Girls track and field: Huntley’s Johnson wins third straight state title in triple jump
CHARLESTON — Huntley senior Dominique Johnson had her sights set high on Saturday.
The Miami-bound Johnson was looking to make history.
Winning the last two Class 3A girls state track and field triple jump championships, Johnson was aiming for a three-peat at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.
But Johnson had more than just one state medal on her mind. Johnson was seeking a state title in the long jump after a stellar showing in Friday’s preliminaries and was part of Huntley’s 4x200 relay that was competing in Saturday’s finals.
In her main event, Johnson accomplished her goal by winning the state title in the triple jump with a state meet record mark of 13.02 meters. Huntley’s 4x200 relay was disqualified.
Johnson doubled her pleasure by adding the state championship in the long jump (5.86 meters) for the first time in her illustrious career.
“It was the perfect ending to my high school career,” Johnson said. “The long jump title is something I’ve been chasing for four years so to end the meet with a long jump and a triple jump title was perfect.”
“We are incredibly proud of her being able to end her career in the state meet, and then to go out with two championships is a testament to the work she put in,” Huntley girls track coach Jason Monson said. “Dominique definitely let her mark on the program and on the state. The key for her was being confident. She has an incredible belief in herself and that was on display. She is one of those kids as a coach, they only come around so often.”
Neuqua Valley senior Gabi Karvelis, a three-year state qualifier committed to Murray State, took home a pair of top-three medals, with a second-place finish in the triple jump (12.06) and third place in the long jump (5.69), while Huntley’s Addison Busam took eighth (5.50). Lake Park junior Klara Volkova earned sixth in the shot put (11.93) and Hampshire’s Hailey Homola placed eighth.
“I feel awesome,” Karvelis said. “Jumping with Dominique is super. I’ve jumped against her a handful of times, but not beat her. I realized this is four years of hard work and had to give it my all in my last high school meet.”
Lake Park senior Eva Bach had a big day with a third-place effort in the pole vault (3.75)
Jacobs junior Carly Uehlein set a personal record with a toss of 42.53 meters to snare second place in the discus. Volkova added an eighth-place showing (39.76).
In the 800, Naperville Central senior Lola Satre-Morales, a Northeastern University recruit, wrapped up her stellar career with a second-place finish in a time of 2:11.31. Downers Grove North’s Ava Gilley took sixth in the race (2:13).
“I was envisioning my race beforehand and had a race plan and was going to do the same thing I did on Friday and just give it everything I had,” Satre-Morales said. “My teammates were very supportive. I’m happy I finished strong.”
In Class 2A, Westmont junior Kyla Babb returned to the state meet motivated to make headlines. Babb said her third-place state cross country showing in the fall pushed her to reach for new heights in track.
“That was definitely my breakthrough,” Babb said.
Babb moved up the state podium on Saturday, placing second in the 3,200-meters with a clocking of 10 minutes, 32.52 seconds.
“I never thought I would get even top five at state, let alone third in cross country and now second at (state) track,” Babb said. “Last year I got fourth in the 3,200, so this is definitely an upgrade.”
Babb said a miscue with the bell led to some frustration and confusion in the 3,200, which was won by St. Anthony’s Isabella Keller (10:20.92).
“I’m disappointed because I could’ve run faster because they told me I had one lap left when I actually didn’t,” Babb said. “I didn’t do my usual kick at the end. I still think I would’ve gotten second. I’m not really too worried about my time. I’m just happy with the place I got.”
Babb added a second top-three finish, hitting the tape in a time of 4:56.45 for third place in the 1,600.
Also in 2A, Montini junior Sydney Gertsen had a sterling effort on the blue track to finish in fourth place in the 3,200 (10:40).
In the 2A 800-meter run, St. Francis junior Margaret Andrzejewski nearly pulled out a stunner, placing third in a time of 2 minutes, 13.05 seconds. St. Francis sophomore Erin Hinsdale, who finished second in the event last season, took fourth with a clocking of 2:13.91. Aurora Central Catholic junior Cecilia Hilby notched sixth (2:15).
“I felt good and didn’t really have a plan going into it and just went out there and seeing how I felt and trying to do the best I could,” Andrzejewski said. “I’ve never run an individual event at state before, but it felt great.”
Hinsdale said she was happy with her race, but she’s motivated for next season’s state meet.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries this season, which is hard to get back into but the fitness I’ve maintained from cross country helped me get through it,” Hinsdale said. “Obviously, I got second last year, but the field is getting faster and faster. It’s a lot of competition and a good opportunity to get a good time. Next year I’m going to try and come back stronger and am looking at it as an opportunity to get a few personal records.”
St. Francis couldn’t capture a second consecutive 4x800 relay state championship, ending in 12th place on Saturday. Andrzejewski snared 10th in the 1,600 in a time of 5:08.
Also, St. Francis sophomore Elena Mamminga claimed sixth in the 3,200 (10:46). Aurora Central Catholic sophomore Molly Russelburg had an inspiring showing in the 2A pole vault to record a fifth-time medal (3.30). IMSA sophomore Charlotte Okulaja placed third in the 2A long jump (5.45).
Rosary junior Katie Kostro kept it simple on Saturday.
After qualifying for state last season in the high jump, Kostro was aiming to move up a few spots on the Class 2A podium.
“I’ve been working really hard during the season and grown physically and mentally,” Kostro said. “I had a big improvement from last season. I just learned to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself and do the best I can.”
She managed to hit her mark – the top of the blue podium.
Kostro was among the top performers at O’Brien Stadium, collecting a first-place medal in the 2A high jump with a top leap of 1.70 meters (5-7). In her lone event on Saturday, Kostro made the best out of her time with a historic jump.
“I’m really happy with how I jumped,” Kostro said. “I think I really focused on my speed and acceleration and made sure to take a deep breath before I went and really believed in myself.”
In Class 3A, Wheaton North sophomore Sophia Dalrymple had a day to remember by taking fourth in the long jump (5.60).
Hinsdale South junior Kennedy Ruff is setting the stage for a memorable meet in 2026 by finishing in second place in the 300 hurdles in a personal best time of 42.96 on Saturday.
“I didn’t have a ton of expectations since I came in seeded fifth, but it was nice to take second,” Ruff said. “My kick at the end I used everything I had left and that helped me pull through. This is the best I’ve done at state. This was an awesome race for me.”
Downers Grove North had several outstanding showings, led by Macy Ermitage’s third place in the 3,200 (10:32). Downers Grove South’s Nia Ortega placed sixth (10:41), Batavia’s Avery Hacker took eighth (10:43) and Willowbrook’s Amelie Ojeda claimed ninth (10:45).
Downers Grove North senior Mia Forystek ended her career with a fifth-place medal in the 800 (2:12). Her teammate, Alayna Todnem placed eighth in the 1,600 (4:59). Downers Grove North’s 4x200 relay snared eighth in a time of 1:40.98. St. Charles East finished ninth in the 4x400. Glenbard West finished in sixth and St. Charles North took seventh in the 4x800.
Downers Grove South senior Kailee Rodeck earned fourth place in the pole vault (3.65), while Wheaton North’s Megan Wozniak placed ninth (3.55). Teammate Sophia Dalrymple took fourth in the long jump (5.60). In the triple jump, Downers Grove South junior Karen Boakye placed fourth (11.96) and Glenbard East senior Mackenzie Fodrey placed ninth (11.40).