Bartlett boasts huge numbers

While the participation numbers for girls track and field at most of the Elgin area District U-46 high schools may be low this season, one school's program is bursting at the seams.

New coach Beth Emody, who is also the school's cross country coach, is trying to make her best lineup out of the 106 Bartlett females who have come out for track and field this spring.

"That's up from 65-70 last year," said Emody, the program's fourth head coach in the last four years. "Right now we're just focusing on individual events and keeping accurate records so we know where all the kids are at."

Here's a look at the area U-46 schools in the Upstate Eight Conference. It should be noted that Elgin High did not return several messages for this preview.

Bartlett: Emody sees a sea of green every day as the 106 female athletes out for the program try to impress the coaching staff and earn a spot in the lineup.

"Right now we're a very young team with a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the varsity," Emody said. "We're focusing on getting them the experience they need so they can be leaders in the future."

The Hawks also have some experience returning, most notably in sophomore Alyssa Schneider, who finished 10th in the 1,600 meter race at the state meet in Charleston last spring. Schneider has already broken the school 800, 1,600 and 3,200 indoor records this season.

Also back to lead the team will be seniors Becca Cronin (200, long jump) and Samantha Salinas (1,600, 3,200 relay), who will run cross country and track on scholarship at Arkansas State University next year. Senior Alexa Tovella brings leadership to the track as well and will compete in the middle distances.

Emody is also expecting big things from freshmen sprinters Sami Mocka and TeTe Buliox, as well as freshman thrower Katie Lausen, sophomore jumper Kayla Cox, senior jumper Jessica Alexander and junior jumper Kaitlyn Swick.

Streamwood: The numbers are also up at Streamwood, where there are 45-50 girls out for the team this season.

"We've made a big jump the last couple of years," said Sabres coach Ryan Korn.

Returning to anchor the Sabres' postseason chances is senior jumper, hurdler and sprinter Megan McGlone, an athlete Korn believes has state qualifying potential this season. Also back are senior distance runner Mercedes Mancha and senior sprinter and jumper Lizzy Liberman.

"We can put Megan in anything and Mercedes is already way ahead of last year," Korn said.

Sophomore distance runner Jordan LeSavage returned from injury recently and Korn likes what he's seen from junior Gina Savatski, a transfer from Driscoll, in the mid-distances.

Three sophomores also hope to make major contributions. Shot-putter Jade Williams is returning from an ACL injury, while middle-distance runner and jumper Kristen Stanton, along with distance runner Maria Luna, have also caught Korn's eye in practice.

"We've got some girls who can really do some damage," Korn said. "We're young and the new girls are still trying to figure out how to run these races but I've seen a lot of improvement."

Larkin: The numbers may be low, but the Royals have two of the better runners in the area in seniors Brittney Whitehead and Nadiyah Spencer. Whitehead's 800 time indoors is just a little over a second off state qualifying time and second-year coach Jeremy Bloomberg feels Spencer is a threat to qualify for state in the 100, 200 and long jump.

"Whitehead had a tremendous cross country season and she's been running strong all year," Bloomberg said.

The Royals, who have about 30 girls out for the team, also expect contributions from junior Megan Gard in the 400, junior Taitiana Holbert in the shot, freshman Carrie Gaston in the shot and freshman Jill Casebeer in the 400.

South Elgin: With the numbers also around 30, Storm coach Kari Turcan has modest goals for the program this season.

"We'd like to move up in the conference," she said. "I don't think we scored a point at the conference meet last year so our first goal is to move up in the conference. We'd also like to get somebody to place at sectionals. Ultimately the goal is to get someone downstate but we'd at least like to place at sectionals."

Turcan is hoping for good seasons from freshman Jordan Tuin (hurdles, sprints), sophomore Katie Goplerud (3,200), senior Lauren Ayala (1,600), sophomore Jen Gonia (sprints), sophomore Beatriz Kiene (sprints) and junior Alyssa Buelow (throws).