St. Charles East's goal: qualify 10 events to state
Even with the likes of former state champions Natalie Tarter and Lizzy Hynes at the next level, the area girls track and field programs continue to produce bountiful yields.
The ultimate destination for athletes of the 11 local programs - Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium in Charleston - is on the line Thursday and Friday at five sectionals in three different classes.
The uniqueness of track and field lies in the largely symbolic nature of the sectionals' team champion; the principal aim is to qualify as many athletes as possible in the 18 events.
"It's a lot like (the individual) wrestling (state series)," St. Charles East coach Denise Hefferin, who is optimistic qualifying in 10 events is not out of the question.
Of the two Class 3A sectionals, Western Sun Conference champion Geneva and runner-up Batavia join Upstate Eight victor St. Charles East and sister school St. Charles North in a quality field at Millennium Field in Streamwood; Kane County champion West Aurora is expected to vie with Waubonsie Valley for a second straight year at Plainfield Central.
Rosary will look to defend its Class 2A Glenbard South title in Glen Ellyn against conference foes Aurora Central Catholic, St. Francis and IMSA.
Kaneland joins the Class 2A fray at Rochelle on Thursday; Aurora Christian is also in the field Thursday at Class 1A Rockford Christian as the IHSA gave schools the option of holding their sectional a day earlier than in years past.
West suburban sectionals are notorious for not only the quality of their fields but also an extraordinary range of depth.
First- and second-place performers are guaranteed state inclusion, but multiple at-large qualifiers, athletes who eclipse state standards in their events, have become the norm.
"I like having - and I know the girls like having - if you stick with those (elite) schools their times are going to carry you (to a state berth)," Hefferin said.
In addition to the four local schools at the northern sectional, hosted by Bartlett, the field also includes defending champion Hoffman Estates, perennial power Conant and upstart Schaumburg from Cook County.
Geneva will counter with its senior-heavy state veterans Erica Miller, Alissa Dappas and Allie Pace.
Miller swept the 100- through 400-meter dashes at the Western Sun meet last Friday, and the Vikings' Northern Illinois-bound standout is expected to anchor an all-state returning 1,600 meter relay squad in addition to her sprinting chores.
"We have a great group of senior girls," Geneva coach Peter Raak said.
Pace is a legitimate state-title contender in the pole vault; the defending runner-up barely missed clearing 12 feet, 6 inches at Glenbard South last week.
"Allie is amazing," said Batavia rival Kathryn Warner, who turned back two-time state-finalist Dappas for supremacy in the 100 and 300 hurdles at the league showdown last week. "If I am going to get beat (in the pole vault), I would want to get beat by Allie."
Warner, who recently committed to East Carolina to continue her career, and Alexis Sampson were sidelined by devastating injuries that derailed the highly-regarded Bulldogs last year.
"At the state meet last year Natalie (Tarter) and I were practically in tears watching from the stands," said Warner.
Sampson will look to regain her all-state status at 800 meters after an impressive win at the Western Sun meet.
Haleigh Theuerkauf, the sophomore double-conference champion in the shot put and discus, is the Bulldogs' primary field-event challenger.
Meghan Heuer is the best bet for St. Charles North; the senior transfer from Geneva has had a remarkable spring at both 800 and 1,600 meters.
West Aurora is on a mission after Wheaton Warrenville South stunned the defending champion Blackhawks for league supremacy in the DuPage Valley Conference.
State powerhouse Palatine - which needed to reverse a double-digit deficit in the final three events - had been the only other program to defeat the Blackhawks this spring.
"It was like a punch in the stomach," West Aurora senior Illinois-bound thrower Mariah Smith said.
West Aurora is seeking its first sectional title in program history after falling short to Waubonsie Valley last year.
The two Aurora schools have an abundance of speedsters and jumpers.
The Blackhawks' Shanice Andrews has turned heads all spring with her electrifying performances in the 100 hurdles and triple jump.
"We have a very balanced team," West Aurora coach Teresa Towles said.
"West Aurora is going to very tough to beat," Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Gow said.
The field also includes the three Naperville high schools, the four Plainfield high schools, Bolingbrook and Romeoville.
"Hands down, West Aurora," Hefferin said of the favorite. "They kicked our (butts) at county."
Anna Deufel put on a sprinting tour de force during the outdoor season; the Rosary junior is a top contender in Class 2A after impressive wins at Lockport and county.
"Hopefully I'll go downstate in everything," Deufel said of her four combined sprints and relay anchor legs. "You hope all your hard work is paying off."
Rosary had its hopes for defending its sectional crown at Glenbard South derailed when all-state athlete Amy Kus was lost for the year with a knee injury.
Aurora Central will look to sophomore half-miler Anna Sestak to propel its 3,200 relay.
"They're our best chance of qualifying this year," Aurora Central coach Troy Kerber said.
Kaneland will do likewise behind its all-state returning group of Andie Strang, Kris Bowen and Lisa Roberson at 3,200 meters.
Brooke Patterson is the Knights' best all-around athlete in the triple jump, pole vault and sprint-relays anchor.
Amber Farrell is an unquestioned force for IMSA in the sprints and hurdles.
Aurora Christian standout Mackenzie Bollinger was the Class 1A indoor state champion in the triple jump; the prized freshman leads the numbers-challenged Eagles at Rockford.