Warren relay delivers at state meet
CHARLESTON - Warren has been expecting greatness from its 3,200 relay team all season.
In Fridays Class 3A IHSA girls track preliminaries, the Blue Devils met those expectations.
Sophomore Gabby Nystrom, senior Sarahbeth Jones, junior Natalia Jovanovic and senior Heather Olson combined to lead Warren to the top qualifying time of 9:11.15 at Eastern Illinois O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.
"We knew we could run that time," said Nystrom, who is hoping the Blue Devils can go even lower in Saturday's finals. "Oh yeah, especially with the competition."
Warren coach Ryan Dunn did not make the trip, with his wife due to deliver the couple's second child at any moment. But the Blue Devils delivered.
"It's a special day," Jones said. "I think Coach (Dunn) would be pretty proud of what we did. Maybe he'll name the baby, if it's a girl, after us."
Jovanovic and Olson finished what Nystrom and Jones started in setting up what they hope will be a special Saturday.
The finals begin at 9 a.m. featuring the parade of competitors. Field events in Classes 1A and 2A begin at 10 a.m., with finals on the track set to begin at 12:10 p.m.
Olson came back to qualify in the 1,600 (5:02.55), taking second in her heat behind Benet's McKinzie Schulz (5:00.39). The senior led for the first three laps, but Schulz used a surge with 300 meters remaining to nail down the victory.
"I took it out a little to slow," said Olson of her heat. "I kind of let it become a kicker's race. Tomorrow I'm looking to take it out faster."
JonTaye Bonds took it out fast in winning her heat of the 200 (25.28), the senior also qualified in the long jump (17-3.5).
"Oh wow, I was praying a lot before the race," said Bonds after the 200. "I've been working for this the whole year."
Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen also has been working for her share of the spotlight after enduring an injury plagued junior season.
This year the senior has met those expectations even after injuring her right quad before the 100 dash.
Allen enters Saturday with the second-best qualifying mark in the 100 (12.03) and fourth best in the 200 (25.24).
The Bears senior, who had her right quad bandaged during the 200, she gutted out a strong performance.
"I have to stop focusing on the quad," said Allen, who is shooting for a state title in both the sprints. "And start focusing on finishing first."
Carmel's 1,600 relay looked like it would not qualify after the first three laps, but freshman Megan Paul exploded over the final 200 meters to help the Corsairs finish third in their heat (3:56.81) and qualify for the finals.
Paul missed qualifying in the 100 and 400, but the freshman more than made up for that in the 1,600.
"I wanted to save some energy and kick it with everything I had for the finish," said Paul who combined with Hilary Halford, Marybeth Berg, and Shannon Howell to secure a spot in the finals. "I wanted to make it to finals in at least one race."
Howell made it in two after also qualifying in the 300 low hurdles (45.32) finishing third in her heat.
"It was a fast heat," said Howell, who had a cherry on her shoulder after leaning at the end. "I just stuck my shoulder out to cross the line."
Carmel's Stephanie Richartz qualified in the pole vault (10-6), as did Lbertyville's Kate Tunnicliff (10-6).
Mundelein's Crimea Baker qualified in the triple jump, hitting 36-10.5.
Class 2A
Antioch had 4 individuals qualify for Saturday's finals, including Sherika Facey (long jump), Brittany Deem (discus), Erin Schoenfelder (100 high hurdles) and Erin Poss (1,600).
Vernon Hills had a pair of state qualifiers, Jamie Rucks in the shot put and Kelley Gallagher in the 1,600.
Lakes' Amber Larson qualified in the discus and Ariel Butzine in the 800.