Indoor track: Metea Valley goes the distance at Top Times
BLOOMINGTON - On a day when several track and field athletes truly were just happy to be competing at the Top Times Indoor Championships Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan University, the Metea Valley boys 3,200-meter relay wanted more.
"This year we knew that we were a good team. From other years we've had the talent, but unfortunately we've had a lot of injuries," senior Derek Roberts said. "This year when we emphasize health and safety for all of us, it's been really nice to know that we have the talent to compete with other people. We just did."
The Mustangs won their race in 8:01.11 as part of an area Class 3A 3,200 relay sweep in the event.
Glenbard East seniors Cailyn Biegalski and Lexie Weltin, sophomore Emily Anderson and freshman Lauren Huber preceded them by winning in 9:33.18.
Metea junior Michael Varzino, Roberts and seniors Rokas Gudinavicius and Charlie Schafer held off DeKalb's 8:01.93. Roberts and Schafer made their third Top Times trips and qualified for state with the relay in 2016 but the team just missed in 2017 with a third-place sectional finish.
"(Winning) means a lot because we've been here the last two years and we've been a solid team, but we've never really gotten the recognition around our area," Schafer said. "To come out here and beat all of these other qualified teams, it puts our name on the map for sure."
The Rams' season-best time by five seconds won by 1.06 seconds over Schaumburg. This was the relay runners' first appearance at Top Times.
"Both (the victory and time) we're thrilled about," Weltin said. "We were going into this with a little bit of nerves, especially because of the weather and getting here, but we decided to go into it together and just give it everything we've got."
With treacherous weather and numerous accidents gridlocking Interstate 55, other teams chose not to complete their downstate trip and turned back. The short list included Downers Grove North and South, York and Glenbard West with sophomore standout Katelynne Hart, the defending Class 3A champion in the 3,200 and 1,600 who was entered in the 800 and 1,600.
The Rams, who left around 11:45 a.m., nearly turned back too.
"We were about 30 miles away and (coach Molly Gstalter) really wanted us to compete here," Biegalski said. "I'm really grateful that she put the time and effort and energy to get us here."
Finishing second were Lake Park senior Izzy Kennedy with 38-3¾ in triple jump and Naperville North junior Alex Morris and senior Hannah Ricci in the 3,200 and 1,600, respectively.
Anderson, who was 2¾ inches behind Lane senior Sarah Olojo, was coming off an all-time school-record 39-3½ at the conference meet.
"A little disappointing (today) but overall it's a good ending to a season, indoors at least," said Kennedy, who will compete at SIU-Edwardsville. "I really like outdoor a lot more than indoor so I'm really excited to get back outside."
Morris ran a season best by more than 25 seconds for second to Libertyville senior Melissa Manetsch's 10:48.40.
"We just wanted to get out here and have fun and try our best," Morris said. "That race (11:18.36 March 9) I learned from and I think it really helped to have my teammates pushing me during practice."
In the 1,600, Ricci edged Neuqua Valley senior Corinna Pena 4:58.75 to 4:59.84 to go 2-3 to Evanston senior Enyaeva Michelin's 4:45.30.
"I'm really happy about (my lifetime best). I've never broken five minutes before," said Pena, who ran 5:00.73 at conference last week. "It's just a huge barrier a that I know a lot of girls just strive to break and the fact that I was able to do it indoors, it just feels really incredible."
Waubonsie Valley senior Wes York, seventh in the Class 3A 800 in 2017, was third Saturday in 1:57.50. Also third were Neuqua junior MiKenna Robinson in the girls 400 in 57.24 and Hinsdale South senior Brett Haffner in the boys 3,200 in 9:20.27.
Also fourth were Glenbard East high jumper Emma Ludwig and Kionnah Weaver in the 60 hurdles in 6.95, Neuqua freshman Riley Ammenhauser in triple jump, Naperville North's girls 3,200 relay of Wagner Osborne, Jill Fitz, Claire Bruce and Sophia Bruce, Wheaton Warrenville South junior Cedric Rowzee in the boys 60 in 7.05 and Hinsdale Central senior Grace McCabe with an indoor school-record 2:14.04 in the girls 800.
In Friday's 1A competition, IC Catholic Prep freshman Frankie Chaidez was fourth in the girls 3,200 in 12:09.34.