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Girls track and field: Work pays off for Warren's Atuobi in shot put

CHARLESTON — Warren's Abena Atuobi had a bit of unfinished business to attend to in the Class 3A girls track state finals.

Last year, Atuobi just missed securing a medal, finishing in 11th place. That placement provided a spark for the outgoing senior, who will be attending Western Michigan next year.

Atuobi went to work in the weight room during the off-season looking to erase her near miss.

And on day that started with some stormy weather, Atuobi provided her own thunder by taking fifth place in the shot put (42-02.5) at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Field.

“It's humbling,” said Atuobi, who hit her top mark on her first throw in Saturday's finals. “I wanted a bit more, but compared to last year it was a big jump.”

Glenbard West won the Class 3A team title with 47 points, powered by Katelynn Hart with victories in the 3,200-meters (10:32.33) and the 1,600 (4:51.54) to completing a rare distance triple crown. The Hilltopper freshman also won the Class 3A girls cross country title in the fall.

Senior Jaimie Robinson won the triple jump (42-08.5), long jump (19-10.5), and 200 (24.82), and also finished fourth in the 100 dash to lead Homewood-Flossmoor to second place with 43 points, followed by Naperville North (40 points).

Atuobi was consistent from the start of the season until the end, including hitting a 45-5 at Barrington in mid-April.

“The focus she has, she brings to the ring,” said Warren coach Ryan Dunn of Atuobi, who won the first shot put medal for the Blue Devils since Caryn Poliquin took third in the event in 1997.

“She knew she had the fundamentals to take the next step and she definitely put in the work,” added Dunn.

Sophomore Janii Jenkins also had a bit of unfinished business for Warren. Last year she qualified to state in the 400 but missed making Saturday's finals.

Jenkins has really come on strong to end the season, and she extended the trend by hitting a personal record in the 400 (57.24) preliminaries on Friday. And she topped that mark in the finals.

Again using a strong start, Jenkins later lengthened her strides down the home stretch to take third in the 400 (56.75).

Jenkins adds to a great state tradition set by recent Warren great Brittny Ellis, who earned four state medals in the 400, including three state titles.

“The determination and motivation were there,” said Jenkins of her big weekend. “I'm just really amazed to cut off another second, and it's an astonishing way to end my sophomore year.”

Lakes also had a pair of medal-winners on Saturday.

Olivia Schmitt had missed qualifying for the state cross country meet in the fall after a big debut season.

But there was no missing for Schmitt at the state track meet. The Eagles freshman once again showed her closing speed by securing a sixth-place medal in the 800 (2:16.63).

“I missed qualifying for state in cross country by one spot,” said Schmitt. “I learned from that not to leave anything out there.”

Lakes junior Taylor Tilmon also earned a medal by taking seventh place in the 400 (57.83). Tilmon, who did not run the 400 last season, had a breakout meet in the indoor season and carried that momentum all the way into the state finals.

Mundelein sophomore Khari Thompkins gave the Mustangs a big lift by taking fifth with a career best in the 400 (57.07).

“I knew I had to get out hard,” said Thompkins, who completed her medal run with a hard finish. “It is just a great feeling knowing all the hard work paid off.”

Libertyville's Melissa Manetsch missed a state medal in the 3,200 by one spot in 2016, finishing in 10th place.

The Wildcats sophomore was determined not to have a repeat performance — so she grinded out the middle of the race to secure her position, then hung on for a sixth-place finish in the 3,200.

“I'm just really, really happy,” said Manetsch who had variety of ailments, including shin splints, put a drag on her early season marks. “It's such a blessing that everything worked out.”

Wauconda sophomore Grace Daun earned her second straight medal in the high jump by tying for sixth place (5-5), while Grayslake Central sophomore Meghan Fletcher secured her first state medal with a ninth-place finish in same event (5-03).

Lake Zurich senior Alyssa Morello earned two state medals last season, but a concussion during the indoor season put a drag on her outdoor season.

Morello returned to qualify in the 100 high hurdles, the 300 low hurdles and pole vault and capped a nice comeback by earning her second consecutive medal in the pole vault (11-03) with a fifth-place finish.

“I have been here four years so it was nice to end with a medal,” said Morello.

Class 2A

Vernon Hills junior Jordyn Bunning is no stranger to state medals, having secured a pair of third-place finishes in the 300 low hurdles along with three medals in relays during her first two seasons for the Cougars. But she was a bit concerned regarding her times entering the postseason.

Those concerns were wiped away after Bunning ran to runner-up finishes in both the 100 high hurdles (14.62) and 300 low hurdles (44.34).

“It's been tough because I haven't been hitting those times that I'm used to,” said Bunning, who'd been slowed before the outdoor season due to an injury. “But I couldn't be more excited how the state meet ended — it's the best.”

Lauren Katz has been a part of two consecutive Cougars 3,200 relay teams that have earned state medals, including a second-place finish last year.

And the junior kept that streak alive by combining with sophomore Vivian Tsai, sophomore Ellie Zacek and junior Nicole Pinter in powering the Cougars to fifth place in the 3,200 relay (9:46.55).

“Coming off last year we definitely had some high expectations,” said Katz, who returned along with Pinter. “Our times all year didn't reflect what we did this weekend, but we came in and did what we needed to.”

Carmel Catholic junior Emily Silge also capped a pretty impressive season by securing seventh place in the 400 (58.88), despite dealing with a strained quad.

“It's was little tough, but I'm really excited,” said Silge who took third at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Meet that set the stage for her big outdoor season.

Dunlap secured the Class 2A state title with 78 points and Chicago's Luther North captured the Class 1A state title with 59 points.

  Vernon Hills' Ellie Zacek wipes her eye as she takes the baton from teammate Vivian Tsai in the Class 2A 4x800-meter relay during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Nicole Pinter competes as the anchor leg in the Class 2A 4x800-meter relay during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Carly Sear runs in the Class 2A 3200-meter run during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Alyssa Morello makes an attempt in the Class 3A pole vault during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Melissa Manetsch finishes the Class 3A 3200-meter run during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Jordyn Bunning clears a hurdle in the middle of the Class 2A 100-meter high hurdles during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel Catholic's Emily Silge catches her breath at the finish of the Class 3A 400-meter dash during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel's Aileen Hull, in white jersey, keeps pace in the Class 2A 1,600-meter run during the girls track and field state finals on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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