Track and field: Barrington girls win title at 91st Palatine Relays

The 91st annual Palatine Relays brought a lot of history to the track Saturday as the Pirates hosted the longest running invitational meet in state history dating back to the first meet in 1933.

In the 12-team boys meet, Oswego East took the lead early on and it never looked back as the Wolves won the team title by a 135-92 margin over runner-up Palatine. Schaumburg took third place with 92 points on a tiebreaker. Wheeling (50 points) placed fifth while Mundelein (44 points) took sixth.

Palatine senior Austin Eckels won the 100 dash in 11.21 and the 200 in 22.52 while teammate Alexander Krieg (4:31.35) was the 1,600-meter champion. The Pirates' 4x100 team of Eckels, Rufus Clark, Jaeden Gaspard, and Maleek Miles won in 43.23.

"The guys really responded well after the slow start in the morning," said Palatine coach Martell Halloran. "Austin Eckels in our No. 1 team captain, and he can run any sprint we need because he is so versatile."

The Saxons' 4x110 shuttle hurdles team of Anthony Barcenas, Josh Vook, Ray Black, and Donovan Long took first place in 1:05.80 while Schaumburg's duo of Blake Ackland (4.11 meters) and Stephen Osei went 1-2 in the pole vault.

Schaumburg's Micheal Gbenyo took second place in both the 200-dash (22.57), and the high jump (1.83 meters). Schaumburg's Alex Valencia (third in 200) reached state in the 200 last year.

"I'm really happy, and it's all because of the practice and training my coach (Ryan Senica) put me in," said Gbenyo, who is aiming for state this year. "I know I can make it to state meet this year. The key is to just stay focused, have a strong mentality, and always stay positive."

Krieg took second in the 800 while Jacobs' Isaac Pepin took second in the 1,600. Other second-place finishers were Palatine's Carter Hayes (3,200), Schaumburg's Ray Black (110 hurdles), Jacobs' 4x200 team, Wheeling's 4x400 team, Palatine's 4x800 team, and Clark (long jump).

"They've been doing a really nice job so far this year and we've been strong in the hurdles," said Senica of his Saxons' squad. "They (Ackland and Osei) have been very strong all year in the pole vault, and they both cleared 14-feet plus this year in the pole vault."

In the 11-team girls meet, Barrington outdistanced rival squad Hersey 133-105 for the championship. York placed third with 81 points while host Palatine was fourth with 63 points.

The Fillies' Cici Stennett won the 100-meter dash in 12.67 while teammates Scout Storms (800), and Mia Sirois (1,600) were also winners. Barrington's 4x200 team of Stennett, Khloe Slatter, Macy Cobb, and Kaley Swanson placed first in 1:43.59.

The Fillies' elite 4x800 team of Storms, Kaleigh Burns, Viktoria Higgins, and Abby Lewis easily won in 9:41.03. Teammates Sofiabella Amirante (11.83 meters in shot put), and Morgan Flaska (35.15 meters in discus) both won gold medals.

"It's been a great season, and this is a great way to end the regular season," said first-year Barrington coach Kala Penev, who took over for legendary coach Jody Gitelis after her 36 years at the helm. "We would love to do really well at our conference meet (next Friday at Rolling Meadows), and do some exciting things across the board at sectionals and state."

Hersey's team of Angeli Dubon, Emily Hany, Audrina Dinglasan, and Amelinka Miros won the 4x100 shuttle hurdles in 1:10.73. The Huskies got second-places from Claudia Sepko in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Teammates Margaretha Grabske (800), Catherine Hany (1,600), and Madison Fee (discus) also placed second.

"We added up a lot of points as a group and this was a fun day," said Hersey coach Jim Miks. "We have momentum in all three phases going into the MSL meet next Friday."

Palatine's Aisha Kazeem won both the 100 and 300 hurdles after taking second in the state last year in the 300 hurdles. Mundelein's Delaney Jung took second in the triple jump.

York's trio of Leila Arzon (1.55 meters in high jump), Lainey Paul (3.53 meters in pole vault), and Charlotte Hopkins (10.12 meters in triple jump) all took first place. The Dukes' 4x100 team of Paul, Jillian Booth, Mia Hanger, and Morgan Navarre won in 48.58 over runner-up Palatine.

"Lainey (Paul) jumped 11-7, that was a school record, that's what she's been chasing for four years so that was a big deal for us," said York coach Amy Lichon. "These girls are amazing people so getting results like this is a byproduct of their integrity and the work they put in. The competition is always tough, but it's more about just going out there, feeling confident, and doing your best."

Other second-place finishers were Barrington's Chloe Slatter (200), York's Anna McGrail (3,200), York's 4x200 relay, Hersey's 4x400 relay, York's 4x800 relay, Barrington's Kathryn Roussev (high jump), and Barrington's Yane Jansen Van Rensburg (pole vault).

Former Olympic standout Jackie Joyner-Kersee competed in the Palatine Relays during her high school days at East St. Louis Lincoln.