Girls track and field: Naperville North edges Lake Park for DVC title

Allison Grady had a change of heart.

Originally destined to study at the University of Illinois, Grady decided to study and run track at North Central College instead.

"I don't think I have used my full potential," said Grady, one of many standouts for Naperville North.

Capturing five of the 18 events in the final DuPage Valley Conference girls track and field championship as a nine-team league, Naperville North remained undefeated on the season with a 129-124 victory over field-dominant Lake Park at Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday evening.

Grady was in her customary anchor position in the Huskies' championship 800-meter relay in 1 minute, 44.81 seconds.

"The goal is to make it to finals (at state) and place even higher than we did last year (eighth)," Grady said, recalling the Huskies' third-place state finish last year. "It was the highlight of my high school experience thus far."

Naperville North coach Dan Iverson will have some difficult decisions to make in preparation of the Plainfield North sectional on Thursday.

"It's a good problem to have," said Indiana-bound 1,600 champion Sarah Schmitt of Naperville North, who was timed in 4:59.96.

Halle Bieber is primed for another brilliant state performance. The reigning 300 hurdles state champion ran her fastest time this spring with her victory in 43.85.

The Naperville North junior, a member of the Huskies' 800 relay last spring, also claimed the 100 hurdles in 15.13.

"We will look at every possible option," Iverson said of his sectional lineup.

"Having won state last year put me in a different situation," Bieber said. "We have a lot of options for all our relays."

Alex Morris is on pace for another all-state bid in the 3,200 run after her win in 10:45.23 for the Huskies.

Ally Serbick was the unquestioned sprint maven of the league championship.

Bound for Wyoming, the Wheaton North senior swept the 100, 200 and 400 dashes for the sixth-place Falcons (70 points) in respective times of 12.48, 25.45 and 59.61.

"I want to have the best times going into college," Serbick said. "Getting first was just a bonus. (Neuqua Valley 800 champion) MiKenna Robinson is some great competition (in the 200). The competition drives you to be better."

Perhaps not since West Aurora three-time state champion Emma Spagnola has a freshman had an impact in the DVC meet as significant as Neuqua Valley's Riley Ammenhauser did in Wheaton.

Former Neuqua Valley state champion Jennie Whitman (2002) is no longer the program record holder in the triple jump after Ammenhauser soared exactly 39 feet to edge Lake Park senior state contender Izzy Kennedy by 4 inches.

Ammenhauser won the long jump as well at 18-2½.

"It feels so good that I broke the school record as a freshman," Ammenhauser said. "I have prepared so much for this. I am pretty good dealing with pressure."

Lake Park had field-event champions with Stephanie Montenegro throwing the shot put 41-11¾ and pole-vaulter Kelly Zehnder clearing 11-6.

Glenbard North (seventh with 58.5 points) had the discus champion in Jasmine Stokes; the Panthers' 1,600 relay is state worthy as well with its time of 4:01.8.

Tikia Harris' 5-5 clearance in the high jump was the sole title for fourth-place Naperville Central (88).

WW South was third (94.5) behind its victorious 3,200 relay.