Cary-Grove making its mark at state
CHARLESTON — Cary-Grove seniors have been waiting to make a mark at the Class 3A state girls track meet, and the wait paid off for the Trojans on Friday at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.
Last year the Cary-Grove 800 relay was off mark in qualifying for Saturday’s finals, but seniors Annie McGarrigle, Kathie Wollney, Jenni Maki, and Sarah Ryan delivered on Friday.
The Trojans ran an impressive 1:41.09 to advance to Saturday’s finals, but it almost didn’t happen.
“We entered this season saying we weren’t going to run that (800) relay,” said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. “But we ran a pretty good mark indoors, so we decided to get the band back together.”
And the Trojan band was hitting on all the high notes on Friday.
Also hitting some pretty high notes was Jacobs senior Allie Virgilio, who qualified for Saturday’s finals with the third best mark in the triple jump (38 feet, 9 inches).
Huntley junior Anthonia Moore joined the fun by qualifying in the 400 (56.57).
The IHSA state finals will begin today with field events at 10 a.m., with finals on the track beginning at 11 a.m.
Carbondale leads the Class 2A pack advancing 5 individuals and 2 relays, while Belleville West is the front-runner in Class 3A advancing 6 individuals and 3 relays. Edwardsville and Evanston are in hot pursuit of Belleville West.
Cary-Grove finished second in its heat to Rock Island (1:41.03), as Ryan ran a blazing anchor leg and was nipped at the finish line.
“We wanted to make a name for ourselves,” said Ryan of the Trojans’ run. “I just wanted to drive through with everything I had. First would have been awesome, but second is not bad, we’re in the finals.”
And that is something the Trojan seniors have been aiming for since they entered as freshmen.
Wollney then came back to qualify for Cary-Grove in the 300 low hurdles (44.6) with the sixth best qualifying mark.
“Our coaches told us not to be in awe of anybody but ourselves,” said Wollney of the Trojans’ performance. “We’ve worked very hard this season, and making to finals shows that it is paying off.
Virgilio had a long wait until her flight of the triple jump, but with the track events completed the Jacobs senior made her mark.
Virgilio hit her mark (38-9) on the first attempt securing a trip to Saturday’s finals. Last year she finished third in Class 3A.
“It feels all right, but I still think I can improve,” said Virgilio, who hit her career best mark 39-1.25 at last week’s sectionals. “If I can hit it on the board on Saturday I’m feeling pretty confident.”
Huntley junior Anthonia Moore was looking for a bit of redemption on Friday. Last year Moore just missed qualifying in the 400 by .02 seconds
This year Moore made good cruising to the finals in the 400 in swift 56.57.
“Ever since last year that was my goal to make it to finals this year,” said Moore. “Last year I was just happy to qualify for state, this year my goal was to get to finals.”
Junior Omo Tseumah also qualified for Huntley in the high jump (5-3).
Senior Lexi Dahl qualified for Crystal Lake South in the pole vault (11-3).
In Class 2A Burlington Central’s Kayla Wolf advanced to Saturday’s finals in the 800 (2:15.62) and junior Autumn Conn advanced in the pole vault (10-9).
Hampshire junior Ashley Fouch advanced to the finals with the seventh best qualifying mark in the 200 (25.79).