Girls track and field: Scouting the Fox Valley
Aurora Christian
Coach: Ron Arb
Last year: Fourth in the Northeastern Athletic Conference; sixth at the Class 1A Seneca sectional
Top returnees: Nora Theeke, sr., sprints; Alyssa Busker, so., sprints; Charity Pflederer, so., sprints, jumps; Paige Clippert, so., sprints; Julia Richardson, so., sprints.
Top newcomers: Bella Gonzalez, so., sprints; Skylar Epstein, so., sprints; Yissell Hernandez, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Busker is the anchor of the Eagles' sprinters after qualifying in the 100 dash and spearheading the 800 relay to another state berth in Charleston last May. Much will be asked of Theeke for leadership as the only upperclassmen in the program.
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Troy Kerber
Last year: Fourth in the Metro Suburban Blue; fourth at the Class 2A Glenbard South sectional
Top returnees: Therese Hein, sr., sprints, middle distance; Allison Loy, sr., sprints; Lilly Dean, sr., sprints; Ella Englehardt, so., sprints, jumps; Amanda Bricco, so., sprints; Viviana Ponce, so., sprints, middle distance; Lela Reid, so., sprints, throws; Marin Childers, middle distance, distance; Shaley Gonzalez, so., sprints.
Top newcomers: Claire McCarthy, jr., sprints; Lesley Viveros, so., sprints, middle distance; Maggie Dervis, fr., sprints; Grace Watson, fr., sprints; Katrina Deleon, fr., sprints; Laura Silva, fr., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Hein is the lone ACC returning state qualifier on the track (400); Englehardt holds the same distinction for the Chargers in the field (high jump). Viveros, a transfer from Kaneland, also made the state cut (400). "We're really excited about the potential of the team," Kerber said. " (Dervis) is going to be a star."
Batavia
Coach: Justin Allison
Last year: Upstate Eight River champion; fourth at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Tori Ortiz, sr., sprints; Symone Houston-Davis, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Marygrace Golden, sr., middle distance, distance; Erika Mansfield, sr., distance; Natalie Ciaccio, sr., pole vault; Mandy Saucedo, jr., jumps; Riley Glavach, jr., jumps; Anna Knutson, so., sprints, jumps, Sabrina Schlenker, sprints, hurdles; Tsunami Smith, so., sprints.
Top newcomers: Amy Zabka, jr., throws; Jenna Schifferer, fr., distance; Davinia Wilson, fr., sprints; Audrey Pellico, fr., distance.
Outlook: The Bulldogs will look to defend their River championship as the central regular-season aim. "It's always great competition with West Aurora (in the Valley) and Geneva," Allison said. Ortiz, bound for Illinois State, is a former sprint-relay all-stater; Schlenker advanced to state in the 300 hurdles last spring.
Bartlett
Coach: John Glorioso
Last year: Fifth in Upstate Eight Valley; 14th at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Leah Kern, sr., distance; Abby Brinkman, sr., sprints, middle distance; Jennifer Carbery, sr., sprints, middle distance; Kassandra Saenz, sr., throws; Olivia Wegener, sr., middle distance; Melissa Castillo, jr., sprints; Rowan Daubenmire, jr., sprints, jumps; Kailey Mays, jr., sprints, hurdles; Jessica Dudek, so., sprints, jumps; Madelyn Polly, so., middle distance.
Top newcomers: Camille Buchanan, fr., sprints, middle distance; Gia Daubenmire, fr., sprints; Cyerra Dallas, fr., sprints; Summer Balaskovitz, fr., middle distance.
Outlook: Kern is the Hawks' leader as the senior seeks to augment a respectable cross country campaign from last fall. Buchanan is at the opposite end of the class spectrum, but the freshman is the most talented athlete among the influx of newcomers for Glorioso.
Burlington Central
Coach: Vince Neil
Last year: Kishwaukee River champion; 10th in the Class 2A Genoa-Kingston sectional
Top returnees: Chloe Bilyk, sr., sprints, hurdles, middle distance; Lexi Saletta, sr., sprints, middle distance; Meghan Conn, sr., pole vault; Natalia Rodriquez, jr., sprints, middle distance.
Top newcomers: Brooke Barkocy, fr., sprints, hurdles; Erin Jossert, fr., distance; Jocelyn Victoria, fr., middle distance, distance; Avery Anderson, fr., sprints, middle distance; Lauren Dowd, fr., sprints, middle distance.
Outlook: Bilyk is the template for the program as the lone returning state qualifier for the Rockets in the 300 hurdles. But the multi-event senior has thoughts on the future for her new Central teammates. "We have really great freshmen this year, and I want to make sure I can help them out so our program stays strong," Bilyk said. "I just want (my career) to end on a high note. I want to go downstate." Barkocy was one of six Central freshmen who participated at Top Times in earning a medal in the 55 hurdles.
Cary-Grove
Coach: Mark Anderson
Last year: second in the Fox Valley Conference; second in the Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Tabor Gleason, sr., jumps; Kate Rhode, sr., throws; Fiona Pack, sr., throws; Cathy Franco, sr., sprints, jumps; Jenna Walker, jr., sprints, hurdles; Jenna Magel, so., sprints.
Top newcomer: Audrey Turner, fr., throws.
Outlook: Gleason is the Trojans' fulcrum for success as the state qualifier in two jumping events - the high (tied for third) and triple - has committed to Michigan-based Division-II powerhouse Grand Valley State. "We want her to be on the podium again and be all-state," Anderson said of Gleason. Franco is the other senior standout for C-G in manning the sprints, but Mangel has designs of her own for the Trojans in the various dashes this spring.
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Marissa LePage
Last year: fourth in the Fox Valley Conference; tied ninth in the Class 3A Antioch sectional
Top returnees: Naomi Daniel, sr., sprints; Megan Lyons, sr., throws; Kayla Ehrenhaft, sr., sprints, jumps; Anni Summers, sr., jumps; Sydney Williams, sr., throws; Alex Barrett, jr., sprints; Mackenzie Aldridge, so., distance; Ashley Drzewiecki, so., sprints, hurdles, jumps.
Outlook: The Gators were particularly hard hit by graduation losses. Drzewiecki appears to be the workhorse for CL South.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Christine Hopkins-Muehl
Last year: Ninth in the Fox Valley Conference; 13th at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Michelle Batad, sr., distance; Jasmine Sanchez, sr., distance; Sylvia Waz, sr. distance; Tarrah Kamp, sr., jumps, throws; Hailee Michel, sr., jumps; Alyssa Smullin, sr., sprints; Maille Grant, jr., hurdles, jumps; Nyah Tolentino, jr., hurdles, jumps; Courtney Abraham, jr., hurdles, jumps, pole vault; Shinah Walker, jr., sprints; Nikiya Coleman, so., sprints; Grace Hammond, so., sprints; Erica Sanchez, so., sprints; Mary Florance, so., distance; Angie Delgado, so., distance; Eli Paniagua, so., distance; Rose Rudd, so., jumps, pole vault; Keri Wozniak, so., throws.
Top newcomers: Olivia Nusbaum, sr., sprints; Juliana Redisi, sr., distance; Lashae Phillips, so., jumps; Melannie Agaton, fr., sprints; Holly Dalgleish, fr., sprints; Tyshae Posey, fr., sprints; Julia Bidas, fr., sprints, hurdles; Candace Long, fr., sprints, hurdles; Erin Waldron, fr., sprints, hurdles; Zoe Lind, fr., distance; Anna Williams, fr., throws.
Outlook: "We are trying to foster a mindset of commitment, cooperation and improvement," Hopkins-Muehl said.
Elgin Academy
Coach: Brian LeVanti
Last year: Fifth in Independent School League; participated at Class 1A Oregon sectional
Top returnees: Kailianne Riggot, jr., throws; Renee Scimeca, jr., sprints, jumps, throws.
Top newcomers: Belinda Qu, jr., throws; Madison Noble-Stas, so., jumps, throws; Ariana Marchin, so., sprints; Arleigh Nisbet, so., sprints; Nia Pegeus, so., sprints.
Outlook: LeVanti is looking for small steps for the program. "We are all looking for forward to improving on our individual efforts as well as competing as a team throughout the season," LeVanti said. "I feel we have the ability to turn heads."
Elgin
Coach: Dave Borg
Last year: Tied-sixth Upstate Eight River; participated at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Gabrielle Pierre-Louis, sr., sprints, jumps; Ava Brock, sr., jumps; Karla Carillo, sr., middle distance; Layshae Hernandez, sr., middle distance; Takeena Lindsey, jr., sprints; Cassandra Meyer, jr., distance; Jennifer Lopez, jr., throws; Adrianna Jackson, so., sprints; Tenacious Cadney, so., sprints; Gianna Kilberts, so., sprints; Catalina Morales, so., sprints; Genevieve Heydt, so., hurdles, jumps.
Top newcomer: Julie Ortega, fr., distance.
Outlook: The Maroons will look to make small improvements this season behind its most versatile athlete, Pierre-Louis. Borg will also have at his disposal a developing underclass sprint core with Jackson, Cadney and Kilberts. Lindsey is another sprinter for the Maroons to develop this spring.
Geneva
Coach: Peter Raak
Last year: Third in Upstate Eight River; third at the Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Taryn Christy, sr., distance, pole vault; Susan D'Onofrio, sr., jumps; Vivi Mehren, sr., pole vault; Kayla Wigdahl, sr., sprints; Hannah Borodin, jr., throws; Sophia McDonnell, jr., hurdles, distance; Michelle Siciliano, jr., sprints; Annabella Nelson, jr., sprints; Andrine Larsen, so., distance.
Top newcomers: Ella Holm, sr., sprints, jumps; Grace Brolly, sr., distance; Lauren Hasty, fr., distance; Kelly McCloughan, fr., sprints, hurdles.
Outlook: The Vikings have been a model of consistency for more than a decade on the local girls track scene. Geneva seems to always have answers to any dilemmas when the indoor campaign comes to a close. "We seem to grow by leaps and bounds when we go to outdoor season," Raak said. McDonnell should be a serious contender for area distance supremacy.
Hampshire
Coach: Scott Fortunato
Last year: Eighth in the Fox Valley Conference; 15th in the Class 3A Antioch sectional
Top returnees: Sophia Oury, sr., middle distance, distance. Hannah Evinger, sr., sprints, jumps.
Top newcomers: Allison Heuschmidt, fr., sprints; May Kimura, fr., sprints; Hannah Garcia, fr., sprints; Veronica Evitts, fr., middle distance, distance.
Outlook: The Whip-Purs are still searching for an identity since being elevated to the highest division in the sport. Oury is the one Hampshire athlete with a proven record at the state series as the senior concludes her running career with a past appearance in the cross country state finals. Much will be expected of Evinger, the Whips' best all-around athlete. "The team is very young, with 30 of the 35 athletes being underclassmen," Fortunato said. "We are looking to develop our young talent, working tirelessly on sprint development and strength training."
Harvest Christian
Coach: Steven Bland
Last year: Northeastern Athletic Conference champion; sixth in the Class 1A Oregon sectional
Top returnees: Nygia Pollard, sr., distance; Cassidy Richter, sr., distance; Alyssa Iverson-Brown, sr., sprints; Gracie Ozburn, jr., sprints; Hannah McHugh, jr., middle distance; Hope Mylin, jr., sprints, hurdles; Grace Callahan, jr., jumps, throws.
Top newcomers: Alexandra Shepherd, fr., sprints; Becca Gafrick, fr., middle distance; Carsen Forte, fr., sprints; Amelia Huston, fr., sprints, hurdles.
Outlook: Pollard has been the face of the Lions' cross country and track programs with multiple state berths during her four-year career. The senior looks to add another all-state campaign at 3,200 meters after achieving the feat in back-to-back seasons the last two falls in cross. Harvest is competitive for such a small base of athletes due to its ability to cover all 14 events on the track.
Huntley
Coach: Shawn Nordeen
Last year: Fox Valley Conference champion; Class 3A Antioch sectional champion
Top returnees: McKenzie Krich, sr., sprints, jumps; Tyra Miller, sr., sprints, jumps; Rhian Whitfield, sr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault; Chloe Smith, sr., middle distance, jumps; Mary Raclawski, jr., middle distance; Sabrina Krog, jr., sprints; Daryn Davis, so., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Kendall Only, so., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: The Red Raiders are the undisputed class of large-division programs in the northern Fox Valley after a clean sweep of county, conference and the local Class 3A sectional last season. Huntley receives major contributions from all of its classes as Davis is arguably the Raiders' best athlete with state-scoring potential in both hurdles and the triple jump. Krich is another field-event athlete with all-state aspirations for Huntley.
Jacobs
Coach: Lydia Lang
Last year: Fifth in the Fox Valley Conference; 14th at the Class 3A Antioch sectional
Top returnees: Kylie Shepnek, sr., sprints; Nadia Baraglia, jr., sprints; Alyson Doherty, so., distance; Schuyler Maguigad, so., sprints; Cameron Goll, so., sprints; Alyssa Demma, so., middle distance.
Top newcomer: Haley Schaffer, fr., sprints, hurdles, jumps.
Outlook: Doherty and Goll are Jacobs' go-to performers this spring after excelling during a truncated indoor season. Doherty captured the indoor conference championship at 3,200 meters; fellow sophomore Goll is the most promising of Jacobs' sprinters. Shepnek is Jacobs' leadership bearer in the dashes.
Kaneland
Coach: Doug Ecker
Last year: Fifth in the Northern Illinois Big XII; Class 2A Genoa-Kingston sectional champion
Top returnees: Cierra Kuipers, sr., pole vault; Grace Purcell, jr., middle distance; Linsey Turner, jr., sprints; Rachel Richtman, so., middle distance, distance; Emma Stoker, so., sprints; Kerrie Brolley, so., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Cassidy Motyka, so., sprints.
Top newcomers: Riley Kueffel, fr., sprints, middle distance; Kelsey Modaff, fr., sprints, middle distance; Abby Peeler, fr., throws; Olivia Franklin, fr., distance.
Outlook: The Knights have two exceptional psychological barriers to overcome this season. Nicole Sreenan, the most decorated athlete in school history with 10 all-state performances, has graduated. Two years from sharing a Class 2A state championship, Kaneland will compete at the highest level this spring. "We're not going to be the best, but we're not going to be the worst," Ecker said. Kuipers will look for a Class 3A medal in the pole vault after finishing sixth last year in the Knights' final year in 2A.
Larkin
Coach: Katie Lauesen
Last year: Tied sixth in Upstate Eight River; participated at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Destiny Holbert, sr., sprints, hurdles; Bri Taylor, sr., sprints, hurdles; Valeria Pizana, sr., throws; Asia Payton, so., sprints; Naveah Henderson, so., sprints; Floremarie Malorny, so., sprints; Andrea Cervantes, so., sprints; Claudio Desko, so., sprints; Melissa Powers, so., middle distance; Alyssa Durant, so., distance.
Top newcomers: Mady Napier, so., throws; Brittany Burgos, fr., distance.
Outlook: First-year coach Lauesen will use the Royals' second-year athletes as the building block. "They are the anchor," Lauesen said of her sophomore class. "I am hoping to build off relays and develop our sprinters." Payton and Henderson had the Royals' top-sprint times at the Upstate Eight indoor championship.
Rosary
Coach: Vic Meade
Last year: Third place in Girls Catholic Athletic White; Class 2A Glenbard South champion
Top returnees: Brooke Delahanty, sr., sprints, middle distance; Claire Hengesbaugh, sr., sprints, middle distance; Julie Bottarini, jr., middle distance; Megan Ronzone, jr., middle distance, distance; Melanie Meyer, jr., sprints; Bridget Buckley, jr., middle distance.
Top newcomers: Mary Tork, fr., sprints, jumps; Annie Mollenhouse, fr., sprints, middle distance, jumps; Maya Italia, fr., distance.
Outlook: Delahanty is one of the top 800 runners in the state as the Illinois-bound senior was also all-state in Class 2A last spring in the two longest relays. "I just want to do whatever I have to help the team," Delahanty said. Hengesbaugh is a question mark for the outdoor season as the Loyola recruit is nursing a foot injury suffered during cross country season last fall. The Royals have won four consecutive sectional championships.
South Elgin
Coach: Teshebra Crump
Last year: Third in Upstate Eight Valley; 11th at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Jasmine Hernandez, sr., sprints; Shelby Puralewski, sr., sprints, jumps; Darryce Allen, jr., hurdles, jumps, throws; Chloe Crosby, jr., sprints; Mindy Duensing, jr., sprints; Brianna Lozano, jr., sprints, jumps; Hannah Anderson, jr., distance; Faith Cassata, so., middle distance.
Top newcomer: Alyssa Miulli, fr., sprints.
Outlook: The Storm will look to make gains behind sprinters Crosby and Miulli this spring. The former was the most consistent performer for South Elgin at the conference indoor championship. "I want them to exceed their ability for each meet," Crump said.
St. Charles East
Coach: Tim Wolf
Last year: Second in the Upstate Eight River; tied sixth at Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Stephanie Garcia, sr., sprints; Molly Kresl, sr., pole vault; Stephanie Martens, jr., distance; Lily Derain, jr., sprints, hurdles; Emily Nichols, jr., sprints, jumps.
Top newcomers: Alice Abbott, fr., distance; Lauren Swartz, fr., sprints, hurdles; Claire Otte, fr., jumps; McKenna Brown, fr., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Garcia is the Saints' mainstay this spring as a returning state qualifier in the 100 dash, but Abbott offers hope for the future after winning the indoor conference 3,200 run to augment a sterling prep introduction to cross country last fall. Garcia, with Nichols and Derain in tow, would ultimately like to spirit the Saints' 400 relay downstate as well. "Hopefully we can get qualified for finals," Wolf said of his hopes for Garcia at state.
St. Charles North
Coach: Kate Mehalic
Top returnees: Audrey Ernst, sr., middle distance, distance; Ally Suyak, sr., middle distance; Autumn Horlbeck, sr., pole vault; Hayden Buerster, sr., sprints, jumps; Natalie Galvan, jr., middle distance, distance; Nikole Custer, so., sprints, jumps; Kayla Mitottis, so., throws.
Outlook: As a former all-state athlete at both 1,600 and 3,200 meters, Ernst looks to cap a storied career after missing her final cross country season last fall with an injury. "I just feel so blessed," said Ernst, who will continue her career at Arizona State University next fall to pursue the triathlon full time. Ernst is the reigning girls national champion in the swimming, bicycling and running discipline. "I think she is going to have a fantastic final outdoor season," Mehalic said of Ernst returning to full strength. Ernst swept the 800 and 1,600 runs at indoor conference. Galvan made her first state appearance for the North Stars in the 800 last spring.
St. Edward
Coach: Mike Olenek
Last year: Sixth at the Metro Suburban Red; 10th at the Class 1A Oregon sectional
Top returnees: Bella Uscila, sr., sprints; Kailey Wood, sr., distance; Isabel Warner, sr., distance; Heidi Kirchen, sr., distance; Mary Catherine Kelly, sr., distance; Sophie Danner, sr., middle distance, distance; Emily Wagh, jr., distance.
Top newcomers: Arianna Gorniak, so., sprints; Jase Leonard, fr., distance; Julie Heffelfinger, fr., sprints.
Outlook: The DePaul-bound Uscila is the only individual all-state athlete in the history of the school after placing at both 100 and 200 meters last year after breaking through for the first time as a sophomore two years ago in the shorter dash. "I feel extremely blessed," said Uscila. "I would never have imagined that (entering St. Edward). I'm looking to make the most at state." Uscila had the fastest 200 time - regardless of class - during indoor season but was injured at the Top Times Invitational last week. The hamstring issue is not considered serious as Uscila will also explore the 400 this spring.
Streamwood
Coach: Denny Lau
Last year: Fifth in Upstate Eight River; 10th at the Class 3A Bartlett sectional
Top returnees: Maddi Exline, sr., middle distance, distance; Monica Brown, sr., middle distance; Taylor Sewell, jr., sprints; Brittany Peters, jr., sprints; Aliyah Brown, jr., sprints; Mary Chung, jr., jumps; Vanessa Hammond, jr., throws; Mandy Mien, so., jumps; Victoria Kopko, so., jumps; Aylin Sarmiento, so., sprints; Susan Mao, so., sprints.
Top newcomer: Sharyah Flax, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Exline is perhaps the finest all-around athlete at Streamwood. The senior parlayed twin appearances at state last year into a future collegiate career at Illinois State. "I am really looking forward to the (field at the West Aurora) sectional," Lau said of Exline. "That's (the kind of field) we want."
West Aurora
Coach: Teresa Towles
Last year: Upstate Eight Valley champion; Class 3A Bartlett sectional champion; tied ninth at state meet
Top returnees: Kiyannah Rodgers, sr., hurdles; Dajour Miles, jr., sprints; Maddie Walrath, jr., middle distance; Rashida Naylor, jr., sprints; Nia Wood, so., sprints; Abbey Kuhn, so., jumps, pole vault; Annabelle Behrens, so., sprints, middle distance; Alyssa Mayhew, so., middle distance; Kendra Battle, so., throws; Allison Manko, so., jumps; Monalaya Hunt, so., sprints; Nya Nazario, so., middle distance.
Top newcomers: Autumn Richmond, jr., sprints, hurdles; Victoria Spagnola, fr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Savannah Ming, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Just like program immortal Emma Spagnola four years ago in leading West Aurora to state runner-up, Miles could be the Blackhawks' one-athlete wrecking crew at the state finals this year. The reigning 400 state champion is coming off two sprint titles at Top Times last week. Towles' most interesting decision is where to place Miles to maximize her affect for the state series. "It's going to be very difficult," Towles said. If healthy, the reigning county, conference and champion program is unquestionably in the mix for a state trophy.