Primed for a grand finale
CHARLESTON - Shakeia Pinnick and her Waubonsie Valley teammates have laid the foundation for a perfect going-away present for coach Jim Braun.
On opening-day action of the girls Class 3A state track and field championships at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium, Pinnick had the look of a champion.
The Warriors' Arizona State-bound standout eased to victories in both hurdles races and anchored the 800- and 1,600-meter relays to their top times of the year.
Michelle Higgins and Da'sha Patton earned berths in the long jump for Waubonsie Valley.
"I think we did about as much as we could to stay in the hunt (for a team trophy)," said Braun, who is leaving Waubonsie Valley to take over the program at Metea Valley.
Pinnick had the lowest time in the 100 hurdles and the second-fastest race in the 300 hurdles.
But she was more interested in her relay teammates.
"I think I was most happy with the 4 by 2," Pinnick said. "I'm most happy for them. We have a lot of young girls who are here for the first time."
Pinnick was in a different world in dusting the field in the 100 hurdles in 14.35 seconds.
The senior was never headed in her specialty event - the 300 hurdles, for which she is the three-time defending state runner-up.
"The running part (of the longer hurdles) was OK, but form and technique need to be better," Pinnick said.
Benet junior McKinzie Schulz also set the stage for a dramatic duplication of former Bloomington star Ashley Verplank. Schulz will attempt the 800-1,600 double that Verplank achieved last year.
The Redwings' star was brilliant in the 800 meters, setting a new school record in 2:11.18, more than three seconds faster than her closest competitor.
"I felt really good in the mile," said Schulz, timed in 5:00.39. "I'm just going to let everything out (today). We'll see what happens. You can't control other people."
Lake Park has two potential champions taking dead aim today: Lindsay Flanagan was runner-up at 3,200 meters last year, and Amanda Rafidia is stoked for a dramatic flourish in the high jump.
"I'm shooting for 5-(feet)-8, and it would be great to get 5-9," Rafidia said. "I've got some good competition out there, so it should be good."
Downers Grove South sophomore Tori Franklin leads Neuqua Valley senior Kristin Morrison after the first day of the triple jump.
Hinsdale Central has its eyes on a trophy after leading all area programs with eight finalists.
Kamaria Huggins' late push in the open 400 meters put the Naperville North in the finals.
"All I wanted to do was take down the stagger (against Whitney Young favorite Raena Rhone)," Huggins said. "I knew if I could do it that I had a good chance at finals."
Glenbard South snared the top time in both the 400- and 1,600-meter relays as anchor Libby O'Brien qualified in the open 400 for the fourth straight year.