Girls track and field: Naperville North shows how well-rounded it is

The Naperville North girls track and field team is far more multidimensional than just the talents its crossover cross country stalwarts from the two-time reigning Class 3A program provide.

"I don't think it's fair to say were a distance team," said Dan Iverson, the coach of both programs.

Halle Bieber and Sarah Wastek could not be more disparate athletes in terms of specialists, but the two Naperville North upperclassmen shared the MVP of the Huskies' home invitational Friday night.

Bieber, the defending 300 hurdles state champion, also was untouched in the 100 hurdles as the lone two-event champion on the track in Flight A competition.

Wastek also swept the two throwing events for Naperville North.

Naperville North scored 366.5 total points to dominate the field in Naperville.

Cary-Grove (299), Waubonsie Valley (268), St. Charles East (177) and Benet (154) were second through fifth, respectively; Jacobs scored 127 points to for a seventh-place finish.

"Considering the conditions, I thought I had pretty solid races," said Bieber, who won the 100 and 300 hurdles races in 15.92 and 46.61 seconds.

Wastek achieved her primary aim.

"With this meet in particular, I wanted to hit 40 (feet) in the shot," Wastek said after eclipsing her personal-best effort by 3.5 inches.

Allison Grady is an unsung senior leader for the Huskies.

The Huskies' sprinter anchored the 800 relay - a defending all-state quartet - and later added the 200 dash after also winning the second-flight 100 title.

"Going into the last stretch (in the 200), I just knew I had to give it all I had," Grady said.

"I'm really glad (Grady) is part of our four-by-two team," said Bieber, who skipped the event.

The Huskies' Claire Hill won the 800 with ease and later helped propel the 1,600 relay to another easy win.

Jill Fitz was not only on the Huskies' 1,600 championship group but also ran a leg on the victorious 3,200 relay.

Indiana-bound distance runner Sarah Schmitt withstood a dazzling effort from Chicago Latin freshman Marianne Mikas to give the Huskies the gold at 1,600 meters in 5:02.31.

Cary-Grove senior Tabor Gleason braved the uncharitable elements to join Wastek as a double field-event champion.

Committed to national Division II power Grand Valley State in Michigan, Gleason resumed her push for another all-state performance in the high jump with a 5-1 clearance.

Gleason began her late afternoon with a championship in the triple jump.

"Although I did win the triple, 35-5 is not that good," Gleason said. "But I will take it because it was the first event I competed in all season (after missing all of indoor)."

Sophia Galfano was the workhorse for the Trojans on the track.

A sophomore, Galfano was third in the 400 and fourth in the 100 while also running legs on the races' relay equivalents.

"This is basically my first outdoor meet," Galfano said. "It was pretty good to start off the season with good times."

Katie Stadler claimed another Cary-Grove field title in the pole vault.

Jacobs' Kylie Shepnek was runner-up at 100 meters and third in the 200. Nadia Baraglia was the 200 champion in B Flight for Jacobs.

Emily Nichols and Lauren Swartz concluded their opening outdoor invite by helping the St. Charles East 1,600 relay to second place. Nichols was also runner-up in the 300 hurdles and placed in the long jump. Swartz won the second-flight 300 hurdles.

"I didn't know what to expect," the Saints' freshman said. "I had to push with everything I had."