Lake Zurich’s Polhemus, Wagner make finals

CHARLESTON — Lake Zurich’s Amy Polhemus and Marissa Wagner have been a big part of the Bears’ program the past four years.

But there was still something missing for the senior duo, as neither had made it to the Saturday finals at the Class 3A track and field state meet.

But Polhemus and Wagner came through in the clutch at the Class 3A preliminaries on a warm Friday at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium.

Wagner finished fifth in the fourth heat of the 400 with a time of 58.15 and secured the final spot in Saturday’s finals.

Polhemus didn’t have her best race, but still earned the ninth and final spot in the 300 low hurdles (45.06).

Both will be racing today in the Class 3A state finals.

“There is no better way to finish senior year than to be on the track on Saturday,” said Lake Zurich coach Lance Pacernick of his senior stars. “The rule on Friday is to get to Saturday.”

East St. Louis leads a tight pack for the Class 3A team race after qualifying six individuals and two relays, with Downers Grove South, Edwardsville, Homewood-Flossmoor, Glenbard West, and Hoffman Estates all in the hunt.

There was no room for error for Wagner, who hit a season-best in her race. The senior was in the same heat as defending Class 3A champion Raena Rhone of Whitney Young. Rhone pushed the pace of the final heat and finished with the top preliminary time of 54.92. That benefitted Wagner, who hung tight to the lead pack and had enough left to finish just in front of Huntley sophomore Anthonia Moore (58.17).

“I knew Rhone was in my heat and it was tough competition,” said Wagner, who will be running for Colorado State next year. “But I think the fast pace helped, and it was the fastest I’ve run all season.”

Polhemus has shown she can run with the best all season, but the senior wasn’t quite at her best on Friday. She had just enough to beat the deadline and qualify for Saturday.

“I felt like the experience from last year really helped this year,” said Polhemus, “I could feel it the final 100 meters.”

Carmel junior Megan Paul finished third in the 400 in Class 3A last season, this year she looks like she is ready for more. Paul took second in the first heat of the 400 (57.26), and finished with the sixth-best mark in the prelims.

Now the Corsairs junior has her sights set on a furious finals finish.

“The key to the race tomorrow is having a kick at the end,” said Paul, who felt the grind of the race in the final 100 meters on Friday. “I don’t want to take it out too fast, but I’m looking for a good time.”

Stevenson senior Rachel Redmond is no stranger to the state meet, and she’s hoping her experience will be helpful in the shot put finals.

Redmond hit a 40-0.5 on her last throw in Friday’s preliminaries and holds the eighth spot going into finals. This is the third straight year the Patriots senior has qualified for finals; she placed 7th last year.

“I still get nervous, but I’m looking to finish strong,” said Redmond who hit a 42-6 at the Lake County meet. “I’m just going to go for it on Saturday.”

Libertyville sophomore Haley Becker advanced for the Wildcats in the high jump (5-3).

In Class 2A, Vernon Hills senior Kelly Gallagher finished with the ninth-best mark in the 1,600 (5:14.7) in advancing to Saturday finals.

Sophomore Ali Peacock, junior Taylor Pearson, junior Taylor Krue and sophomore Alli Tran combined to advance the Cougars in the 1,600 relay (4:02.96). Sophomore Shannon Nugent also came up big for Vernon Hills and advanced in the high jump (5-1).

Senior Hannah Hobson, freshman Korina Gomez, sophomore Elsie Rehberg and sophomore Claire Haggerty combined to advance Grayslake Central’s 3,200 relay (9:42.82). Haggerty came back to qualify in the 1,600 (5:14.08), finishing with the eighth-best preliminary effort.