Girls track state preview
Where: Eastern Illinois University O'Brien Stadium in Charleston
When: Friday preliminary field events 10:45 a.m., running events at 1:10 p.m. Saturday final parade of competitors at 9 a.m., followed by field events at 11 a.m.; running events begin at 12:10 p.m.
Team outlook: A wide-open field for the Class 3A team title. Defending state champion East St. Louis was favored entering the season but the competition has closed in. Belleville West, Hinsdale Central, and O'Fallon all have shots at the three team trophies. Palatine is a force to reckon with. The Pirates are strong in the throws, distance, and relays. Palatine looked very strong in winning its own sectional last week, and it would be no surprise to see the Pirates take home a trophy. Hoffman Estates won its first sectional title at Streamwood last weekend. The Hawks, who also sport a very balanced team featuring some talented sprinters, will be shooting for high state finish. Prospect won the Loyola sectional title and is strong in the throws and distance. Barrington and Conant always show up big at state.
Individuals to watch:
3,200 relay - Warren (9:18.04) has the top seed time and a very solid group. Palatine has been dropping times each week. Schaumburg has an unchanged core group that is in the medal hunt. Prospect took second last year and should also challenge for a medal. Barrington and Fremd also qualified.
400 relay - Belleville West enters with the top seed (47.37). Hoffman Estates has the 13th fastest time (49.54), and leads the local teams including Conant, Wheeling, Palatine, Barrington and Hersey.
3,200 - St. Charles East's Lizzy Hynes and Lake Park's Lindsay Flanagan will set the pace. But Buffalo Grove's Olivia Jones, Palatine's, Sarah McIntosh and Elk Grove's Gina Erbacci should be serious medal contenders. Christina Gastfield (Rolling Meadows), Melissa Schmidt (Hoffman), Annette White (Prospect), Salena Clohisy (Hersey) and Elizabeth Tracy (Barrington) are also in the field.
100 high hurdles Niles North's Flo Mafany and Waubonsie Valley's Shakeia Pinnick have the top seed times.
100 dash - Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen (12.14) has the top seed time, but Hoffman's Emily D'Amico (12.34) and Conant's Angela Herrmann (12.34) will be looking to advance to Saturday's medal round. The field also includes Klaudia Susul (Leyden), Kelly Hendricks (St. Viator) and Tia Roberson (Hersey).
800 - Palatine's Ruth Allen enters with the second-best seed time 2:16.3, with Schaumburg's Karen Lesiewicz (2:17.8) also in serious contention. Jamie Johnson (Leyden). Erin McGrath (BG), and Kasey Krum (Prospect) are also in the field.
800 relay - Belleville West enters with the top seed time of 1:41.66. Palatine (1:44.84), Hoffman Estates (1:46.64) and Conant (1:47.34) are looking to crack the top nine.
400 dash - Belleville West's Yolanda Suggs (55.96) enters with the top seed time. Barrington's Jorie Frey (59.24) and Leyden's Klaudia Susul (61.44) are in a fast field.
300 low hurdles - Mafany (43.99) and Pinnick (44.04) will battle it out. Conant's Sarah Gorden (45.24) enters with the fourth-best time.
1,600 - State title watch. Barrington's Rebecca Tracy (4:56.54) enters with the top seed time. The senior, who finishedg second in state last year, owns a finishing kick that could prove the difference. Olivia Jones (Buffalo Grove), Sarah McIntosh (Palatine), Britten Petrey (Schaumburg), and Amanda Whowell (Rolling Meadows) are all medal threats. The loaded field also includes Kalli Dalton (Conant), Melissa Schmidt (Hoffman), Becca Sund (Palatine), Annette White (Prospect) and Megan Gojney (Hersey)
200 dash - Belleville West's Suggs (25.02) has the top seed. Cairesse Ayers (Hoffman) and Jenny Schnack (Barrington) will also be in the field.
1,600 relay - Hinsdale Central (3:58.14) has the top time, but Palatine (4:00.34) Barrington (4:02.34), and Schaumburg (4;02.84) all have the talent to score high.
Long jump - Kaniece Pitts (Oak Park-River Forest) has top jump 18-10.75. Jada Stotts (17-7.5) and Simone Hawkins (17-4.25) give Hoffman a 1-2 punch. Fremd's Jamie Notaro (17-2) will be seeking a state medal.
Triple jump - Neuqua Valley's Kristin Morrison has the top jump (38-7.5). Buffalo Grove's Nicole LeMantia will also be in the field.
High jump - Glenbrook South's Ellen Chapman had the top sectional jump at 5-6. Barrington's Maureen Doyle cleared 5-3.
Shot put - Another title watch. Palatine's Martha Shepard enters with the top mark of 45-2. The Pirates senior has been consistent all season. Precious Ogunleye (Hoffman), Emily Gruendel (Prospect) and Lauren Orris (Palatine) will also be in the hunt for state medals. Shaneese Wilson (Maine West) and Samantha Sturm (Prospect) are also in the field.
Discus - Oak Park-River Forest's Brittany Smith has the top sectional mark (147-11). Lauren Orris (Palatine), Katie MacFabe (Palatine), Samantha Sturm (Prospect) and Precious Ogunleye (Hoffman) are all serious medal contenders. Jenna Verity (Conant), Robin Bingham (Barrington) and Lela DiMonte (Barrington) are also in the field.
Pole vault - Lincoln-Way East's Megan Weller cleared 11-9 to secure the top seed. But Barrington's Anna Etherington and Fremd's Bizzy Mellado both cleared 11-6. Christie Kollias (Prospect) and Erin Ward (Prospect) both cleared 10-3 to qualify for the Knights.
- Michael Eaken