Whips find strength in numbers
Hampshire's girls track program is no stranger to the Class A state meet.
But longtime coach Patti Nihells finds herself in a unique position today. The Whip-Purs have qualified individuals or relays in five different events, besting the previous high of three state-qualifying events under Nihells.
In addition to the 1,600 and 3,200 relays, junior Autumn Holze will compete in the shot put, while sophomore Jeanna Ballard is part of the 300 hurdles field and sophomore Holly Plichta will be part of the 1,600 race.
Ballard is also the third leg on both relay teams that feature freshman Autumn Chomenko (lead-off), Mai Salvador and anchor Tiffany Phu. Salvador is the only senior on the Whip-Purs squad.
"We've all worked really hard for this and it has finally paid off," said Ballard, who has her eye on going below 50 seconds in the 300 hurdles at state. "We've jelled well together. We always push each other to try hard and we're always there for each other in races. We really wanted it."
Plichta qualified for the state cross country meet last fall.
"It's awesome having more than just one person like it was at cross country," said Plichta. "This will be a lot more fun. It's a great accomplishment."
Plichta has run as low as 11:51 in the 3,200 this year, which obliterated the previous school record of 12:54.
"I'd like to get in the top nine and get a medal," said Plichta, who placed in the Big Northern Conference meet in the 3,200 and won a sectional title last week. "If I get 11:51 again, I could possibly get a medal."
Holze changed her technique in the shot put this year.
"That's helped me throw so much better," said Holze. "I have a different stance and a different way to throw. I glide backward to release it."
Holze is also happy to have the company of teammates in Charleston.
"I'm going to think of it like just another meet with all of the girls there," said Holze. "I'm glad we all made it."
St. Edward senior Ashley Lucas will also compete in the 3,200. Lucas will also be part of the 3,200 relay team along with Karoline Kelly, Nadia Suarez and Megan Venlos. That duo broke a school record recently that had stood since 1995.
On the Class AA side, Jacobs senior multi-tasker Sarah Ross is a legitimate contender for the pole vault state title. Ross qualified in four state events. She'll run the 100 and 200 and qualified as part of the Golden Eagles' 400 relay team with Krystal Grady, Aly Durkin and Katt Forssander. However, Ross said she may not run the relay due to its proximity on the schedule to the pole vault.
The Western Michigan-bound Ross has gone as high as 12-feet in the pole vault this year. Lincoln-Way Central's Jenna Wexter had the highest sectional height (12-0), while Ross and Palatine senior Jocelyn Kuksa each went 11-6. No other state qualifier went higher than 11-0 at the sectional level. Ross also did not try to better her 11-6 vault at the sectionals in order to conserve energy for her running events.
"I've been consistently jumping 12 in practice," said Ross, a three-time state qualifier in nine events. "My nerves got the better of me last year. I'm definitely prepared for it this year. I have to stay calm. This is such a technical sport, one thing like that can mess up your whole jump. I have to stay focused."
Jacobs freshman Bethany Muscat will compete in the high jump.
Coryn Marzejon, Ross' local rival, will also compete in the 100 and will run in the 400. Marzejon is also part of Huntley's 1,600 state relay team.
Marzejon took second in the state last year in the 400. She's seeded 19th in the event this year. She ran a 58.90 at last week's Huntley sectional. Last year Marzejon ran 56.63 at the sectional and 56.16 in the finals at state. She was seeded second last year at state.
"My times haven't has been as good as I would have liked them to have been," said Marzejon. "I'm looking forward to this. I want to have fun and do as well as I can."
Marzejon said the fact she did not play three sports this school year may have played a role in her times not being as low as they have been in past years.
"Every single year I played sports year-round," said Marzejon. "I think not playing volleyball or basketball took away from it with not doing that hard-core training year-round."
Despite a second-place finish in her pocket from a year ago, Marzejon isn't thinking on grandiose terms just yet.
"I just want to run better times," said Marzejon, who will continue her career at Michigan State. "My times haven't been that good. I just want to get to the next day and then think about placing."
Marzejon is also thrilled to be part of the Huntley 1,600 relay team.
"Everybody will get to experience what state is all about," said Marzejon.
Huntley sophomore Amy Fanella will be equally busy. Fanella qualified in the 300 hurdles, the triple jump and will be part of the 1,600 relay.
Fanella said she's gotten down to business in the triple jump this year.
"I'm more focused on the triple jump," said Fanella. "Last year it wasn't that big of a deal. I'm focusing on the individual parts of the triple jump and my technique."
Fanella would like to get to 46.0 in the 300 hurdles (46.5 is her best) and jump 36-0 in the triple jump (she went 35-9 at sectionals). Red Raider Teammate Krissy Bergquist also qualified in the triple jump.
Crystal Lake South will steamroll into Charleston with the area's largest state qualifying list. The Gators qualified 12 girls in 10 different events (3 relay and 7 individual).
Twin sisters Kellie (triple jump, 300 hurdles, pole vault) and Aimee Schuh (long jump, 100 high hurdles) account for 5 of the events. Marianne Collard, Stephanie Woods, Emily Lenzini, Chelsey Tyllia, Briana Flanagan, Courtney Conrad and Alexis Wells comprise the relay qualifiers along with the Schuh sisters. The 1,600 relay team is seeded seventh.
Kellie Schuh is seeded second in the triple jump, tied for seventh in the pole vault and ninth in the 300 hurdles.
And, of course, there is South sophomore Kristina Aubert, who will look to defend her Class AA 3,200 state title (she'll also compete in the 1,600). Aubert is seeded fifth in the 3,200 and 12th in the 1,600.
"I'm going to go in and try and medal in both," said Aubert. "Winning the 2-mile again would be awesome, but I can't complain about medaling at state."
Aubert says she's also going into state with limited background data.
"A lot of our big meets got cancelled," said Aubert, who acknowledged expectations are high for her, particularly in the 3,200 race. "We didn't face a lot of people outside of the county or conference. I have no idea what to expect exactly."
Cary-Grove qualified both veteran Madeline Aufmann (800) and sophomore Kelly McCoy (high jump). McCoy is tied for the third seed at 5-5. The top seed in the high jump is 5-6.
"The pop I have when I jump is what gets me up high enough," said the 5-10 McCoy. "That's really important in my jump."
McCoy is the current owner of the school record at 5-5.
"I really want to get 5-6," said McCoy. "The school record is 5-5 and I'd like to beat it and get another personal best."
Dundee-Crown junior Kelsey Seiler is in the state meet for the first time after running an 11:27.8 in the 3,200 at the sectional level.
"This has been my goal I've been working toward all season," said Seiler.
A calmer Seiler has led to improved results this season.
"I've tried to focus before the race this year and not psyche myself out too quickly," said Seiler. "If you psyche yourself out you are pretty much out of it before the race even starts. It's something I've been battling with."
Burlington Central qualified its 3,200 relay team, along with Markelle Turk (3,200) and Vanessa Perez (300 hurdles).
"I actually know how to run the race this year," laughed Perez, who is seeded 13th in her event. "I'm going over the hurdles perfectly without stuttering. I've got everything down this year. Before I would always save myself until the last 100 and then it would cost me. I'd say, 'Oh, I'll catch up at the last 100 and sprint.' You have to have good speed the whole time instead of thinking you can catch people at the end."
Perez, who qualified last year for state in the 100 hurdles, ran 45.9 at the sectional in the 300s this year.
"My goal is to try and make the finals and try to run at least a 44.9," said Perez.
Prairie Ridge's Danielle Lebreck qualified in both the 800 and the 1,600, while Bartlett qualified freshman Alyssa Schneider in the 1,600. Schneider is also part of Bartlett's 3,200 state relay team with senior Sam Bass, sophomore Kristen Schneider (Alyssa's sister) and junior Sam Salinas.