Scouting the Mid-Suburban League meet
By Michael Eaken
Daily Herald Correspondent
Scouting Mid-Suburban League girls track and field
When: Today; field events start at 4:30, running preliminaries 5 p.m.; track finals begin at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Robert A. Hoese Athletic Field
Team outlook: The 41st annual Mid-Suburban League title looks to be a collision course between perennial champion Palatine and a deep and talented Prospect squad. Palatine has won three consecutive MSL titles and will be seeking its 11th overall title. Prospect has not won the title since 2000, but the Knights are loaded this season. Fremd and Barrington also offer deep squads that will gather points. Palatine is not as deep as previous years but the Pirates are counting on senior Laura Schweikert, junior Tess Wasowicz and junior Meg Jump to lead the charge. Schweikert enters with the top time in the 400, while Wasowicz tops the charts in the 800 and 1,600. Jump is looking to make her mark in the triple jump and long jump. All three are part of the Pirates’ lethal 1,600 relay team. Prospect enters with two top seeds, junior Brooke Wolfe in the 3,200 and the Knights’ 3,200 relay team But Prospect is deep in the distance and field events. Junior Lauren Poplawski (800), junior Carissa Weis (jumps), freshman Catherine Sherwood (jumps) and sophomore Erin Reese (throws) will help the Knights gather points. Palatine finished second at the Palatine Relays, and Prospect took second at the Cougar Twilight meet. This weekend both teams are hoping to be firing on all cylinders in what is shaping up to be a neck-and-neck race. Barrington and Fremd are waiting in the wings. Barrington will be looking to stretch its talent that includes senior Mellisa Madden, Ella Tracy, and Caroline Carley, while Fremd is counting on senior Stephanie Uhrich, top seed in both the high jump and pole vault, to lead the charge. Hoffman Estates could pull a surprise. Hawks senior Emily D’Amico, a state medalist in both the 100 and 200 dash, is coming back from a foot injury, but the senior sprint star will be a force in the 100 dash and will help lead the sprint relays. Senior Haley Goers is primed for a big 1,600 and sophomore Banke Oginni is the top seed in a very competitive shot put field. Junior Erica Hill has the top mark for Hersey in the long jump.
Individuals to watch:
Angela Herrmann, sr. (Con): Herrmann has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, and has been playing catch-up to Hoffman sprint star D’Amico. But with D’Amico still shaking off the rust from a foot injury, this could be Herrmann’s night. The Cougar senior is the top seed in both the 100 and 200 dash, and is running with authority. Herrmann also anchors the Cougars 400 and 800 relay.
Darneisha Spann, soph. (Sch): Spann has made a splash this season in both hurdle events, and the Saxons sophomore is looking to keep rolling on Friday. Spann has the top seed in both the 100 high hurdles and 300 low hurdles, and is the second seed in the 200 dash. Spann will be heard from in the next two seasons, but the Saxon is looking to make some noise on Friday.
Morgan Keller, jr. (RM): Keller has already hit an eye-opening 141-01 in the discus this season and enters with the top seed. The Mustang junior is also the second seed (43-01) in the shot put and has a chance to pull off the double victory on her home field Friday. It won’t be easy in a shot put field that includes Hoffman Estate sophomore Banke Oginni (44-07), Conant sophomore Jennifer Donnell (41-04), and Prospect sophomore Erin Reese (39-11).
Tess Wasowicz, jr. (Pal): Wasowicz is looking to pull off a tough double victory on Friday. The Pirates junior enters with the top seed in the 800(2:14.4) and 1,600 (4:59.5), but will face a loaded field in the 1,600 where Prospect junior Brooke Wolfe (5:03.8), Hersey senior Nora Gawlik (5:05.6), Rolling Meadow senior Amanda Sanchez (5:07.2), and Hoffman senior Haley Goers (5:10.10) will be waiting.
Laura Schweikert, sr. (Pal): Schweikert is a veteran in the MSL battles. The senior offers plenty of experience and enters with the top seed in the 400 (58.44). If the meet comes down to the final event, the Pirates can count on Schweikert speed in the 1,600 relay.
— Michael Eaken