Girls track / MSL preview
When: Field events start at 4:30 p.m., running preliminaries 5 p.m., running finals 6:30 p.m.
Where: George Gattas Stadium, Prospect High School
Team outlook: The 40th annual Mid-Suburban League meet offers plenty in both the individual events and team races. Palatine will be seeking its third consecutive and 10th overall title. Last year, Palatine had double scorers in 10 of the 14 individual events. This year, the Pirates, who won the Palatine Relays last Saturday, will be looking to use the same formula. Junior Laura Schwiekert leads the Pirates and will be featured in the 100, 200, 400 and 400 relay. Also keep an eye on Meghan Flanagan (pole vault) and Meg Jump (jumps). Hoffman Estates would like nothing better than to notch its first conference title. Precious Ogunleye is one of the top throwers in the state and enters with the top seed in the shot put (45-0) and discus (133-10), while junior Emily D’Amico powers the Hawks in the sprints and holds the top seed in the 100 (11.91) and 200 (25.80). Schaumburg leads the pack with six top seeds, but the Saxons will find the going tough in the field events. Senior Karen Lesiewicz holds the top seeds in the 1,600 (4:57.3) and 3,200 (10:47.8). Conant has four top seeds, including Sarah Gorden in the 100 high hurdles (14.74) and 300 low hurdles (43.94). Host Prospect, Hersey, Barrington and Rolling Meadows aim to crack the top five.
Top five difference-makers
Karen Lesiewicz, sr. (Sch) — The Notre Dame bound-star has picked up where she left off last year when she won the Class 3A 1,600 title. Lesiewicz will be a force in the 3,200 and 1,600, where she will face Hoffman Estates junior Haley Goers in both races. Goers holds the second seeds in both races and should challenge Lesiewicz, especially in the 3,200. The distance double is missing Prospect sophomore Brooke Wolfe and Barrington sophomore Becca Batliner, who are sidelined with injuries. But Palatine seniors Courtney Brown, Sarah McIntosh and Tess Wasowicz, along with Prospect junior Laura Maibuecher and Rolling Meadow senior Christina Gastfield, will keep things interesting.
Precious Ogunleye, sr. (HE) — She is king of the hill when it comes to throws in the MSL. Last year Ogunleye swept both throwing events on her way to second place in the Class 3A shot put. This year the Central Florida-bound senior will feel a little heat at the MSL meet. Rolling Meadow sophomore Morgan Keller (43-11) and Prospect senior Samantha Sturm (41-4.5) are looking strong in the shot put, while Conant senior Jessica Pryzby (132-0) is looking to pull the upset in the discus.
Sarah Gorden, sr. (Con) — The DePaul-bound standout is in a class by herself when it comes to the hurdles, especially after hitting a school-record 43.8 in the 300 low hurdles at the Palatine Relays. Barrington junior Melissa Madden (45.99) has been coming on strong in the 300 lows, while Hersey senior Dana Markech has looked impressive in the 100 highs (15.34). Gorden will also lead Conant in the 800 relay and 1,600 relay.
Emily D’Amico, jr. (HE) — She has sizzled in the sprints this season and is gearing up for a big postseason run. Last year D’Amico swept both the 100 and 200 at the MSL meet, finishing seventh in the Class 3A 100. Palatine junior Laura Schwiekert, Hersey senior Danielle Perkins, Wheeling sophomore Sydney Keith, Conant junior Angela Herrmann and Schaumburg senior Jen Pomagier will give chase.
Meg Jump, soph. (Pal) — She is a wild card, with the ability to sweep the triple jump and long jump. Rolling Meadows Vicky Pavlou, who swept the long jump, triple jump and high jump at the MSL indoor meet will challenge. Hersey seniors Haley Scott (triple jump) and Micheala Dwyer (long jump) are legitimate threats.
Relays
Schaumburg holds the state’s top time in the 3,200 relay, hitting an impressive 9:13.10 last weekend at the Wheaton South invite. The Saxons won the Class 3A 3,200 relay last season. Schaumburg will not run its “A” squad, but Illinois-bound senior Colette Falsey, who is also the top seed in the 800 (2:15.4), will lead the way. One of the surprise finds this season is Schaumburg’s 1,600 relay (4:01.9). Seniors Britten Petrey, Jordan Wagner, Lauren Lindgren and sophomore Maika Kumamoto have the ability to close the meet with a bang. Palatine should be in hot pursuit. Conant holds the top seeds in the 400 relay (49.04) and 800 relay (1:45.6). Hersey (49.64) and Hoffman (49.89) will give chase in the 400 relay.
Other individuals to watch: Hoffman Estates freshman Andrea Miller-Bey has the top mark in the 400 (57.70), Meghan Flanagan tops the charts in the pole vault (11-9), Fremd junior Stephanie Uhrich (5-4) and sophomore Anna Johnson (5-3) are seeded 1-2 in the high jump.