Throwers, milers set pace in MSL
This is shaping up to be a very special season for the Mid-Suburban League in the throws and the 1,600.
Last year the MSL had three girls finish in the top 12 in Class AA for the shot put, with Palatine's Martha Shepard taking fifth place (42-23/4).
Last years Class AA state champion Danielle Bunch of Mahomet-Seymour set a state record hitting 49-43/4, but this year Bunch, thanks to the IHSA switching to three classes, is in Class AA.
That opens the door for the MSL, especially Shepard. The senior has already tied a school record (43-8) this season and is sitting atop the Class 3A leader board.
But Shepard has company. Sophomore Precious Ogunleye of Hoffman Estates has hit 41-81/2 with Prospect's senior Emily Gruendel (40-01/2) nipping at her heels.
Palatine senior Lauren Orris (39-9) and Prospect sophomore Samantha Sturm (38-41/2) add to the depth.
In the discus, Oak Park-River Forest senior hit an amazing 147-11 on Saturday at the Hinsdale Central Invite.
But the MSL is well represented on the Class 3A leaderboard with Palatine's Orris (133-5) and senior Katie MacFabe (130-6), both of whom finished in the top 10 in discus in Class AA last season.
"It's kind of our last shot," said Orris, who finished seventh in Class AA last year. "Might as well go for it."
Palatine's Shepard (120-7), Hoffman's Ogunleye (120-81/2) and senior Ariel Staniszewski (117-7), Barrington's senior Lela DiMonte (121-2) have also already eclipsed the state qualifying mark in the discus (117-6).
The 1,600 field is just as loaded.
Last year Barrington's Rebecca Tracy tied for second in Class AA and was the only MSL runner to medal in the 1,600 at the state meet.
On Saturday at the Wheaton North Invite the MSL took the top four spots with Buffalo Grove's freshman Olivia Jones taking first with a sweet time of 5:04.7. Hoffman's Hannah Worman (5:09.0), Palatine's Ruth Allen (5:10.3), and Hoffman's Melissa Schmidt (5:17.5) went 2-4, all under the state qualifying mark (5:18).
Tracy has already hit 5:08, and Schaumburg's sophomore Karen Lesiewicz nailed a 5:08.3.
Throw in Rolling Meadows Amanda Whowell, who won the Illinios Prep Top Times Indoor Meet and Schaumburg's Britten Petrey, who took first at the MSL indoor meet.
And that list doesn't even include Palatine's Sarah McIntosh (5:14.7) who took first at the Downers Grove North Invite and Elk Grove's Gina Erbacci (5:17.6), who both have gone under the state mark.
"It's stacked," said Jones of the 1,600 field. "I'm very excited, I've seen a lot of them in indoors and I can't wait to see them outdoors."
Barrington's Gitelis gathers more honors: Barrington coach Jody Gitelis has guided the Fillies to a state title and a state runner-up finish the past two seasons. Earlier this year Gitelis was awarded the Coach of the Year by the ITCCA North.
Gitelis was also nominated by the IHSA administration for national honors and received a certificate from the National Federation of High School Coaches Associations recognizing her and the Fillies accomplishments.
Etherington hits new heights: Last year Barrington's pole vaulter Anna Etherington was somewhat overshadowed by the Fillies runners en route to a second-place trophy in Class AA.
Etherington took fifth in Class AA and that was without the benefit of much practice.
With the Barrington track under construction last season, Etherington estimated she only practiced vaulting three or four times all season.
Yet she still shined at the state meet.
"My height showed I could be up there," said Etherington, who cleared a school record 11-0 last season. "But I wasn't expecting anything."
This year Etherington is getting plenty of practice and it's showing. The junior cleared 11-0 on Saturday at Hinsdale Central, just missing 11-6 with her shoulder clipping the bar.
"I'm still working on a lot of things," said Etherington, "But I'm right there and it's a good thing to be clearing these heights this early in the season."
Palatine's Allen sets pace in the 800: Last year, Palatine's Ruth Allen finished 12th in Class AA in the 800 (2:19.3) and the junior has not missed a beat so far this season.
On Friday at the Downers Grove North Invite, Allen set a meet record by blazing to first in the 800 in 2:15.8, the ninth-best time in Palatine history.
The junior has helped propel the Pirates to titles at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Relays, Downers Grove North Invite, and Wheaton North Invite.
"Today was one of those days where I felt like I was either going to do horrible or if I stayed focus I was going to rock it out," said Allen of her Downers Grove North victory.
Needless to say Allen has the Pirates rocking.
Final leg: Fremd senior Bizzy Mellado cleared a school record 11-7 in winning the pole vault on Saturday at the Rock Island Invite - Keep an eye on some of young guns. Hersey sophomore Tia Roberson and Palatine freshman Lauren Schweikert and Hoffman freshman Emily D'Amico have been heating up the track in the sprints - MSL divisional meets will take place next Tuesday, with Conant hosting the West division and Hersey hosting the East Division.