Girls indoor track: Scouting MSL meet
Mark Saylor Mid-Suburban League Indoor Girls Track Invitational
At: Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis.
Host: Wheeling
When: Saturday. Field Events 10 a.m., running events preliminaries 10:30 a.m., finals approximately 11:40 a.m.
Team outlook: Palatine has won 12 MSL indoor titles, and the Pirates are looking to add their 13th on Saturday. Palatine has secured the top seed in six events, but Hoffman Estates should make things interesting. The Hawks have plenty of depth, especially in distance, and secured the top seed in two events. Defending champion Barrington and runner-up Conant, suffered heavy losses due to graduation, but both schools will be in the hunt. Prospect, Hersey, Schaumburg, and Fremd will also make some noise.
2008 Rewind: Last year was a banner year for the MSL in girls track. Barrington finished second and Conant tied Batavia for third at the Class AA state meet. Molly Glantz, Samantha Learch, Kala Bingham, and Rebecca Tracy combined to set a new state record in leading the Fillies to a state title in the 3,200 relay (9:04.14). Briana Millar, Emily Quinones, Destiny Arps, and Toni Graham then led the Cougars to a state title in 800 relay (1:38.96).
Can't-miss events:
1,600- The field is loaded. Palatine's Sarah McIntosh enters with top time of 5:12.9, but Hoffman's duo of Melissa Schmidt (5:13.7) and Hannah Worman (5:19), along with Conant's Kali Dalton (5:16.3), Schaumburg's Britten Petrey (5:16.5), and Barrington's Rebecca Tracy (5:17.1) will make for a tight race. Prospect's Annette White and Buffalo Grove's Olivia Jones will also be in this supercharged race.
SHOT PUT- Palatine's Martha Shepard finished fifth in state last year in the shot put (42-2.75), the senior has the top seed on Saturday with a mark of 43-1.5. But Hoffman's Precious Ogunleye (41-04.5), and Prospect's Emily Gruendel (39-03.25) will challenge. The Pirates also can count on senior Lauren Orris (38-02.5), who is seeded fourth.
3,200 RELAY- The MSL is always a player in this relay. Last year Barrington (9:04.14) and Prospect (9:11.48) finished 1-2 and Palatine (9:12.79) took fourth, getting nipped at the finish line by Hinsdale Central. Once again the MSL looks strong in the relay. Palatine (9:42.7), Hoffman (9:43), and Schaumburg (9:55.2) will battle it out on Saturday, and Prospect (9:56.2) will be lurking in the shadows.
55 DASH/200 DASH: There are a lot of new faces in these two events. Hoffman's Emily D'Amico (55 dash) and Palatine's Laura Schwiekert (200) enter with the top seeds. In the 55 dash there is a log jam for the second seed between Hoffman's Sharron Jones, Conant's Sara Gordon, Fremd's Jaimie Notaro, and Hersey's Danielle Perkins and Tia Roberson, it should make for an interesting battle.
800: Last year Schaumburg's Karen Lesiewicz (2:16.34) and Palatine's Ruth Allen (2:19.13) finished 10th and 12th in Class AA. The two will both contend for state medals this year and will battle it out for the top spot in the 800 on Saturday. Pole Vault: Barrington's Anna Etherington (11-3) and Fremd9s Elisabeth Mellado (11-0) are both off to fast starts in the vault.