Big day all around for Nagle, Glenbard West
When Glenbard West senior Maddie Nagle woke up on Saturday, she knew it would be a memorable day. After all, her girls track team was hosting the strong Sue Pariseau Invitational the first half of the day, then there just so happened to be a prom later that night.
But Nagle and her teammates made sure it was an extra-special day, setting a school and meet record in the 3,200 relay in 9:13.01 and then edging Barrington 80-75 for the overall team title.
“It was awesome. This was a great senior year experience,” said Nagle, who joined Madeline Perez, Emma Reifel and Julia Sakach to beat runner-up York by close to 20 seconds in the 3,200-meter relay.
That victory was just one many Hilltoppers highlights Saturday, including great distance efforts from freshman Lisa Luczak and sophomore Perez, along with critical points in the field events that made the difference in holding off Barrington, third–place York (71) and fourth-place Hinsdale Central (70).
Luczak won the 3,200 in 10:54.33 — teammate Katie Born added fifth-place points — and then followed up with a solid sixth in the 1,600 in 5:10.46. It was that 1,600 event that produced one of the best races of the day as Perez led most of the way for Glenbard West before Hinsdale Central standout Jill Hardies burst into overdrive to take the lead over the final 300 meters and win in 5:01.69. Perez took second at 5:04.01 and Naperville North’s Rachel Weathered and Maria McDaniel were third and fourth, respectively.
“Oh my gosh, you don’t get much better than this,” Huskies coach Joanna Wilson said of the meet’s competition. “But two of our milers, Rachel (Weathered) and Maria (McDaniel) were awesome, and Alexis (Hyshaw) ran real well in the 200.”
Hilltoppers coach Kelly Haas was thrilled to see her team put together its best meet of the year so far.
“Graduation (last year) shut a few doors on us and we had a lot to replace,” she said. “Our goal was to open a few windows, and I thought we did that today. We’ve been waiting a long time for a collective team effort and today we got it.”
Freshman Emma Gambol had a big day for the hosts, taking third in the 100, fifth in the high jump, third in the 800 relay, and she closed out the meet as part of the Hilltoppers 1,600 relay that turned in a 4:09.42 that was second only to Barrington’s 4:06.58. Nagle, Reifel and Mary Nevins also ran for Glenbard West on that 1,600 relay.
Samantha Babiuk had a nice day for the Fillies, taking second in the 400, third in the pole vault and running on the winning 1,600 relay along with Caroline Carley, Stephanie Bergren and Melissa Madden. Madden, meanwhile, won the 300 hurdles and was third in the 100 hurdles.
“It’s such a competitive meet,” Barrington coach Jody Gitelis said. “We’re pleasantly surprised how we did. I think it’s up to the kids to dig a little deeper and find out where those five points could have come from that would have placed us in first instead of second. But it’s there. I’m really pleased with the kids. We’re working hard.”
Naperville North, fifth in the team standings with 61 points, picked up a second in the 100 when Hyshaw ran a 25.47, and Hope Turner’s height of 10-6 in the pole vault also was good for second. Thrower Morganne Freeman was third in the shot and fourth in the discus for the Huskies.
“We definitely are making progress and strides in the right direction,” Wilson said. “We’ve got some young ones that are doing well and we’ve got some seniors like Rachel Weathered, who is an amazing leader. So that’s great to have both.”
Willowbrook placed sixth in the team standings after a great day from sprinter Cherise Porter, who won the 100 and the 200 and also helped the Warriors finish second to Whitney Young in both the 400 and 800 relays.