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Girls track and field: Lakes' Tilmon makes a trio of finals

CHARLESTON - Lakes' Taylor Tilmon had a hard time catching her breath after the 200-meter preliminaries, her third and final race of the afternoon.

But otherwise, the Eagles senior made it look easy on the track on a warm and overcast day at O'Brien Field at Eastern Illinois.

Tilmon swept the 100 dash, 200 dash, and 400 at the Palatine sectional last Thursday and she continued to impress in the Class 3A girls track and field high school state meet preliminaries on Friday.

Tilmon started her day by winning her preliminary heat of the 100 dash (12.05), just missing a school record.

She came back to win her preliminary heat in the 400 with a school-record 55.25.

Tilman capped her fine day by setting another school record and winning her heat of the 200 dash (24.34).

"I'm tired, but it feels really good," said Tilmon who qualified to Saturday's finals in all three events. "I never made it to finals in all three events, but this year I did."

Tilmon competed at state in the 200 her sophomore year, and then qualified in the 100, 200, and 400 her junior year. She earned a seventh-place medal in the 400 last spring.

This year, Tilmon came in with a different focus after an off-season of hard work. That preparation showed on Friday.

"She was ready," said Lakes coach Travis Shepard of Tilmon's performance. "She has been focused on being consistent and doing all the little things, and all of her workouts have been crisp."

Tilmon admitted to not running her best race in the 100, but she took command late in the 400 and then exploded out of the curve to pull away in the 200.

"I didn't really expect this," said Tilmon of her emergence in the sprints. "I have come so far since freshman year, and everything is coming together at the right time."

The finals in all three classes begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Naperville North won the Class 3A cross country title in the fall, and the Huskies are well positioned to add the Class 3A track title.

Junior Halle Bieber set the tone for the Huskies by qualifying in the 100 high hurdles and 300 low hurdles.

Homewood-Flossmoor also is in good position, anchored by its sprint relays. DeKalb, Glenbard West, and Whitney Young should also be in contention for a state trophy.

Warren advanced two individuals to Saturday's finals, with freshman Annika Bynum qualifying in the high jump (5-4) and junior Janii Jenkins qualifying in the 400 (56.34).

Jenkins is positioned for another big day on Saturday.

"It was tough, and I really had to push to get my time," said Jenkins who finished third in her heat. "On Saturday I'm looking to lower my time."

Bynum made good on her first appearance at the state meet and will join Jenkins on Saturday.

"It feels great," said Bynum, whose best mark this season has been 5-4. "It's just going in with the right mindset, and I'm looking to go a bit higher tomorrow."

Wauconda junior Grace Daun has already earned two state medals in the high jump. She took seventh place as a freshman and added a sixth-place finish last season.

Daun has positioned herself well for another medal by qualifying to the finals in the high jump. She made all her preliminary jumps, including the cutoff at 5-4, without a miss.

"The experience of jumping at state really helps," said Daun. "I have the feel of the track and it definitely works in my advantage."

Antioch senior Jill Everett advanced to Saturday's finals in the discus by hitting 122-01.

Lake Zurich sophomore Kelsey Rothas will advance to the finals in the pole vault after clearing 10-9 on Friday.

Stevenson freshman Camille Clay made her mark in the shot put (39-02.25) and qualified to Saturdays finals.

Libertyville senior Melissa Manetsch and Grayslake North Kelli Tosic will be competing in the 3,200 on Saturday.

Class 2A

Carmel Catholic senior Aileen Hull, sophomore Ezzie Posner, freshman Brigid Hull and senior Lauren Laughlin combined to help the Corsairs advance to Saturday's finals in the 3,200 relay (9:49.83).

Aileen Hull then came back to qualify in the 1,600 (5:15.44). Hull earned a seventh-place medal in the 1,600 as sophomore and will be looking to add to her collection on Saturday.

"I am really happy for them," said Carmel coach Jim Halford. "The girls ran real well."

  Carmel's Aileen Hull, left, and her sister Brigid Hull after the Class 2A 1,600-meter run during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel's Ezzie Posner rounds turn one in the Class 2A 800-meter run during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel's Emma Jensen hands the baton to Emilia Puszynski in the Class 2A 400-meter relay during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel's Emily Silge leaves the blocks at the start of the Class 2A 400-meter dash during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Carmel's Aileen Hull leads the pack, including her teammate Brigid Hull, in the Class 2A 1,600-meter run during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills's Abby Heinz clears the bar in the Class 3A pole vault during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Kelsey Rothas in the Class 3A pole vault during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Grant's Ariyona Wallace, left, races against Antioch's Ayanna Tommy in the Class 3A 100-meter dash during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lakes' Olivia Schmitt, in the Class 3A 800-meter run during the girls track and field state meet prelims Friday at Eastern Illinois. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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