Palatine rises to the occasion

Palatine may not have one big gun, but the Pirates were the top cumulative gun at the 40th annual Mid-Suburban League meet.

Palatine won only three events, but the multi-faceted Pirates took second in eight events and had double scorers in four. Palatine spread the wealth in winning its third consecutive MSL title and 10th overall scoring 137.5 on a perfect spring evening at George Gattas Stadium in Prospect.

Hoffman Estates won six individual events to take second (102 points), senior Sarah Gorden helped power Conant (86 points) to third, senior Britten Petrey stepped up big in leading Schaumburg (80.5) to fourth, and host Prospect (79.50) placed fifth.

“Some of the teams have the big names and the stars, and we may not have one individual that stands out,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks. “But we have a number of talented athletes, and wherever you look someone is doing something.”

Starting with Laura Schwiekert. The junior sizzled to a season best 57.90 in taking first in the 400; she added a second in the 200 (25.99), tied for fifth in the 100 (12.9) and helped the Pirates to a fourth-place finish in the 400 relay (49.54).

“We all know we have little parts that we have to add to it,” said Schwiekert. “We all do our parts and chip in here and there.”

Meg Jump was a big part. She got the Pirates rolling with first place finish in the triple jump (36-2.5) after finishing second in the long jump (17-4.25). The junior also helped lead the Pirates to second place in both the 800 relay (1:44.49) and 1,600 relay (3:59.58).

“Everyone contributes one way or another,” said Jump. “It's not just one person, it's a team effort.”

Meghan Flanagan notched a first in the pole vault (11-0), added a fourth in the 100 high hurdles (15.79) and also contributed in the 400 and 800 relays.

“We don't have the one face that is going to rack up 40 points,” said Flanagan. “We all specialize in certain things, but when we all come together as a team we do super.”

Sophomore Tess Wasowicz also stepped up, helping lead Palatine to second in both the 800 (2:17.54) and 1,600 (5:07.16). Senior Courtney Brown added a second in the 3,200 (11:19.26) , while the Pirates also added a second in the 3,200 relay (9:25.78).

Palatine may be faceless when it comes to the big stars, but on Friday the Pirates once again had the look of a champion.

Hoffman Estates does have the big guns, and the Hawks stars were firing on all cylinders on Friday.

Senior Precious Ogunleye swept the shot put (44-6.5) and discus (142-6) for the second consecutive year. The Central Florida bound senior hit a school record in winning the discus.

“I knew I had to start peaking,” said Ogunleye of her two big throws. “I think I'm headed in that direction.”

Emily D'Amico lit up the track in hitting a school record in winning the 200 (25.18). She also cruised to first in the 100 (12.07), sweeping the sprint double for the second consecutive year. The junior also helped the Hawks take second in the 400 relay (48.88).

“I had a bad prelim, and I knew I had to pump it out,” said D'Amico of her 200 victory. “It's great going into sectionals knowing that I've already hit state times.”

Hoffman's Haley Goers also pulled out a big double, easily cruising to first in the 3,200 (10:50.34). The junior (5:05.12) had a bit more company in the 1,600 but never looked back after taking the lead in third lap to pull away from Palatine's Wasowicz, Rolling Meadow senior Christina Gastfield (5:08.5), and Palatine senior Sarah McIntosh (5:08.56).

“The 2-mile I worked through the first half with the other competitors and then I went after the mile,” said Goers, who hit a career best in the 3,200. “It felt really good and I kept going.”

Freshman Andrea Miller-Bay added an impressive second place finish in the 400 (58.47) for the Hawks.

Sarah Gorden continued an impressive season for Conant comfortably sweeping the 100 high hurdles (14.97) and 300 low hurdles (44.23). The senior also combined with senior Tara Goehrke, senior Taylor Graham, and junior Angela Herrmann in leading the Cougars to first in the 400 relay (48.69).

Gorden finished her night by helping Conant secure third place in the 1,600 relay (4:04.35).

“I didn't have the fastest start in 300 lows,” said Gorden who swept the hurdles for the second consecutive years. “But I picked it up around the corner. It was a good night.”

Schaumburg was missing distance star Karen Lesiewicz who tweaked her leg last week, but will return for the sectionals.

But the Saxons barely missed a beat especially senior Britten Petrey who ended the meet with a bang by hitting a state best 2:14.1 in taking first in the 800. She then came back to take second in the 300 low hurdles (46.01) and combined with Maika Kumamoto, Lauren Lindgren, and Jordan Wagner in taking first and hitting a school record in the meet closing 1,600 relay(3:57.72).

“The first lap I just wanted to keep a relaxed pace,” said Petrey of her sizzling 800 run. “The second lap I was feeling good and I wanted to go. And everyone stepped it up on the 1,600 relay.”

Lindgren joined Jasmine Bethea, Emily Langlotz, and Jen Pomagier in leading the Saxons to a photo finish victory in the 800 relay (1:44.48). Pomagier's hard charge and lean at the end gave the Saxons the title over Palatine.

Sophomore Lauren Poplawski, junior Laura Maibuecher, freshman Katrina Leeney and freshman Christina Santiago powered host Prospect to first in the 3,200 relay (9:19.92).

Santiago used a power surge on the final leg to secure the victory for the Knights.

“I know we were kind of like the underdogs coming in, but we just wanted to go out there and prove ourselves,” said Poplawski.

Senior Micheala Dwyer came up big on her last attempt to nail down first place in the long jump (17-5) for Hersey.

“I had all the confidence in the world,” said Dwyer, who trailed Palatine's Jump heading into her last attempt. “I just knew I had to do it myself and bring it home.”

Sophomore Eva Poznanski secured Wheeling's lone victory by taking first in the high jump (5-2).

“I was very focused and very relaxed,” said Poznanski who cleared the winning height on her first attempt. “I'm getting comfortable with the height and overcoming it.”

Rolling Meadows sophomore Morgan Keller hit a school record in taking second in the discus (130-1) and she also added a second place finish in the shot put (43-1.5).