Silver haul for Carmel’s Paul
CHARLESTON — Carmel junior Megan Paul keeps aiming high; and her performance matched on Saturday in the Class 3A girls track and field state meet at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium.
The sun was just peaking out when Paul stepped to line in the 400, and the Corsair junior jumped out to a good start and hung tough with Whitney Young senior Reana Rhone.
Rhone won her second consecutive 400 title in 55.21 and Paul (56.70) held on to second place, nipping Downers Grove South senior Tori Franklin (56.74) at the line.
Last year Paul took third in the 400-meter dash, and now the junior’s taken one more big step forward.
“What else can I ask for? Second place at state is pretty special,” said Paul. “This motivates me to go for more next year.”
East St. Louis won its 15th state title, scoring 46 points in Class 3A, followed by Lincoln-Way East (37 points) and Hoffman Estates (36 points).
Springfield Southeast won the Class 2A title, and Byron won the 1A title.
Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie awed the crowd by sweeping with state records in the 3,200 (9:56.96) and 1,600 (4:43.65) in Class 2A.
Sophomore Aaliyah Brown stole the show in Class 3A for Lincoln-Way East, winning the 100 (11.46), 200 (24.00), anchoring the 400 relay (47.00) to a state title and leading the 1,600 relay (3:51.48) to third place.
Lake Zurich seniors Marissa Wagner and Amy Polhemus both capped their careers by receiving state medals.
Wagner took eighth in the 400 (60.52), maintaining a comfortable pace for the first 200 meters and then using her speed over the final 200.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” said Wagner, a state qualifier all four years. “I’ve been working extremely hard for this and it couldn’t end any better.”
Polhemus has also been waiting patiently for a medal, and the senior’s patience was rewarded with eighth place in the 300 low hurdles (46.20).
“It feels really cool,” said Polhemus. “It was my last high school race and there is no better way to go out.”
Libertyville sophomore Haley Becker made good in her first finals appearance by tying for seventh place in the high jump (5-5).
“It was really fun and the competition brought out the best in me,” said Becker. “Now I just need to keep working.”
Senior Kelly Gallagher took fourth in the 1,600 (5:09.25) to lead Vernon Hills in Class 2A. Woodstock’s Beattie would not be challenged, but Gallagher battled Marengo’s Katie Adams and Peoria Notre Dame’s Molly Dahlquist throughout the race.
“I was really determined to come out strong,” said Gallagher, who took ninth in Class 2A last year. “It was my last race on the track, so I wanted to give it all I had.”
Sophomore Ali Peacock, junior Taylor Pearson, junior Taylor Krue, and sophomore Alli Tran combined to lead the Cougars to third in the 1,600 relay (3:59.54).
Tran battled the final 200 meters and held off a hard-charging Mahomet-Seymour.
“My heart was in it and I did it for the team,” said Tran of her finish. “We all work really well together.”
Sophomore Shannon Nugent took ninth place in the high jump (5-3) for Vernon Hills.
Grayslake Central sophomore Claire Haggerty came from behind in the final two laps to secure ninth place in the 1,600 (5:12.62).
“I didn’t want to get boxed in,” said Haggerty of her deliberately slow start. “It may have cost me a few seconds but it worked out in the end.”
Rachel Redmond took 10th place in the shot put (40-00.5) for Stevenson.