St. Charles East dethrones Waubonsie Valley in UEC

After a decade of watching Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley dominate the Upstate Eight Conference in girls track and field, St Charles East has reclaimed it once-vaunted status.

Waubonsie Valley had the outstanding individual performer in sophomore speedster Morolake Akinosun, but the Saints' balance, depth and resilience was the difference Thursday night at St. Charles East.

The Saints ended the Warriors' consecutive conference-championship run as freshman Brittney Williams' anchor-leg-win in the 1,600-meter relay solidified their first league title since 2000 with 124.25 points.

Waubonsie Valley had 89.25 points to shade Bartlett by a point; Lake Park, which had a double winner in thrower Sarah Drozdowski was fourth with 75 points.

Neuqua Valley was fifth, followed by a distant pack consisting in respective order of South Elgin, East Aurora, Streamwood, Larkin and Elgin.

St. Charles East figured Waubonsie Valley would be looking to reclaim its edge after five disqualifications paved the way for the Saints to capture the league indoor crown in March.

"We stole the (indoor) title from them," said St. Charles East junior Rachel Rawson, who was a key figure in the Saints' relay wins at 800 and 1,600 meters. "We just went out there to win."

The Saints' battle-hardened senior stars Danielle Kuzniewski and Maya Rittmanic paved the way.

Rittmanic went 5 foot, 3 inches in the high jump to claim victory after settling for second place in the triple jump and third in the long jump.

"I really want to get to 5-6 (in the high jump)," Rittmanic said after narrowing missing the mark. "I wanted to hit state-qualifying in the triple. Next week (at the Bartlett sectional) I'm going to qualify in all my jumps."

Rittmanic placed at state in all three last spring.

Akinosun, meanwhile, showed any remaining doubters why she is elite company among state sprinters.

The Warriors' sophomore star swept the 100- and 200-meter crowns with dazzling times of 12.22 and 25.14 seconds in chilly, wind-swept conditions.

But Kuzniewski and Williams had the answer for Akinosun.

Kuzniewski was runner-up in both short sprints, and Williams' third-place at 200 meters typified the Saints' scoring uniqueness.

"I'm going home with three second-place finishes," said Kuzniewski, who also anchored the Saints' 400 relay. "That's not too bad. Unlike other schools, we can double place (in events)."

Nowhere was the Saints' ability to score in bunches better illustrated than the 300 hurdles.

Annie Martines' speed down the home stretch enabled sophomore to win the event, with classmate Lydia Warren placing third.

Mallory Abel and Holly Robertson did likewise at 1,600 meters for the Saints.

"We had a lot of girls finishing in the top six," St. Charles East coach Denise Heffrin, a member of the Saints' last conference champion, said. "It makes a lot of difference for us, just like it did in indoor (conference)."

Meghan Heuer led St. Charles North with a brilliant anchor leg in the 3,200 relay; the North Stars' senior followed her come-from-behind performance with third in the open 400 meters.

Waubonsie Valley was envisioning an entirely different scenario in its quest for its fourth title in the last five years.

But the reigning Class 3A state runner-up was cursed after a promising start.

Ayo Adewole went down in a crashing heap on the opening leg of the Warriors' 800-relay after not only helping the 400 relay to a one-sided victory but also an easy win in the 100 hurdles.

Morikaye Akinosun was only able to participate in the 400 relay, which nearly duplicated its state-finalist time of last spring.

Crystal Butler was also limited, and the Adewole injury prevented Morolake Akinosun of being a four-event champion.

"For weather like today I'm happy with my times in both the one and two," Morolake Akinosun said. "I try to run each meet to the best of my ability. Obviously, we had a big loss with Ayo."

The Warriors, defending runner-up in the 800 relay, had a five-second-plus advantage with their seed time.

To make matters worse, Adewole, the top seed in the 300 hurdles, was lost for the night.

Patton rebounded from a disappointing second-place result in the long jump to capture the triple jump.

Neuqua Valley had wins on the night from Megan Taylor in the 3,200 run and Caitlin Summers in a classic dual at 800 meters.

The Wildcats' sophomore lurched forward from a congested pack of eight with 300 meters to go.

Drozdowksi paced Lake Park with her twin victories in the shot put and discus.

"I feel good at where I want to be in the discus," said Drozdowksi, returning all-state in the event. "In the shot put I wish I could have hit 40 (feet)."

Bartlett junior star Alyssa Schneider anchored the Hawks' 3,200 relay to a big win as the quartet of Schneider, lead leg Taylor Crawford, Julie Cronin and Samantha Maiorana were untouchable in the event.

"All year I have been trying to break that 2:20 barrier," said Schneider, who tied her personal-low with a 2:17 anchor split.

Schneider displayed her versatility in her specialty event; the all-state returnee in the mile broke free with 600 meters to go to win easily.

"It was a little different than I thought it would be," Schneider said of her competition. "I stayed with (the lead runners over the first two laps) and made my kick."

Cronin and freshman Megan Seidl swept the 400 run for Bartlett; Nicole Watkins was second in the open 3,200 as well for the Hawks.

"I was happy with the win but not the time," Cronin said. "I'm still happy with taking first."

But the junior was effusive about the Hawks' chances in the 3,20 relay.

"That's the first time the four of us have run together," Cronin said.

Taylor Buliox and Katie Lauesen were second and third for Bartlett in the discus.

Streamwood also received another solid effort from senior Lindsay Anderson in the shot put.

Megan McGlone duplicated the second-place result in the triple jump, losing out to Patton by a mere two inches.

"I had a (potential-winning jump) of 36 feet, but I scratched, so it didn't matter," said McGlone, who also placed in the 300 hurdles.

In the open 800 meters, South Elgin sophomore Jordan Tuin edged Larkin senior Meghan Gard for runner-up status in the hotly-contested race.

"I just wanted to get the girl (Neuqua Valley winner Caitlin Summers) in the front," said Gard.

"I was trying to stay relaxed and stay second and then maybe at the end go for first," said Tuin. "That was my goal."