Girls track: Lineup challenge? No problem for runner-up Prospect

Prospect's girls track and field team was missing a few key pieces on Friday, but the Knights were able to fill the gaps admirably.

Junior Annie Walsh was sidelined with an injury, putting a dent in the lineup. But a group of young runners and some veteran leader powered the Knights to second place at the 13th annual Prospect Relays with 94 points.

Minooka, powered by its distance crew, won seven events in pulling away with the title with 116.5 points.

Wheaton Warrenville South (79.5) took third place, with Deerfield (69 points) edging Wheeling for fourth place in the nine-team field.

"We had some kids come to play tonight," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute. "The younger kids stepped up. They bring a lot of energy combining with the veteran leadership."

Minooka's victory was keyed by a big victory in the 6,400 relay. Senior Ashley Tutt took first in 1,600 (5:06.75) in a tight race to lead Minooka to the victory. Junior Emily Shelton (5:07.64) added a third-place finish.

Tutt, who has earned three cross country state medals and also finished second in the 3,200 in Class 3A last season pulled away from Prospect senior Brooke Wilson in the final lap to secure the victory.

Tutt, Shelton, and senior Mackenzie Callahan (5:15.84) were important members for Minooka's cross country team that won the state title in 2015 and took third in 2016. They're looking for a big finish in track.

"I knew I had to pick it up in the final lap," said Tutt, who powered Minooka to the victory in the 6,400 relay. "I wanted to give it my all. We definitely want to go out with a bang."

Wilson hung tough throughout the entire race and finished second in 5:07.36.

"To go against this type of competition so early is kind of neat," said Wilson who finished fifth in the 3,200 in Class 3A last season. "It had a feel of state meet with so many good runners."

Wheaton Warrenville South senior duo Sarah Atkins (5:09.37) and Allison McGrath (5:09.38) went 5-6 in the high-stakes race to pace the Tigers.

"I feel like I'm ahead of where I was last year," said McGrath, a state qualifier in the 3,200 last season. "It was helpful to run with Sarah, she likes to go out quick and I stay back. Then I push her in the middle. It worked out tonight."

"It definitely gives us confidence," said Atkins who was a state qualifier in the 1,600 last season. "It was just awesome to have Allison out there with me."

Elk Grove senior Emily Stegmeier (5:10.51) also had an impressive race in taking sixth place for the Grenadiers.

"Positioning was really tough during the race," said Stegmeier. "It was nice to see what type of competition I'm going to face throughout the season."

Prospect was powered by its young runners early.

Sophomore Mary Busby, Senor Autumn Stone, freshman Natalie Kowalczuk, and senior Jillian Hennig combined to lead the Knights to first place in the 400 relay (50.46).

Then freshman Ellen Sherwood, freshman Ellen Ibata-Arens, Brittany Damerjan, and freshman Lia Skoufos combined to lead the Knights to first place in the 1,600 sprint medley.

Skoufos held off a hard challenge from Minooka to in the final 800 meters to key the victory.

"I'm still trying to figure things out," said Skoufos, who also anchored the Knights to a second-place finish in the 800 medley relay. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the season to see what I can do."

Clair Haas (17.04) and Kennedy Youngblood (17:06) went 2-3 in the 100 high hurdles to power Wheaton Warrnenville South to first place in the 100 high hurdles team race.

Mykaila Gentry-Humphrey cleared 4-10 to help the Tigers to first place in the high jump relay.

Sophomore Nicole Nguyen, junior Karolina Balcarcel, senior Sydney Johnson and sophomore Alexis Knight combined to lead Wheeling to first place in the 800 medley relay (1:52.66).

Knight came from behind in the final leg, running the last 400 meters in a swift 59.1 and passing Prospect Skoufos and holding off Warren sophomore Janii Jenkins to secure the victory for the Wildcats.

"We are getting faster and faster," said Nguyen, who also helped the Wildcats to a victory in the long jump relay by securing the top mark (16-05.5). "We're trying to get our name out there."

Junior Abena Atuobi gave Warren a big lift by taking the top spot in the shot put (45-0) in leading Warren to first place in shot put relay. She also had the top mark in discus (120-0) in helping her team to a second-place finish.

Atuobi has started the season strong; she also hit a 43-06.5 on Tuesday to top her best from last year.

"I've been putting in all the work during the off-season," said Atuobi, who finished 11th in the shot put at the Class 3A state meet last year. "Even with this mark today, I know I can do better and I'm staying humble."

Warren also took first in the triple jump relay.

Libertyville junior Averly Johnson is no stranger to big meets. Last year she took seventh in the 800 at the Class 3A state meet.

On Friday, Johnson combined with Molly Goebel, Emma Gorman, and Gabby Basler in powering the Wildcats to a win in the 1,600 relay (4:13.64).

Johnson came from behind in the final 400 meters to secure the victory.

"I've been training to get off to a good start," said Johnson, who keyed the Wildcats to a second-place finish in the distance medley with a strong 800 leg. "I have more confidence from my training from the fall and winter, and I feel much more comfortable this year."