Scouting Tri-Cities girls track
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Troy Kerber (19th year)
Last year: Second in the Suburban Catholic Conference; tied for fourth at Class 2A Glenbard South sectional; two state qualifiers
Top returning athletes: Allison Alosio, jr., hurdles; Nicole Bohr, jr., sprints, middle distance; Lauren Buba, sr., sprints; Katie Colyer, so., sprints; Lena Groom, jr., hurdles; Bianca Guzaldo, sr., sprints, jumps, pole vault; Emily Schwender, so., distance; Anna Sestak, so., middle distance, distance; Bailey Shemenski, so., distance; Megan Sickle, jr., hurdles; Jessica Wesley, sr., throws; Ashley Wilk, so., sprints, jumps.
Promising newcomers: Corinne Groom, fr., distance; Keri Hinterlong, fr., middle distance; Kelli Klein, so., middle distance; Jenna Koerner, fr., sprints, middle distance; Robyn Lee, sr., distance.
Outlook: Aurora Central Catholic suffered a grievous blow when three athletes, including lone returning state qualifier Natalie Perry (open 200 meters), transferred to West Aurora. But Kerber is optimistic the current squad can overcome the departures to his alma mater. The Chargers' underclassmen, particularly Sestak and freshman Koerner, will be asked to shoulder the program this spring. "(We) return 13 (athletes) with considerable varsity experience," Kerber said. "Jenna Koerner heads a strong underclassmen group that will be a force in the making by the end of the outdoor season." The strength of the program will be found in its middle-distance and distance contingent as the 3,200-meter relay has long been a source of pride to the school. With several possibilities among the likes of Sestak, Koerner, Bohr, Shemenski, Hinterlong, Klein and Lee, the longest of the four relay quartets is within downstate reach for Aurora Central. In addition, the 1,600 relay has been immeasurably bolstered with the return of Bohr, who was injured last year. Aurora Central was second in the conference last year to neighborhood rival Rosary, and the expanded Suburban Christian Conference is set for its inaugural season in track and field. "ACC would like to place in the top three in conference and qualify some athletes for state again," said Kerber, who has 40 girls in the program overall.
Aurora Christian
Coach: Dr. Jeff Schutt (sixth year)
Last year: Seventh in the Private School League; ninth at the Class 1A Rockford Christian sectional; one state qualifier.
Top returning athletes: Amy Berger, jr., middle distance, distance; Sarina Oleson, so., middle distance, distance.
Promising newcomers: Mackenzie Bollinger, fr., sprints, jumps; Anna Pape, fr., middle distance, distance.
Outlook: The cyclical nature of high school sports is dramatically underscored by the developments in the girls track and field program at Aurora Christian. The Eagles were a state runner-up last decade in the smaller of the two-class format, but Dr. Schutt and his staff have had declining numbers in recent years. "We have only 13 girls in the program," Dr. Schutt said on the eve of the outdoor season. To make matters worse, its sole state qualifier, Lauren Heck in the pole vault, transferred to Yorkville. The team received further bad news when Oleson was lost with a broken foot during basketball season. The sophomore, who specializes in the 800 and 1,600 meters, is expected back midway through the season. "With such small numbers, we are going to be concentrating on improving our individual performances," Dr. Schutt said. The program did receive some welcome news last weekend, however. Bollinger not only qualified for the triple jump at the Indoor Prep Top Times, the unofficial indoor state championship, but also won the competition in Class 1A by more than a foot with her 35-feet, 6-inch effort. With Oleson, Berger and Pape all having experience at 800 meters, the Eagles could theoretically form a legitimate state-qualifying quartet in the 3,200 relay.
Batavia
Coach: Chad Hillman (third year)
Last year: Second in the Western Sun Conference; sixth at the Class 3A Streamwood sectional; three state qualifiers.
Top returning athletes: Hailey Clabough, so., hurdles; Lexy Dever, so., sprints; Ashley Gladis, jr., sprints, middle distance; Julia Gross, sr., sprints; Becca Herrmann, sr., sprints; Tamar Norville, so., sprints, jumps; Kaytlin St. Clair, so., middle distance, hurdles; Alexis Sampson, sr., middle distance; Haleigh Theuerkauf, so., throws; Kathryn Warner, sprints, hurdles, pole vault.
Promising newcomers: Jamie Lunberg, fr., hurdles; Bari Robinson, fr., distance; Skylar Schoen, fr., pole vault; Rachael Spalding, fr., distance.
Outlook: Batavia was considered a potential state champion last year in the first year of the three-class system, only to have its aspirations derailed by a rash of injuries to superstar Natalie Tarter (Wisconsin), Sampson and Warner. The latter two were all-state performers their sophomore years and return to recapture their past brilliance. "The expectations are for (Sampson and Warner) to continue where they were before their injuries," Hillman said. "We want to get them to the state meet and hopefully have them improve upon what they did before." Sampson is an elite 800 runner; Warner has uncommon versatility on the track and in the field as a long sprinter, hurdler and in the pole vault. Gross had a commendable junior campaign, solidifying the Bulldogs' sprint relays. The Bulldogs' sophomore class is particularly deep; Theuerkauf has emerged as a leading contender in the shot put after obliterating her personal-record by nearly four feet in the shot put. "She has come a long way in a short time," Hillman said. "I anticipate she will be very good (in both the shot put and discus)." Norville, on the other hand, comes from a long line of outstanding female siblings who excel in the sport. Her older sister Melissa earned two medals at the state meet last year. The swan song of the Western Sun Conference has all the ingredients of a memorable campaign: archrival Geneva is the defending champion, and the smaller schools - Rochelle, Yorkville, Sycamore - are among the most talented in the state in Class 2A. "We know (Geneva is) very good," Hillman said. "We always have a goal of contending for (conference), no matter what everyone else has back. We're never going to compete for second place."
Geneva
Coach: Peter Raak (fifth year)
Last year: Western Sun Conference champion; second at the Class 3A Streamwood sectional; tied for 10th at state meet.
Top returning athletes: Megan Brady, jr., distance; Alissa Dappas, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Tess Ehrhardt, jr., middle distance; Rachel Hammond, jr., middle distance; Kaitlyn Kanarowski, so., sprints, pole vault; Erin Kluck, jr., sprints, pole vault; Erica Lagger, so., distance; Cory McLauchlan, so., distance; Erica Miller, sr., sprints, middle distance; Allie Pace, sr., sprints, pole vault; Diana Ramanauskas, so., hurdles; Kelly Shogren, sr., distance; Kristi Shogren, so., distance; Liza Tauscher, jr., distance; Mady Temple, so., sprints, jumps; Taylor Wickware, jr., sprints, middle distance.
Promising newcomers: Emma Anderson, fr., distance; Abby Cushnie, jr., sprints; Isabeau Guglielmo, fr., sprints, jumps; Megan Malone, so., throws.
Outlook: Even with some unexpected departures, the Geneva program continues its inexorable climb toward elite status in the state. The Vikings had a sophomore- and junior-dominated squad last year that stormed to the Western Sun title, runner-up status at the Streamwood sectional and top-10 inclusion at the state meet. Miller, the Northern Illinois-bound sprinter leads the Vikings' versatile, athletic and committed group. With fellow all-state returnees Pace, second in the pole vault, and Dappas, a three-event state finalist, Geneva is poised for another hardware-laden season. "We had an extremely strong team last year," Raak said. "It's nice to have a group of seniors who have been in the program for three or four years. We have a lot of talented seniors." The Vikings' balance is one of its trademarks; the team combines its ability to score in all 18 events with complementary athletes who can double place at big-time tournaments. Kelly Whitley and Meghan Heuer are no longer with the Vikings' storied distance program, but there is still ample ammunition in the arsenal. The Vikings' combination of long sprinters and middle-distance runners are equally potent as judged by all-state relay teams at 1,600 and 3,200 meters. The team must also contend with the loss of Sammi Hill, one of the sprint-relay stalwarts who also excelled at triple jump, who elected to play soccer this spring. "We have three of the four back (in the fourth-place mile relay with Miller, Wickware and Dappas)," Raak said. "It's all a matter of finding a fourth (leg)."
Kaneland
Coach: Doug Ecker (first year)
Last year: Fourth in the Western Sun Conference; third at the Class 2A Sterling sectional; 10th at state meet.
Top returning athletes: Kris Bowen, jr., middle distance; Kelly Evers, so., middle distance; Lisa Roberson, sr., middle distance; Andie Strang, jr., middle distance; Sara Wallace, sr., pole vault.
Other athletes in program: Gabby Aguirre, fr.; Athina Ajazi, jr.; Tesa Alderman, so.; Jenna Bicos, fr.; Sydney Bilotta, jr.; Maggie Brundige, fr.; Angalia Carbonara, fr.; Ashley Castellanos, fr.; Brianne Claypool, fr.; Maczenzie Curran, jr.; Elicia DiBella, sr.; Laken Delahanty, fr.; Ashley Diddell, so.; Abby Dodis, fr.; Ariana Espino, jr.; Kelsey Gould, so.; Tara Groen, sr.; Brooke Harner, fr.; Elizabeth Hylland, jr.; Lisa Jennings, fr.; Nicole Ketza, so.; Jordan Krawczyk, jr.; Jordyn Lawrence, so.; Amanda Lesak, fr.; Hillary Luse, fr.; Sydney Luse, fr.; Emily Maki, fr.; Mel Mazuc, sr.; Kelly McCarthy, fr.; Megan Mendoza, sr.; Savanah Miles, so.; Emma Moon, fr.; Grace Mozdren, fr.; Alyssa Nolte, fr.; Katie Ogbourkiri, fr.; Keara Palpant, jr.; Brooke Patterson, jr.; Lexie Pniewski, sr.; Alyson Rehr, jr.; Nicole Rymarz, jr.; April Smith, so.; Grace Snyder, so.; Meggen Southern, so.; Briana Stark, jr.; Jessica Stouffer, jr.; Carolina Tovar, so.; Shannon Wallace, so.; Jessica Woodward, fr.; Cara Zagel, jr.
Outlook: Kaneland was one of four conference schools to finish in the top 11 in the Class 2A state meet last year, but the Knights no longer have the most accomplished athlete in program history as Lindsay Gierke, the sprinter and hurdler extraordinaire is now at Northern Iowa. Kaneland will instead rebuild around its 3,200 relay quartet of Bowen, Evers, Roberson and Strang, who all return after earning all-state status at Charleston last spring. Strang, who was injured during basketball season, also qualified in the open 800 meters. Wallace is the Knights' other returning state qualifier by virtue of her performance in the pole vault last spring. In the final months of the Western Sun Conference, the Knights will seek to build a foundation from their extensive underclass roster.
Rosary
Coach: Vic Meade (20th year)
Last season: Suburban Catholic Conference champion; Class 2A Glenbard South champion; 21st place at state meet.
Top returning athletes: Kelly Agneu, jr., hurdles; Anna Deufel, jr., sprints, jumps; Eva Doyle, sr., sprints, pole vault; Meghan Gannon, sr., middle distance; Kelly Kieffer, jr., distance; Amy Kus, jr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Emily Launer, so., distance; Jessica Mejia, jr., sprints, jumps; Grace Petry, so., sprints, jumps, pole vault; Aly Rindone, jr., sprints; Emma Witte, jr., middle distance.
Outlook: Despite several conference championships in the past decade, Rosary had always struggled as a smaller Class AA school in the two-class state tournament. But the Royals had a breakthrough year last season, winning its first sectional title in program history as a middle-tier school in the new three-class state arrangement. "I don't know if that is possible again this year," Meade cautioned. With all-state standouts Nora Bowe (state runner-up high jump) and Monica English (throws) both graduating, Rosary will lean on the dynamic one-two junior punch of Deufel and Kus this spring. Deufel posted some of the fastest times and long jumps in the Class 2A indoor season, while Kus, third in state in Class AA as a freshman high jumper two years ago, hopes to regain her form in the event after ankle injuries limited her effectiveness in the event last year. Kus is also a sensational 300-meter hurdler and a main cog in the Royals' sprint relays. But Meade realizes long-term success this spring will have to come from events other than the two throws. "We have been dominant with the throws for so long that it's going to be strange not to have any (state contenders) this year," Meade said. In addition to Deufel and Kus, Gannon returns for another state run in the open 800 meters; Meade is also very curious to have a healthy Rindone is his always competitive sprint relays. The central issue for the longtime coach will be how to use Deufel and Kus when the state series comes around. "We're going to try and hold our own (at the Glenbard South) sectional," Meade said. "The goal is to try and get as many people downstate as possible."
St. Charles East
Coach: Denise Hefferin (second year)
Last year: Second place in the Upstate Eight Conference; third at the Class 3A Bartlett sectional; tied for 13th at state meet.
Top returning athletes: Mallory Abel, so., distance; Kelsey Gentry, sr., sprints; Lauren George, jr., pole vault; Danielle Kuzniewski, sr., sprints; Annie Martines, so., sprints, hurdles; Heather Mende, so., sprints; Rachel Rawson, jr., sprints; Maya Rittmanic, sr., jumps; Holly Robertson, sr., distance.
Promising newcomers: Sarah Hill, fr., distance; Britney Williams, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Lizzy Hynes' brilliant state championship at 3,200 meters last spring paved the way for the Saints' finest state showing since its split into two high schools a decade ago. Hynes is plying her trade at Boston College these days, but the program is far from bereft of talent. St. Charles East ended the four-year Waubonsie Valley stranglehold for league indoor supremacy last month, and the squad is itching to showcase its outdoor collective talents. Rittmanic and Kuzniewski are the unquestioned senior leaders for the Saints; the former qualified in state in all three jumping events last spring, placing in two. Kuzniewski, meanwhile, qualified in the open 200 meters last year and had an exceptional indoor season conclude last weekend at the unofficial state meet in Bloomington. "We had a strong indoor season," Hefferin said. "We'll have the same strategy in the outdoor season (in terms of interchangeable parts). We'll be shooting for our strongest showing at the (Bartlett) sectional and state meet." Rawson had a sterling indoor season, and the junior is a factor in two of the most demanding races - either individually or as a member of a relay - the 400 and 800 runs. The Saints' legacy of producing showcase distance runners is also intact as Abel continues to improve at 3,200 meters and Robinson is another senior stalwart in the open mile. St. Charles East is also steadily grooming young sprinters as Hill and Williams are the latest burners to join a growing list that is headed by Martines, Mende and Gentry.
St. Charles North
Coach: Sarah Mainwaring (fourth year)
Last year: Sixth in the Upstate Eight Conference; sixth at the Class 3A Streamwood sectional; one state qualifier.
Top returning athletes: Ellen Barbeau, jumps; Erica Bauerbach, distance; Meridith Beird, pole vault; Gina DeHart, hurdles; Patrice Groomes, sprints; Elsa Gunderman, sprints; Jessica Krantz, sprints; Nicki Luke, sprints; Makenna Moscinski, throws; Jessica Scheets, distance; Rehanna Stout, sprints; Katie Thomka, hurdles, jumps.
Promising newcomers: Danielle Engel, jumps, pole vault; Samantha Field, sprints; Christine Gleason, jumps; Meghan Heuer, middle distance, distance; Lauren Muth, distance; Stevie Parks, distance; Kandace Powers, sprints; Kaylee Raucci, hurdles, jumps; Kris Wolverton, sprints, hurdles, pole vault.
Outlook: The track and field gods have reciprocated in kind for St. Charles North. One year after losing all-state distance runner Steph Strasser to transfer, the North Stars will gladly welcome Heuer. The former Geneva distance standout qualified for the Vikings last year in the open 3,200; the senior has tremendous versatility, evidenced by her victory at 800 meters at indoor conference. Heuer also rejuvenates the North Stars' 3,200 relay, and Scheets is another potential stalwart at longer distances. "We are working hard to improve our efforts from last season," Manwaring said. "Overall, the team consists of a great group of girls who know how to set goals and achieve them." Among the North Stars' returnees, Beird was the lone athlete to make the state cut, qualifying in the pole vault. The North Stars have been inundated with a host of youthful sprinters and jumpers. The most logical bet for a breakout season could very well be Moscinski, who showed noticeable improvement in the shot put and discus last spring. "They are all hard workers and are gearing up for a terrific season," Manwaring said.
West Aurora
Coach: Teresa Towles (sixth year)
Last year: DuPage Valley Conference champion; second place at the Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional; tied for 25th at state meet.
Top returning athletes: Shanice Andrews, sr., sprints, jumps; Kristine Connelly, jr., pole vault; Kehlay Dunah, jr., sprints; Kristin Holmes, sr., sprints; Shannon Howell, sr., throws; Marin Lehman, jr., pole vault; Elisha Meyle, jr., distance; Jasmine Ranson, jr., sprints, jumps; Chasity Smith, jr., throws; Mariah Smith, sr., throws.
Promising newcomers: Alexis Anthony, jr., middle distance; Nicole Bartell, fr., distance; Aaliyah Bondurant, so., sprints, jumps; Rachel Cavender, fr., distance; Choloeressa Coleman, fr., jumps; Mariah Correa, fr., sprints; Monique Duncan, fr., middle distance; Jacqueline Nagel, jr., distance; Tykia Neal, fr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Anita Saffa, fr., jumps.
Outlook: Towles' direction of the program, with invaluable assistance from the Aurora-based Sundowners track and field travel team, has completely revived the Blackhawks' fortunes. Perennial doormats for much of its existence in the DuPage Valley Conference, West Aurora has won three consecutive titles in the sport. "Nobody's going to touch them (for outdoor supremacy)," Wheaton Warrenville South coach Rob Harvey said. "You can quote me on that." Andrews' emergence has allegorically resembled the Blackhawks' continuing progression as a team in recent years. The senior is the top returning 100-meter hurdles finisher from state last year; she also excels at the triple and long jump. "The pressure (Andrews) has comes from herself because she wants to do certain things before she leaves high school," Towles said. Ranson is her peerless protégé with her equally striking athleticism that makes her a double threat in the triple and high jump. Ranson also anchors the 800-meter squad that should rank among the best in the state with the inclusion of Dunah and Holmes. "You need sprinters and jumpers to win in track," said Naperville Central coach Mike Stine. "That's what they (the Blackhawks) have." Mariah Smith is a sprinter-turned-thrower whose remarkable improvement in such a short time earned the senior a scholarship to the University of Illinois. Smith could very well contend for top discus honors at Charleston. As if West Aurora does not have enough luxuries, the lower level is stocked with explosive ability. "There is a lot of talent there on the JV squad that is going to be bumped up to varsity," Towles said. "The girls all understand that no position is held permanently." "I would rank them only behind Hinsdale Central as the best team in the western suburbs," Naperville North coach Chuck Hoff said.