Pinnick, Waubonsie run away from UEC field
The final leg of the 1,600-meter relay was a coronation for Waubonsie Valley in general and a victory lap for Shakeia Pinnick in particular.
The Warriors' superstar, who earlier captured three individual events at the Upstate Eight Conference girls track and field championship, did not have a pursuer within 75 meters when she concluded the final act of her four-year historic league run.
But Waubonsie Valley is far from a one-person show, and the squad displayed depth, balance and excellence throughout all 18 events to win its second conference title in the last three years. Waubonsie Valley won six individual titles and all three sprint relays to amass 148 points Thursday night in Naperville. St. Charles East, with Lizzy Hynes offering a brilliant testimony of her own in her showdown with Lake Park standout Lindsay Flanagan in the 3,200-meter run, was a distant second with 94 points.
Lake Park, which excelled in the field, edged out host and defending champion Neuqua Valley for third. Bartlett did likewise to St. Charles North for fifth place.
"It's never easy, but we had some things go our way," Waubonsie Valley coach Jim Braun said. "The big thing is, we finally started to get everyone healthy."
Having Pinnick to anchor the squad does not hurt. The Arizona State-bound jack-of-all trades put on yet another memorable show in her final league championship. Pinnick began the night with a dominating 100-meter hurdle performance in 14.63 seconds; the senior then never looked back in dusting the field at 800 meters and ended her individual conference career with a sizzling 43.82-second time in the 300 hurdles.
Pinnick is the three-time defending state runner-up in the longer hurdles.
"I didn't feel like I had to kill myself," Pinnick said after anchoring the Warriors' 1,600 relay to victory in a season low. "I just tried to get the win (in all my individual events). I'm very pleased with this team. I think we can do some good things at state."
Da'sha Patton was also apart of four winning performances for the Warriors. Patton edged teammate Michelle Higgins, who was second to Pinnick in the 100 hurdles, by a quarter-inch in the long jump and won the open 200 meters. Patton also teamed with sisters Morolake and Morikae Akinoson in the Warriors' dominating 400- and 800-meter relays.
"(The Akinosons) give us a tremendous 1-2 punch in the sprints," Braun said.
Morolake, a freshman, also won the 100 dash, with her junior sister placing third. Lake Park junior Amanda Rafidia is also staking claims to elite state status after claiming the loaded high jump field with a winning effort of 5 feet, 6 inches.
"The focus has to be perfect (to get to 5-8)," Rafidia said. "That's my goal right now, but as soon as I get it I'm going to keep going."
Sarah Drozdowski won the discus and was second in the shot put for the Lancers, who also received first-place pole vault effort by Rachel Kreuzer. Kristin Morrison continued the Neuqua Valley jumping heritage with a 36-91/2 championship leap in the triple jump.
In the opening 3,200 relay senior Meagan Hynes led the Wildcats' quartet to its fourth consecutive conference title in the event. The most anticipated event of the night came at 3,200 meters, and Lizzy Hynes continues her quest.
The St. Charles East Boston College-bound four-year star made a preseason vow to showcase her skills at two miles, and she has not disappointed.
Pitted against nationally ranked Flanagan, Hynes shadowed the University of Washington recruit for the first four laps. Hynes took command on the fifth lap and never trailed in posting the lowest time in the state this year with her convincing 10:32.2. Flanagan, the reigning Class AA state runner-up, was second in an equally brilliant 10.41.72.
The third-place runner, St. Charles East freshman Mallory Abel, was 55 seconds behind Flanagan.
"I knew what to expect," Hynes said. "Everything has just been clicking for me, mentally and physically. The competition is there, and the weather has been on my side. It's nice to have someone to run with."
Buoyed by Hynes' lone race, the Saints took their cue from the senior leader and responded accordingly. Junior sprinter Danielle Kuzniewski was the Saints' guiding light, placing second in the 100 and 200 meters.
Kuzniewski also anchored the Saints' two sprint relays to runner-up places. Allie Devor and Maya Rittmanic were equally consistent in the field for St. Charles East.
Devor won the shot put and took second in the discus; Rittmanic was third in both the long and high jumps. "I'm really happy with how I did," said Kuzniewski, who teamed with Jess Nier, Rittmanic, Heather Mende and Kelsey Gentry in the Saints' sprint relays. "We're really hoping to make state-qualifying time."
"Our team as a whole is really performing well," said Nier, who was third in the 300 hurdles.
"(St. Charles East is) going to score some points at the state meet, especially with (Hynes)," Braun said. "She is an amazing athlete, an elite athlete."
Jenna Loynachan also went out in style for St. Charles North. The senior won the open 400 meters after a lightning-fast start.
"People were telling me that I had to go out fast," said Loynachan. "This was my last chance to experiment in my 400 tactics before the sectional."
Coral Cass and freshman Jessica Scheets were mainstays for the North Stars, who also received commendable finishes from pole-vault stalwarts Meredith Beird and Danielle Goebbert.