Girls track and field: Naperville Central's Fritz getting another shot at state
Naperville Central junior Rose Fritz's first trip to the Class 3A girls track and field state meet as a pole vaulter in 2017 was a learning experience.
"I was really nervous that meet. I didn't know what to expect," Fritz said. "My goal this year is to make finals. I'd be really happy if I made 11 feet in prelims. Other than that, just having a fun time, really - enjoying it more than last year."
On Thursday Fritz was among several area athletes who earned return berths at the Class 3A Plainfield North sectional and expect to improve upon their return to Eastern Illinois University next weekend.
DuPage Valley Conference champion Naperville North won the sectional title 114.5 to 72.33 points over West Suburban Silver champion Downers North.
The Huskies received sectional titles from junior and defending 300 low hurdles state champion Halle Bieber in 44.48 seconds, Indiana-bound senior Sarah Schmitt in the 3,200 and 1,600 in 10:30.82 and 4:57.55 and seniors Sarah Wastek with 38-10¾ in shot put and Saffilla Allie's 18-10½ long jump, a lifetime best by 11 inches. They also won the 800 and 1,600 relays in 1:43.34 and 3:58.70.
Third at state last year, the Huskies return all but two athletes who contributed to 34 of their 40 points at state, 7 behind first-time champion Glenbard West.
"We want to go have fun, take another step or two forward and whatever happens is going to happen," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said. "This is a really, really good team. We'll try to do the best we can, score as many points as we can and see where that puts us."
Allie jumped beyond 18 feet on five of her six attempts. On her last try Allie beat Downers North all-state senior Isabel Maletich, who broke her school record with 18-7½ from on her only attempt.
"Going into state, I feel a lot better," said Allie, a 2017 qualifier who did not reach finals. "So exciting. I was not expecting that today. I went in wanting to hit 18-0 and I did by a lot so it was great."
Schmitt, third in the 3,200 last year, qualified for the fourth time with junior Alex Morris second. Schmitt then did the distance double for the first time at sectionals and only second time ever, edging Neuqua Valley senior Corinna Pena's 4:58.57 with the Huskies' Hannah Ricci a qualifying third.
Bieber also advanced with second in the 100 high hurdles. Junior 800 runner Claire Hill and the 3,200 relay also qualified.
"(Doubling) wasn't something I necessarily planned on doing. (But) I was excited to tackle a new challenge," Schmitt said. "I'm not taking (my 3,200 qualifying) for granted at all, but it's exciting to do something new."
Neuqua Valley had sectional champions with junior MiKenna Robinson in the 800 in 2:15.24 and 200 in 24.92, junior high jumper Glynis Padilla's 5-2 and freshman triple jumper Riley Ammenhauser, who impressively increased her school record to 40-6 and also advanced in long jump.
"(The 800 has) been one of my favorite races this season to put all of my hard work and dedication into," said Robinson, a state qualifier last year with the 400 and 1,600 relay.
A first-time qualifier, Padilla cleared 5-2, this year's state-qualifying mark, for the first time at conference. On Thursday she cleared 4-10, 5-0 and 5-2 with no misses.
"Previous years I've gotten close, but this year I finally pulled it off," Padilla said. "I'm really surprised about making it. I'm really happy and thankful for my coach (Bill Casey)."
Fritz won pole vault by clearing 11-0, a height that would have qualified to last year's state finals. This season she's cleared 11-3 in competition and 12-0 in bungee practice after switching the past two meets to a pole 6 inches longer with 5 pounds more tension.
"I'm really excited to see how that goes at state and just hoping that I don't freak out too much that it's state," Fritz said.
The Redhawks also advanced in the 3,200 relay and 1,600 relay, which included the fastest split from junior anchor Naomi Egharevba moments after she advanced in the 200.
Waubonsie Valley advanced Cami Robinson in triple jump, Robinson and Johanna Kirtzeck in long jump and the 400 and 800 relays, which included freshman 200 qualifier Itzel Garcia.
Benet advanced pole vaulter Catherine Meehan and its 3,200 relay.