Pirates' effort can't be topped
For most of Monday evening the battle for the Mid-Suburban West girls track and field title at Fremd was a game of can you top this.
Defending West champion Barrington started out by taking first in the 3,200-meter relay in a solid 9:22.4.
Conant followed by taking first in the 400 relay with a sizzling 48.2.
But in the end no team could top Palatine.
The Pirates won five events and secured the title with 134 points. Barrington (124.5) took second followed by Hoffman Estates (100.5), Conant (94 points), Schaumburg (52 points) and Fremd (51 points).
"You know we have a lot of great teams in this conference and the kids just came out and competed," said Palatine coach Steve Currins. "We're still just trying to find ourselves, I told them this meet was important but every meet from now on get more and more important."
Palatine got rolling in the field events. Jocelyn Kuksa took first in the pole vault with a school record 11-6.
Martha Shepard won the shot put (41-6) and Lauren Orris took first in the discus (131-9) to keep the momentum building.
Kuksa added a victory in the 100 high hurdles (15.1) by nipping Barrington's Molly Glantz (15.1).
Ruth Allen kept it going for the Pirates with a victory in the 400 (1:00.0).
"It feels really great especially with all the competition," said Shepard, "We (field events) start off the team's momentum and everybody gets hyped, they see us doing well and it's team chemistry. It just bounces off everyone."
Barrington looked just as impressive as Glantz, Samantha Learch, Mel Brindise and Kayla Bingham won the 3,200 relay.
Glantz (44.2) came back to defeat Kuksa (44.7) in an exciting 300 low hurdle race, and Learch ran a cool 2:16 to win the 800.
"It felt really good," said Learch of her 800 victory. "I'm starting to know the event better and I'm healthy this year."
Rebecca Tracy added a victory for the Fillies in the 3,200 (11:16.8).
Hoffman is also starting to make an impression with veteran Victoria Mikszta taking first in the high jump (5-3) and senior volleyball standout Altrese Hawkins taking first with a season best 17-1½ in the long jump.
But the Hawks' Hannah Worman made the biggest splash with an impressive victory in the 1,600 (5:08.8). The sophomore took control in the final two laps in setting a school record.
"I knew if I went in the third lap my strength would take me through," added Worman of her victory.
Conant had no letdown in wining the 400, 800 (1:42.5), and 1,600 (3:58.8) relays.
The senior quartet of Brianna Millar, Emily Quinones, Destiny Arps and Toni Graham powered the Cougars in the 400 and 800.
Sarah Gorden joined Quinones, Arps, and Graham in the 1,600 relay. Millar added a victory in the 200 (25.6) and Arps won the 100 (12.3).
"We're so used to one another," said Quinones.
Ashley Ruff took first in the triple jump (34-5) for Fremd.
Prospect wins East: Prospect went old school in winning the MSL East title at Elk Grove.
Coach Dave Wurster broke out the 1989 uniforms and the Knights responded by running away with the title with 172 points.
Hersey (126) took second followed by Wheeling (122), Rolling Meadows (61), Buffalo Grove (44) and Elk Grove (26).
The Knights won the 800 (1:50.7), 1,600 (4:12) and 3,200 (9:45.6) relays.
Senior Lucy Taylor added a victory in the 800 (2:19.2) and senior Brittany Mule took first in the 100 high hurdles (15.8) for the Knights.
Erin Ward won the pole vault (9-0).
"We didn't perform that well," said Wurster of the team's victory. "It seems like we were holding back a bit, but the girls did what they had to do."