Girls track and field: Lake Zurich dominates Buffalo Grove invite
The 11-team Buffalo Grove girls track and field Invite was a big test for area squads Saturday afternoon under some ideal weather conditions for the outdoor meet.
Lake Zurich rolled to the team title with 140.5 points followed by Evanston (104 points) in second, and Stevenson (78 points) in third. Schaumburg edged Fremd 74.5 to 73 for fourth place while Lake Park (70.5) placed sixth.
The Bears' road to the championship was led by first-place finishers Kendall Flournoy (12.50) in the 100-meter dash, Polina Krupsky (2:18.34) in the 800-meter run, and freshman Arisa Bisofa (41.74 meters) in the discus. The 4x400 team of Flournoy, Krupsky, Celia Blaylock, and Molly Juknelis took first in 4:10.55.
"We lost a very strong state-level class, but we are putting together a team with everybody contributing from top to bottom," said Lake Zurich coach Jeremy Kauffman. "Kendall wants to compete in college, and Arisa broke the school and meet record in the discus today."
Flournoy was happy with her first outdoor meet of the season. "I'm pretty excited, it was a good chance to get out and compete, and it's a pretty good place to start the season," Flournoy said. "It was a PR (in the 100), I think I ran a 12.7 in my sophomore year, and I've pretty much been focusing on the relays since then."
Schaumburg 2024 state qualifier Amy Carhee won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.45 seconds. The Saxons' 4x800 team of Iya Repple, Milana Pisto, Emma Walz, and Emilia Gawior won in 9:51.31. Senior Kaylee Meyer (fourth in state high jump) did not compete for Schaumburg.
"Amy (Carhee) had a fine opener, and especially since she had not run the 300 since her sophomore year," said Schaumburg coach Robin Bingham. "They (4x800 relay) have been looking great, and I was really happy that there were pushed by Fremd in that race."
Stevenson's relays were impressive as the 4x100 team of Deha Krishnan, Ava Wilson, Casie Bjork, and Meg Arne took first in 48.61 seconds. That same foursome won the 4x200 relay in 1:42.82. Wilson took second in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Lake Park's Ruth Dellaria (11:14.69) beat Lake Zurich's Avery Muhr (11:14.70) in a photo finish for first place in the 3,200-meter run. The Lancers also got first-place finishes from Olivia Stranz (1.57 meters) in the high jump, and Julia Kelly (10.77 meters) in the triple jump. Lake Park got second's from Brynn Ellenbecker (1,600), and Klara Volkova (shot put).
"I think this was a good start to our outdoor season, and it's nice to get some wins overall to build confidence," said Lake Park coach Jay Ivory. "We're starting to come together so I feel good about the team and the girls are working hard."
Cary-Grove junior Caelie Mendro (2.92 meters) won the pole vault competition while teammate Olivia Parker edged Carhee for the 300-meter hurdles crown. Wheeling's Katie Moser (5.26 meters) was the long jump champ.
"Parker is the first pole vaulter we've had to commit to pole vault in the off-season and she got two-feet better," said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. "Olivia is a returning state qualifier in both hurdles, and she found a little extra burst of speed in the end."
Fremd's Kate Schillinger took second in the 400-meter run. The Vikings' 4x800 squad of Adeline Dietrich, Isa Hasty, Sia Purohit, and Serena Palmer also took second.
Other second place finishers were Moser (triple jump), Flournoy (long jump), Lake Zurich's Alice Kotelnikova (discus), Stevenson's Sasha Baer (high jump), and Lake Zurich's Hope Rothas (pole vault),