Cary-Grove’s sectional supremacy continues
ROCKTON — The seniors on the Cary-Grove girls track and field team went out the way they came in four years ago — as champions.
Buoyed by contributions across the board, the Trojans won the Class 3A Hononegah sectional by a 38-point margin Thursday. They netted 102 points to coast to victory over second-place Crystal Lake Central (64), which was followed by DeKalb (54), Grant (52), Hononegah (49.5) and Huntley (47).
It marks the fourth straight season the Trojans have swept the McHenry County, Fox Valley Conference and sectional meet championships.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Cary-Grove senior Annie McGarrigle, who ran the opening leg for the Trojans’ four state-qualifying relay teams. “I would have never thought we’d do anything like that. I would have hoped for maybe a conference title during my four years and maybe, maybe, maybe a sectional title. Knowing how much we accomplished in the last four years is just unbelievable to me.”
The Hononegah sectional title didn’t come without some bumps in the road. Senior Kathie Wollney, a favorite to qualify for state in the 100-meter high hurdles, was disqualified in a preliminary heat due to a false start, and a pole vaulter with a chance to advance to state failed to make height.
None of that mattered once the dust settled. Wollney rebounded to win the 300-meter low hurdles in 44.48 seconds, and she teamed with fellow seniors McGarrigle, Jenni Maki and Sarah Ryan to win the 800-meter relay (1:42.99). Wollney, McGarrigle, senior Lizzy Klicker and senior Paige Freund finished third in the 1,600-meter relay and qualified for state with a time of 4:04.51.
“It was a rough start,” Wollney said of the disqualification, “but it definitely pushed me. I was like, ‘All right, you’ve got to get your head in the game and get ready for the 4x2, 4x4 and 300 (hurdles).’ It was definitely not how I wanted to start my last sectional, but it was looking a lot better after a few races.”
Ryan swept the 100-meter dash (12.79) and 200-meter dash (25.79). In addition to her role on the winning 800-meter relay team, Ryan also anchored the winning 400-meter relay team of McGarrigle, Maki, sophomore Faith Furio (49.36).
“We’ve always taken pride in emphasizing the team aspect,” Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson said. “When Kathie false started and a pole vaulter no-heighted, you could see the air go out of the girls sails. We just told them to stay positive because we’re a great team from top to bottom.
“This was the best way to end our season and the best way for these seniors to go out. Not everything went right, but their teammates rallied around them. When we hit the track we were firing on all cylinders.”
The Trojans opened the race portion of the meet with a second-place finish in the 3,200-meter relay. McGarrigle, freshman Talia Duzey, junior Maddie Lundin and Freund ran the two-mile race in 9:33.95.
Huntley took the title in the 1,600-meter relay, thanks to the effort of junior Katlyn Luebke, sophomores Tina Driscoll and Taylor Scahu and junior Alex Ferrera (4:02.61). Huntley junior Omo Tseumah won the high jump (5-5), and senior Anthonia Moore finished third in the 400 in a state-qualifying time of 57.97.
Huntley hurdler Macy Tramblay took advantage of disqualifications of the top two seeds to win the 100-meter high hurdles (15.21). “I tried not to think about what was going on with anyone else,” Tramblay said. “I just ran my race. It feels good.”
Jacobs senior Allie Virgilio won the triple jump (39 feet, 1.25 inches), freshman Lauren Van Vlierbergen qualified in the 800 with a second-place finish (2:17.76), and sophomore Kayla Giuliano was among six state qualifiers in the 400-meter dash (59.44).
The Jacobs 3,200-meter relay team of Aleta Wurfel, Guiliano, Elizabeth Berry and Van Vlierbergen broke their personal record by 5 seconds but finished third in the race and missed qualifying for the state meet by a second.
“It’s definitely bittersweet being a senior,” Wurfel said, “but we did so well and I’m proud we beat our best time by five seconds. We came close.”
Crystal Lake South senior Lexi Dahl set a new personal best in the pole vault by three inches when she cleared 11-3 to win the title and qualify for state for the third time. Her sister, junior Nikayla Dahl, qualified for state with a second-place finish in the discus throw (116-9).
“I’m so excited,” Lexi Dahl said, “but I’m even more happy for (Nikayla). She’s my best friend.”