WW South dominates Batavia invite

Wheaton Warrenville South had no need for small change Thursday night at the Carlson-Anderson Classic in Batavia.

WW South girls track and field coach Rob Harvey described his squad from a year ago as classic “nickel and dime.”

Instead of relying on depth and double-scoring, the Tigers swept the four relays and received three individual titles to dominate the meet with 150 points.

First-year entrant Glenbard North, which received tremendous performances from Christina Rini, Kaily James and Amanda Hilliard, was a distant second with 95 points.

Minooka was third, followed by Batavia, Oswego East, Bartlett, St. Charles North and St. Francis.

Lauren Mordini anchored the Tigers’ 3,200-meter relay to open the running finals, and Mikayla Kightlinger was in a league of her own in the open variety.

The sophomore obliterated her personal-best by 15 seconds in establishing a new meet record at 11 minutes, 2.31 seconds.

The Kightlinger gem came only minutes after senior Kelli O’Dwyer anchored the first of her three relay championships at 400 meters for the Tigers.

“It’s just like my favorite event,” Kightlinger said of her winning the open 3,200 by 19 seconds. “I’m really satisfied with my time.”

The Tigers’ sprint quartet of O’Dwyer, Maggie Dansdill, Jenny Fiola and Emily Phillip duplicated their championship at 400 meters with a second title at 800 meters.

It was yet another team moment following a brilliant individual performance for WW South.

In the preceding event, sophomore standout Hope Schmelzle dazzled the field at 800 meters by winning in 2:17.46, almost four seconds faster than Minooka junior Kiley Saunders.

“(I) just went out there to do something I’ve never done before,” Schmelzle said. “It was nice to have a fresh race to go off to.”

Schmelzle skipped the 3,200 relay that teammates McKenna Kiple, Clare Kelly, Amy Yong and Mordini captured.

“The western suburbs is a hotbed for half-milers,” said Harvey.

In the field, WW South was paced by discus champion Desirae Randberg, who set a new personal record with her 119-foot, 2-inch throw.

High jumper Erin Zappia established a new school record with her 5-4 effort, and Kasey Gassensmith was third at 5-3.

The two WW South underclassmen finished behind the Panthers’ James, a two-event champion.

Emily Schwartz was runner-up at pole vault for the Tigers.

Dansdill dusted the field at 200 meters, and Schmelzle ensured the Tigers’ flawless relay night by anchoring the 1,600 to victory.

Rini, the Panthers’ two-time state qualifier in the 100 hurdles, won her specialty event in a time of 15.03 seconds after earlier winning the triple jump.

“I didn’t warm-up as well as I could have,” Rini said of her disappointing distance in the triple. “I got out of the blocks really fast (in winning the 100 hurdles).”

James made it a clean sweep of the two hurdles races when she augmented her high jump crown.

“(James) is being recruited by some Big Ten schools, and she is only a sophomore,” said Glenbard North coach Gary Heilers. “She has been jumping well the whole year.”

Hilliard picked up 18 points for the squad by claiming the shot put title after a runner-up finish in the discus.

“I had been in a little run lately,” Hilliard said. “I plan on doing so much better.”

Freshman Simone Carr snared the Panthers’ final championship by being the lone athlete the break the 60-second barrier in 400 dash.

In the marquee distance race, Alyssa Schneider prevailed in her highly anticipated duel with reining Class 3A state cross country champion Ariel Michalek at 1,600 meters.

The Bartlett senior was neck and neck with the Oswego East junior at the mid-mark, but Schneider opened up over the final two laps to win easily in 5:07.31.

“I have been really working on the third and fourth laps,” said Schneider, who recently committed to Illinois over similar offers from Michigan State and Iowa State. “I knew that third lap was going to make all the difference.”

“It’s not a shocker that (Schneider) beat me,” Michalek said. “She is a really good runner. She pushed the speed and pace.”

Schneider ran a blistering 800-meter leg to anchor the Hawks’ 3,200 relay to second.

The senior does not intend to attempt the 1,600-3,200 double.

“It’s just not my thing,” Schneider said.

For host Batavia the days of superstars carrying the program to elite heights has been replaced by a different formula.

After losing state champions Natalie Tarter and Kathryn Warner in successive years, the Bulldogs’ ability to compete has been dictated by perseverance and sacrifice.

“Before we got the elite athletes, that’s what we had to do,” said Batavia coach Chad Hillman.

Bari Robinson and Rachael Spalding were the Bulldogs’ primary workhorses Thursday night.

Robinson was third in the open 800 meters, came back to place at 1,600 and anchored the Bulldogs’ 1,600 relay to fifth.

Spalding was runner-up at 3,200 meters and also placed fifth at 1,600 meters.

“The 800, I believe, is my strongest (event),” said Robinson. “Overall, it was a pretty good (performance) with the cold.”

Batavia junior Haleigh Theuerkauf was fourth in the discus and a disappointed runner-up at shot put.

“I am trying to switch some stuff, and it hasn’t come around yet,” said Theuerkauf. “I have to get out of this little slump.”

Meridith Beird claimed the only title for the two Tri-Cities participants; the St. Charles North senior set a new school record with her 11-6 effort.

“It’s always a good feeling,” Beird said. “Once I go (down the ramp), I block everything out.”

Patrice Groomes had the North Stars’ best track effort with a second-place result in the 100 dash.