W. Aurora, St. Charles E. in great shape
CHARLESTON — The transformation of Emma Spagnola from freshman sensation to seasoned state contender acquired a new momentum Friday afternoon during the Class 3A preliminaries of the girls track and field state meet on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.
In the process, Spagnola seeks to become the second West Aurora athlete in the last three years to win the 100-meter hurdles title after twice accomplishing a feat unmatched by the other local athletes in the largest-class division: earn an automatic state finals berth by winning her heat.
After posting the second-fastest time in the shorter variety with a blistering 14.2-second time, Spagnola, in a near-replica of the Kane County meet last month, denied St. Charles East senior Annie Martines at 300 meters as well.
The Blackhawks’ star sophomore made it a perfect day with her 44-flat time at 300 meters to Martines’ runner-up 44.7 after earlier unleashing her best long jump of the outdoor season — 18 feet, 2.25 inches — to place sixth heading into the finals this afternoon.
“I was just so darned tired (during the 300 hurdles),” Spagnola said after competing in the long jump and edging Belleview East senior Jessica McCaskill at 100 meters. “(The 100 time) was definitely a PR (personal record). I’m still going to push myself (in all three events in the finals). I’m hoping to place in the top three in all of my events.”
West Aurora and St. Charles East combined for nine of the 11 local state finalists in Class 3A. In addition to the extraordinary day Spagnola enjoyed for West Aurora, Anita Saffa survived a murderous pool of candidates in the 100 dash.
The Blackhawks’ junior is seeded eighth in the event, which features four of the top sprinters in the nation in two-time defending champion Aaliyah Brown (Lincoln-Way East), reigning runner-up Waubonsie Valley senior Morolake Akinosun, Willowbrook two-time defending runner-up at 200 meters Cherise Porter and Oklahoma-bound Cessily Jones (Plainfield South).
“I was aiming for a 12.0-something,” Saffa said after posting new low with her time of 12.12 seconds. “The fact that our four-by-one (400 relay) didn’t make it (to finals) — that’s what motivated me.”
In another development with overtones of the county meet, Batavia two-time state finalist Haleigh Theuerkauf and West Aurora sophomore Maya Marian currently sit sixth and seventh, respectively, in the shot put.
Martines’ first state finals appearance left the senior as the seventh seed in the 300 hurdles.
“I’m ecstatic right now,” Martines said. “If you would have watched me as a freshman, I never would have believed I would be (in the state finals). “
Britney Williams’ disappointment at not making a return trip to the open 400 meters was more than rectified with an electrifying anchor leg in the 1,600 relay.
Pitted against four-event state finalist Brown of Lincoln-Way East, Williams nearly caught the junior speedster.
But the Saints’ team of Williams, Kelsey Gentry, Allison Chmelik and open 400 qualifier Jordan Shead turned in the third-fastest time in the event with their school-record time of 3:54.35.
“I just tried to stay with (Brown) as long as I could,” Williams said.
Shead is the eighth seed in the open race. “I just try and get a PR in every race and do my best,” Shead said.
Torree Scull snared the final berth in the 800 for St. Charles East; Mallory Abel is the Saints’ last state finalist as the 3,200 run does not have a preliminary.
Mackenzie Bollinger made a seamless transition for Aurora Christian in its first year in Class 2A. The defending single-A state champion at 200 meters advanced in both short sprints, the triple jump and anchored the Eagles’ 800 relay to a fourth seed.
“I think I can ran harder than that,” Bollinger said of her 200 time of 24.98. “I think I was tired.”
Kaneland sophomore Sydney Strang earned the Knights’ sole finals berth with a 2:19.29 in the Class 2A 800 run.