Girls track and field: Scouting the Fox Valley
Aurora Central CatholicCoach: Troy Kerber
Last season: Third place in the Metro Suburban West Conference; second place at the Class 2A LaSalle-Peru sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Abby Fioresi, middle distance, distance; Alex Johnston, middle distance, distance; Therese Hein, sprints, middle distance; Amy Brouch, middle distance; Shakira Del Toro, throws; Juniors: Allison Loy, sprints; Lily Dean, sprints; Sophomore: Hannah Doherty, middle distance.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Vivianna Ponce, middle distance, distance; Amanda Bricco, sprints; Paige Lampert, sprints; Ella Englehardt, sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Fioresi is one of the stars on the state horizon in Class 2A in the 800-and 1,600-meter runs. The Xavier University recruit is the top returnee at the longer distance after finishing third a year ago. “(Fioresi) is rounding into shape,” Kerber said. “She is recovering from an Achilles' injury.” The Fox girls track scene is dotted by large public schools, but ACC could make some noise in the middle-tier state series. “We are going to be strong in certain areas,” Kerber said. “We're capable of scoring a lot of points on the track.” Johnston is another Division-I prospect for the Chargers as the Loyola-bound distance runner seeks to augment Fioresi at the state level. Hein and Brouch are the other senior standouts for Aurora Central. “The key for us will be the developments in the field events,” Kerber said.
BartlettCoach: John Glorioso
Last season: Fourth place in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division; 11th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Autumn Chung, jumps; Kristen Leever, sprints; Nicolette Zolecki, sprints, jumps; Olivia Wegener, sprints; Marissa Lynch, middle distance; Juniors: Abby Brinkman, sprints, middle distance; Leah Kern, middle distance, distance.
Top newcomers: Juniors: Jennifer Carbery, sprints, middle distance; Freshmen: Kelli Carlos, sprints; Jenna Hasenstien, sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Glorioso could not be reached for comment, but the Hawks' Chung is going to be the focal point for Bartlett this spring. Leever and Zolecki will be the mainstays of the Hawks' sprint relays. Brinkman should also play a valuable role as another sprinter for Bartlett.
BataviaCoach: Justin Allison
Last season: Second in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; tied for second at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Darby Edmondson, sprints, hurdles, jumps; Hannah Schlaman, sprints; Sam Healy, throws; Brittany Wall, sprints, hurdles, jumps; Maia Haworth, middle distance, distance; Megan Polke, sprints, jumps; Juniors: Tori Ortiz, sprints; MaryGrace Golden, middle distance, distance; Emma Stephens, middle distance, distance; Sophomores: Riley Glavach, jumps.
Top newcomers: Juniors: Symone Houston-Davis, sprints, jumps; Freshmen: Sabrina Schlenker, sprints, hurdles; Kyra Sims, sprints, hurdles; Erin O'Brien, distance.
Outlook: The Bulldogs look for a big spring after turning back perennial power West Aurora to win the Upstate Eight Conference indoor championship. “Our team will be well balanced between veterans and young athletes,” Allison said. Edmondson, Schlaman and Ortiz are not only returning all-state members in the 800 relay, but the unit also recorded the second-fastest time in the state during indoor season. “I think it is my best event,” Ortiz said of the 200-meter dash. “I can't wait to get outdoors.” Schlaman was back-to-back sectional champion at 100 and 200 meters as an underclassman. “(Schlaman) has been the heart of our sprint program,” Allison said. “Our expectations are to get further and further,” Edmondson said of the Bulldogs' returning state-qualifying relays at 400 and 800 meters.
Burlington CentralCoach: Vince Neil
Last season: Big Northern Conference champion; 13th at Class 2A Rochelle sectional
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Megan Safranski, middle distance, distance; Megan Goehrke, sprints, middle distance, distance; Juniors: Chloe Bilyk, sprints, hurdles, middle distance, distance; Lexi Saletta, sprints, middle distance; Sophomores: Ashley Koch, sprints, jumps.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Jenna Dinges, middle distance; Olivia Angvick, sprints, hurdles; Lili Moretti, sprints; Emily Starks, distance; Megan Gasparitis, jumps, pole vault.
Outlook: Safranski, who will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joined Maggie Gannon and Markela Turk as the third athlete in school history to earn all-state honors in both cross-country and track. The 3,200 returning medalist can also run sprints as well as the 800. “I look forward to the outdoor season to spend time with all my great teammates and coaches,” Safranski said. “Once we transition to outdoors, I will be doing the mile-2-mile double.” Bilyk is exceptionally versatile as a sprinter, hurdler and middle distance runner. “I just want to see the team go as far as we can,” Bilyk said. “Ever since freshman year, we have gotten better and better.”
Cary-GroveCoach: Mark Anderson
Last season: Fox Valley Conference champion; tied for second Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Paige Groves, throws; Sarah Caesar, distance; Juniors: Tabor Gleason, sprints, jumps; Cathy Franco, sprints, jumps; Kate Rhode, throws; Paige Schulz, middle distance; Libby Hansen, middle distance; Sophomores: Sam Gaglino, sprints, middle distance; Jenna Walker, sprints.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Allison Dragen, distance; Sophia Galfano, sprints; Jenna Magel, sprints; Lori Begun, sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Cary-Grove graduated the lone Class 3A state champion in the area in thrower Nikki Freeman. Anderson will count on two-event state qualifier Gleason to carry the load for the Trojans in the field this spring. “I am thrilled with the leadership we have got out of (Gleason),” Anderson said. “She is jumping really well and is significantly faster.” Gleason made the state grade in both the high and triple jump. Anderson is particularly excited by bumper crop of ninth-graders. “This is probably the strongest freshmen class we have had in many years,” Anderson said. Caesar and Franco are two C-G athletes to keep an eye on this spring.
Crystal Lake SouthCoach: Matt Dunker
Last season: Fourth in the Fox Valley Conference; eighth at the Class 3A Huntley sectional
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Cailey Ciezadio, sprints; Caitlin Bruzzini, distance; Courtney Wosik, sprints; Juniors: Kayla Ehrenhaft, middle distance; Naomi Daniel, sprints; Maddie Spoden, throws.
Top newcomers: Seniors: Kristen Reich, middle distance; Megan Fata, middle distance; Sophomores: Maggie Stotz, sprints; Freshmen: Jordyn Bigos, sprints; Julia Martin, jumps; Mackenzie Aldridge, distance.
Outlook: The Gators will look to senior leader Ciezadio to carry their fortunes this spring. “She is the school record-holder in the 200 (dash),” Dunker said. Crystal Lake South also has returning state qualifier Bruzzini (the 1,600 run) returning for a final campaign.
Dundee-CrownCoach: Chris Hopkins-Muehl
Last season: 12th in the Fox Valley Conference; 12th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Michelle Batad, distance; Vikki Kolros, sprints; Nat Erbes, sprints; Alyssa Muhvic, throws; Juniors: Tarrah Kamp, throws; Alyssa Smullin, sprints, pole vault; Hailee Michel, hurdles, jumps; Sylvia Waz, distance; Sophomores: Jessica Kolros, distance; Maille Gram, hurdles, jumps.
Top Newcomers: Jenna Berlet, distance; Sophomores: Nyah Tolentino, hurdles, jumps; Shinah Walker, springs; Freshmen: Elise Delihant, jumps; Mary Florance, middle distance; Grace Hammond, sprints.
Outlook: It will definitely be a rebuilding process for Hopkins-Muehl this spring. “We lost 31 seniors to graduation,” Hopkins-Muehl said. “We're kind of back to square one.” The Chargers will look to make small gains at their major invites this spring. “We just want to get better at every meet,” Hopkins-Muehl said. “As a team, we're not going to be very competitive.” Hopkins-Muehl will seek guidance for the younger girls from seniors Batad, Kolros, Erbes and Muhvic. Hopkins-Muehl rates Huntley and Cary-Grove as the teams to beat at outdoor conference this spring.
ElginCoach: Dave Borg
Last season: Seventh in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; tied for 14th at Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Katie Draus, sprints, hurdles; Naya Cisneros, distance; Lilly Woerner, sprints, jumps; Juniors: Gabrielle Pierre Louis, sprints, jumps; Ava Brock, sprints, jumps; Alicia Heydt, jumps; Nicole Levandowski, throws; Sophomores: Kasey Moreno, distance; Yuliana DeAnda, sprints.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Areana Howard, sprints; Nora Padron, middle distance; Maria Marchant, distance; Melinda Levandowski, throws.
Outlook: After finishing last in the conference a year ago and failing to score at the Hoffman Estates sectional, the Maroons will look for improvement this season behind their cadre of returning state athletes. “We would love to be where Batavia is, but it's not in the cards right now,” Borg said. “But we've got some good things going on with our younger kids.” Borg is particularly looking for a program breakthrough this spring. “We haven't had a state qualifier in seven or eight years, and before that it was even longer,” Borg said. The Maroons' coach expects Draus to make a major push in the 1,600 run at the Bartlett sectional in May. “I think Katie is our best shot,” Borg said.
GenevaCoach: Peter Raak
Last season: Upstate Eight Conference River Division champion; Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional champion; tied for eighth at the state meet.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Kristin Higgins, hurdles, jumps; Emma Ehrhardt, middle distance, distance; Angie Kein, sprints, jumps; Mary Grace Neville, distance; Collette Malovany, sprints; Juniors: Georgia Reed, sprints, hurdles; Karen Christy, distance, pole vault; Ebony Trout, hurdles, middle distance; Kayla Wigdahl, sprints; Susan D'Onnofrio, sprints, jumps; Hannah Borodin, throws; Sophia McDonnell, hurdles, distance; Holly Nusser, distance.
Top newcomer: Freshmen: Andrine Larsen, distance.
Outlook: The Vikings achieved a historic achievement last season by duplicating the West Aurora feat of winning Kane County, conference and a sectional. “It was definitely a magical season, with a special group of kids,” Raak said. “It was a treat and a privilege to be a part of it.” Geneva lost distance-point machine McKenzie Altmayer (Syracuse) to graduation, but Higgins and Reed return after all-state performances in the high jump and 300 hurdles, respectively. “My No. 1 goal is to place first at state,” said Higgins, third a year ago. “I am trying to work so that I am peaking for the right time.” “It was really amazing (to place eighth last year),” Reed said. “I couldn't have asked for a better experience.”
HampshireCoach: Scott Fortunato
Last season: 10th in Fox Valley Conference; 12th at the Class 3A Huntley sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Alexandra Brakeall; S. Marie Mayer; Alexis Nguyen; Morgan Richert; Juniors: Sophia Oury, distance; Sophomores: Paige Kern; Giesel Sanchez; Riley Seagren.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Kaylyn Cortez; Hannah Evinger; Sara Greenwell; Paloma Hamilton; Kaila Jensen; Elissa Kerwin; Alexa Lyttek; Madison Martinez; Estella Oury; Savannah Pagan; Sydney Sleper; Magdalena Vonic.
Outlook: Fortunato was not available for comment, but the one known commodity for the Whips this spring is Oury. The only junior in the program, Oury is a returning state qualifier in the metric mile who has also qualified for the state cross-country meet. The Whips will have plenty of fresh faces as the dozen freshmen in the program outnumber the remaining three classes.
Harvest ChristianCoach: Steven Bland
Last season: Conference meet canceled; 11th at the Class 1A Byron sectional.
Top returning athletes: Juniors: Nygia Pollard, middle distance; Cassidy Richter, middle distance, distance; Rachel Higbee, sprints, middle distance; Rayna Steiner, distance; Hannah Griffith, sprints, jumps; Sophomores: Grace Callahan, sprints, jumps; Hope Mylin, sprints, hurdles, middle distance; Hannah McHugh, middle distance, distance; Kayley Wiedman, sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Harvest Christian has a most peculiar dynamic this season as Bland has neither a senior nor a freshman in the program. Pollard will look to transfer her success from the fall to the spring. “(Pollard) has been all-state in cross-country the last two years, but not yet in track,” Bland said. “She will focus on the four-by-eight and 1,600 run this season. We're hoping that she will be on the podium in both.” Bland thinks Pollard can team with Richter, Mylin and McHugh to break through in the 3,200 relay. Callahan has been particularly impressive for Harvest this spring. “She is already showing a lot of promise in the triple jump,” Bland said of Callahan. Bland is equally optimistic for Mylin. “Hope Mylin probably has a good shot at going to state in both hurdles,” Bland said. “He was real close last year as a freshman.”
HuntleyCoach: Shawn Nordeen
Last season: Second in the Fox Valley Conference; fourth at the Class 3A Huntley sectional.
Top returning athletes: Juniors: Cassidy Lackovic, sprints, jumps; Mary Racklawski, middle distance; Tyra Miller, hurdles, jumps; Katie Bessey, throws; McKenzie Krich, jumps; Rhian Whitfield, jumps, pole vault; Chloe Smith, middle distance, jumps; Sophomores: Sabrina Krog, sprints.
Top newcomers: Grace Cyphers, sprints; Taryn Sargent, sprints; Daryn Davis, hurdles, jumps.
Outlook: There is a widespread consensus among the coaches in the Fox Valley the outdoor league title will come down to either the Red Raiders or Cary-Grove. Nordeen could not be reached for the season preview, but Huntley has a terrific junior class headlined by Lackovic and Racklawski. The freshman triumvirate of Cyphers, Sargent and Davis — based on their indoor conference results — could make an immediate impact for Huntley.
JacobsCoach: Lydia Lang
Last season: Ninth in the Fox Valley Conference; 13th at the Class 3A Huntley sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Kathryn Van Vlierbergen, middle distance, distance; Rachel Holstein, hurdles, jumps; Nikki Dobson, sprints; Isabel Fried, distance; Bailey Zinger, distance; Isabella Trokanek, hurdles, jumps; Michaela Baraglia, throws; Ally Orth, sprints; Sam Smith, distance; Juniors: Kylie Shepnek, sprints; Sophomores: Jenna Skuza, distance; Nadia Baraglia, throws.
Top newcomers: Kyra Cabusao, sprints, throws; Aly Doherty, distance.
Outlook: First-year coach Lang is looking to make major gains from a year ago this spring. “We have a great group of senior girls,” Lang said. “Having the senior girls for the leadership is going to pull (the team) together.” Van Vlierbergen is the younger sister of former state champion and high school Heisman Award winner Lauren (Michigan). “My hope for the girls is for them to reach their potential,” Lang said. Cabusao is unquestionably Jacobs' top incoming talent whose diversity is illuminated by the fact she is a sprinter and thrower. Holstein had a more-than-respectable showing at Jacobs' indoor league championship at Huntley.
KanelandCoach: Doug Ecker
Last season: Northern Illinois Big XII Conference champion; Class 2A Rochelle sectional champion; co-state champion.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Nicole Sreenan, sprints; Becca Richtman, middle distance, distance; Sydney Davidson, pole vault; Maddie Keifer, sprints, jumps; Carly Elliott, sprints; Sarah Daly, middle distance, distance; Juniors: Shayna Hurston, sprints, throws; Cierra Kuipers, pole vault; Sophomores: Rachel Richtman, middle distance, distance.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Avery Smith, sprints; Lesley Viveros, sprints; Kerrie Brolley, sprints, hurdles.
Outlook: Kaneland would have been in the also-ran department among team state placers had it not been for a remarkable performance by Sreenan. After missing the Class 2A state finals due to a back injury, the Knights' superstar duplicated her achievement from her freshman year: earning all-state in four of her events. Sreenan was no worse than second in all of her events as the Grand Valley State-bound senior was runner-up in the 100- and 400-dashes. Sreenan was a member of the state-championship 1,600 relay after earlier running the anchor on the Knights' second-place 400 relay. “It still feels kind of surreal,” Sreenan said of Kaneland winning a state championship. “It took us a while for it to set in. I think I'm going to do shorter sprints this year.” Sreenan will enter the outdoor season full of confidence after winning the 200 and placing second at 60 meters at the Indoor Top Times meet in Bloomington last weekend.
LarkinCoach: Nate Williams
Last season: Fifth in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; tied for 14th at Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Shawniece Cohen-Douglas, throws; Naomi Hibbler, throws; Tela Tate, sprints, jumps; Juniors: Destiny Holbert, sprints, hurdles; Claudio Desko, sprints; Sophomores: Maleah Washington, sprints, hurdles; MaKayla Hill, sprints, jumps.
Top newcomers: Freshmen: Roa Juarez, throws; Valeria Pizana, throws.
Outlook: The Royals will look for Cohen-Douglas to earn an ever-elusive berth to the Class 3A state meet. “The girls team is a really young team,” said Williams, the Larkin boys coach who directed both programs during indoors as the school sought an interim coach. “They are still growing and learning. We do have one senior standout, Shawniece Cohen-Douglas, who has a legitimate chance of getting downstate. Otherwise, we are comprised mostly of underclassmen.” Tate is far and away the Royals' finest sprinter and much will be expected of the senior on the track this spring.
RosaryCoach: Vic Meade
Last season: Third in the Girls Athletic Catholic Conference; Class 2A LaSalle-Peru sectional champion.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Danielle Goring, sprints; Mary Kate Bakula, sprints; Juniors: Claire Hengesbaugh, middle distance, distance; Brooke Delahanty, middle distance; Sophomores: Hannah Reagan, middle distance, distance; Megan Ranzone, middle distance, distance.
Outlook: Rosary will look for more sectional hardware this spring behind its cavalcade of middle distance runners. Third in state last year in the 3,200 relay, the Royals have more than one option at 800 meters behind the likes of Hengesbaugh, Bakula, Delahanty, Reagan and Ronzone. “Our relays are always decent,” Meade said of Rosary qualifying all four quartets to Charleston last year. But the Royals will have to do the majority of their damage in the 12 running events this season. “We are weak in the field,” Meade admitted. “We hope to stay in the top three in the conference.” Hengesbaugh placed at the Top Times meet over the weekend in the 800 run.
South ElginCoach: Tushebra Crump
Last season: Third place in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division; 10th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Laureen Toussaint, sprints; Juniors: Shawna McLean, sprints; Olivia Cabaj, distance; Sophomores: Hannah Anderson, distance; Darryce Allen, hurdles, jumps, throws; Maiah Galvin, throws.
Top newcomers: Freshman: Chloe Crosby, sprints.
Outlook: The Storm suffered a critical loss when defending 400 state qualifier Kennedy Wells was lost for the season due a basketball-incurred knee injury. But, fortunately, for South Elgin, Toussaint also qualified at the same distance last spring out of Hoffman Estates. The Storm senior will undoubtedly be the workhorse for the squad this season. “I think she can make it to state in all three (sprint) events,” Crumb said of Toussaint tackling the 100 through 400 dashes this year. “She does have her eyes on all of the open events.” The Storm will be particularly youthful this spring otherwise. “We have a lot of young freshmen and sophomores,” Crumb said. “We are going to continue to work hard to get some positive results.”
St. Charles EastCoach: Tim Wolf
Last season: Third in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; sixth at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Kennedy Gift, pole vault; Anna Arrick, distance; Casey McNichols, sprints, hurdles, middle distance; Lexi Scull, middle distance, distance; Emma Battin, middle distance, distance; Hannah Ewald, distance; Juniors: Stephanie Garcia, sprints; Anna Willing, middle distance, distance; Molly Kresl, pole vault; Reiney Scull, middle distance, distance.
Top newcomers: Sophomores: Katie O'Hara, sprints, jumps; Freshmen: Melanie Williams, sprints, middle distance.
Outlook: McNichols is the final link to the Saints' consecutive state championships in the 1,600 relay in 2013 and 2014. Gift should be a leading contender for the pole vault state championship this year. “I hope to see some good outcomes,” Wolf said. “We're pretty young in terms of kids as athletes.” The Saints should be strong as usual in the distance events as Arrick is the indoor conference champion at 3,200 meters and Ewald has state experience at the same distance. McNichols is yet another versatile athlete on the local track scene as the senior can sprint, run the long hurdles and even fill a vacancy at 800 meters. “I think we're going to have a couple of surprises as the outdoor season comes around.”
St. Charles NorthCoach: Kate Mehalic
Last season: Fourth in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; tied for seventh at Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Alyssa Bonelli, distance; Jenae Pawlowski, sprints; Alyssa Graf, sprints; Juniors: Audrey Ernst, middle distance, distance; Hayden Buerster, Flo Ugoagwu, Autumn Horlbeck, pole vault; Emma Wacker, sprints; Sophomores: Natalie Galvan, middle distance, distance; Mary Otto, sprints.
Top newcomers: Juniors: Kendall Maffia, sprints; Freshmen: Nikole Custer, sprints, jumps; Kayla Mikottis, throws.
Outlook: Ernst is literally a world-class athlete. The North Stars' returning two-event all-state performer at 1,600 and 3,200 meters has represented her nation at several age-group triathlons throughout the world. “I am really excited to come back,” Ernst said after missing the entire indoor season. “I love track. I cannot see not running. I want to give everything I have. I really want to have my team do well.” First-year coach Mehalic will look to improve the North Stars' standing in the Upstate Eight and Bartlett sectional Buerster is capable of scoring significant points in all three jumping events. Custer is the most promising freshman sprinter to enter the program in recent memory.
St. EdwardCoach: Katie Beckett
Last season: Seventh in the Metro Suburban Conference; ninth at the Class 1A Byron sectional.
Top returning athletes: Juniors: Bella Uscila, sprints, jumps; Kailey Wood, sprints; Isabel Warner, sprints, middle distance; Deleana Esquibias, sprints; Heidi Kirchen, distance; Daniela Sandoval, middle distance; Jordan Cumpata, middle distance; Mary Kelley, middle distance, throws; Emily Wagh, distance.
Top newcomers: Juniors: Sophie Danner, distance; Freshmen: Joana Vonrohr, middle distance.
Outlook: Uscila truly made history for the Elgin school last spring at the state meet. The Green Wave junior became the first individual all-state runner in school history with her fifth-place result at 100 meters last year. The Wave standout had a memorable indoor campaign as well after sweeping the two dashes at the MSC indoor meet. “We are hoping (Uscila) will be able to qualify and place in both the 100 and 200,” Beckett said. “She has been right on track with the times and training we want her to be for the end of the season.” Uscila will not run a sprint relay as Beckett the Wave do not have the personnel among sprinters. But the Wave junior could also make a splash in the long jump.
StreamwoodCoach: Denny Lau
Last season: Sixth in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; 13th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Claudia Karaluch, middle distance; Kim Perkins, sprints; Genta Vitija-Hoti, throws; Sydney Ashenhurst, hurdles; Juniors: Maddi Exline, middle distance, distance; Monica Brown, middle distance.
Top newcomers: Juniors: Andrea Bracy, sprints; Sophomores: Taylor Sewell, sprints, jumps; Alexis Rojas, sprints.
Outlook: Lau, who coached the only state champion in program history two years in Gabby Juarez (1,600 run), returns to the fold as head coach after spending last year at Schaumburg. The former Sabres' cross-country and track distance star has grand designs for Exline this year. “She is going to qualify in both the 800 and mile,” Lau predicted. The Sabres will look to make conference inroads against indoor conference champion Batavia, defending outdoor champion Geneva and the two St. Charles high schools. “The Upstate Eight always has been a very competitive conference, so it's anybody's guess who will take home the crown this year.” Perkins will be the anchor of the Sabres' sprint core this season. Streamwood should be much improved in the 800 run and 3,200 relay.
West AuroraCoach: Teresa Towles
Last season: Upstate Eight Conference Valley champion; fifth at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top returning athletes: Seniors: Tamia Rayford, sprints; Rajiah Andrews, sprints, hurdles, jumps; Taty Skokan, sprints; JeMya McClendon, sprints; Marin Munos, sprints, jumps; Kayla Battle, jumps; Juniors: Kiyanna Rodgers, sprints, hurdles; Sophomores: Maddie Walrath, middle distance.
Top newcomers: Sophomores: Dajour Miles, sprints; Monalya Hunt, sprints; Josslin Scull, distance; Kendra Battle, throws; Allison Manko, sprints, jumps.
Outlook: The Blackhawks are looking to reestablish their elite status at the state level after an injury-riddled 2016 campaign. Miles, a transfer from Waubonsie Valley, has won back-to-back 400-meter AAU national championships. The sophomore posted the fastest indoor times in the state at 200 and 400 meters, only to miss the end of first-half of the season with a hamstring injury. “The 400 is my specialty event,” Miles said. “But I really want to win the 200 at state. I have never won a 200 at a major event.” Towles said the return of McClendon will be critical to the Blackhawks' always dangerous sprint crew. “I am hoping and praying to get (McClendon) back,” Towles said of all-state sprint-relay member from two years ago. Andrews looks to duplicate the feat of older sister Shanice from seven years ago: placing at in state in both hurdles and the long and triple jump. “I have big shoes to fill,” Andrews said. Rayford is the last remaining scoring link to the Blackhawks' state runner-up finish three years ago. Towles hopes to be in a similar position come May. “By time we put everything together, we could have one heck of a team,” Towles said.