Fanella powers Huntley to 2nd; Hampshire's Plichta shines

Huntley senior Amy Fanella took the baton for the anchor leg of the 1,600-meter relay with a proven closer hot on her heels.

In second place, running anchor for Hampshire, was sophomore Cassie Kruse. Earlier in the Red Raider Spring Fling girls track meet, Kruse used strong finishing kicks to pass runners in the final straightaway to win both the open 800 and the 3,200-meter relay.

But Fanella wasn't about to be passed. She received the handoff with a 15-meter lead on Kruse and maintained it throughout the final 400, making the cushion she was given by teammates Anthonia Moore, Marilyn McDougal and Abbey Shaw stand up. Host Huntley's winning time on a windy Saturday was 4:14:80.

"I knew (Kruse) was the last runner, so I knew I had to get out fast, get a lead and make her chase me," Fanella said. "(Earlier) she had that kick in the last 100 and caught everybody, so I just kept pushing until I saw the finish line and I was done."

Huntley earned 10 points from the victory in the A flight of the three-tiered meet and finished second overall with 94 points. Bloom Township finished third (88), followed by Hampshire (78). Harlem won the meet with 106 points, 20 of which came from three-time state qualifier in the hurdles, Jenna Combs.

Fanella, a three-time state qualifier in the 300 hurdles, finished second to Combs in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in a preview of next month's Class 3A Hononegah sectional duel. Combs, who two weeks ago won the Prep Top Times indoor title in the 55-meter hurdles, won the 100 in 14.70 and the 300 in 45.50.

"It's always nice to come here and run against someone so good," Combs said.

Said Fanella of her performances in the 100 (15.30) and 300 (46.80): "I think Jenna is ranked No. 1 in the state, so I knew those were going to be hard races. I just went for doing the best I could do. In the 100 hurdles I did one of my best times. I was happy with that. I had only run the 300 hurdles once before this meet so I'm excited for the rest of the season. I'm off to a good start."

Other A-flight victories for Huntley included Moore in the 400 (1:02.40), Fanella in the triple jump (34 feet, 91/2 inches) and senior Carrie Quinn in the 100-meter dash (12.90). Sarah Sheehan finished in a three-way tie for second in the pole vault (7-6)

Hampshire earned 20 points from a sweep by distance runner Holly Plichta. The senior won the mile in 5:30.60 and was thrilled with her winning time of 11:38.50 in the two-mile race.

"I ran a meet on Tuesday and my time was 12:13, which was horrible. I knew I could do better," Plichta said. "Today, I just had to prove it to myself and it felt awesome, even with the wind."

Hampshire also won the 800 (2:25.20) and 3,200 relay (10:04.40), thanks to Kruse's late kicks, and the Whip-Purs earned 8 points from second-place finishes by Tiffany Phu in the 400 (1:05.00) and Ashley Fouch in the 100 (13.10).

Larkin's best showings came from Taitiana Holbert in the shot put (third, 32-21/2) and its 1,600-meter relay team of senior Meaghan Gard, junior Chantel George and freshmen Tanesha Pinkston and Alina Sivilay. They finished fourth (4:37.90).