Palatine meets relay challenge

Palatine's girls track team was put to the test on Saturday, and the Pirates more than met the challenge.

On a special day honoring the memory of long time Palatine track and cross country coach Joe Johnson, the host Pirates rose to the occasion by winning five events and taking second in eight more to win the 79th annual Palatine Relays with 131 points at Chic Anderson Stadium in Palatine.

“I think our girls always get up for this meet,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks. “The kids are competing, the kids are placing high, and that should bode well for us.”

Fremd and Barrington tied for second with 83 points followed by Prairie Ridge (60) and Huntley (54).

Peoria Richwoods sophomore Brena Detra was a force from start to finish. She captured first in the opening 300-meter low hurdles (43.3), added a first in the 400 (56.5), and closed the day with a victory in the 200 (24.8). Detra also won individually in the long jump (17 feet, 1 inch) in securing the G.A. McElroy Award for most valuable female athlete.

“From the start I wanted to come out with a bang,” said Detra, who took second last season in Class 2A in the 300 low hurdles and also added a fourth-place state medal in the 100 high hurdles and a fifth in the 200. “You want to peak at the end of the season, and this meet gets us going.”

Woodstock's Kayla Beattie ran as an individual and was not included in the team scores, but the Blue Streaks sophomore wiped out a 25-year-old record in cruising to the 3,200 title in an impressive 10:34.

The two time defending Class 2A cross country champion set the Detweiller Park state course record last fall (16:22) and hit an impressive 4:48 in the 1,600 on Friday.

Beattie's 3,200 effort surpassed the meet mark set by Wheeling's Dana Miroballi (10:42.2) in 1985.

“My training has increased in intensity, my mileage is up, and I'm running with confidence,” said Beattie, the defending Class 2A 3,200 champion who hit a state-best mark in the two-mile earlier this month with a 10:15. “Now I'm going to start focusing on the state meet.”

Palatine is also setting itself up for a strong postseason run, and the Pirates are starting to stride with a bit of urgency.

Senior Sarah McIntosh took first in the 1,600 (5:14.2) and combined with senior Courtney Brown, senior Becca Sund and sophomore Tess Wasowicz in leading Palatine to first in the distance medley (12:26).

“Many of us are seniors and it is our last time on our home track,” said McIntosh. “Palatine Relays are a big deal and we just wanted to do really well.”

Brown combined with freshman Cassidy McPherson, junior Laura Schweikert, and freshman Liz Cox in leading Palatine to first in the 3,200 relay (9:42.5).

Wasowicz and Cox joined Bridget Ryan and Kearia Coney in leading the Pirates to first in the frosh/soph 800 medley relay (1:59.3). Jessica Del Re led the Pirates to first in the shot put relay (107-2.5).

“There are a lot of seniors on the team and this was our last chance on the home track,” said Missouri-bound Brown. “We just want to leave the program in a good way.”

Schweikert dueled it out with Richwood's Detra and recorded impressive second-place finishes in the 400 (58.3) and 200 (25.6).

“Her being out there definitely made me want to go after it,” said Schweikert. “This meet definitely prepares us for what lies ahead.”

And at this point the Pirates are looking sharp.

Fremd is also starting to spike. The Vikings hit in the field with junior Stephanie Uhrich (5-2) and sophomore Anna Johnson (5-2) joining senior Nickolette McKenzie to take first in the high jump relay with a cumulative total of 15-2.

“I'm much more consistent this year,” said Uhrich of her jumps. “It helps having Anna (Johnson) — we work well off each other.”

Sophomore Leah Ferguson (33-10.5) and junior Ida Crawford (33-9.5) combined to lead the Vikings to first in the triple jump relay (99-6.5), with senior Kelsey Onesto, senior Emily Fujii, junior Taryn Lempa, and junior Kathryn Kendzior combining to take first in the high hurdle shuttle relay (1:07.7).

Sophomore Kelly Breen helped Fremd to a second-place finish in the distance medley and came back to take third in the 1,600 (5:21.8).

“We just try to improve every week,” said Breen of the Vikings distance crew.

Junior Melissa Madden helped pace Barrington by taking third in the 300 low hurdles (46.1), sixth in the 400 (61.8), and propelling the Fillies to second in the 1,600 relay (4:11.6).

“We definitely stepped it up and covered a lot of events today,” said Madden of the Fillies' effort. “The wind was tough today, but I knew I had to cut through it.”

Junior Caroline Carley gave Barrington its lone victory by gutting out a first-place finish in the 800 (2:22.9).

“I knew I had it in me,” said Carley who held off a late charge from Palatine's Becca Sund (2:23) to secure the victory. “I had to do it for the team.”

The Fillies also tied Huntley for second in the 400 relay (51.5).

Anthonie Moore, Amanda Zbilski, Tina Driscoll, and Ali Cazal powered Huntley to first in the frosh/soph 1,600 medley relay. Cazal closed strong in the 800 (2:28) to secure the victory for the Red Raiders.

Moore also helped propel Huntley to first in the closing 1,600 relay (4:09.9).

Senior Sarah Gorden and Conant were coming off a late finish on Friday, but the Cougars were wide-awake on Saturday.

Gorden hit a school record in finishing second to Detra in the opening 300 low hurdles (43.8).

The senior then combined with Taylor Graham, Tara Goerhke and Angela Herrmann in winning the 400 relay (49.4) and 800 relay (1:45.6)

The Cougars also swept the 400 relay (48.9) and 800 relay (1:45.7) on Friday at the Cougar Twilight, but there was no letdown Saturday.

“It's finally coming,” said Goerhke of the Cougars' impressive team display. “We've been working a lot harder this year and it's showing.”

Herrmann, who is coming back from an Achilles injury, added a second-place finish in the 100 (12.3) and has definitely made an impact on the Cougars' relays.

“I'm back,” said Herrmann who anchored both sprint relays. “I run with anger and try and stay relaxed and go for the win.”

Sophomore Sydney Keith took third in the 100 (12.3) to power Wheeling.

Senior Megan Geldernick took fourth place in both the 300 low hurdles (47.1) and 400 (61.0) to power Mundelein.

“The competition really helped today,” said Geldernick of her two performances.