Carmel relay struts its stuff
CHARLESTON - Last season, Carmel finished third in the Class 3A girls track state meet in the 1,600-meter relay. This season, the Corsairs have been reluctant to show that same form.
But with the stakes rising, Carmel flashed its 'A' game in the state preliminaries at Eastern Illinois O'Brien Stadium on Friday.
Senior Hilary Halford, senior Shannon Howell, junior Marybeth Berg and sophomore Megan Paul came from behind to win the second heat of the 1,600 relay (3:53.16) with the third best qualifying mark.
Saturday's state finals begin with the parade of competitors and 9 a.m., followed by the finals at 10 a.m.
Hinsdale Central set the tone on Friday by qualifying six individuals and three relays, and East St. Louis and Hoffman Estates lead a crowded field that will be chasing the Red Devils.
Carmel is hoping it will be the ones being chased in the 1,600 relay field. The same four girls secured the state medal last season, but the Corsairs have not run this lineup since the indoor season.
"We're going to try and win," said Halford, who leads off the powerful relay. "Today was our best time and hopefully we can improve tomorrow."
Howell finished with the second best time in qualifying for the 300 low hurdles (44.42), then brought the Corsairs back with a blistering third leg to set up Paul for the final lap.
"It has kind of come together at the last moment," said Howell of the 1,600 relay. "But everybody is right where they need to be. It's great to have Paul back in the mix, she puts us right in there."
Paul has been the difference for the Corsairs in the 1,600 relay and despite feeling a bit ill on Friday, the sophomore took the lead on the final lap and never looked back.
Paul also had the fourth-best mark in qualifying in the 400 (56.94).
"It didn't feel as smooth as I wanted it to," said Paul of her victory in the fourth heat of the 400. "The main thing today was just to make it, now I need to turn up the intensity tomorrow."
Senior Stephanie Richartz cleared 11-0 in qualifying for Carmel in the pole vault; her best mark has been 11-6.
"I'm feeling comfortable," said Richartz who also made it to the finals in pole vault last season. "My nerves are all kind of calmed down and now I'm excited.
Lake Zurich senior Julia Rossdeutcher cleared a career best 11-0 on her second attempt in qualifying for the Bears in the pole vault.
"I'm excited," said Rossdeutcher, who qualified for state last season but did not make finals. "I just wanted to stay confident. I had never gone 11-0 feet before."
Expectations have gone up for Stevenson's Rachel Redmond. Last year she was just excited to qualify for state, but this year the junior is thinking bigger - and so far, so good.
Redmond qualified for Saturday's finals in the shot put (38-07) with the seventh-best throw.
"Last year I really wasn't nervous because I was happy just to be here," said Redmond who set the school record earlier this year with a throw of 42-6. "This year I have set my sights a bit higher."
In Class 2A Shannon Nugent qualified in the high jump (5-1) and Kelly Gallagher qualified in the 1,600 (5:16.33) to power Vernon Hills.
Katie Mulloy qualified for Lakes in the shot put (36-09.25) and Erin Poss qualified for Antioch in the 1,600 (5:15.16).