Girls track sectional previews
At Palatine
When: Today; field events and running preliminaries at 4:30 p.m.
Team competition: Host Palatine will be joined by fellow Mid-Suburban League teams Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Fremd, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling. St. Viator will also be in the 21 team field. Palatine will be seeking its sixth consecutive sectional title.
Individuals: Jocelyn Kuksa will lead Palatine. Last week at the MSL meet the senior set a school record in winning the pole vault (11-9), she also took first in the 100 high hurdles ands second in the 300 low hurdles. Lauren Orris (139-02) and Katie MacFabe (133-09) look solid for the Pirates in the discus, and MacFabe (40-11) and Martha Shepard (41-06.5) will be tough in the shot put. Colleen Standridge, Tory Wright and Ruth Allen will also fill big roles for the Pirates in the distance events and relays. Prospect's Lucy Taylor, Claire Hollis, Emily Salzman, and Amy Abdnor will play an important role for the Knights in the 3,200 and 1,600 relays. Junior Emily Gruendel has hit qualifying marks in the shot put for the Knights. Hersey's Freshman Tia Roberson(12.0) took second in the 100 dash at the MSL meet and junior Megan Gojney (11:28.7) took third in the 3,200. The Huskies' 400 relay is also approaching state qualifying times. Wheeling's Amber Stack has hit qualifying marks in the 1,600 (5:05.1) and 3,200 (10:53.38), and the Wildcats' 400 relay is also looking impressive. Fremd's Elizabeth Mellado has cleared 10-0 in the pole vault and Ashley Fullerton has hit 5-3 in the high jump for the Vikings. Rolling Meadow's Mandy Streu has hit qualifying marks in the shot put and discus for the Mustangs. Buffalo Grove's Erin McGrath is a threat in the 800 and will lead the Bison. St. Viator's Kelly Hendricks will lead the Lions in the 100 dash and 200 dash.
At St. Charles North
When: Today field events prelims at 4 p.m. and running event prelims at 5 p.m.
Team competition: Defending state champion Barrington will be seeking its third consecutive sectional title. Conant, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg will also be in the 19-team field.
Individuals: Molly Glantz (hurdles, mid-distance) and Samantha Learch (sprints, mid-distance) have powered Barrington this season, Rebecca Tracy looks strong in the 1,600 and Anne Etherington set a school record in the pole vault this season. The Fillies once again should be strong in the relays, especially the 3,200 and 1,600. Toni Graham is a threat for Conant in the 100 dash and 200 dash. The senior will team up with Brianna Millar, Emily Quinones, and Destiny Arps in the 400 relay and 800 relay. Altrese Hawkins (long jump), Ashley Chervinko (throws), and Victoria Mikszta (high jump) have hit qualifying marks for Hoffman Estates in the field events, and Hannah Worman is another threat for the Hawks in the 1,600. Schaumburg 1,600 relay has been strong and freshman Britten Petrey and Karen Lesiewicz have pace the Saxons in the distance events.
At York
When: Today; field event preliminaries begin at 4:30, with running prelims beginning at 6 p.m.
Team competition: Leyden, Elk Grove, and Maine West will compete in the 20-team sectional.
Individuals: Senior Bridget Sanchez has paced Leyden this season and will be key member of the Eagles sprint relays, Jaime Johnson will also be looking for a state berth in the 1,600 and 3,200. Elk Grove's Gina Erbacci will pace the Grenadiers in the 3,200.
What they're saying:
"I think we've been impressing ourselves with some of our relay times." - Conant sprinter Toni Graham
"The beginning of the year my strides were real long, but now I'm starting to pick up the technique and I'm getting more confident." --Palatine hurdler and pole vaulter Jocelyn Kuksa
"Finally I figured out things I didn't know from past years, different techniques that should get me a bit higher." -- Hoffman Estates high jumper Victoria Mikszta
"This team has been so much fun to be around, it's going to be an exciting two weeks." --Barrington's Molly Glantz