Girls track and field: Prospect dominates Glenbrook South sectional

With temperatures in the low 80s, the heat was literally and figuratively on Wednesday afternoon at the Class 3A Glenbrook South girls track and field sectional.

And defending state champion Prospect soared to the team title of the 16-team meet with 171 points to capture its 16th sectional crown in school history.

Evanston placed second with 70 points followed by Hersey (58 points) in third and Palatine (56 points) in fourth.

The top two finishers in each event and anyone who reached the cutoff times or distances also advanced to the IHSA state meet May 22-24 in Charleston.

The Knights' road to the championship featured first-place finishes from Anna Niebrugge (100 and 200-meter dashes), Meg Peterson (800), Veronica Znajda (1,600), Eva Lapys (high jump), Brooke Neri (pole vault), and all four relay teams.

"The field events kind of set us up on a good note, and that was a great way to start the day," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute. "The 4x800 and 4x100 got us rolling, and we almost had a freshman here (Samantha Lobacz) advance to state in the 3,200 with a huge PR (11:12.68). So it was a fun day."

Other state qualifiers for Prospect were Nikki Niebrugge (100 and 200-meter dashes/4x100/4x200), Samantha Skowronski (4x100/400)/long jump), Mary Laba (4x400/800), Ireland Wildhart (1,600/4x800), Charlotte Conner (100 and 300 hurdles), Amina Hadziahmetovic (300 hurdles/4x100/4x200/4x400), Elyse Freeman (4x200), Dajana Skolimowska (4x400), Ella Benassi (4x800), Anna Zajac (4x800), and Lapys (triple jump).

"It's mostly about just getting to state. As long as we win the heat or get the time that's really all that mattered," said Anna Niebrugge, who will also compete in the 4x100 and 4x200 at state. "I think we can (win state title). I don't like to jinx anything because there are a lot of good teams. So it's going to be difficult and we're all going to have to be on our game and perform."

Hersey senior Madeline Bialko (10:55.08) rolled to first in the 3,200 while sophomore teammate Sadie Marks (36.70 meters) won the discus. Hersey sophomores Emilia Rogowski (long jump), and Alexandra Kopacz (1,600) also reached state. The Huskies also advanced to state in the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x800.

"The relays were very good, our 4x800 was excellent, and that was a great last leg by our senior Margaretha Grabske," said Hersey coach Jim Miks. "Our 4x100 (Ndidi Iwuagwu, Shannon Conroy, Abigail Bailitz, Anne Park) broke their own school record, and Bialko was fantastic in the 3,200."

Palatine defending 300 hurdles state champ Aisha Kazeem won that event, the 100 hurdles, and the long jump. Kazeem also advanced to state in the 200 along with teammates Abigail Jordan (3,200), and Emily Sondergaard (long jump).

"One thing with her (Kazeem) that we always talk about is her start (in 300 hurdles), and that is going to be the key for her (at state)," said Palatine coach Kevin Conway. "To get downstate as a senior (Jordan) was a big goal, so I'm really happy for her, and it was a PR for her."

Fremd's 4x400 team of Katherine Schillinger, Gwen Zimmerman, Sia Purohit, and Adeline Dietrich made it to state. The Vikings' 4x800 squad of Dietrich, Purohit, Isa Hasty, and Helen Hermann also made it to state.

"We went from a 9:45 to a 9:34 so our training sets us up to peak in May for sectionals," said Fremd coach Joe Marcin. "We have some room for improvement (in 4x800), and considering how much time we dropped today the girls' confidence is high going into state."

Wheeling's Katie Moser qualified for state in the triple jump and the long jump while Maine East senior Ashley Gaba is headed to state in the 800.