Palatine rebounds, sectional streak alive

The weather was not looking very promising Friday at the start of the Class 3A Palatine girls track and field sectional

Neither were the host Pirates.

But Mother Nature gave the crowd at Chic Anderson stadium a pass and Palatine rebounded from a shaky start to nail down its 11th sectional title with 106.5 points.

Palatine qualified for next weekend's state meet in Charleston in nine events and advanced all four of its relays to win its seventh consecutive sectional title.

Barrington qualified in 10 events to take second with 83 points, followed by Warren (68), Carmel (64), and Lake Zurich (44).

"We started out a little flat but we came through," said Palatine coach Steve Currins, whose team won the Mid-Suburban League title last week. "We advanced everything I thought we could, now we have to do something."

Palatine survived a shaky first round in the throws, which included two scratches in the discus. The Pirates then shined in the finals as Martha Shepard hit a school record to win the shot put (45-2) with Lauren Orris (38-10) taking second.

Orris, who scratched on her first two throws in the discus, came alive in the finals to take first with a throw of 138-10, followed by teammate Katie MacFabe (133-09).

"Today was kind of hard with the weather conditions and the change in schedule," said Shepard. "It was a little hard to get into it, and we struggled, but we went for it in the finals."

Freshman Laura Schweikert had her own opening jitters, finishing third and failing to qualify in the 100 dash. But the freshman came back to anchor the 800 relay (1:44.6) and 1,600 relay (4:00.1) to first-place finishes.

"I was disappointed with the 100," said Schweikert, "But after that I was focusing in on the relays."

Junior Ruth Allen never lost her focus after helping the Pirates to qualify with a second-place finish in 3,200 relay (9:23.1). The junior then led from start to finish in capturing first place in the 800 (2:16.3) and she also led off the 1,600 relay.

Sophomore Sarah McIntosh advanced with a second-place finish in the 3,200 (11:00.3) and a fourth in the 1,600 (5:11.3). Sophomore Becca Sund qualified with a fifth place in the 1,600 (5:16.7).

Palatine also qualified its 400 relay to next week's Class 3A state meet at Eastern Illinois.

Barrington proved it's ready as senior Rebecca Tracy (4:56.3) held off a hard-charging Heather Olson (4:57.6) of Warren to capture the 1,600.

Tracy and Olson finished 2-4 in the finals of Class AA last season and the two seniors look ready for an encore.

"She was on me the whole time," said Tracy of her showdown with Olson. "I knew she was there and I needed to go, I know I still have that kick at the end."

Barrington's Anna Etherington held off Fremd's Bizzy Mellado in capturing first in the pole vault. Both Etherington and Mellado cleared 11-6, but the Fillies' senior did not have a miss on her attempt.

"It was actually perfect after it stopped raining," said Etherington, who cleared a school record despite the conditions, "We didn't think we were going until tomorrow, so maybe that relaxed me."

Senior Maureen Doyle captured first for the Fillies in the high jump (5-3).

Barrington also qualified its 400, 1,600 and 3,200 relays, and Ella Tracy qualified in the 3,200, Jorie Frey in the 400, and Jenny Schnack in the 200.

Robin Bingham and Lela DiMonte went 3-4 to qualify for the Fillies in the discus.

Olson finished second for Warren in the 1,600 and the senior anchored the Blue Devils to first place in the 3,200 relay (9:17.8).

Olson combined with Gabby Nystrom, Sarah Beth Jones and Natalia Jovanich in posting a season-best mark.

"This is the best way to end it, going down with a relay," said Olson, who challenged Tracy in the 1,600. "It was a tough race, but it was really fun."

Nystrom (2:18.8) and Jones (2:20.5) went 2-6 to qualify in the 800. Jon Taye Bonds qualified by taking second in the long jump (16-7.5) and third in the 200 (25.6) for Warren.

The Blue Devils also qualified their 400 and 800 relays

Shannon Howell took first in the 300 low hurdles (45.5) and third in the 100 high hurdles (15.7). Freshman Megan Paul took first in the 400 (58.1) and second in both the 100 (12.3) and 200 (25.5) to pace Carmel.

Paul battled Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen in the 100 and 200 and has said the experience should pay off.

"It's fun and she has helped me get better," said Paul of her battle with Allen. "I'm feeling pretty confident. She (Allen) has helped me prepare for state and what I will see down there."

Hilary Halford (800) and Marybeth Berg (400) also qualified for Carmel.

Carmel also qualified its 1,600 relay.

Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen showed she is ready for state by taking first in the 100 (11.9), 200 (24.9) and anchoring the Bears' 400 relay (48.8) to victory.

"I feel good, I'd like running like this next weekend," said Allen, who is healthy after an injury plagued season last year. "I'll be good to go, this was a good year."

Herel Hughes qualified for LZ in the 100 high hurdles and Julia Rossdeutcher in the pole vault. The Bears also qualified their 1,600 relay.

Olivia Jones took first in the 3,200 (10:57.6) and third in the 1,600 (5:06.6) to lead Buffalo Grove. Senior Nicole LaMantia added a first-place finish in the triple jump (35-11.5) for the Bison.

Fremd Jamie Notaro took first in the long jump (17-2) to lead the Vikings.