Carmel's 1,600 relay nabs another medal

Carmel Catholic had a proper send-off for its 1,600-meter relay in Saturday's Class 3A track and field finals at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium.

Senior Hilary Halford, junior Marybeth Berg, senior Shannon Howell and sophomore Megan Paul combined to lead the Corsairs to fifth place in a school-record time of 3:53.82.

Hinsdale Central won the Class 3A state title with 47.5 points, and East St. Louis (44 points) nipped Thornton (43 points) for second place in Charleston.

Saturday marked the end of special run for the Corsairs' 1,600 relay team.

Last year, Carmel took third place in the 1,600 relay (3:54.48), but the Corsairs eclipsed that mark this year.

"We knew we had a lot of potential and it pushed us," said Howell, who also took fourth in the 300 low hurdles (44.41). "We thought we were fast last year, and we were even faster this year."

Howell and Halford have been a part of the 1,600 relay since their freshman year, and the seniors could not have imagined back-to-back state medals.

"It's a very special relay," Halford said. "And you can't be disappointed, especially when you improve your time."

"We've improved leaps and bounds," said Berg, who has been a part of the relay since her freshman season. "Our goal was to beat our time and we did it."

Paul was the final piece of the puzzle for the relay, and she proved to be huge. The sophomore flashed her talent by taking third in the 400 (56.94) and then came back to anchor the relay.

"I feel I have been more mentally tough this year," Paul said of her progress. "This year I wanted it more and I trained harder. I definitely took a step forward."

Now the sophomore is looking to take another step forward, but this time she won't have the help of Howell and Halford.

"I don't think we'll have a relay like this for awhile," Paul said.

Stevenson's Rachel Redmond nailed 39 feet, 4 1/2 inches on her final throw in the shot put to secure seventh place. It was a big step forward for the junior.

"I was extremely nervous because I really needed that throw," said Redmond who was sitting in 10th place before her final mark. "Now I'm looking to keep improving next year."

Antioch's Erin Poss won two medals for the second consecutive year in Class 2A. The senior took fourth in the 3,200 (11:08.70), then came back to take fifth in the 1,600 (5:08.59).

"I'm really excited," said Poss, who finished her career with 4 track medals and 3 cross country medals. "You have to be mentally tough to do the double."

Vernon Hills' Kelley Gallagher took ninth in the 1,600 (5:11.33).

Lakes' Katie Mulloy finished eighth in the shot put (37-3.5) in Class 2A. The senior hit her mark on her first throw to secure her first medal.

"It feels great. I couldn't ask for anything better," Mulloy said. "It was nice to get the mark early."