Scouting the Cook County and Lake County girls track and field season
Here’s a look at what to expect this spring for girls track and field teams in Cook County and Lake County.
COOK COUNTY
Barrington The Fillies took second in the MSL, second at sectionals, and seventh in Class 3A. Junior Mia Sirois won her second straight 3,200 state title and placed third in the 1,600. Sirois won the 2024 state cross country title with a record time of 15:53.4, but she missed the 2025 cross season due to injury. Junior Victoria Tarara (eighth in state cross, 3,200 state qualifier) was the No. 1 runner on Barrington's state title XC team last fall. Senior Madison Miles (11th in 800/4x400 qualifier), Angelica Hil, Abby Lewis, and Scouts Storms (now competing for Tennessee) placed fourth in the 4x800. Sophomore Rikki Chatterjee ran in the 4x800 prelims. Senior Yane Jansen Van Rensburg was sixth in the state in pole vault. Vicky Malesa and Briony Robinson were 4x200 state qualifiers while Ella McGee qualified in the 4x400. Nina Choukas (pole vault) will provide great depth to the team.
Buffalo Grove The Bison placed 14th at sectionals and 12th in the MSL. Seniors Gabby Tybor (sprints/long jump), Eva Greiner (sprints/high jump), and Amaya Orozco (sprints) bring a lot of experience to the squad. Juniors Kerra Serrette (sprints/long jump), Taylor Sipiera (distance), and Lana Smith (sprints/high jump) provide added depth. Sophomores Aaliyah Weber (throws/sprints), Dagmar Alonso (distance), and Maddy Dudek (sprints) hope to gain experience on the varsity team.
Conant The Cougars placed sixth at sectionals, fifth in the MSL, and sixth at the MSL indoor meet. Three-time defending 100-meter hurdles state champion senior Daisha Brunson (fourth in 200, fifth in 100) is going for an IHSA-record four state titles in a row in the 100 hurdles. Three-event state qualifier Sofia Wydra graduated. Senior Kamila Warzecha took fifth place in the pole vault at the MSL indoor meet while University of Michigan-bound Brunson won the 55 and 200-meter dashes at the indoor meet.
Elk Grove The Grenadiers tied for fifth at sectionals, placed sixth in the MSL, and finished fourth at the Nagel-Saylor MSL indoor meet. Senior Reagan Malone (distance) was on the 4x800 relay team that went downstate along with sophomore Elena Bis (distance). Junior Zofia Zeranski (relays) qualified for the state meet in the triple jump, but state qualifier Lota Ugwu (100) graduated. Seniors Lindsay Bobowski (long jump/high jump/relays) and Camille Fouche (long jump/relays) are key competitors. Junior Lana Stevanovich (300 hurdles/relays) will be counted on heavily.
Fremd The Vikings placed 13th at the Glenbrook South sectional, seventh in the MSL, and ninth at the MSL indoor meet on March 21. Senior Gwen Zimmerman and Adeline Dietrich were on the 4x400 relay team that ran at the state meet last year. Dietrich, senior Isa Hasty, and sophomore Helen Hermann were on the 4x800 squad that competed in Charleston last season. Senior Vanessa Tasheva and freshman Kendall Hunter went 1-2 in the shot put at the MSL indoor meet.
Hersey The Huskies took third at sectionals, third in the MSL, and second at the Nagel-Saylor Invite. State medalist Madeline Bialko (3,200) graduated. Junior Alexandra Kopacz qualified for state in the 1,600. Kopacz also competed on the 4x800 team that went to state with Amelia and Martyna Makowski. Seniors Ndidi Iwuagwu and Shannon Conroy ran downstate in the 4x100 and 4x200 with sophomore Anne Park. Junior Sadie Marks (throws) advanced to state in the discus while junior Emilia Rogowski qualified in the long jump.
Hoffman Estates The Hawks took ninth place at their own sectional, 10th in the MSL, and 10th at the Nagel-Saylor Invitational. After reaching the state meet in the 400 and long jump, Karyn Opara graduated. Junior Ella MacNider placed fifth in the 1,600-meter run at the MSL indoor meet. MacNider, Jasmine Curtis-Reyes, Aleksandra Wojcik, and Chloe Ridley placed fifth in the 4x400 at the indoor meet. Sophomore Faith Boss placed fourth in the high jump at the indoor meet.
Leyden The Eagles placed fifth in the WSC Gold, 13th at the Rolling Meadows sectional, and fourth at the WSC Gold indoor meet. Leyden will miss the presence of graduated state qualifier Najawa Jackson (long jump). Senior Nadia Morawska took second in the 300-meter dash and fourth in the 200 at the indoor conference meet. The 4x800 team of Adamari Rodriguez, Sophia Doporcyk, Alexia Paucar, and Susana Hernandez placed second at the indoor meet. Senior Michelle Nwauwa (high jump) took third.
Maine East The Blue Demons took sixth in the CSL North and 16th at sectionals. Donald Robinson takes over as the new head coach this spring. The squad will miss now graduated 800-meter state qualifier Ashley Gaba (Drake University) in their lineup this season. Gaba was the CLS North champion in the 800 while sophomore Gia Patel took second place in the 1,600-meter run at the conference meet. Maine East also lost key competitor Nura Rayyan (discus) to graduation.
Maine South The Hawks took fourth at sectionals, fourth in the CSL South, and second at the CSL South indoor meet. Senior state qualifier Sarah Cull (400) and junior Sarah Mendoza both ran downstate in the 4x400. Junior Tessie Bradley won the 1,600 at the CSL South indoor meet while senior Lucia Fuentes took second in the 3,200. Bradley and the sophomore trio of Bea Conroy, Avery Udzielak, and Abby Seurynck won the 4x800 at the indoor meet. Freshman Reese Oomen (high jump) and junior Emerson De La Cruz (long jump) took third at the indoor meet.
Maine West The Warriors took third place in the CSL North, and a fifth at the CSL North indoor meet. They lost graduated sprinter Precious Akinsanya, who is now competing for NIU. Senior Cassie Mach (throws) earned a berth to the state meet by taking first in the discus at sectionals with a personal record throw of 35.88m/117'. Freshman Shelley Ngague took second place in the pole vault at the indoor meet. The team hopes to increase their number of 11 all-conference athletes from last year.
Palatine The Pirates placed fourth at sectionals, eighth in the MSL, and seventh at the MSL indoor meet. The team will be hard-pressed to replace graduated Aisha Kazeem (fifth in 100 hurdles, seventh in long jump, DePaul), who won the state title in the 300-meter hurdles the past two years in a row. The team also lost state qualifier Abigail Jordan (3,200) to graduation. Junior Megan Oleksak took first in the high jump at the MSL indoor meet while junior Emily Sondergaard took third in the 55-meter dash.
Prospect The Knights (second in Class 3A) lost seven seniors who are now competing in college. Prospect also won sectional and MSL titles before recently winning the MSL indoor crown. Senior Meg Peterson (fourth in 800) was a part of the 4x800 state-title team that has won five straight 4x800 state titles. Senior Nikki Niebrugge finished 11th in the 200-meter dash and qualified in the 100. Niebrugge was also on the 4x100 (second place), 4x200 (third), and 4x400 (fourth) teams at state. Senior Sam Skowronski competed at state in the long jump, 400, 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. Senior Dajana Skolimowska (4x200/4x400), junior Eva Lapys (eighth in high jump/triple jump qualifier), junior Charlotte Conner (100 and 300 hurdles), senior Anna Zajac (4x800), and senior Ella Benassi (4x800) all competed at state. Sophomore Ali Kalkwarf (4x800) ran at sectionals.
Rolling Meadows The Mustangs took ninth in their own sectional, ninth in the MSL, and sixth at the MSL indoor meet. Junior Hazel Nadal reached the state meet in the 200 and 400-meter dashes. Junior Patrycja Lewicki qualified for the state meet in the pole vault, but state pole vault runner-up Nora DeMaria graduated. Senior Dalia Grandberry is an athlete to watch in the shot put, and she was a big part of the Mustangs' girls basketball team that reached the Final Four this past March.
Schaumburg The Saxons placed fourth in the MSL, fifth at sectionals, and 23rd in Class 3A. Senior sprinter Serena Green (relays) is a two-time state qualifier while senior Cecilia Puchalski (middle distance) brings experience to the squad. Key juniors are Destiny Bickhem (sprints/relays), Emma Walz (distance), Dilana Kowaczek (distance), Chloe Pisto (distance), Claire Swiderski (distance), and Iya Repple (middle distance). Sophomores Nadia Foster (long jump/triple jump), and Emilia Gawior (middle distance) are key athletes on the very young team.
St. Viator The Lions placed sixth in the ESCC and 13th at the Class 2A Genoa-Kingston sectional. Seniors Emily Walberg (distance), Allie Long (distance), and Jada Baer (400/800) will join junior Isabella Renguso (distance) on the 4x800 team in hopes of qualifying for state. Graduated Caroline Schermerhorn will be missed on the 4x800 team. But junior Elizabeth Schermerhorn (200/4x200/4x400) is ready to make an impact. Seniors Grace VanFossen (triple jump/long jump/hurdles) and Elle Hohmeier (discus) will be key scorers.
Wheeling The Wildcats placed 11th at the Glenbrook South sectional, 11th in the MSL, and eighth at the recent Nagel-Saylor Invitational held in Naperville. The team is going to miss the presence of graduated Katie Moser, who qualified for the state meet in the triple jump and the long jump last year. Sophomore Sierra Kuhlman won the triple jump and placed fifth in the 55-meter hurdles at the MSL indoor meet. Freshman Kaia Mate placed fifth in the 400-meter run at the indoor meet.
LAKE COUNTY
Antioch The Sequoits are facing a rebuilding season after graduating 14 seniors last year, including state qualifiers Rosie Gonzalez (3,200-run), and Sydney Walker (high jump). Seniors Abby Fuesting (Winona State commit, sprints/jumps), Kennedi Copeland (Chicago State commit, sprints), Michaela Alcantar (Northern Michigan commit, discus), and Abby Kaluzinski (high jump) are among the team leaders. Fuesting and Copeland were both on Antioch's 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams that qualified for the state meet in 2024.
Carmel Catholic The Corsairs placed third in the ESCC and eighth at Class 2A sectionals. Three-time all-state runner Izzy Bing (Illinois State) graduated. Senior Natalie Ferguson is a two-time state qualifier in the long jump and a two-time medalist in the 4x200. Senior Ashlyn Beattie is a two-time state qualifier in the 4x400 and 4x800. Junior Leanna Bell qualified for state twice in the 4x100 and 4x200. Freshman Juliet Bing is a top prospect in the 1,600. Other promising athletes are Madison Harris (sprints), Stephanie Johnson (hurdles), Sadie Chebny (hurdles), Jaliyah Quarles (hurdles), Brailyn Albanese (distance), Elyana Cauwels (distance), Andrea Bobber (distance), Maya Markley (distance), Sarah Schmitt (sprints), Addy Albanese (400/800), Alexis Vauk (400/800), and Lili Starzec (400/800).
Grant The Bulldogs placed sixth in the NLCC and ninth at sectionals. State qualifiers Noelle Patrick (Grand Valley State), Maddie Fredendall (Eastern Kentucky), and Malia Henriot graduated. Top seniors are Allison Thomas (high jump, UW Whitewater commit), Ashlyn Bartlett (3,200, Ripon College commit) and Lilianna Ludford King (shot put, Carthage College commit). Juniors Aubrey Hopkins (triple jump), and Ericka Hopkins (400) provide added depth. Underclassmen Alysa Abdelhak (hurdles), Zemira Ayers (sprints/long jump), Naomi Davis (sprints), Sasha Leonce (sprints/triple jump), and Fatu Sherif (hurdles) are ready for varsity.
Grayslake Central The Rams placed sixth at sectionals, they won the NLCC, and they took first in the NLCC indoor meet. Junior Lauryn Francis was a state qualifier in the 200-meter dash, and she was on the 4x200 team that reached state with Emme Cieslak, Maya Allen, and Naleah Parham. Sophomore Safiya Kane (1,600), senior Violet Rowe (3,200), and freshman Nicole Perry (60 hurdles) all took second at the NLCC indoor meet. Senior Ava Pietruszynski, Jordan Sutter, Kane, and Rowe went downstate in the 4x800 as did junior Isabella Bergonio (discus).
Grayslake North The Knights placed fifth in the NLCC as Isis Mitchell (Purdue- NW Indiana), and Renee Morris (Lewis University) are now competing in college. Seniors Madison Petersen (800/1,600/4x400) and Lucy Roscoe (3,200/1,600) will be key distance runners. Other key contributors will be Daejonna Collins (triple jump/long jump/100), Chasity Bates (200), Rhianne Dressendorfer (pole vault/200), and Caelynn Capman (throws). The Knights hope to win the NLCC, set four school records, and send almost every event to state.
Lakes The Eagles took second place in the NLCC and ninth at sectionals as senior Makayla Williams-Brock qualified for state in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Seniors Isabella Aya (pole vault), Leanna Zalapi (triple jump), and Diksha Guganathan (400/800) will be leaders. Key juniors are Vanessa Wild (400/800), Hannah Salbilla (distance), and Evelyn Belcher (long jump/200.) Top sophomores are Lillian Selvik (hurdles), Megan Murray (throws), Mallory Crevier (high jump), Elizabeth Mercure (long jump/triple jump), Samaya Mulling (100/200), and Breanna Fellows (throws). Freshmen Frances Makela and Madison Schrader (distance) hope to make an impact on varsity.
Lake Zurich The Bears took sixth in Class 3A, first at sectionals, they won their seventh straight NSC crown, and the 2026 NSC indoor crown. Sprinters Kendall Flournoy and Sydney Lappin were among the many state qualifiers who graduated. Sophomore Arisa Bisofa won the state discus title and took seventh in the shot put. Senior Polina Krupsky returns from state in the 400 and 800 (third in Class 3A) as does junior Avery Muhr in the 3,200. Seniors Lily Mikusa and Sophie Bitzer were on the 4x100 team that ran downstate with sophomore Molly Juknelis. Muhr and junior Celia Blaylock were on the 4x800 squad that took fifth in the state. Senior Alice Kotelnikova took fourth in the discus.
Libertyville The Wildcats tied for seventh at sectionals, they placed fifth in the NSC, and seventh at the recent NSC indoor meet. State shot put qualifier Makayla Boone was lost to graduation. Senior Annabelle Gohr and junior Ella Cobb went 3-4 in the pole vault at the NSC indoor meet while junior Lillian Causemaker placed fifth in the long jump and the 200. Junior Hadley Bishop tied for fifth in the high jump at the indoor meet while Corinne Kalvass and Sophia Krummick went 5-6 in the 3,200-meter run.
Mundelein The Mustangs placed 13th at sectionals, seventh in the NSC, and fifth at the NSC indoor meet. Junior Victoria Osei was the 60-meter dash champion at the NSC indoor meet, and she took third in the 200. Senior Precious Oyebanji took third in the 800 at the indoor meet while sophomore Beatrix Kleinschmidt took third in the shot put. Senior Khloe Heerdegen placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles. The 4x200 team of Elizabeth Osei, Victoria Osei, Amelia Snarski, and Nahla Hill placed fourth at the indoor meet.
Round Lake The Panthers placed eighth in the NLCC before hosting a powerful Class 3A sectional. The team lost many key sprinters to graduation as their 4x200 relay team broke into the all-time top five times list in school history. Sophomores Aria Randolph (sprinter) and Jayleen Aguayo (throws) will be athletes to watch. Seniors Jimena Gonzalez and Emily Torres bring a lot of experience to the distance group. But overall, Round Lake has a young squad in 2026 as two-thirds of the team are freshmen and sophomores.
Stevenson The Patriots took sixth place at the Lake County meet, second in the NSC, fifth at sectionals, and second at the NSC indoor meet. Senior Meg Arne and junior Deha Krishnan qualified for the state meet in the 4x100 while seniors Hailey Cho (throws) and Karina Zakabluk (jumps) bring experience to the team. Juniors Vera Jagasia (jumps) and Katie Castro (distance) are ready to step up to a new level while sophomores Camila Pak and Cece Novak add depth to the distance pack.
Vernon Hills The Cougars won the CSL North title, they placed 12th at sectionals, and they recently won the CSL North indoor meet. Junior Ella Ollinger qualified for state in the 800 with a school record time of 2:17.66. Senior Julia Rausa qualified in the high jump for the second time. Other key competitors will be Campbell Fenton (distance), K.C. Griffith. (sprints/long jump), Emma Jocson (sprints), Joy Kim (high jump), Jill Leuck (distance), Naina Mathur (sprints/hurdles), Parker Mockaitis (throws), Ella Nowacki (sprints/hurdles), Abby Portwood (sprints), Grace Ramanathan (throws), and Keira Thomas (sprints). Key newcomers are Addison Giordano (sprints), Hannah Greenfield (distance), and Maeve McAuliffe (throws).
Warren The Blue Devils placed fourth in the NSC, fourth at sectionals and fourth at the NSC indoor meet. State qualifier Sanaii Vaughn (300 hurdles, NIU) graduated. Senior sprinters Sisi Scott (long jump) and Anna Iwuagwu (triple jump) are two-time state qualifiers. Seniors Madeleine Markle (sprints/long jump), Njui Tanni (throws), Faith Wojuade (throws), Elizabeth Mertz (hurdles), and Isaly Castro (pole vault/sprints) will provide leadership. Juniors Kaylee Wilson (distance, 20th in state XC), Finley Jezuit (middle distance), Hadley Bishop (high jump/sprints), and Leah Venisnik (high jump/sprints) hope to have a big impact.
Wauconda The Bulldogs placed fourth in the NLCC and 14th at sectionals. The entire 4x400 Class 3A state qualifying team of Izzy Drozd, Riley Blue, Teagan Kienzle, and Lily Schubert return, and that group includes two juniors and two sophomores. Freshmen Erin Espitia (middle distance), Elena Kiekow (distance), and Xiomara Jimenez Guevara (throws) add depth. The Bulldogs are adding to their 4x800 squad and look to continue rebuilding one of the fastest growing girls sports programs at the school.