Hersey places second at Glenbard South meet
Nobody was going to catch Lincoln-Way East at Thursday night's Raider Invitational girls track meet. But that doesn't mean Hersey, Montini and host Glenbard South didn't appreciate the competition.
The Huskies placed second with 113 points, trailing only Lincoln-Way East's 196. Montini was next with 83, followed by Glenbard South's 68. West Chicago took seventh with 20 points.
"It was definitely a good night for us," Hersey coach Jim Miks said.
Hersey won four events. In the field events Alessia Olhava won the high jump at 5-4 and Stefanie Pawlis took first in the long jump at 16-0½. The Huskies also won the longest distance races, with Hailey Bowes winning the 1,600 meters in 5:16.51.
"We have depth and balance and good spirit," Miks said. "A lot of kids supporting each other. It makes a difference."
It made a difference in the 3,200, where the Huskies went 1-2. Sarah Harden won in 10:57.29, just ahead of teammate Teagan Beckley and Glenbard South's Abby Schlenker.
"Two outstanding times," Miks said of Harden and Beckley. "The 10:57 is extremely outstanding."
Montini had two individual champions and won the 400 relay in 51.51. Jenna Weidacher won the 800 meters in 2:22.07, and Joslyn Boyer took the triple jump by going 34-3½.
Grayson Breen was the lone Glenbard South winner, throwing the discus 125-0½, the third best in school history. Ciara Jackson took third in the shot put at 34-6½, a season best for her.
The coaches were happy to look beyond the top spot in each event.
"Our sprinters did better than they were seeded, so I was pretty pleased with them," Glenbard South coach Mark Tacchi said. " ... I just like seeing our kids progress, and that's what I really take from this meet."
For instance, Tacchi noted Suvannah Williams.
"She ran great legs for us tonight in the three relays, and she's a kid that fights me in the 400 and ran a 63 tonight," Tacchi said. " ... So she stepped up."
The Raiders competed short-handed due to the school's National Honor Society induction ceremony.