Conant's Gorden, Palatine's McIntosh strike gold

CHARLESTON — Conant senior Sarah Gorden and Palatine senior Sarah McIntosh both had a bit of unfinished business to take care of at the Class 3A girls track and field state meet at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium on Saturday.

And they both delivered.

Gorden was looking to erase last year's experience, when she had a pair of falls in the 100 high hurdles and 300 low hurdles.

McIntosh, who finished fourth in the 3A cross country meet as a sophomore, wanted to put on the finishing touches of a stellar career that had been derailed by foot injury over the last year.

Gorden answered affirmatively by winning the state title in the 100 high hurdles (14.35), taking second in the 300 low hurdles (42.59) and helping the Cougars take sixth in the 400 relay (48.15).

“From the get-go this year, she was very focused and she knew she wanted to get back,” said Conant coach Bob Borczak. “For her to come back and do it is amazing, I'm very proud of her.”

McIntosh also had the right answer winning the state title in the 1,600 (5:01.35); she helped lead Palatine to third in the 3,200 relay (9:14.42).

“You could see the confidence coming back,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks. “She believed going in she could be the state titleist and she stuck to her plan.”

East St. Louis won its 15th team 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, with Byron winning the Class 1A title.

Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie awed the crowd by setting state records in both 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) and anchoring the 400 relay in a state title (47.00) and guiding the 1,600 relay to third place.

Gorden took the lead early in the 100 high hurdles and didn't waver in winning her title. She later came back and pushed East St. Louis sophomore Markita Rush before taking second in the 300 lows. Gorden broke school records in both events.

“It's a few steps up from last year,” said Gorden of her performance. “I wanted to come down here and get my times and then win. I think my start really helped me in the 100 highs, and in the 300 lows there were some great times.”

Gorden combined with senior Taylor Graham, senior Tina Tortorici and junior Angela Herrmann in taking sixth in the 400 relay.

“The experience helped, especially with the handoffs,” said Tortorici of the veteran relay quarter. “We've been doing it for four years and it paid off.”

McIntosh's experience also paid off. She'd been battling a painful heel injury, but she was back in form on this day, taking the lead in the 1,600 and holding off a late charge from Crystal Lake South senior Marianne Collard to claim the state title.

“Normally I like to sit behind people, but that hasn't really worked out for me,” said McIntosh, who never trailed. “It wasn't like previous years where people were going out crazy. Someone had to take the lead, so I did it.”

McIntosh combined with sophomore Tess Wasowicz, freshman Cassidy McPherson and senior Becca Sund on the Pirates' 3,200 relay.

“We stayed positive that we could do it,” said Sund, “We put ourselves out there and closed strong.”

Palatine junior Laura Schweikert took sixth in the 400 (58.26), then combined with senior Morgan Quinnett, sophomore Meg Jump and sophomore Taylor Tenca to place eighth in the 1,600 relay (3:56.12).

“Everyone that made it to finals gave it all they could,” said Schweikert, who contributed to a ninth-place Palatine team finish. “We all stuck together as a team and did our part.”

Sophomore Morgan Keller took a step forward by taking third in the shot put (43-5.25) and sixth in the discus (124-9) for Rolling Meadows.

“The cards fell the way they did today,” said Keller, who finished eighth in the shot put last season. “I knew I had to compete, and now I just want to keep progressing.”

Senior Christina Gastfield secured her first track medal by taking third in the 3,200 (10:47.84). Gastfield finished in the top 10 in Class 3A cross country three straight seasons but the senior had never won a track medal.

Gastfield used a surge with 200 meters remaining to take a brief lead over New Trier's Jessica Ackerman (10:47.58), but Oswego East junior Ariel Michalek, the defending Class 3A cross country champion, slid into the lead in the final 10 meters to win in 10:47.32.

“I just wanted to put everything on the line,” said Gastfield who broke a school record. “I'm proud of the way it ended.”

Senior Samantha Sturm powered Prospect by taking fifth in the discus (124-10) and seventh in the shot put (40-5.25).

“I struggled early this season, but I was able to come through at the end,” said Sturm, who finished ninth in the shot put last season. “I'm really excited about my discus performance.”

Freshman Christina Santiago, senior Savannah Snead, junior Laura Maibuecher and sophomore Laura Poplawski kept the Knights' medal streak alive in the 3,200 relay (9:19.83) by securing fifth place. It marked the fifth straight year the Prospect has won a a medal in the 3,200 relay.

“It was really exciting and I did it for the team,” said Poplawski who anchored the relay. “We're all so close and we have a strong group.”

Senior Britten Petrey, junior Lauren Lindgren, sophomore Maika Kumamoto and senior Jordan Wagner combined to lead Schaumburg to sixth in the 1,600 relay (3:55.86).

“We all worked so hard,” said Petrey of the Saxons' 1,600 relay. “It's about the team, and we finished strong.”

Junior Stephanie Uhrich took ninth in the high jump (5-4) to lead Fremd.

“It was definitely my goal this season to make state,” said Uhrich, “ and once I made state I wanted to make it to Saturday finals.”