Girls track and field: Grayslake Central repeats as NLCC champs

It was a fight to the finish when host Grayslake Central and Lakes battled it out for the Northern Lake County Conference girls track and field championship Thursday night.

In the end, the host Rams pulled away to win their second straight NLCC crown by a 132-116 margin over the runner-up Eagles. Grayslake North (74 points) placed third followed by Antioch (67 points) in fourth, and Wauconda (59 points) in fifth.

Sophomore Safiya Kane took first for the Rams in the 800-meter run (2:19.82), and the 1,600-meter run (5:26.00) while teammate Lauryn Francis (1:01.47) won the 400.

"She (Kane) just keeps getting stronger all season and she p.r.'d tonight," said Grayslake Central coach Colleen Wire. "Lauryn (Francis) made state last year in the 400 and 4x200, and Safiya made it in the 4x800 with Jordan Sutter."

Lakes sophomore Lilly Selvik won the 100-meter hurdles in 17.02 seconds while teammate Cayleigh Mathena won the high jump (1.57 meters) and long jump (5.30 meters). The Eagles also got a first from freshman Bryn Garnier (3.51 meters) in the pole vault.

"She (Garnier) is working to get over 12 feet, and she was close to doing it indoors," said Lakes coach Christine Zucker. "Cayleigh (Mathena) has made the state cut-off in the high jump and now she has to do it next week at sectionals."

Grayslake North's 4x800 team of Julia Flannery, Mia Gumapas, Lucy Roscoe, and Madison Petersen took first place in 10:18.83. Roscoe won the 3,200-meter run (11:43.81) while teammates Caelynn Chapman (36.10 meters in the discus), and Daejonna Collins (10.55 meters in the triple jump) also took first place.

"The girls are progressing nicely, we finally got some decent weather, and we're hoping to take nine to 10 athletes to state," said Grayslake North coach Matt Petersen, whose team will compete at the Class 2A Johnsburg sectional next Wednesday. "I think Madison in the 1,600, Lucy in the 3,200, and Caelynn in the shot put are probably our top three with a shot to medal."

Antioch's Madi Maloney (10.60 meters) was the shot put champ followed by Central's Isabella Bergonio in second and Chapman in third. Grant freshman Aubrey Lehner (48.63 seconds) won the 300-meter hurdles. Wauconda's 4x400 team of Riley Blue, Isabelle Drozd, Erin Espitia, and Crystal Perez won in 4:13.63.

"Madi Maloney was the shot put champion and she is a quarter of a meter from the state cut-off in the shot put," said Antioch coach Dan Oslage, whose team took second in the 4x100 and 4x200. "We're hoping Abby (Abbigail Fuesting) can make state in the 100 and 200, and we hope we can make state in the 4x100 and 4x200."

Round Lake freshman Armani Palmer took second in the 100 hurdles while Grayslake Central freshman Nicole Perry took second in the 300 hurdles. Lakes got seconds from Megan Murray (discus), Mallory Crevier (high jump), and Isabella Aya (pole vault).