Prospect produces an MSL title

Prospect had not won a Mid-Suburban League girls track title since 2000, and coach Dave Wurster figured his team was due.

The Knights proved him right on Friday night at Rolling Meadows.

Prospect won only two events, but on a pleasant spring evening a deep Knights team controlled the meet from start to finish in securing the program’s fifth overall MSL title with 128 points at Robert A. Hoese Athletic Field.

Defending champion Palatine hung tough and took second with 116 points, followed by Barrington (86 points), Fremd (73 points), and Hoffman Estates (61 points).

“It was fun,” said Wurster, whose team collected four second-place finishes and six third-place finishes. “You never know how it’s going to end up, but I knew we had a chance of being good. We came together and it was a total team effort.”

Junior Lauren Poplawski, freshman Hannah Getschman, senior Laura Maibuecher and sophomore Christina Santiago combined to lead Prospect to a meet-opening victory in the 3,200-meter relay (9:20.27).

Poplawski (2:17.11) and Santiago (2:18.96) then went 2-4 in the 800.

“We knew we were capable of the victory,” said Poplawski, who also helped power the Knights to a third-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:07.59). “We just came and performed. We’ve all been working hard all season and it came together tonight.”

Junior Brooke Wolfe added to the distance attack by taking third in the 1,600 (5:07.38) and second in the 3,200 (10:56.21).

Freshman Catherine Sherwood helped pace Prospect in the field events by taking first in the long jump (17-9.25). She scratched on her first two attempts, but hit her winning mark on the third attempt.

“We were just really confident as a team that we could get it done,” said Sherwood, who also took fourth in the triple jump (34-10.75). “Every person did their part.”

Including the sprint squad, as senior Kathleen Kennedy helped lead the 400 relay (50.07) and 800 relay (1:47.29) to second-place finishes.

“We’ve been really pushing to get this conference title,” said Kennedy. “The potential has always been there.”

Junior Maggie Devereux bolstered the Knights by taking third in the 100 high hurdles (16.18) and pole vault (9-3). Sophomore Erin Reese added a third-place finish in the discus (120-05), and junior Carissa Weis took third in the triple jump (35-03).

Junior Tess Wasowicz and Palatine certainly made the Knights work for their victory. Wasowicz cruised to first in the 800 (2:15.15), then exploded early in the 1,600 and comfortably secured the title in 5:02.55. The Pirates junior completed her night by leading Palatine to first in the 1,600 relay (4:04.33).

“Coach (Joe) Parks told us to keep pushing until the very end,” said Wasowicz. “Everyone definitely gave their best, and I think we showed a lot of progress tonight.”

Palatine senior Laura Schweikert won the 400 (58.17) and took second in the 200 (26.27), with junior Meg Jump winning the triple jump (35-11.25) and placing second in the long jump (17-00.75).

“We knew we had to scramble for every point,” said Jump. “We knew we had to push to the very last bit.”

Barrington finished eighth in the MSL last year; the Fillies sure have rebounded nicely this season. Senior Caroline Carley and senior Ella Tracy helped power them to a second-place finish in the 3,200 relay (9:26.33).

Senior Melissa Madden took second in the 300 low hurdles (47.56) and helped the Fillies secure second place in the 1,600 relay (4:07.17). Junior Samantha Babiuk contributed a second-place finish in the 400 (1:00.26) and senior Hannah Heider was second in the triple jump (35-06).

“We have a really great group this season and everybody worked together,” said Babiuk. “This year we were really motivated.”

Senior Stephanie Uhrich took won the high jump (5-3) and placed second in the pole vault (10-0) to help power Fremd to fourth place. Senior Kathryn Kendzior added a second-place finish for the Vikings in the 100 high hurdles (16:02).

Senior Emily D’Amico, sophomore Shayan Dussard, sophomore Andrea Miller-Bey, and freshman Edyta Kraweic combined to power Hoffman Estates to an impressive first place finish in the 400 relay (49.67).

Sophomore Banke Oginni continued her dominance in the shot put, taking first place and hitting her winning mark on the final throw (43-09).

“I felt really confident going in,” said Oginni who has consistently hit over 40 -feet this season. “I just knew I had to pick it up for the team.”

Senior Haley Goers made a late charge to take second in the 1,600 (5:06.22) for the Hawks.

Schaumburg sophomore Darneisha Spann lit up the track on Friday with three first place finishes: in the 100 high hurdles (15.53), 300 low hurdles (46.30), and 200 (26.02).

“With hard work and dedication it is definitely coming together,” said Spann. “That’s what I’m striving for going forward. I’m just happy to bring home the hardware.”

Schaumburg freshman Caroline Kurdej probably had the most eye-opening performance of the night. The Saxons freshman patiently waited during the 3,200 before sprinting the final 300 meters, passing Prospect’s Wolfe to seal the victory in an impressive 10:53.63.

“I just knew I had to go,” said Kurdej of her winning surge, which lopped about 25 seconds off her previous best. “I just believed in myself. Once I took the lead I never looked back.”

Conant senior Angela Herrmann was dealing with a sore hamstring, but she held off a hard charging pack to win the 100 dash (12.99). She came back to combine with Maya Lane, Sarah Kliora, and Lauren Williams in pushing the Cougars to the title in the 800 relay (1:47.16).

“The finish was so close in the 100,” said Herrmann who also took third in the 200 (26.54). “But I came out thinking, ‘I’m winning, no matter what.’ It was a big victory.”

Rolling Meadows junior Morgan Keller continued to impress in the discus (138-0) with a first-place finish. She took second in the shot put (42-02).

“I’ve been very consistent with my technique,” said Keller of the discus. “I’m figuring things out, definitely getting more confident.”

Freshman Kelly Hill gave Hersey a victory in the pole vault (10-0), and senior Hannah Helminiak added a second-place finish for the Huskies in the discus (124.04).