Girls track and field: Prospect narrowly misses state title

CHARLESTON - Emmi Scales can finally focus her attention toward her dream school.

Many years ago, before she was a superstar track athlete at St. Viator, Scales dreamed of attending Kentucky.

"Four years ago, I used to look at the videos of the girls, like at Kentucky," Scales said. "Kentucky eventually called. It was a huge blessing. I met one of my idols during a visit to Kentucky, and I fell in love with the program. I've been dreaming of Kentucky maybe four years ago, or maybe even before that."

Scales' journey to becoming a star track athlete has taken many twists and turns.

A former cheerleader for nine years who quit in sixth grade to play volleyball, she admitted she had some tough years in high school in track.

"I lost the love for track and field in my freshman and sophomore year, but in my junior year, I rekindled the love and it's been that way ever since," Scales said. "My sophomore year I came down to state but was afraid to touch any hurdle. I was in and out of physical therapy but had a great summer before my junior year with a new team and got back into hurdles and had a great breakthrough."

Scales said her "track journey" is surreal. She added another chapter to her career by winning the 100 and 300 hurdles for the second straight season at Saturday's Class 2A state track and meet at O'Brien Stadium.

Scales blew away the competition in the 100 hurdles, winning the event in a personal record time of 13.51 seconds. She struggled in the final few meters of the 300, but managed to post a time of 42.61.

"I felt really good about how I ran in the 100 (hurdles)," Scales said. "It was a great race. I'm very happy with how my career turned out and to win two state medals. I worked so hard and the competition pushed me today to do my best. I'm happy to have a nice farewell to the IHSA, and pleased with today an am happy."

Prospect nearly claimed the Class 3A state team title, finishing in second place with 52 points behind champion Huntley (62.5). Prospect's 3,200-meter relay team of Cameron Kalaway, Samantha Patterson, Hailey Erickson and Lily Ginsberg kept the state title in the program, winning the event for the third year in a row with a time of 9:07.46.

Kalaway set the tone with a fast showing at the start of the race.

"I just wanted to go out and create as much as a lead for my teammates to get them in a good position," Kalaway said.

Patterson ran the second leg.

"First of all, this was a good opportunity to run with these girls and we all worked super hard," she said. "My coach told me before the race to have fun and push the middle a lot and use our speed and to remember we had the goal to win."

Erickson said she focused on running with a purpose on the third leg.

"It was really fun knowing my teammates set it up for me, and I just tried to get Lily in a good position," Erickson said.

Ginsberg said her third state title in the event was memorable.

"We knew there were a lot of good girls in this race, but seeing my teammates do so well calmed me down," Ginsberg said. "I loved running these relays the last three years."

Hersey senior Anna Harden had one of the top showings in the state track to win the 1,600 in a PR time of 4:53.14. Harden made a strong push in the final 25 meters to beat out Hinsdale Central's Catie McCabe (4:53.32). Barrington's Scout Storm finished in third place and Glenbrook North's Juliet Frum took fourth.

"Up until this year, I never considered myself a miler runner and always thought I was a two-miler," Harden said. "My teammates and coaches really helped me. I wasn't mentally into the two mile today, but I knew I wanted to win the mile after getting third at Palatine. To win this is really incredible. I just tried to kick and hold on at the end."

Conant freshman Daisha Brunson, ranked No. 4 in the country in the 100 hurdles, lived up to her immense potential and ranking by winning the 100 hurdles in a PR time of 14.16.

"After the last hurdle, I knew it was mine because I didn't see anybody near me," Brunson said. "I was pretty nervous before the race because everybody's time was high and I was only seeded fourth. My coaches told me it was a possibility to win this race. I had a good start today and was relaxed and at my best. I'm really excited for the next three years, and will get better each year."

Mundelein senior Praise Oyebanji, a UIC recruit, earned a fourth-place medal in the 800. Prospect's Meg Peterson finished third in a time of 2:14.34 and Lake Zurich's Brooke Johnson finished seventh.

"I'm glad I made it and got a school record on Friday," Oyebanji said. "I was in a daze because it was so much being here. I tried to take it all in."

Palatine hurdler Aisha Kazeem added a second-place medal in the 300 hurdles and a sixth-place in the 100 hurdles and

"I didn't do what I expected today, but it was a good experience," she said. "I was happy with my second event because I was down after the 100 hurdles. I'm excited to see what I can do in the future."

In Class 2A, Lakes senior Joycelyn Crum, a Memphis recruit, overcame an injury to place second in the pole vault (3.72). Teammate Josie Gates took seventh in the pole vault.

"I wanted to compete in my last year at state, so I just iced it up and taped it and went to the trainer and pushed through," Crum said of her lower leg injury. "I stayed positive and kept a good mindset."