and Oswego East (30 points each).
The Mustangs' Shaliyah Dixon-Tucker was runner-up in the 100 hurdles and fourth in the 100 dash.
Lincoln-Way East (83 points) won its third straight team title in dominant fashion.
Naperville Central coach Mike Stine did not even know if star sprinter D'Jenne Egharevba would be available for the state series.
"Well, I'm here," Egharevba said after anchoring the Redhawks' 400-meter relay to a program-best third place.
The Illinois State recruit was also sixth and eighth in the two dashes.
"We were seeded pretty low (in the relay)," Egharevba said. "In the end we got third. It was pretty unexpected."
Addison Trail junior Lauren Kroll made history for the Blazers' program by also crafting the first running all-state performances the program has witnessed in the 100 and 200.
Neuqua Valley senior Tashee Hargraves, bound for Iowa, took fourth in the 400. Naperville North freshman Halle Bieber placed fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Former relay state-champion members Emma Makowski and Gianna Salzbrunn finished at Montini with a runner-up performance and fourth-place result in the 800 and 300 hurdles in Class 2A.
"It's my senior year, go out there, live in the moment and have fun," Makowski said.
"It was a really emotional race," the multiple all-state veteran Salzbrunn said. "I came in as a scared little freshman and now I'm one of the best in the state."