Prospect shows quality and depth in relay win

Prospect coach Dave Wurster thought he had a pretty deep team entering the season, and the Knights showed that depth on Thursday night.

The host Knights won eight events and placed in the top three in 17 of the 18 events to secure first place at the fifth annual Prospect Relays with 144 points on a cool but pleasant evening.

Warren took second with 124 points and its 3,200 relay made some noise by taking first with a neat time of 9:29.3.

Wheaton Warrenville South (112 points) took third, followed by a much-improved Wheeling (92 points). Rolling Meadows (50 points) and Elk Grove (16 points) rounded out the six-team field.

But it was a deep Prospect team that controlled the meet showing its strength in the distance events and field events.

"That speaks to our depth," said Prospect coach Dave Wurster of the Knights' commanding victory. "A lot of good things are happening for us, and it shows in meets like this."

It certainly did show, as junior Amy Abdnor ran a 2:23.4 in the 800 for the final leg of the 1,600 sprint medley (4:30.8) lifting the Knights to first.

Abdnor also hit 49.1 in the 300 low hurdle relay leading Prospect to second place and the junior almost brought the Knights from behind in the 1,600 relay (4:10.9) before being nipped by WW South (4:10.6).

"When I hit that 200 I thought I could catch her," said Abdnor of the 1,600 relay. "I'm just going to use all that energy from this race and go for the win the next time."

Emily Gruendel hit 39-5 in the shot put to lead Prospect to first (101-1.5) and Samantha Sturm marked in at 109-11.5 in the discus to give the Knights the victory (296-5).

"I just want to keep pushing it," said Gruendel, who took second in the shot at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Meet. "Our whole team works really hard and we're dangerous in a lot of events."

Including the pole vault, where Christie Kollias cleared 10-0 and Erin Ward went 9-6, lifting the Knights to first place (28-6).

Kasey Krum and Annette White led Prospect to first place in the distance medley (12:51.5), with White finishing the last mile in 5:23.

Prospect also had victories in the long jump (46-2.25), 400 shuttle hurdle relay (1:10.7) and throwers 400 relay (57.59).

Warren shows it has depth in both the sprints and distance relays. Gabby Nystrom, Natalia Jovanic, Sarah Beth Jones and Heather Olson combined to lead the Blue Devils to first place in the 3,200 relay with its impressive time.

DeNitra Brown, Lisa Burns, Jada Keys and Jon Taye Bonds then combined to lead Warren to victories in the 400 (50.5) and 800 (1:48.2) relays.

The 3,200 relay gave Warren coach Ryan Dunn a moment to pause on what could be a special group.

"I'm really excited about the possibilities," said Dunn, whose team ran 15 second under state qualifying time and was thrilled about Nystrom's 2:20 in the opening 2 laps.

Olson, who finished fourth in Class AA last season in the 1,600 was also excited about the Blue Devils' run.

"That's where I'm going to be if everything works out," said Olson, who came back and nailed a 5:13.14 mile individually in the 4 x 1,600 relay. "We were hoping to improve from last week, but to run a 9:29 is really exciting."

Warren also took first in the opening 800 medley relay (1:57.8) and triple jump (96-8.75).

WW South lost quite a bit from last year's sprint squad, but Colleen Gibbons, Amy Young, Caitlin Schwark, and Shannon Evans came together to win the 1,600 (4:10.6).

"I just wanted to get us off in a good position," said Gibbons of the Tigers' winning effort.

And Evans withstood a furious challenge from Prospect to secure the victory.

"I could hear everyone yelling, so I knew I had to hold her off," Evans said of the anchor leg.

Senior Elise Anderson took third individually in the 4 x 1,600 with a time of 5:19 leading the Tigers to first (21:59.8).

WW South also took first in the high jump (14-2).

Wheeling showed it has pretty solid foundation in the sprint relays. Dee Hanna, Kim Voltaire, Colleen Creech-Woolcott, and Myra O'Campo took first in the frosh/soph 400 relay (53.3).

Dee Hanna, Amy Burke, Creech-Woolcott and Lori Felix combined to give the Wildcats a victory in the 300 low hurdle relay (3:29.6). Felix hit a 49.0 in her heat.

Olivia Semeria also had a strong outing individually, hitting 16-5.5 in the long jump and leading the Wildcats to second place in the 400 (50.8) and 800 (1:50) relays.

"I see the potential," said Semeria, who was a member of both relays that qualified for state in 2007. "We all want it - we have that hunger."

Rolling Meadows' Amanda Whowell won the 1,600 at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Meet. On Thursday, Whowell showed her hurdling skills. The junior took first individually in the 300 low hurdles (48.9), leading the Mustangs to third place (3:32.9).

"I just wanted to try it," said Whowell, who still has her eyes set on the 1,600. "I decided this track season I'm going to be a competitor. Instead of being scared of the competition I'm going to embrace it."

Elk Grove's Gina Erbacci took second individually in the 4 x 1,600, running the mile in 5:17.6. Last year Erbacci qualified for state in the 3,200, but her performance on Thursday has her thinking the 1,600 could be an option.

"I really didn't expect to run this fast," said Erbacci, "I would like to get back down state and hopefully compete for a medal."