Graham, Conant set for big day
CHARLESTON -- Toni Graham and Conant's sprint relays have been waiting for today.
Last year Graham took second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes to East St. Louis's Ronecia Nash.
And Conant's 400 and 800 relays have been hitting quality times all season.
Conant and Graham will get their chance in Saturday's IHSA Class AA state finals.
Graham looked ready in Friday's preliminaries at O'Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
The senior has the top qualifying mark in 100 (12.01) and also qualified in the 200 (24.77).
"I'm not predicting anything, but I'm confident," said Graham of her showdown with Nash. "I'm going to give it my best."
The Cougars relays are also running confident. Brianna Millar, Emily Quinones, Destiny Arps and Graham combined for the second-fastest qualifying time in the 400 relay (47.40) and the top qualifying mark in the 800 relay (1:40.05).
"We've been waiting for state for a long time," said Quinones. "And now we want to take it, we want to go out with a bang."
"We'll be ready," added Arps. "I'm just focusing on one thing and that's getting the baton and going."
East St. Louis is the early favorite to win state after advancing 3 relays and 6 individuals, but defending champion Barrington advanced 2 relays and 4 individuals and will also be seeking a trophy.
Palatine is in the mix with 1 relay and 8 individuals.
Barrington's Molly Glantz advanced in the 300 low hurdles (44.06) and combined with Rebecca Tracy, Kala Bingham, and Mel Brindise in advancing in the 3,200 relay (9:17.41).
"We'll still put on a show tomorrow," said Glantz of Barrington's quest for its second straight trophy. "It was about qualifying today."
Tracy also qualified in the 1,600 with a flourish in the final two laps to post 4:59.47 and squeeze by Lockport's Liz Phillips (4:59.52) at the finish line.
"I had no idea what the time was," said Tracy, who posted her second sub-5:00 mile of the season. "The finish was really cool, it was nice to race a person and not a clock."
Samantha Learch qualified in the 400 (56.71) and combined with Jayne Jaderholm, Jorie Frey and Amanda Schnack in leading the Fillies to the third-fastest qualifying time in the 1,600 (3:55.16).
Anna Etherington also continued her stellar season by qualifying and clearing 10-9 in the pole vault.
Palatine's throwers once again stepped up big, as Martha Shepard qualified in the shot put (42-02¾) and Lauren Orris (132-9) and Katie MacFabe (130-6) hit qualifying marks in the discus.
"Today I felt really relaxed," said Shepard, who missed qualifying for finals last season. "This year I felt really good going in and I wanted to make it to finals, and I hope to improve tomorrow."
Ruth Allen qualified for the Pirates in the 800 (1:40.05) and combined with Colleen Standridge, Tory Wright and Becca Sund to qualify in the 3,200 relay (9:24.13).
"I did a good job of focusing from start to finish in the 800," said Allen who hit personal best in the race.
Jocelyn Kuksa qualified for the Pirates in the pole vault (10-9) and 300 low hurdles (44.79).
Ashley Chervinko qualified in the shot put (40-10½) and Victoria Mikszta qualified in the high jump (5-3) for Hoffman Estates.
"I missed by one slot last year," said Chervinko, who qualified for finals for the first time. "My confidence is up this year and I know I can throw with these girls."
Altrese Hawkins hit 18-1½ in qualifying in the long jump for the Hawks.
Lucy Taylor, Claire Hollis, Amy Abdnor and Emily Salzman broke a school record in qualifying Prospect in the 3,200 relay (9:18.98)
"The whole time I just wanted to stay with the lead," said Salzman, who anchored the 2-mile relay. "It was tight the whole time but they kind of got away at the end."
Freshman Karen Lesiewicz broke a school record in qualifying in the 800 (2:16.68) for Schaumburg.
Wheeling's Amber Stack qualified in the 1,600 (5:00.03) and Mandy Streu qualified for Rolling Meadows in the shot put (40-3¾).
Elizabeth Mellado cleared 10-9, a personal best, in qualifying for Fremd in the pole vault.