Prospect goes the distance at Niles West

Prospect and coach Dave Wurster have grown accustomed to leaning on their talented distance runners.

But the Knights' distance crew took a hit when senior Amy Abdnor and junior Savannah Snead - both were members of the 3,200-meter relay team that took seventh in Class 3A last season - were sidelined with injuries.

Despite the injuries, the Prospect distance crew rose to the occasion Thursday night and helped lead the Knights to their second consecutive Class 3A sectional title with 90 points at Niles West in Skokie.

New Trier (79 points) took second, followed by Hersey (70 points). Evanston (68 points) nipped Maine South (66 points) for fourth place.

Prospect qualified competitors in 10 events, including all four relays. The Knights showed their strength in the distance events by qualifying two individuals in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200.

"They were on fire," Wurster said. "This year we thought we would have outstanding depth in the distance, but we're missing four outstanding runners. We still pulled through."

Seniors Emily Salzman, Kasey Krum, and Jeanette Wochinski combined with sophomore Laura Maibuecher to qualify the Knights in the 3,200 relay in 9:35.86.

Salzman (2:18.13) and Krum (2:18.21) went 4-5 en route to qualifying in the 800, and the two seniors came back to combine with sophomore Christine Grossman and junior Kiley Shelley to qualify with a third-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:00.68).

Knights freshman Brooke Wolfe and senior Annette White did their part by qualifying with a 3-4 finish in both the 1,600 and 3,200.

"We know we have a lot of girls missing, but we still have some solid runners," said Salzman, who has earned three consecutive state medals as a member of the 3,200 relay team. "Tonight we laid it on the line."

Samantha Sturm of the Knights also laid it on the line. The junior hit a season best in winning both the shot put (40-4.0) and discus (133-01).

"I wasn't throwing as well as I wanted to this season until the end," said Sturm, who hit a school record in the discus. "Tonight everything clicked."

Grace Gruendel earned a spot at state by taking first in the pole vault (10-6), and the Knights also advanced in the 400 relay (49.85) with a fifth-place finish and in the 800 relay (1:45.70) in fourth.

"They were focused and they knew what they had to do," Wurster said. "We had no disappointments."

Hersey junior Dana Markech took first in the 100 high hurdles (16.29) and second in the 300 low hurdles (48.22), qualifying in both events.

"I just really went after it this year," said Markech of her first varsity season. "It feels really good to reach my goals."

Last year Mahnker Dahnwein's best throw in the discus was 100-0. This year the Hersey senior made huge improvements, capped with 133-0 throw Thursday - which earned her a second-place finish and a trip to the state meet.

"I dreamed about it," said Dahnwein of her career-best throw. "The support of my team really pushed me."

Hersey junior Danielle Perkins qualified with a third-place finish in the 100 (12.43) and helped the Huskies' 400 relay (49.57) qualify in third place.

The Huskies' Sarah Reynolds, Sarah Dospod, Salena Clohisy, and Riley Wade combined for a second-place finish to qualify in the 3,200 relay (9:32.13).

Junior Taylor Stephenson was the lone Maine West qualifier, finishing eighth in the 800 (2:20.72).

New Trier's freshman twins Courtney (5:04.99/10:45.15) and Jessica (5:07.02/11:00.33) Ackerman opened a few eyes by going 1-2 in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Niles West junior Kellion Gordon took first in both the 100 (12.36) and 200 (25.43).

Evanston sophomore Jahnell Horton took first in the 800 (2:15.37) and helped lead the Wildkits to first in the 1,600 relay (3:56.19). Evanston also took first in the 400 relay (48.92) and 800 relay (1:42.47).

Glenbrook South junior Ellen Chapman won the high jump (5-07).