Scouting DuPage County girls track and field
Top teams: Naperville North, Glenbard West, Neuqua Valley, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Lake Park, Wheaton Warrenville South, Downers Grove North, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Alex Nava (sr., sprints, middle distance), Vivianna Sanfilippo (middle distance, distance); Benet: Elisabeth Camic (so., middle distance), Joy Jackson (so., distance), Cathy Meehan (sr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault), Mia Nolan (sr., sprints), Emily Spellman (so., middle distance, distance). Downers North: Celeste Bonga (jr., sprints), Kim Brent (sr., sprints), McKenna Cinotte (so., sprints, jumps), Brooke Peters: (sr., sprints). Downers South: Brenna Cohoon (jr., distance), Ayshia Johnson (jr., sprints, jumps), Clarice Maes (sr., sprints), Erin Reidy (jr., middle distance, distance), Becky Versaskas (sr., distance). Fenton: Ruth Kirkwood (sr., middle distance, distance), Hannah Matuszewski (sr., sprints), Emily Trzmielewski (jr., jumps, pole vault). Glenbard East: Emily Anderson (jr., middle distance), Keeli Dunaway (fr., sprints, jumps), Lauren Huber (so., sprints, middle distance), Emma Ludwig (sr., jumps). Glenbard North: Cameron Guy (so., jumps), Akira Lebron (so., sprints, pole vault), Brenda Nguyen (sr., sprints, hurdles). Glenbard South: Ania Gniaczyk (sr., sprints, middle distance), Ciara Jackson (sr., throws), Maggie Sim (sr., jumps). Glenbard West: Amber Bode (sr., sprints, hurdles), Aaliyah Collier (jr., sprints), Katelynne Hart (jr., middle distance, distance), Katie Hohe (sr., distance), Huda Hussaini (sr., sprints). Hinsdale Central: Kayla Byrne (sr., middle distance, distance), Ellie Geier (sr., sprints, middle distance), Dior Nicholson (sr., throws), Bella Pisani (sr., middle distance), McKenna Revord (jr., middle distance, distance), Emma Watcke (jr., distance). Hinsdale South: Nautica Kindred (so., sprints), Tia Miller (jr., sprints, hurdles), Andrea Stirling (so., sprints). IC Catholic Prep: Frankie Chaidez (so., sprints), Aliya Johnson (so., sprints, hurdles), Hannah Johnson (jr., sprints, jumps), Olivia Slavin (jr., sprints, hurdles), Jaida Smith (sr., sprints, jumps). Lake Park: Dominika Baranska (sr., throws), Andie Granskog (sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps), Paulina Madro (sr., jumps), Stephanie Montenegro (sr., throws). Lisle: Rachel Laning (jr., distance, pole vault), Zoe Sharafinski (fr., hurdles, jumps), Emily Woltman (sprints, middle distance). Metea Valley: Yanylia Doby (jr., sprints), Emaline Kerwin (sr., sprints, hurdles). Montini: Julianne Billote (jr., jumps), Christine Jarvis (jr., sprints), Isabella Reilly (sr., middle distance). Naperville Central: Abby Calabreese (jr., hurdles, jumps), Therese Deutsch (sr., sprints, hurdles), Maddie Engels (sr., distance), Rose Fritz (sr., jumps, pole vault), Emily Scott (jr., distance). Naperville North: Halle Bieber (sr., sprints, hurdles), Claire Bruce (sr., middle distance), Maggie Gamboa (so., distance), Claire Hill (sr., middle distance, distance), Alex Morris (sr., distance), Campbell Petersen (so., middle distance, distance), Natalie Walsh (sr., middle distance). Neuqua Valley: Tolu Akinso (jr., jumps), Riley Ammenhauser (so., sprints, jumps), Sithara Gajapala (sr., pole vault), MiKenna Robinson (sr. sprints, middle distance), Autumn Rosales (sr., sprints, jumps). St. Francis: Maddie Andelbradt (fr., middle distance, jumps), Elizabeth Brouch (sr., middle distance, distance), Taylor Gerard (sr., sprints, jumps). Timothy Christian: Hope Clark (jr., distance), Priscilla Narley (jr. sprints), Elise Terpstra (jr., middle distance, jumps). Waubonsie Valley: Itzel Garcia (so., sprints), Ashley Heidenrich (jr., distance), Reagan Westbrook (jr., throws), Shariah Wright (so., sprints, jumps). West Chicago: Lillian Buzani (so. distance), Caroline Pacer (jr., sprints), Jocelyn Valazquez (jr., middle distance). Wheaton Academy: Lydia Garrett (jr., hurdles, jumps), Stephanie Gregersen (sr., distance), Abi Gum (sr., sprints), Shawna Gum (jr., throws), Ann Hancock (sr., sprints). Wheaton North: Sophie Daigle (jr., middle distance), Anna Gordon (so., sprints), Sarah Stair (sr., pole vault), Leeya Zander (jr., sprints). WW South: Mykaila Gentry-Humphrey (sr., sprints), Claire Haas (sr., sprints, hurdles), Laurel Moneysmith (sr., distance), Sam Poglitsch (so., middle distance, distance); Hannah Tran (sr., jumps). Willowbrook: Miani Blackwell (sr., throws), Gianna Irons (jr., sprints, hurdles), Jahne Jones (jr., sprints), Victoria Palma (sr., middle distance, distance). York: Lilly Curry (so., jumps), Lydia Hickey (jr., middle distance), Emma Kern (jr., middle distance), Sarah May (sr., middle distance, distance).
Scouting report: When Naperville North senior Allison Grady crossed the finish line in the closing event of the Class 3A girls track and field state finals last May at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, the Huskies' resulting first state championship dispelled a widespread myth.
"We think of Naperville North as a distance-dominated team," Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. "But they were really balanced in the sprints, hurdles and distance."
With its runner-up finish in the 1,600-meter relay - cementing a 53-47 victory over Homewood-Flossmoor - Naperville North became the first largest-division school to win girls state championships in both cross country and track in the same school year. "The balance that it takes to do that is extraordinary," Batavia cross country and track distance coach Chad Hillman said. "They're not just doing that because of their distance girls; they have state-champion hurdlers, (all-state) sprint relays, jumpers and throwers. It is a ridiculous accomplishment."
The Huskies, coming off yet another cross country state title last fall, return three individual all-state athletes - all of whom have committed to major universities - as the vanguard of their title defense. Bieber, a Duke recruit, is not only the two-time defending 300-meter hurdles state champion but also reigning state runner-up in the 100 variety. The senior powered the Huskies' 800 relay to a finals appearance in the preliminaries before skipping the championship event to score 18 difference-making points in the two hurdles events. "(Bieber) is a rare athlete," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said of the only sprint state champion in school history.
Morris is bound for North Carolina in the fall after anchoring the Huskies' third straight cross state championship; the senior was fourth in the 3,200 run last spring. "This year we're just excited to build on that momentum (from last season)," Morris said. "I think we have a lot of special things we could do that we're ready to put into work for outdoor. (Bieber) is for sure so amazing. She is definitely a big asset for us."
"The 2-mile was the difference," Homewood-Flossmoor coach Zontavious Johnson said after Sarah Schmitt (Indiana) and Morris placed third and fourth in the event last year. "I told our AD (Gail Johnson) that we need to find some distance girls."
Hill has already markedly lowered her ninth-place time in the 800 run during this season. The Missouri recruit also played a pivotal role on the Huskies' 1,600 team. "They are all really good," Iverson said of his electric triumvirate. "They are all good in different ways."
Petersen enters her first season in Class 3A for Naperville North with symbolic ties to state history in the two running-dominated disciplines. As a freshman last season, Petersen was the Class 2A champion in the 1,600 run after earlier placing runner-up in the 3,200 for downstate Dunlap. The Peoria-area school literally doubled East St. Louis' total to also add a state track title to a cross state championship the previous fall. Petersen has already clocked head-turning times for the Huskies during indoor season. "I am very proud to be a part of the Naperville North program," said Petersen, who moved to Naperville last summer.
Glenbard West enters the season as the second-ranked team from the area. The Hilltoppers, two years removed from a state championship, dominated the extraordinarily deep West Suburban Silver indoor championship behind the incomparable Hart. The junior, the two-time defending state champion in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, has shattered the indoor state records at each distance while posting the fastest times in the nation at the two distances. Hart also eclipsed the Top Times' record in winning the 800 run, etching yet another No. 1 Class 3A time during indoor season. With no state preliminary in the 3,200 run and extended breaks on Saturday due to awards ceremonies in the three classes, there is widespread speculation among local girls track junkies whether the seven-time state champion would attempt the unheard-of 800-1,600-3,200 triple. "Not only do I think she could win all three, I think she could set state records in all three," Benet coach Scott Brooks has said.
"It's challenging with how great the Illinois competition is," Hart said. "I am definitely focusing on some speed stuff. We'll have to see how times progress and I progress as well. I am definitely looking for an eventful outdoor season."
Glenbard West coach Kelly Hass echoed a similar line of Hart attempting an unprecedented achievement. "It depends on how the other people in the state progress," Hass said.
Glenbard West, regardless, is poised for another trophy expedition as Hohe, an Illinois recruit, is another returning all-state distance runner for the Hilltoppers. "We've just had the best indoor season we've ever had," Hass said.
Ammenhauser is the latest field-event phenomenon in the three jumps for No. 3 Neuqua Valley. The sophomore eclipsed the magical 40-foot barrier to become the fourth state champion - all in the three jumps - for the Wildcats last spring. Ammenhauser extended her personal-best mark to 40 feet, 4 inches while also recording a new long-jump distinction at 19 feet in leading the Wildcats to a stunning DuPage Valley Conference indoor championship over Naperville North. "By the end of my high school career, I would like to have the state record in the triple jump (H-F's Jaimie Robinson holds the mark at 42-8.5)," Ammenhauser said. "My first goal is to get to 41, and then I will see how much further I can go. I am going to be working more on my technique outdoors."
The Wildcats' Texas-bound Robinson can certainly make claims to being unusual after showcasing both speed and endurance after all-state performances at 200 and 800 meters last spring.
Downers South is almost certainly on a path to better its eighth-place Plainfield North sectional finish last year. The Mustangs are another cross country powerhouse with an array of gifted athletes making the transition to track this spring. Behind all-state 2-miler Cohoon and 800 specialists Reidy and Versaskas, Downers South also has balance with top-notch sprinter Maes. Hinsdale Central - with Byrne and Pisani back in the fold - won its second 3,200 relay state championship in the last three years a spring ago. But Reidy and Versaskas were the twin engines of the top-ranked indoor time. "We worked very hard for (the No. 1 time)," said Reidy, who had only Hart better her in the open 800 during indoor season. "I want to see where (the 800) takes me. Four medals (in a relay) is better than one (individually)."
"We have a great team atmosphere," Versaskas said. "We are hoping to qualify as many as possible for the outdoor state meet this year," Cohoon added.
Lake Park senior Granskog amply demonstrated how she qualified for the state finals in four events last spring after placing 10th in the pentathlon at a national indoor meet. "I get asked that question a lot," Granskog said of her strongest event between sprinting, hurdling and jumping. "I am just taking it meet by meet, hoping to PR." Montenegro and Baranska are both all-state contenders in the throws for traditionally field-dominant Lancers.
York (3,200 meters), Glenbard East (3,200), Glenbard North (1,600) and Wheaton North (800) all have multiple all-state relay runners returning this spring. May, Kern and Hickey are the backbone for the Dukes this spring. Glenbard East sophomore Huber will be heavily relied upon as the Rams graduated four Division-I athletes; in addition, the second returnee from their runner-up quartet - Anderson - is shelved with a foot injury. "I think those two seniors (Cailyn Biegalski and Lexi Weltin, at Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively) helped us really train for the future," Huber said. "I think they did an amazing job preparing us for what is to come." The Rams' Ludwig bears watching in the high jump after a one-sided Upstate Eight indoor win (5-5).
New DuKane Conference members Nguyen and Lebron of Glenbard North as well as Wheaton North sprinters Gordon and Zander also look for more state hardware. WW South has balance behind all-state metric miler Poglitsch, new 3,200 school record holder Moneysmith, sprinter Gentry-Humphrey and hurdler Haas.
For ranked Downers North the foursome of Bonga, Brent, Cinotte and Peters offer the Trojans tremendous potential in the sprint relays. Naperville Central senior Fritz looks to shake off nagging injuries after finishing third in the pole vault last spring.
In Class 2A, the graduation of former Wheaton Academy state-champion hurdler Karyn Best left a wide void as neither the Warriors, Glenbard South, Lisle, Montini nor St. Francis have any individual returning state qualifiers. Barring injury, however, St. Francis' Andelbradt will make sure last season was an aberration among 2A schools as a dynamic freshman, especially in the high jump.
IC Catholic Prep could do some state damage in Class 1A behind former all-stater Smith and fellow state returnees Slavin and the Johnsons. Chaidez once finished third in state cross, but the junior is transitioning to sprints this spring.
- Kevin McGavin