Girls track: Grant gets second at Barrington Invitational

The Grant girls track and field team seems to be picking up where it left off last year.

The Bulldogs won the North Suburban Conference title and also the Buffalo Grove sectional title in capping a big season last year.

This year Grant is back on track for some big things.

Sophomore Danielle Osmon and junior Ariyona Wallace combined for four victories in leading Grant to a second-place finish at the Barrington Invitational on Thursday.

New Trier won seven events and swept the four relays in nipping Grant for the title 119.33-119.

Osmon and Wallace set the tone for the Bulldogs. Osmon took first in the 3,200 (11:01.14) and then came back to hold off Crystal Lake South senior Caitlin Bruzzini (5:19) to take first in the 1,600 with a winning time of 5:18.87.

"After last year we just want to continue the path we were on," Osmon said of the Bulldogs' attack. "We are just a well-rounded team."

Wallace added to the attack by taking first and going under the Class 3A qualifying time in the 100 (12.49).

The Bulldogs junior then came back to hit another qualifying mark in winning the 200 (26.01).

"I have a lot of goals this year and I've been training hard," said Wallace who also helped the Bulldogs to second place finish in the 400 relay (50.90) and a third-place finish in the 800 relay (1:49.41). "We have a lot of goals for the team and we are coming back harder."

Senior Kelsey McLaurin covered a lot of ground in leading host Barrington to a third-place finish with 103 points.

McLaurin took first in the triple jump (36-05.5), adding a third-place finish in the 400 (1:01.11), and aiding the Fillies' 400 relay (51.03.6) and 1,600 relay (4:12.59) to third-place finishes.

"I think the experience helps," McLaurin said. "I've done this all before, so I'm used to it. Everybody is working so hard, so it's really been exciting."

Senior Julia Berquist added a first-place finish for the Fillies in the high jump (5-0), with junior Jocelyn Long taking third in both 1,600 (5:22.79) and 3,200 (11:13.08).

The Fillies' 3,200 relay took second, with Julia Piotrowski and Gabby Cossio going 2-3 in the 300 low hurdles.

Warren senior Abena Atuobi is certainly off to a fast start in the shot put for the Blue Devils and set the tone in helping them to a fourth-place finish on Thursday.

Atuobi hit a school record in her first outdoor meet, topped that mark at the Prospect Relays and came back on Thursday to set a meet record with a personal best and first-place finish with a throw of 45-05.

"Being consistent in my hard work has brought me to this level," said Atuobi who also took first in the discus (118-02). "I love being on top and it motivates me more."

Sophomore Janii Jenkins supported the Blue Devils' effort by taking second in the 400 (59.21) and third in the 200 (26.74).

Conant junior Leah Jones took first in the 300 low hurdles (48.11), with junior Victoria Marzec, senior Jaia Lastrella, senior Tida Bowers, and junior Kierra Munning combining to take second in the 800 relay (1:48.53) for the Cougars.

"The start really propelled me to my strong finish," said Jones of her hurdle victory. "Our relays we have been getting the handoffs down and we really want to get to state this year."

Senior Katie Bonney and sophomore Anna Miller have anchored the Hoffman Estates group this season, and it was no different on Thursday. Bonney took first in the 800 (2:23.12), and then combined with Miller freshman Janea Dean, sophomore Nikki Rong in pushing the Hawks to a second-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:11.88).

"I have just become more confident," said Bonney.

"The whole team is running great and we've been dropping times," added Miller. "It is really exciting to see everyone working together."