Scouting Tri-Cities girls track and field
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Troy Kerber (26th year)
Last year: Seventh at Suburban Christian Conference meet; 10th at Class 2A Glenbard South sectional.
Top athletes: Kendall Adams, sr., sprints, jumps; Jackie Cardona, sr., sprints, jumps; Jordan Clifton, sr., throws; Amanda Contreras, sr., middle distance; Cynthia Elizondo, jr., sprints, middle distance; Jenna Koerner, jr., middle distance; Santia Miller, jr., throws; Paulina Morales, sr., distance; Rachel Rahn, jr., sprints; Lisa Rodriquez, jr., sprints; Lauren San Diego, soph., sprints, hurdles; Jordyn Sundberg, fr., middle distance; Ashley Wilk, sr., jumps.
Outlook: The Chargers’ girls track and field team has been transformed by the presence of three highly athletic newcomers who were all key figures in the unprecedented achievement of the basketball team over the winter. Rodriquez, a transfer from Aurora Christian who was a member of the Eagles’ Class 1A state championship 800-meter relay team, joins Cardona and Adams as first-year performers for Aurora Central. “We think (Cardona) is going to really help us,” Kerber said. “We’re trying to improve the overall team dynamic. We have a nice infusion of (newcomers) to go with our returning (girls).” Wilk, also a starter on the fourth-place basketball team, returns to bolster the Chargers’ jumpers. Koerner anchors the Chargers’ aspirations in the middle to long distances on the track. The junior is the lone individual state qualifier (800) for ACC. “We think our four-by-eight (3,200 relay) might be pretty decent (at the state level),” Kerber said. Aurora Central will seek to dramatically improve its showing at both the conference and sectional meets. “We definitely feel like we are going to improve (our conference finish) from last year,” Kerber said.
Aurora Christian
Coach: Dr. Jeff Schutt (eighth season)
Last year: Fifth at the Suburban Christian Conference meet; Class 1A Plano sectional champion; seventh at state meet.
Top athletes: Alyssa Anderson, sr., sprints, throws; Mackenzie Bollinger, jr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Natasha Brown, fr., sprints, jumps; Taylor Eaves, fr., sprints; Meghan Haggerty, fr., sprints, pole vault; Alyssa Henzel, sprints, throws; Taylor Knauf, jr., pole vault; Sarina Oleson, sr., distance; Maddie Saloga, fr., sprints, jumps;, Peyton Wade, soph., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: The Eagles face a major transition this year after the IHSA bumped them to Class 2A following their sectional team triumph and top-10 result at the state meet last spring. “It’s a big challenge (moving up a class), because obviously we’re a small program,” Schutt said. “We’re probably going to be the smallest school in (Class) 2A.” Aurora Christian does have the multitalented Bollinger back for yet another thrill-a-minute campaign. The junior won a state championship in the open 200 meters and anchored the 800 relay to another title. Henzel and Anderson, who ironically spearhead the Eagles’ throwers, also return for another shot a sprint-relay state medal. The fourth member, Lisa Rodriguez, transferred to Aurora Central. Schutt speculates that Bollinger could conceivably qualify for the state meet in seven or eight events between the sprints, two hurdles events and three jumping events. “She is a multiple purpose athlete,” said Schutt, noting Bollinger the one-time indoor triple jump state champion had to pull out of her specialty event last spring due to an ankle injury. “She can do anything we ask her to do.” Oleson seeks a second straight berth to the state meet in the 3,200 run for the Eagles.
Batavia
Coach: Justin Allison (first year)
Last year: Second in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division
Top athletes: Hailey Clabough, sr., sprints, hurdles; Alicia Grant, fr., middle distance; Morgan Hess, jr., jumps; Jessica Hartman, soph., sprints, jumps; Alex Marsh, jr., sprints; Tamar Norville, sr., sprints, jumps; Skylar Schoen, jr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault; Abby Schulz, sr., middle distance; Nikki Slesvig, sr., sprints; Rachael Spalding, jr., distance; Paulina Szakiel, jr., jumps; Haleigh Theuerkauf, sr., throws.
Outlook: The Bulldogs suffered a huge loss when Bari Robinson, who solidified their middle-distance core of runners with a downstate appearance last year at 800 meters, moved out of state. But Theuerkauf captured the unofficial indoor state championship in the shot put last weekend in Bloomington to bolster the Bulldogs’ aspirations heading outdoors. Theuerkauf is searching for a third consecutive large-school state berth in the shot put this spring. “I think we have a lot of good pieces in place,” said Allison, who takes over the program from Chad Hillman. “Our girls are always ready to compete.” The Bulldogs’ third individual state qualifier from a year ago — distance maven Spalding — returns after an injury-plagued indoor season. Allison is hopeful the girls’ practice chemistry can translate to success on the track and in the field. “(The upperclassmen) are always willing to learn and help out other athletes,” Allison said. “It really helped the team and our camaraderie. It helps cultivate success for them individually and for the team as well.” Geneva is the defending champion in the new-look River Division of the Upstate Eight, but St. Charles East is the consensus front-runner based on its state-seasoned returnees. Allison is not about to surrender anything, though. “Our girls are ready to compete against (St. Charles East) and everybody else (in the River).”
Geneva
Coach: Peter Raak (seventh season)
Last year: Upstate Eight Conference River Division champion; fifth at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top athletes: Kathryn Adelman, soph., distance; Emma Anderson, jr., jumps; Kailie Briza, sr., hurdles, jumps; Hayley Caroll, jr., jumps, pole vault; Katie Costello, sr., sprints; Aimee Dappas, soph., hurdles, jumps; Isabeau Guglielmo, jr., sprints, jumps; Erica Lagger, sr., sprints; Megan Malone, sr., throws; Kristi Shogren, sr., distance; Mady Temple, sr., sprints.
Newcomers to watch: Hannah Davison, fr., sprints, jumps; Jenna Ginsberg, jr., sprints, pole vault; Paige Korte, fr., sprints; Marin Leone, fr., distance; Liz Markuson, fr., jumps, pole vault; Kyllie Monahan, fr., distance; Brooke Nusser, fr., distance; Ashley Puff, jr., sprints, pole vault; Veronica Ramming, fr., jumps, throws; Kate Rogers, fr., sprints, jumps; Ana Samples, soph., distance.
Outlook: Like its archrival to the south, Batavia, the Geneva girls track team is in an adjustment period after losing several elite athletes to graduation in recent years. “We graduated some great athletes the past years, but we’re looking to our younger girls to step up and continue the tradition set by our past athletes,” Raak said. Without the services any longer of any of the athletes who won back-to-back state cross country championships, Geneva will seek to remain competitive through depth and balance. Briza is the lone returning individual state qualifier for the Vikings, who won the inaugural River Division last spring. For Geneva to contend again, however, the squad will look to adopt a team commitment. “We are once again looking to compete for a conference title,” Raak said. Malone, Shogren and Temple are the Vikings’ three senior captains. “Led by good senior leadership, the younger girls are working well,” Raak said. “I am excited to see how things come together by the end of the outdoor season.”
Kaneland
Coach: Doug Ecker (third year)
Last year: Second in the Northern Illinois Big XII; seventh at the Class 2A Ottawa sectional.
Top athletes: Maggie Brundige, jr., distance; Ashley Castellanos, jr., sprints, jumps; Christina Delach, soph., jumps, pole vault; Abby Dodis, jr., distance; Jen Howland, sr., distance; Nicole Ketza, sr., throws; Amanda Lasek, jr., hurdles, middle distance; Sydney Strang, soph., middle distance, distance; Elle Tanotti, fr., throws; Lauren Zick, soph., sprints, middle distance, jumps. Outlook: Kaneland will have to maximize all of its assets to be in the hunt for a conference championship in the rugged Big XII. With Class 2A powers abounding, not to mention elevated middle-tier state cross country champion Yorkville in the mix, the Knights have a daunting task. “I think outdoors DeKalb might be the best team (in the league),” Ecker said. “I don’t know if we have the depth element to score enough points (to win conference).” The Knights, though, have some exceptional individuals. Zick is a sophomore standout with capabilities in three different disciplines in long sprints, middle distance and the long jump. Zick energized the Knights’ 3,200 relay to a state medal last spring, and the crew placed at the indoor Top Times meet last Saturday. “We have some good depth with our distance runners,” Ecker said. Strang is in search of a breakout sophomore campaign after an impressive freshman season a year ago, and Castellanos is the glue to the Knights’ sprinters. Ecker is also anxiously awaiting Ketza, dogged by injuries a year ago, to resume her ascendant throwing career. Ecker hopes his squad peaks for the conference showdown. “We have a chance (to win conference), an opportunity,” Ecker said. “You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Rosary
Coach: Vic Meade (23rd year)
Last year: Suburban Christian Conference champion; second at the Class 2A Glenbard South sectional
Top athletes: Amelia Anderson, jr., middle distance; Emily Bakala, soph., middle distance; Olivia Cano, soph., throws; Courtney Cox, jr., hurdles, middle distance; Yesinia Garcia, sr., sprints; Abby Hammer, soph., hurdles; Kara Kalisz, jr., middle distance; Biz Nasharr, soph., middle distance, distance; Sara Nyaeme, soph., sprints, jumps; Helen Offerman, sr., middle distance; Grace Petry, sr., jumps, pole vault.
Outlook: In all likelihood, Rosary will have to be content with regular-season achievements after the IHSA made the very surprising decision to reclassify the program to Class 3A in track and field this spring. “The (Bartlett) sectional isn’t going to be very exciting,” Meade said of competing against schools with five times higher enrollments. With star sprinter Anna Deufel, who helped lead two of the Royals’ four relay teams to a state berth, competing at the next level the squad faces difficult barriers this spring. Rosary does, however, have the distinction of being the defending Suburban Christian Conference champion. “We want to do well in the conference,” Meade said. The veteran coach knows this year presents its own unique challenges. “We don’t have the superstars we had last year,” he said. As a returning state qualifier in the long jump, Petry is the unquestioned senior leader. Meade will also count on his stable of middle-distance runners to carry the torch this spring. “If we can stay close to the top three, we’ll be happy in the conference,” Meade said. “If we can develop a few more field events in the regular season, we may do even better.” Garcia and Nyaeme are the Royals’ sprint-relay stalwarts; Cox is the perhaps the most versatile performer with her hurdles and middle-distance routines.
St. Charles East
Coach: Denise Heffernin (fifth season)
Last year: Third in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; seventh at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.
Top athletes: Mallory Abel, sr., distance; Laney Deckrow, jr., sprints, jumps; Jessica Evans, jr., distance; Kelsey Gentry, sr., sprints; Sarah Hill, jr., distance; Annie Martines, sr., sprints, hurdles; Jordan Schead, soph., sprints; Torree Scull, fr., distance; Kristin Sheehan, sr., distance; Britney Williams, jr., sprints.
Outlook: St. Charles East was one of many track and field teams to get an early start on the outdoor season as a result of an extended period of unseasonably warm weather. “It makes it a lot easier on the body,” said Williams, the Saints’ lone returning state medal-winner who is expected to be the focal point of the Saints’ sprinting attack this spring. Williams had a strong indoor season, capped by a fourth-place result at the Top Times meet in her specialty event — the 400 dash. Williams is poised to turn the Saints’ 1,600 relay into a strong state contender as well, with Martines expected to also be a key figure. Martines is coming off her first individual state berth after making the grade in the 300 hurdles last year. “My main focus is going to be the 300 (hurdles),” Martines said. “I want to be in the top nine at state, to make the finals.” The Saints should also be well-versed at long range as all five of their top runners from a third-place cross country finish last fall make the transition to the track. Abel is the senior leader of that group. “When the time comes, that’s when we do our best,” Martines said of the Saints’ collective drive for an outdoor conference championship.
St. Charles North
Coach: John Osmanski (first year, eighth overall)
Last year: Fourth in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division; 10th at Hoffman Estates sectional
Top athletes: Alex Antonelli, sr., sprints; Jerica Balousek, sr., sprints, jumps; Olivia Cesarone, sr., hurdles; Danielle Engel, sr., pole vault; Loriel Hutchinson, jr., jumps; Brittney Kostrzewski, soph., hurdles; Kaylee Raucci, jr., jumps; Jessica Scheets, sr., middle distance; Kara Smith, sr., sprints; Molly Soltesz, soph., sprints; Sydney Stuenkel, sr., distance; Megan Young, soph., distance.
Outlook: The North Stars enter the outdoor season with renewed optimism after leading all River programs at the single-division indoor conference championship. “We’re excited to go outdoors because we have a lot of depth,” said Osmanski, who takes over after a seven-year stint at Mundelein. Stuenkel and Scheets are the North Stars’ senior leaders; the former is coming off a brilliant performance with a third-place finish at 1,600 meters at the Top Times meet; Scheets is expected to anchor the North Stars’ quality 3,200 relay. “(Stuenkel) is starting to come into her own in terms of running with people at the state level,” Osmanksi said. Osmanski is particularly excited about the North Stars’ expanding sprinting corps. “We don’t have that one stud sprinter,” Osmanski said. “But we have a lot of people who can run some times. We have a lot of fast people.” The North Stars’ bid for a first conference championship in program history will depend on being able balance their blossoming runners with equal efforts from the field. “Our strength will be our depth,” Osmanski said. “We have people all over the place.” Raucci has emerged as one of the top area triple jumpers after a conference-winning effort at Batavia two weeks ago.
West Aurora
Coach: Teresa Towles (eighth season)
Last year: DuPage Valley Conference champion; Class 3A Naperville North sectional champion.
Top athletes: Nikki Bartel, jr., middle distance; Rachel Cavender, jr., middle distance, distance; Chloeressa Coleman, jr., jumps; Maya Marion, soph., throws; Megan McKinley, sr., middle distance; Tykia Neal, jr., sprints, hurdles; Shadae Pickett, sr., sprints; Anita Saffa, jr., springs; Cynthia Smith, sr.,. sprints; Emma Spagnola, soph., hurdles, jumps; Kyla Walton, soph., jumps; Elisa Zinn, soph., sprints.
Outlook: Emma Spagnola is ready to ascend to another level of brilliance. The star hurdler and jumper, who won four individual events to propel the Blackhawks’ conference championship as a freshman, had a remarkable weekend at the Top Times meet. Spagnola won the 55-meter hurdles, was runner-up in the long jump and placed third in the high jump. “I told Emma (before the competition), ‘It’s time to step up. You need to come out and attack,’” Towles said. “I think she is ready (to take on an even greater role).” Spagnola was third in the long jump at the state meet last spring, concluding a juggernaut of a team campaign in which the Blackhawks won five major meets, including a clean sweep of the county, conference and a second straight sectional. “I think we can be just as successful as we were last year,” Towles said. Saffa is the Blackhawks’ speed burner, and Spagnola is far from the only talented underclassmen as Walton and Marion both are coming off of state appearances as freshmen. West Aurora and Wheaton Warrenville South figure to have a titanic struggle for league supremacy. “They’re both strong at the top,” Glenbard North coach Gary Heilers said. “I think the team that can develop the second-tier kids is going to win (the DVC).”