Scouting the Mid-Suburban League girls track meet
When: Today; field events start at 4:30 p.m., running preliminaries 5 p.m, track finals 6:30 p.m.
Where: Chic Anderson Stadium, Palatine High School
Team outlook: The story line is simple for the 39th annual Mid-Suburban League girls track meet. One team has a tradition of success in track in field; the other is looking to start one. Defending MSL champion and host Palatine has won eight conference titles as well as 13 state trophies, while Hoffman Estates has finished second in the MSL twice, including last year. The upstart Hawks will be looking to announce their arrival, while the Pirates want to add to their legacy. Hoffman defeated Palatine by 1 point to win the MSL West Division, now the Pirates are hoping to return the favor. Hoffman took first at the weather-shortened Cougar Twilight last Friday, while Palatine stormed to a title at the Pirates' own relays Saturday. Conant, Prospect, Barrington, and Schaumburg should battle it out to complete the top five.
Don't-miss event: The 1,600-meter field is loaded with talent. Schaumburg junior Karen Lesiewicz (4:57.3) has the top time in a field where nine of the top runners have met the state qualifying mark (5:17). Hoffman's duo of Melissa Schmidt (5:02.1) and Haley Goers (5:01.8) will challenge. Schaumburg junior Britten Petrey (5:03.3) won the MSL indoor title and should be a factor. Palatine sends senior Ruth Allen (5:04) and junior Sarah McIntosh (5:04.6), while Barrington's Becca Batliner (5:08.7) and Prospect's Annette White (5:10.3) will also compete in the headline event of the meet.
Field events: Hoffman junior Precious Ogunleye (shot put) and Barrington senior Anna Etherington (pole vault) are both looking for high finishes at the state meet. Ogunleye has a top mark in Class 3A state for the shot put (45-4), while Etherington is in the top three in Class 3A for the pole vault (11-6). Ogunleye also has the top MSL mark in the discus (130-0).
Clocking of 2:11.6: Top state time in the 800 that Palatine's Ruth Allen hit Saturday at the relays.
Overcoming hurdles: Conant's Sarah Gorden won the MSL 300 low hurdle title last year. This year the junior is looking for a sweep and enters the meet with the top seed in both the 100 high hurdles (14.6) and 300 low hurdles (44.6).
Five: The number of runners under the state qualifying mark in the 400. Barrington's Jorie Frey (57.1) leads the field, but will be challenged by Palatine's Laura Schweikert (57.8) and Schaumburg's Jordan Wagner (58.8).
Sprints: Hoffman Estates' Emily D'Amico will be looking to sweep the 100 and 200. Last season she won the 100, and the sophomore is top seed in the 100 (12.0) and tied for the top seed in the 200 (25.6) this season.
Other individuals to watch: Schmidt (10:52) and Goers (10:55.8) will set the pace for Hoffman in the 3,200, but Barrington's Batliner (10:53.2) will challenge. Palatine will be counting on junior Valere Guertin (17-3) in the long jump and freshman Meg Jump (35-11) in the triple jump - both enter with the top seeds. Hoffman's Kristy Hisey will be looking to defend her conference high jump title and enters with the top seed (5-4).