Burlington Central nabs 2nd straight BNC title

Allie Settanni saved her strongest throw for the end.

It might not have grabbed the same measurement as the 37 foot, 61/2 inch shot put she threw at Thursday's Big Northern Conference Meet at Genoa-Kingston, but it was pure emotion.

The junior slammed down the shot put after hearing her throw was a combination of a conference-winning toss, better than the state qualifying distance, a new school record, and a new personal best by over 3 feet.

"When it all clicks, it's all positive," Settanni said. "Breaking a PR and then to throw over the state qualifying (distance) is a good goal to get now."

Settanni's throwing helped Central use a good balance of field events and sprints to lay claim to its second-straight BNC crown. The Rockets (133 points) blew by Byron (75), with Hampshire's strong relay efforts earning it a fourth-place finish with 66 points.

Rockets' sophomore Autumn Conn set a new school record in the pole vault (10-4) and took first place, Caille Thommes (5-0.1) and Katie Trupp (5-0) finished second and third respectively in the high jump and Brenda Thasavong (32-7) placed fifth in the shot put.

The BC runners followed suit.

Alexa Tovsen swept the sprints winning the 100 (12.76), 200 (26.17) and 400 (1:00.25). She also anchored the 400 relay (51.08), which took first.

"Coach (Aaron) Wichman worked with me a lot with my sprint work," Tovsen said. "We worked on my stride for the 400."

This is Tovsen's second year running, and Wichman has already seen the difference in the sophomore's running.

"We worked quite a bit on stride and form and all of the technical stuff that goes into sprinting," Wichman said.

Burlington Central senior Maggie Gannon, who is signed with Iowa State, ran despite being ill. She finished fourth in the 1,600 and third in the 800 (2:22.87) but didn't run the 3,200 or the 1,600 relay.

Hampshire's Tiffany Phu may have had one of the most technically sound runs of the day. Trailing Oregon's Kate Sprague by about 100 yards in the third leg of the 3,200 relay, Phu not only caught her to put the Whips in first, she also gave teammate Cassie Krause quite a sizable lead to work with on the final leg.

"I knew I had to get her right away," said Phu, who caught Sprague by the second turn. "It helps me when I get out in front to keep the lead."

Krause then followed suit as the Whips set a new meet record in the 3,200 relay (9:50.79). Freshman Paige Membrano and junior Autumn Chomenko ran the first two legs of the race.

The quartet ended the meet with a first-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:09.91) and Krause won the 800 (2:19.10).

"I went in it mentally strong and did my best," Krause said of the 800, in which she recorded a PR. "I wanted to get out in front and stay in the lead."

Central and Hampshire each compete at the Class 2A Rochelle sectional next Thursday.