Girls track and field: Batavia edges West Aurora for Upstate Eight title
The Batavia girls track and field team needed every weapon at its availability to combat Rajiah Andrews and Tamia Rayford Saturday.
The West Aurora seniors captured two individual titles each in scoring 57 out of 70 possible points in their seven combined non-relay events.
Rayford, the final scoring link to the Blackhawks' Class 3A state runner-up team three years ago, ended her prolific afternoon by anchoring the West Aurora 1,600-meter relay team to second place.
But the Batavia girls had more than one-upped their neighbors to the south.
Tori Ortiz, who led the Bulldogs' sweep of the 55 dash with fellow all-state sprint-relay returnee Hannah Schlaman, was a critical link of Batavia earning one last team win in the final relay at 1,600 meters.
The schools combined for nine of the 15 conference titles, but it was the host Bulldogs who prevailed for a third consecutive league indoor championship with 132 points.
The Blackhawks' five total victories were the foundation of their 117.5 points.
St. Charles East, Geneva and Glenbard East had a pair of victories apiece in finishing third through fifth with respective point totals of 87, 69 and 62.5.
St. Charles North (35 points), West Chicago (15), Streamwood (15), Larkin (15), South Elgin (13), Bartlett (13), East Aurora (10) and Elgin (0) completed the 13-team field.
"Coach (Justin Allison) put me in the mile relay," said Ortiz, who collaborated with Sabrina Schlenker, Mary Golden Grace and anchor Maia Haworth to win in 4 minutes, 9.92 seconds. "I usually do the 200 (the preceding event). It was so much fun. It was a great time."
Ortiz and Schlaman swept the 55 dash, denying Rayford a third potential sprint title, in 7.34 and 7.39 seconds.
"We got the (team) lead, and it was so awesome to win the 55," the Bulldogs' star junior said. "It was only the beginning for our whole team."
Schlaman was nipped by Rayford for the title at 200 meters (26.12-26.21), but the senior was the principle figure on the Bulldogs' 800 relay title in 1:49.26.
"It was a little disappointing (with two individual runners-up), but it was more going for, 'What could I do for the team?' Schlaman said. "I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way - with the cherry on top."
Sam Healy was the sole field-event champion for Batavia with her 37 foot, 4-inch throw in the shot put.
"We had to compete in every event (to beat West Aurora)," Allison said. "They always have studs every year. They're tough to beat in field events, in hurdles and all the sprints."
The three disciplines are where the Blackhawks stayed competitive.
Andrews won the triple jump in 35-7.5 and was runner-up to teammate Kayla Battle in the long jump.
One event after Rayford settled for third in the 55 dash, Andrews' 8.77-second time in the hurdles at the same distance provided her second title.
"I would have to say my 55 hurdles was more satisfying (than triple jump)," the Blackhawks' senior said. "I was one-tenth of a second from breaking Batavia's indoor record."
Rayford was the lone athlete to break the minute-barrier in winning the 400 (59.06).
"Usually, Batavia is a good competitor for us," Rayford said. "We're going to see Batavia again (at county and the Bartlett sectional). May the best win."
St. Charles East and Geneva are not about to concede the outdoor River Division to Batavia.
The Saints' Anna Arrick and Kennedy Gift illuminated the incongruous elements of the sport with victories at 3,200 meters and the pole vault.
"Honestly, I didn't expect to win," said Arrick, timed in 11:52.19. "It was nice to win (my first conference title) this year, especially senior year and everything."
Gift is a top state contender after going 11 feet.
Geneva athletes Sophia McDonnell and Andrine Larsen swept the 1,600 run after beginning the meet with reverse bookend legs in the 3,200 run.
"Everyone (on the relay) has an amazing kick, and it really helped to push us forward," McDonnell said of the Vikings' unit that won in 10:15.37.
McDonnell (5:11.2) and Larsen (5:17.75) dominated the field.
Glenbard East has a triumvirate of returning state qualifiers in Cailyn Biegalski, Lexi Welton and Abby Hoh.
"All three of them did wonderfully," Glenbard East coach Molly Gstalter said.
Biegalski and Welton have four combined open 800 state appearances in their first two seasons as Rams.
The former added a 400-meter state bid last year.
The two juniors began their day by leading the Rams' 3,200 relay to a third-place verdict.
But Biegalski lived up to her billing as the top seed in the 800 run.
Biegalski blitzed past St. Charles East junior Hannah Willging to take command on the bell lap.
The junior was never headed again in winning in 2:22.8.
It was the first career league title for Biegalski.
"My coach told me (about being the top seed), and I was really nervous," Biegalski said. "My coaches told me to be really aggressive and confident. I hit an indoor PR last week (also at Batavia) and (my time today) was the same time."
Weltin, who was fourth in her lone individual event - the 1,600 run - and Biegalski also helped the Rams' 1,600 relay to fourth place.
The Rams also have an emerging junior for whom Gstalter is particularly excited as the sport transitions outdoors in coming weeks.
"We are hoping she is going to be our fourth state qualifier," Gstalter said.
The Ram athlete in question is junior hurdler and sprinter Kionnah Weaver.
Five one-hundredths behind Andrews' championship time in the 55 hurdles in 8.82, Weaver was also fourth in the 200.
"They have all been coming along all season," Gstalter said of her state veterans. "Having gone to state already, they know what is expected of them. They're much better than they were at this point last year."
Hoh had arguably the biggest upset win of the day when she turned back reigning third-place high-jumper Kristin Higgins of Geneva to win on criteria at 5-2.
"Last year I won indoor conference as well," the Rams' senior said. "Today my approaches felt really good, and I was able to compete with a really good girl."