Girls track and field: West Aurora runs away with Bartlett sectional

To her West Aurora track and field teammates, she is known simply as “Cinnamon.”

“It's because of my complexion when I was born,” Dajour Miles `said of the genesis of her nickname.

But the sophomore more than demonstrated Thursday night in Streamwood the reason she is also a national AAU champion.

The Blackhawks' superstar swept the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes while also anchoring the 400 relay to a fourth win at the Class 3A Bartlett girls sectional.

In capturing its first team title since its state runner-up team from three years ago, West Aurora demolished the competition with 146.333 points.

Cary-Grove, which featured the exploits of Tabor Gleason, was a distant second with 68 points.

Defending champion Geneva was third at 64 points, with Batavia (51.33) and Metea Valley (44.33) rounding out the top five.

“It's a great feeling,” Miles said after winning the three shortest sprints in respective times of 12.11, 24.63 and 56.14 seconds. “I can't do it without (my teammates). I am just happy, very happy. All I had to do was finish strong (in the 400 relay).”

Shanice Andrews would have been more than proud of her little sister.

Seven years ago, Andrews became the first West Aurora state champion (the 100 hurdles) in program history while also placing in three other events at the 2010 state finals.

Rajiah Andrews qualified in the exact same events for the Blackhawks Thursday night after winning the long jump (17 feet, 7 inches) and the 100 hurdles (15.17) while placing runner-up in the triple jump and 300 hurdles.

“I can't do any better than this,” Andrews said. “It's an indescribable feeling (to qualify in all four events). It means I am setting an example for everyone else.”

Geneva senior Kristin Higgins became a four-time state qualifier in the high jump after better Gleason on criteria at 5-5 for the championship.

“I don't lose any excitement ever after qualifying,” said Higgins, third at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston a year ago in the event. “It's amazing.”

The Vikings' Georgia Reed, another returning all-stater, defended her title in the 300 hurdles.

“I keep striving to get better and better times,” said Reed, who defeated Andrews in the event in 45.36. “It's not about beating your competitors but doing the best you can do.”

Batavia returning all-staters in the 800 relay — Darby Edmondson and Tori Ortiz — are state bound again after also defending their title.

Ortiz was making her first appearance in four weeks after nursing a hamstring injury.

“It was a miracle,” Batavia assistant coach Chad Hillman said.

“It was hard (being out), but I was still a part of the team,” Ortiz said. “I can't wait for state.”

Gleason also denied Andrews in an event, winning the triple jump in 36-10.