The best yet to win a state title?

It is difficult to fathom that Shakeia Pinnick has never won an individual state track and field championship.

After all the Waubonsie Valley senior is an age-group national record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, and the Arizona State recruit is regarded as the No. 1 heptathlon performer in the nation. To those who have followed her the past four years, it is perplexing that Pinnick has never stood at the top of the podium.

"Pinnick is arguably one of the truest track and field athletes this state has ever produced," Wheaton Warrenville South coach Rob Harvey said. "The biggest problem with our sport, especially with elite athletes like Pinnick, is that they are judged by how many state championships they have won. That's not fair to (Pinnick)."

"The best thing I can say (about Pinnick) is that she has an unbelievable ability," Benet coach Scott Brooks said. "It is a talent that kids around here just don't have. There is a reason why she is the best heptathlete in the country. I think (her lack of a state title) is a testament to the caliber of athletes we have at the state level."

"There never seems to be a day when you say, 'Man, (Pinnick) was really off,' " Naperville North coach Chuck Hoff said. "She is always on."

Pinnick has one last weekend to snare her elusive state title. The Waubonsie Valley standout seeks to extend her haul at the state meet to double figures this weekend at the Class 3A girls track and field championship at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.

Pinnick, the three-time reigning Class AA state runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles, also will appear in the 100 hurdles as well as anchoring the Warriors' 800- and 1,600-meter relays.

"It would have been nice to win some of those (previous state) races, but my times are what matter most to me," Pinnick said. "I try not to think about (past results)."

With defending champion Natalie Tarter of Batavia out of the 300 hurdles due to a hamstring injury, all eyes will be focused on Pinnick.

"It's my favorite race," said Pinnick, who chose Arizona State over Arkansas, LSU, Wisconsin and Texas A&M. Pinnick is also a top seed in the 100 hurdles.

During her freshman and sophomore years in the state finals of the 300 hurdles, Pinnick was bested by Shalina Clarke and Egle Staisiunaite, who recorded the two fastest times in state history in the event.

"Tarter, Egle, Clarke," Harvey said. "Those are one-name kids."

Pinnick burst onto the scene in dramatic fashion, and her astonishing versatility culminated in state appearances in such disparate events as the long jump and 800-meter run. This weekend marks the first time in her storied high school tenure that she will not be in the 800 run.

"Honestly, I have to tell you that I'm not disappointed not to be running the 800," Pinnick said.

There are several other top-notch returning state veterans with legitimate state-championship aspirations this weekend. McKinzie Schulz has posted the lowest times in the state - set the same night at Gus Scott - in the 800 and 1,600 runs.

"I have never seen anyone do a comparable double, let alone a kid from my own team," Benet coach Scott Brooks said. "I think that Gus Scott race opened her eyes at how good she can really be in the mile. Those two times were both top 10 in the country."

At Lake Park Lindsay Flanagan, the Lancers' University of Washington-bound distance maven, returns for a final try at 3,200 meters after placing runner-up last year. Amanda Rafidia looks to seize the high jump crown for Lake Park.

Neuqua Valley senior Kristin Morrison seeks the Wildcats' fourth state championship in a jumping event this decade. Morrison is the No. 1 seed in the triple jump.

In Class 2A Libby O'Brien and her Glenbard South teammates bear close watch in the sprint relays.