West Chicago's Eichenberger wins 800-meter crown
CHARLESTON - Annette Eichenberger crashed to the ground at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium seconds after completing an improbable state championship.
The West Chicago senior, making her third consecutive appearance in the large-schools girls track and field state championship at 800 meters, was no longer an afterthought. Eichenberger had completed her pursuit of Palatine senior Ruth Allen, overtaking her in the final meters to earn the first track state championship, male or female, in West Chicago history.
"I felt like I had the whole school behind me," said Eichenberger, who became the second straight area Class 3A local champion at 800 meters with her time of 2 minutes, 12.26 seconds.
"I didn't want to run behind anyone. Around the last turn I thought, 'Ruth is getting away.' I still had something left and might as well go for the win."
On a day of extraordinary performances in all three classes, Hinsdale Central finally broke through to earn its first team state championship.
The Red Devils' narrow win over East St. Louis and Thornton was accomplished even though the team mishandled the baton in the tournament-closing 1,600-meter relay. But the Red Devils' quartet of Monique Bronowicki, Chelsea Celistan, Kayla Schwarz and Lauren Roush were in another world in their championship relay victories at 400 and 800 meters.
Rousch anchored both wins in near-state-record times of 47.02 seconds and 1:38.82.
"I knew there were going to be a lot of fast anchors (in the 400 relay)," Roush said.
"There was no way we could have gone any faster," Schwarz said of the stunning 800 win.
"(The 800 team) ran as close to perfection as they could," Hinsdale Central coach Pat Richards said.
Under near-perfect conditions for the 50 local finalists in running, relay and field events on Saturday, Downers Grove South junior Tori Franklin snared the last of four area state championships in Class 3A. One season removed for her runner-up performance in the event, Franklin broke the magical 40-foot barrier to capture the triple jump.
"I knew it could eventually (break 40 feet), but I didn't think it would happen today," said Franklin, who also anchored the Mustangs' 1,600 relay to third place.
There were also several notable runner-up efforts from local athletes. Benet senior star McKinzie Schulz, the defending 800-meter champion who was knocked off earlier by Eichenberger, settling for fourth, had another close call at 1,600 meters. For the second straight year, the Notre Dame-bound standout was forced to settle for second.
"My kick wasn't what it should have been," said Schulz, who was denied by Schaumburg junior Karen Lesiewicz. "It was tough taking a month of training off (at the end of indoor season)."
Willowbrook sophomore Cherise Porter had her goal of an unblemished season at 200 meters fall short by four one-hundredths of a second. Despite a brilliant close Porter was inches shy of Thornton champion Ashley Stacey, 24.26-24.3 seconds.
Glenbard West high senior Sarah Udelhofen met the same fate in the high jump after failing to clear 5-feet, 8 inches.
The York 3,200 relay closed out the near misses as the quartet succumbed to a brilliant Schaumburg effort. Waubonsie Valley had the only other top-10 team finish as the Warriors were paced by four-event medal winners Morolake Akinuson and Da'sha Patton.
Kelly McShea led St. Francis' Class 2A effort, and Glenbard South senior Kim Iacobazzi had her career close in the Raiders' 1,600-relay fourth-place finish. Lisle placed in the 800 relay for a second year in a row to score the sole area points in Class 1A.