Girls track sectional preview / Northwest
Girls track sectional preview / Northwest
What to know: First- and second-place finishers in each event, including relays, advance. So do any individuals or relays surpassing state qualifying standards. The Class 3A state meet will be held at Eastern Illinois in Charleston on May 18 and 19.
At Grayslake North
When: Thursday, field events 4 p.m., running event preliminaries at 5 p.m., track finals at 6 p.m.
Teams participating: Hersey, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Graylake North, Warren, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Stevenson, Mundelein, Fremd, Palatine, Round Lake, Waukegan, Wheeling, Zion-Benton.
Outlook: The 16-team field will offer a nice match-up between the Mid-Suburban League and North Suburban Conference. Palatine, led by senior Laura Schweikert, junior Tess Wasowicz, and junior Meg Jump, finished second in the MSL. Schweikert has won two state medals in the 400, Wasowicz is the MSL champion in the 800 and 1,600, and Jump is looking to advance in the triple and long jump. All three will help power the Pirates relays. Freshman Brittany Ellis helped Warren secure third place in the NSC by taking first in the 100, 200, and 400. The Blue Devils freshman has had a fantastic first year and is looking to continue it in the state series; she holds the state’s top mark in Class 3A in the 400 (56.27). Senior Melissa Madden, senior Ella Tracy and senior Caroline Carley help Barrington cover a lot of events. The Fillies’ 3,200 relay and 1,600 relay have both hit impressive marks this season. Fremd senior Stephanie Uhrich is looking for a return trip to the state meet in the high jump, last year she took ninth place. Junior Syndey Keith powers Wheeling attack in the 100 and 200, and also anchors the Wildcats sprint relays. Senior Hannah Helminiak is peaking for Hersey in the discus, and junior Erica Hill will be a threat for the Huskies in the jumps. Juniors Lindsey Moritz and Teagen Hough will power Lake Zurich sprint relays. Lake Forest won the NSC, powered in the pole vault by Carley Schmidt (12-6) and Caroline Carmichael (12-0) who went 1-2 .
At Lake Park
When: Thursday, field events 4 p.m., running event preliminaries 5 p.m., track finals 6:15 p.m.
Teams participating: Addison Trail, Fenton, Elk Grove, York, Leyden, Glenbard West, Proviso West, Conant, Glenbard East, Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Lake Park, Willowbrook, Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South.
Outlook: Wheaton Warrenville South and Prospect headline the loaded 15-team sectional. WW South won the DuPage Valley Conference in commanding fashion last week, and Prospect is coming off an MSL title. The Lake Park sectional is also loaded with individuals stars. The sectional kicks off with the 3,200 relay and it will be a must-see race. Glenbard West holds the top mark in Illinois after cruising to the West Suburban Silver title in a jaw-dropping 9:06.69. WW South (9:16.91) and Prospect (9:20.27) rank 2-3 in Class 3A. McKenna Kiple and Hope Schmelzle power WW South’s attack; that duo also will be a threat in the 1,600 relay. Junior Lauren Poplawski ignites Prospect’s 3,200 relay, with junior Brooke Wolfe leading the charge in the 1,600 and 3,200. Freshman Catherine Sherwood has also given the Knights a lift in the long jump. Glenbard East senior Lindsay Rakosnik won both 800 and 1,600 title at the Illinois Prep Top Times Meet in March and has continued her fine effort through the outdoor season. Rakosnik holds the top mark in Illinois for the 800 (2:11.45). Lake Park junior Lindsay Flannagan will be tough to beat in the 3,200, where she holds the second best time in Illinois (10:31.10). Willowbrook sophomore Cheriese Porter swept the 100 (12.21), 200 (24.54), and 400 (59.97) at the West Suburban Gold meet, and will be a force at Lake Park. Conant senior Angela Herrmann will look to challenge Porter in the sprints, she took first in 100 at the MSL meet and will also power the Cougars relays. Rolling Meadow junior Morgan Keller is turning heads in both the shot put (43-01) and discus (141-02). And if that is not enough the 1,600 race should be explosive with a field that includes Glenbard West Madeline Perez (5:00.82), Flanagan (4:57.9), and Rakosnik (4:59.9).
Bartlett sectional
Where: Streamwood’s Millennium Field
When: Friday, field events 4:30 p.m., running event preliminaries 5:30 p.m., track finals 6:30 p.m.
Teams participating: Metea Valley, Rosary, Bartlett, Batavia, Glenbard North, Dundee-Crown, Elgin, Larkin, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, South Elgin, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Streamwood, West Chicago.
Outlook: Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg will be competing from the Mid-Suburban League. Senior Haley Goers will lead Hoffman Estates. Goers won state medals last season for the Hawks in the 1,600 and 3,200 and is also a key member in the 3,200 relay. Sophomore Banke Oginni has also given the Hawks a lift in the throws. Oginni currently hold the second-best mark in Class 3A in the shot put (43-09). Schaumburg sophomore Darneisha Spann has had a breakout season for the Saxons. Spann won the 100 high hurdles, 300 low hurdles, and the 200 at the MSL meet. Freshman Caroline Kurdej is coming off an impressive 3,200 (10:53.63) victory for the Saxons at the MSL meet. Kelsey Gentry and Jordan Shead helped power St. Charles East to the Upstate Eight River Division title by going 1-2 in the 200. Shead and Brittany Williams also went 1-2 for the Saints in the 400, with Gentry taking first in the 100.
Elsewhere
Maine West will be competing at the Niles West sectional on Thursday, with field events beginning at 3 p.m., followed by track preliminaries at 3:45 p.m. St. Viator will be competing at the Vernon Hills Class 2A sectional on Friday, with field events beginning at 3 p.m., running preliminaries at 4 p.m., followed by track finals at 6 p.m.
— Michael Eaken