St. Charles East dethrones Waubonsie Valley
St. Charles East junior sprinter Rachel Rawson said there was a common denominator among her teammates this week in preparation for the Upstate Eight Conference indoor track and field championship - the absence of Shakeia Pinnick.
"We have been talking about it all week," Rawson said. "We finally have a chance."
The incomparable Pinnick led Waubonsie Valley to four consecutive indoor league titles during her decorated career, but the Saints were up to the task down the stretch. Danielle Kuzniewski and freshman classmate Brittney Williams swept the penultimate event - the 200 meters - and the Saints' quartet of Heather Mende, Tasushia Mugge, Rawson and Kelsey Gentry officially ended the Warriors' four-year conference reign by capturing the event-ending 1,600-meter relay. The Saints' 28 points over the final two events enabled the squad to deny Waubonsie Valley, 114-95, for top honors Thursday night at St. Charles East.
Neuqua Valley, behind its middle-distance contingent, was well behind for third. Bartlett, behind the brilliant twin victories of distance runner Allysa Schneider, was fourth, followed by Lake Park, St. Charles North, East Aurora, Streamwood, South Elgin and Larkin. Elgin competed but failed to score.
"The double scoring is what solidifies any meet for us," St. Charles East coach Denise Hefferin said.
In the field events, the Saints' returning all-state jumper Maya Rittmanic anchored the squad with her runner-up showings in the long, high and triple jump.
"I think I contributed to the team (more than anything else)," Rittmanic said. "For the horizontal jumps I want to do even better (outdoors)."
Waubonsie Valley, the Class 3A outdoor defending runners-up, were seemingly in cruise control behind its bevy of talented sprinters to set the early tone on the track. Morolake Akinosun bested Gentry at 55 meters; Ayo Adewale did likewise to Neuqua Valley senior Kelly Lonergan in the 55 hurdles. Akinuson and her sister Moriyake teamed with Da'sha Patton and Crystal Butler to turn the 4-lap relay into a Waubonsie Valley block party; the quartet was more than three seconds faster than its counterparts from St. Charles East in winning in 1 minute, 24.51 seconds.
But there was trouble brewing for the Warriors. A series of costly disqualifications turned what might have been a sense of separation into an opportunity for the host Saints. Patton was still fuming with herself after missing out for a potential high place in the 200 meters. The Warriors' senior standout began her evening with victory in the long jump.
"Even though I got first, I was not pleased at all," said Patton. "We had a lot of (disqualifications) that cost us."
Rawson reversed the Warriors' momentum with her 63.31-second showing in taking gold at 400 meters.
"I just got back from being sick with mono," Rawson said. "Usually I'm an 800 runner. I am not up to full par yet. We would love to beat Waubonsie."
The Saints' collective wishes came to fruition as the one-two finish at 200 meters completely altered the outcome.
"I just wanted to do it for the team," said Kuzniewski, a returning outdoor state qualifier in the event.
"(The disqualifications) definitely hurt us, but you still have to show up and perform," first-year Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Gowing said. "That's not an excuse."
Meghan Heuer, a transfer from Geneva, anchored the North Stars' team performance by turning back a late kick from East Aurora returning state-finalist Priscilla Miranda to capture the open 800 in 2:27.9.
"I didn't really know how I was going to do," Heuer said. "You can kind of hear people breathing behind you."
Caitlyn Summers, Megan Taylor, Daylyn Diverney and Stephanie Jackson continued the Neuqua Valley hegemony in the 3,200 relay to pace the Wildcats' third-place team showing. Taylor and Summers were also second and third in the open mile.
The strength of Lake Park is in the field this year as Amanda Rafidia and Sarah Drozdowski paced the Lancers with wins in the high jump and shot put.
"I'm really concentrating on indoor state," said Rafidia, third last year at Charleston. Drozdowski won going away by more than six feet in the shot.
"I am pushing myself a lot harder," Drozdowski said.
Waubonsie Valley junior Brianna Gatto won a tiebreaker to win the pole vault. Schneider was chasing the departed twin excellence of Lizzy Hynes and Lindsay Flanagan.
"They will always be the ones to beat," Schneider said of the graduated top-two 3,200 runners in the state last year from St. Charles East and Lake Park, respectively.
Schneider was in a league on her own at the two longest events, obliterating the field by more than 30 seconds at 3,200 meters; the mile seemed almost pedestrian as she claimed it in 5:13.61 to win by nearly 18 seconds.
"It was the first time that I have doubled in the mile and 2-mile," Schneider said. "I knew I had to go for it."
Julie Cronin also had a pair of third-place finishes for the Hawks.
"Out whole team moved up in general," the junior said. "I think once I get outside I'll have an even better season. I hate indoors."
Megan McGlone edged Rittmanic by half an inch in the triple jump to give Streamwood its lone champion.
Kristell Westbrook paced South Elgin in the 55 hurdles, with Jordan Tuin placing in the 800 as well for the Storm.