Track and field: Bowes, Varela long and strong at Palatine

The second annual Distance Night in Palatine offered an opportunity for some fast times.

And Hersey senior Hailey Bowes and Fremd senior Linda Varela took full advantage.

On a perfect night for the longer races, Bowes (10:54.06) and Varela (10:54.94) went 4-5 in the 3,200 to highlight a big night of running at Palatine High School.

Lyons' Sarah Barcelona (10:43.80) took first in the 3,200, followed by Grant senior Danielle Osmon (10:45.78) with Bowes and Varela close behind.

"The second mile, it really started to pick after a slow start," said Bowes, who dropped 10 seconds in hitting a personal best. "The last couple of meets I didn't know where I would be, but this one definitely helps me see, running with all these great runners."

Varela has already hit some swift times in the 800 and 1,600 and on Saturday she added to her list.

"I felt pretty good," said Varela. "I wanted to stay with leaders for first mile and try to push it in the second mile. It was an awesome experience."

Maine South's Olivia Niziolek took first in a loaded 1,600 field, crossing the line with a sharp 4:54.85.

Prospect senior Brooke Wilson (5:00.93) took the lead entering the final lap before finishing in fourth place.

"I just wanted to get myself out of that pack," said Wilson. "I was going for the win."

Hersey senior Sarah Harden (5:02.19) jumped out to an early lead before finishing in sixth place, followed by Schaumburg's junior duo Maddie Marasco (5:03.51) and Lauren Kubinski (5:07) in ninth and 11th place.

Highland Park freshman Stephanie Kriss notched the top time in the 800 (2:12.83), from a lower-level race. Lasalle-Peru Rachel Hickey (2:13.69) took first in the elite 800 race followed by Aurora Central's Abby Fioresi (2:13.99).

Elk Grove senior Emily Stegmeier (2:14.66) added a sixth-place finish.

Grayslake Central senior Jack Aho (4:12.05) came from behind in the final 100 meters to nip Finn Gessner (4:12.14) of La Follette, Wis.

Aho paced the first half of the race before Gessner made a move and took the lead entering the final lap.

But Aho found a second gear entering the final 100 meters and edged Gessner at the finish.

"After he took the lead I was going to sit on him a bit," said Aho. "Entering the last 100, I knew I had enough to get him."

Lake Zurich seniors Brian Griffith (4:12.93) and Kyle Griffith (4:14.51) went 3-5, with Fremd senior Danny Peterson (4:17.86) taking seventh.

Chicago Jones Arthur Santoro (1:54.86) took first in the 800, followed by Waubonsie Valley's Wes York (1:55.02).

Fremd's Ed Worthem (1:55.86) added a fourth-place finish for the Vikings, followed by Rolling Meadows John Gerardi (1:56.24).

Whitney Young's Clayton Mendez pulled away in taking first in the 3,200 with a swift 8:59.46.

Lake Zurich senior Matt Pereira (9:11.79) took fourth.

Hoffman Estates senior Alex Makrounis (9:15.94) and senior Jack Worman (9:15.99) went 6-7 for the Hawks.

"I never had chance to go out under 4:40 and that was the first time I did it," said Makrounis of the torrid first mile. "I just wanted to hang on after that and finish strong."

"I knew it was going to go out fast," said Worman of the early pace. "That's solid state time."

Palatine senior Brian Leonard (9:28.97) added a 12th-place finish.