Experienced Palatine grabs MSL indoor title
Palatine has plenty of experience and talent, and it showed at the Mark Saylor Mid-Suburban League Indoor Invitational on Saturday.
The Pirates won six events, including a sweep of the three relays, in cruising to its 15th MSL indoor title with 112.5 points at North Central College in Naperville.
“We definitely have a lot of pieces and it gives us some flexibility,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks of the Pirates' depth. “We should be pretty strong all year.”
Schaumburg took second with 69.5 points, followed by Hoffman Estates (51.5), Rolling Meadows (50) and Conant (43).
Seniors Courtney Brown, Becca Sund, and Sarah McIntosh combined with sophomore Tess Wasowicz in leading Palatine to an opening victory by setting a school indoor record in the 3,200 relay (9:23).
Seniors Meghan Flanagan, Morgan Quinnett, and Val Guertin combined with junior Laura Schweikert in setting a school indoor record in winning the 800 relay (1:45.6).
And the Pirates put an exclamation point on their performance as Quinnett and Guertin combined with sophomores Taylor Tenca and Meg Jump in setting an indoor school record in winning the meet-ending 1,600 relay (4:04.8).
“We know each other and we know how we run,” said Quinnett, who also added a victory in the 400 (59.9). “We're used to the handoffs and everything kind of flows.”
Flanagan added a victory in the pole vault (10-3) and also took second in the 55 high hurdles (8.6). Freshman Jessica Lincoln added a second-place finish in the 3,200 (11:23.7), with Jump taking second in the triple jump (34-08) and third in the long jump (16-08.25).
“We just want to keep it going,” said Schweikert, who won the 200 (25.8). “We're really comfortable with each other and now we just have to keep working.”
Schaumburg is also looking pretty comfortable. Last year the Saxons won the state 3,200 relay title and Karen Lesiewicz added a state title in the 1,600. Schaumburg continued to impress by winning the state title in cross country last fall, and now the Saxons look hungry for more.
Lesiewicz took first in the 1,600 (5:00.5), using a surge midway through the race to take control, and senior teammate Colette Falsey (5:02.90) followed in hot pursuit to take second.
“I was right where I wanted to be halfway through the race, so I decided to pick it up a little bit,” said Lesiewicz. “I'm using the same strategy this year. There is always going to be someone setting that bar in front of you. I'm just looking to catch up with them. It's going to be a struggle, nothing is in the bag.”
Senior Britten Petrey set the bar by taking first in the 800 (2:15.5) for Schaumburg. The Saxons added second-place finishes in the 3,200 relay (9:33.2) and 1,600 relay (4:07.9).
Renee Zhu added a second place finish for Schaumburg in the pole vault (8 feet, 9 inches).
“We have our work cut out for us — figuring out where everybody belongs,” said Schaumburg coach Jon Macnider of his talented squad. “We just want to stay hungry. We haven't done anything this year in track, and we're not defending anything. We're working on doing our best.”
Hoffman Estates will also be in the thick of things and the Hawks offered a glimpse of their potential on Saturday.
Precious Ogunleye took second at state in the shot put last season, and the senior picked up where she left off by winning the event (42-05.5) with a meet record.
“I'm feeling pretty confident,” said the Central Florida-bound Ogunleye, “That is my drive this year, to win state.”
Emily D'Amico is another important cog in the Hawks' attack, and the junior flashed her speed by edging Hersey's Danielle Perkins for first in the 55 dash (7.0). D'Amico also placed third in the 200 (26.2).
“It feels a lot more different than freshman year,” said D'Amico. “I'm going on three years and it is a lot less nerve-wracking.”
Hoffman Estates also took third in the 3,200 relay (9:42.2) and 1,600 relay (4:14.4), with junior Haley Goers adding an impressive third in the 1,600 (5:06.5) and Takshaka Patel adding a third in the 3,200 (11:30.4).
Rolling Meadows opened a few eyes with its performance on Saturday. Last year Meadows finished 10th in the MSL with a meager 7.5 points.
On Saturday, Lake Zurich senior transfer Vicky Pavlou led the Mustangs attack by winning the high jump (5-01), long jump (17-00.5), and triple jump (35-04).
Pavlou's last two seasons at Lake Zurich were derailed by injuries, but this season the senior is hoping to put it all together.
“Mentally I'm still a bit scared when I'm jumping,” added Pavlou who injured her hamstring last season. “But I'm not holding back and I'm looking for big marks.”
Sophomore Morgan Keller added to the Mustangs' attack by taking second in the shot put (41-11), and Rebecca Zych added a second place finish in the 800 (2:20.4).
Senior Sarah Gorden set a meet record in winning the 55 high hurdles (8.2) and took second in the 400 (60.2) in leading Conant to fifth place.
The Cougars also took second in the 800 relay (1:46.7), with Angela Herrmann adding a second-place finish in the 200 (26.0) and a third-place finish in the 55 dash (7.1).
Sophomore Ashleigh Kleinjan took the lead on the final lap in winning the 3,200 (11:19.8) in leading Barrington to sixth place. Junior Melissa Madden added a third-place finish for the Fillies in the 400 (60.5).
Lauren Yearian took second in the high jump (5-0) to help Prospect to seventh place. Samantha Sturm added a third place in the shot put (41-04.5), Grace Gruendel took third in the pole vault (8-03), and Kiley Shelley was third in the 55 high hurdles (8.7) for the Knights.
Danielle Perkins paced Hersey by finishing second in the 55 dash (7.0) and Michaela Dwyer added a second-place finish for the Huskies in the long jump (16-9.25).
Stephanie Resis finished third for Fremd in the 800 (2:23.3) and Eva Poznanski took third for Wheeling in the high jump (5-0).