Horvath, Grant deliver quality effort

Grant's girls track team isn't exactly about quantity, but it sure is all about quality.

The Bulldogs, led by two first-place efforts from Erin Horvath, took first place in Friday's 15th Annual Crystal Lake Central Invitational held at Metcalfe Field with a score of 127.

Antioch was only 8 points behind in second place with 119 points.

Horvath won the 100 meters in 12.9 and the 200 in 26.9.

"We are not going to overwhelm anybody with our numbers," said Grant coach Jim Cramer. "We have only 25 kids, but we have some quality. We have a lot of improvement to do, but I like where we are right now in the season. It was nice to win this meet."

Antioch's Jessica Long was the top individual in the meet with three individual titles. Long captured the triple jump in a leap of 32-10¾, long jump (15 feet, 6 inches) and pole vault (9-6). She was also on the winning 400 relay in a time of 54.1

"The key tonight was to stay warm and keep my muscles loose," said Long. "That was very difficult to do. It was very cold. My technique with both the long and triple jump were both good. I was able to use the wind to my advantage. The pole vault is my best event. I really think I have a chance to go to state in that event. I just need to get a little better."

Elgin, which placed second in the 400 relay (54.9) and 800 relay (1:58.3), placed seventh with a score of 38 points.

The Maroons' top individual was Fatima Diabate. Diabate was third in the high jump With a leap of 4-3 and fourth in the triple jump with a lunge of 31-10¼.

It was certainly mind over matter for Larkin's Britney Whitehead.

Battling stiff winds, cold temperatures and an annoying drizzle, Whitehead was able tobeat the elements and win the 300-meter low hurdles and the 100 high hurdles.

Whitehead, who was third in the 200, won the 300 hurdles in a meet-record 48.7 and the 100 hurdles in a clocking of 16.3.

"I just had to maintain my concentration through the wind and cold," said Whitehead. "I was steady throughout all my races and was strong at the end."

Larkin finished sixth with a score of 47 points.