It's Cary-Grove's time after all at GC invite

Barely beaten not once but twice, Carly Loeffel didn't appear to be having a good time - or time good enough.

"The timers hated me," said an exasperated Loeffel, Cary-Grove's standout sophomore.

When the final results of the Grayslake Central girls track and field invitational were tabulated, however, Loeffel's disappointment turned into joy. She flashed a wide smile when it was announced that Cary-Grove (139 points) had edged Warren (133) for the championship Thursday night.

Carmel (71) was a distant third in the eight-team field, with Mundelein (67) fourth, Highland Park (58) fifth and Stevenson (55) sixth.

"Congratulate Cary-Grove with the victory," said Warren coach Ryan Dunn, whose Blue Devils won three of the four relays. "But I'm really proud of our girls for running as well as they did and coming away with a solid second place."

In a thrilling finish to the meet, Shannon Howell gave Carmel victory in the 1,600 relay by edging Loeffel in a photo finish.

Carmel's time was 4:06.9, compared to Cary-Grove's 4:07.0. Hilary Halford, Stephanie Richartz and Marybeth Berg ran the first three legs for Carmel. Kathy Wollney, Mel Jereb and Lindsay Young preceded Loeffel on Cary-Grove's 1,600 relay.

Just a few races earlier, Carmel freshman Megan Paul was declared the winner in the 400, with her time of 59.6 clipping Loeffel (60.1).

"She beat me by probably an inch," Loeffel said of Paul.

"But they said that she beat me by 7-10ths of a second. I don't think she beat me by that much."

For Paul, who's a nationally ranked 400 runner, it was her first outdoor meet of the season, as she's been slowed by nagging injuries, including an achy ankle.

Paul finished third in the 200 (27.3).

"Her prelim she ran a little faster," Carmel coach Jim Halford said. "She ran 25.3, which was too fast, I think, but it shows that she's not far."

Cary-Grove boasted individual race champs in Kelly McCoy in the 100 high hurdles (15.7) and freshman Sarah Ryan in a tight 100 dash (13.2).

JonTaye Bonds powered Warren, as she won the 200 (25.7) and long jump (16-2 1/4), while anchoring the victorious 400 (50.5) and 800 (1:41.8) relays.

Both sprint relays also featured DeNitra Brown, Lisa Burns and Jada Keys. On the final leg of the 400 relay, Bonds made up a deficit of what her teammate Brown estimated was 25 meters.

"I know if we all have support of each other, then we all do really well," Bonds said.

Warren also won the 3,200 relay (9:48.3) with Gabby Nystrom, Natalia Jovanovic, Julie Wiemerslage and Sarabeth Jones. The Blue Devils' Heather Olson sped to easy wins in the 800 (2:17.8) and 1,600 (5:16.2).

Warren also placed 1-2 in the 3,200 with Annie Brandes (12:14.5) and Alexa Williams (12:19.2).

"For me, from the distance standpoint, the biggest surprise was my two-milers coming in first and second," Dunn said. "That was great to see Annie Brandes and Alexa Williams go 1-2 and run just some great times."

Warren also got a victory from freshman Jessica Prince, who captured the discus (104-6).

Besides anchoring the winning 1,600 relay for Carmel, Howell won the 300 hurdles (47.1). Richartz pole-vaulted a winning 10 feet.

Mundelein's Crimea Baker took the triple jump (35-8 3/4) and placed second in the long jump behind Bonds.