Panther holds Court at Glenbard W.

Mother Nature didn't do all of the pole vaulters a favor Saturday, but she did seem to be looking out for Glenbard North's Meghan Court.

While rain caused problems for a few of the girls track competitors at Glenbard West's Sue Pariseau Invitational, the weather seemed to clear up some just in time to help Court, a state qualifier in both track and gymnastics for the Panthers. Not slowed by slipperiness, Court went ahead and won the meet title with a height of 11 feet, 18 inches better than a foursome that went 9-6 including Naperville North's Shelly Dulman.

"At the beginning I was really nervous because it was a downpour and I thought I might no-height," said Court, 11th in the state last year in the event. "During warmups it was fine, but once we got to the competition it started to pour and some of the other girls' poles were slipping."

But when it was Court's turn to vault, the rain stopped and she easily cleared 11 feet, her high mark outdoors this spring. In fact she missed at 11-7 Saturday.

"I'm pleased with my performance (today) and I'm hoping to go 12 something this year."

Defending state champion Barrington defended its team title at the invitational by scoring 115.5 points to hold back second-place Hinsdale Central (90). Geneva, a late entrant in the meet, tied Proviso East for third at 68 while Naperville North took fifth with 61.5 points. The Broncos had several athletes come up big, but none more so than senior Molly Glantz, who won both hurdle events, the open 800, and also helped the 3,200-meter relay team establish a meet-record time of 9:19.69.

"It was real fun. We wanted a good time, but I had no idea we broke the record," said Glantz, who teamed with Kala Bingham, Rebecca Tracy and Samantha Learch to shave almost 10 seconds off the old mark. "Our last invitational was canceled so we were all excited to go today. We had a lot of pent up energy and everyone ran well."

Glantz won the 800 in 2:21.21 with Downers Grove South's Nicole Thate second and Geneva's Kat Yelle third. In the hurdles Glantz beat Bloomington's Paige Steffen 44.81 to 45.07 in the 300s after catching her on the final hurdle, while handling Bloomington's Kelly Steffen more easily 15.52 to 16.49 in the 100s.

Naperville North came to Glenbard West the morning after competing at Sandburg and was paced by thrower AJ Thome (first in the shot and fourth in the discus) and sprinter Kamaria Huggins (first in the 200 and fourth in the 100).

Geneva, meanwhile, put in a solid effort after Glenbard West allowed the Vikings to enter the meet this week after the Vikings had last weekend's invitational washed out.

"We're lucky to get this meet in," coach Peter Raak said. "The girls jumped at the opportunity, not just to get into this meet, but to go up against some fantastic competition here."

Geneva's Lexie Tomchek was first with a high jump of 5-3, while Glenbard West's Janet Plonka was second at 5-1. In the triple jump Geneva's Sammi Hill was second and the Hilltoppers Angie Stearn was third.

"Our invitational last weekend was canceled, and I did not want to go two weeks without an invite," Raak said. "I was very thankful Coach (Kelly) Hass and Glenbard West added us at such late notice. The girls have gone out and held their own here."

Wheeling's Amber Stack took first in the 3200 with a time of 10:53.38, while Hinsdale Central's Heather Stevens, Geneva's Kelly Whitley and Naperville North's Michelle Stratton followed in 2-3-4, respectively.