Special delivery by Warren's 3,200 relay

CHARLESTON - Warren coach Ryan Dunn had to skip the Class 3A girls track and field state meet this weekend. Dunn was on call with his wife expecting the arrival of their second child at any moment.

But the Blue Devils coach received a surprise delivery on Saturday by his 3,200-meter relay team at Eastern Illinois O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.

Junior Gabby Nystrom, senior Sarahbeth Jones, junior Natalia Jovanovic and senior Heather Olson combined to lead Warren to a state title with a time of 9:05.93, just off the state record (9:04.1) set by Barrington last year in Class AA.

On an overcast but warm day, Bloomington Central Catholic took first in Class 1A with 36 points, Rock Island (49.50 points) nipped Springfield Southeast (48 points) for the 2A title, and Belleville West secured the state title in 3A with 53 points.

But it was the Blue Devils' performance in the 3,200 relay that had the large crowd buzzing early.

"It was fantastic," said Nystrom who led off the relay. "From the beginning of the season we've seen our times, we were like 'Oh wow.' "

Warren had itself quite a battle with Hinsdale Central, York, and Palatine, with the Blue Devils trailing Hinsdale halfway through the race.

But Jovanovic, who played soccer her first two years before joining the track team, gave Warren a lead on the third leg which it would not surrender.

"We just needed a fourth leg," said Jones of the addition of Jovanovic this season. "With Natalia coming in from soccer, it was a blessing."

Jovanovic handed the baton to Olson with the lead, and the senior star surged from the start, running a 2:13 split in pulling away from Palatine (9:10.89) to secure the victory.

"She (Olson) knew this was a perfect chance to get a state title," said Jovanovic of Olson. "And she did not let go of it."

Olson has been chasing the elusive state title since her freshman year, and the senior found it in the relay.

"We've been pretty excited about the times," said Olson, who came back to finish fourth in the 1,600 (4:58.83). "But you have to put it together on the day of the finals. We were cautious, hoping it would come together."

And it certainly did for the Blue Devils.

Senior JonTaye Bonds added another medal for Warren by securing seventh place in the 200 (25.37).

Lake Zurich's Olivia Allen had her own quest. The senior entered the weekend with high hopes, and despite reinjuring her right quad, she came through.

Allen challenged for the lead in the 100 with Belleville W est's Yolanda Suggs, but felt a tweak in her quad before finishing third with a time of 12.10.

The senior then capped an amazing career by picking up her fourth state medal with a fifth-place finish in the 200 (25.23).

"I had it in the 100 before I felt the tweak," said Allen of her performance. "But I'm proud of all I've accomplished."

Carmel has been waiting to unleash it 1,600 relay for the entire season, and the Corsairs did that on Saturday.

Junior Hilary Halford, sophomore Marybeth Berg, junior Shannon Howell, and freshman Megan Paul combined to lead Carmel to third place with a time of 3:54.48.

Carmel was sitting in seventh place entering the final leg, but Paul exploded the final 100 meters to nail down third.

"I was thinking, 'I can't go out too fast,'" said Paul of the final leg. "I wanted to save it for the final 100 and finish strong."

Howell added a ninth-place medal in the 300 low hurdles (45.54) to conclude a breakout season.

"I've been working on endurance and technique," said Howell of her improvement. "It made all the difference."

Crimea Baker secured a ninth-place medal for Mundelein in the triple jump (36-10.5)

Antioch lived up to its billing in 2A. The Sequoits' Erin Poss took third in the 3,200 (11:20.49) and came back to take fifth in the 1,600 (5:15.76).

"It was a little hot but I felt good," said Poss after the 3,200. "I wanted to stick with the leader and let her pull me."

Senior Brittany Deem took fourth in the discus (121-03) and Erin Schoenfelder took eighth in the 100 high hurdles (15.20) to add to Antioch's success.

Senior Jamie Rucks took eighth in the shot put to lead Vernon Hills. Rucks hit 37-6.25 on her last throw on Saturday to nail down her medal.

"Yesterday I was real nervous, but I was much calmer today," said Rucks who was a state qualifier last season. "I think last year's experience helped."

Senior Danielle Dickman aided the Cougars by taking ninth place in the 3,200 (11:41.19) and Kelly Gallagher took 10th place in the 1,600 (5:27.75).

Lakes' Ariel Butzine finished eighth last year in Class AA in the 800; this year the senior stepped it up in picking up second-place medal in the 800 (2:15.06).

Butzine was hoping to take home the title but Metamora's Amanda Duvendack set a grueling early pace that dashed those hopes.

"It went out a little faster than I thought," said Butzine of the early pace. "Overall I'm happy with second."

Lakes' Amber Larsen finished 10th in the discus.