Field day for Palatine at Class 3A track meet

CHARLESTON - There is nothing better than a plan succeeding, and Palatine put all the pieces together on Saturday's at the Class 3A girls track meet at Eastern Illinois in Charleston.

Palatine coach Steve Currins always knew his throwers would carry the Pirates this season.

And they did just that, capped by senior Martha Shepard winning a state title in the shot put, lifting Palatine to a tie for second place with Waubonsie Valley with 41 points.

Belleville West captured the inaugural Class 3A state title with 53 points, led by Yolanda Suggs, who took first in the 100 (12.06), 400 (55.01), and 200 (24.53).

But it was the Palatine throwers who sparkled on an overcast but warm day in front of a large crowd at O'Brien Stadium.

Palatine won its seventh state trophy and first since 2005 as the throwers combined to score 27 of the Pirates' 41 points in a dominant performance.

"The throwers carried us," said Currins whose team won its third second place trophy. "By far the best throwing group we've had."

That is quite the understatement.

Martha Shepard started the day off by winning the state title in the shot put (45-2). The senior hit her mark on Friday, holding up with barely a challenge on Saturday. Last year Shepard finished fifth in the shot put in Class AA.

"Always what I wanted," said Shepard, whose best mark on Saturday was 43-2.5 on her last throw. "I sort of used that 45 as a crutch - but I'm very glad I got it."

Shepard completed an undefeated season by capturing the state meet.

"You couldn't ask for a harder worker," said Currins who recalled Shepard's first state experience when she hit in the low 30's. "She's done whatever she needed to do and kept improving"

But Shepard had help, as senior Lauren Orris took fourth with a career best 41-2.5 in the shot and followed it up with a fifth-place finish in the discus (131-9).

"Our goal was to score 30 points this meet from the throwers," said Orris of her double duty. "We were t hree short, but we did our best and I'm really proud."

Senior Katie MacFabe completed the day by taking fourth in the discus (133-10) and securing her first state medal.

"We knew what was expected of us," said MacFabe. "We wanted to do whatever we could to help."

And the three sent retiring throwing coach Joe Petrica out on a high note.

But the Pirates also did it on the track, especially Ruth Allen.

The junior combined with sophomore Sarah McIntosh, sophomore Becca Sund, and senior Kristal Pitts in leading the Pirates from behind to take second in the 3,200 relay (9:10.89).

Allen ran the anchor leg in 2:13 passing Hinsdale Central (9:11.44) and York (9:15.37) to nail down second.

Allen came back to secure fourth place in the 800 (2:15.02) to complete the Pirates' scoring.

"We wanted to start off with a good day in the relay and set the mood for the team," said Allen who then gutted out the 800. "I was just focusing on one race at a time, and I wanted to stick with leader as long as I could."

"Down here the pressure is so high," added Currins, "You don't realize the pressure that builds up, but the girls came through."

None more so than Shepard, who not only left with a state title, but also a state trophy.

"This is what we wanted," added Shepard, "It's a fantastic way to end the season."

And a high school career.