Cary-Grove takes its place at the top

Cary-Grove girl's track team had a very successful season last year, including winning the Fox Valley Conference title.

This year the Trojans are looking to build on their success.

Cary-Grove showed plenty of potential on a warm but windy Saturday in winning its second consecutive Buffalo Grove Invitational title with 147 points.

Fremd also showed plenty of potential in taking second with 121 points, followed by Lake Park (94.5), Lake Zurich (92.5), and Neuqua Valley (74 points) in the eight-team field.

The Trojans covered a lot ground in taking four first-place medals, four second-place medals and three third-place medals in a commanding performance.

"It's a great group," said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson, "All the young kids that came out last year weren't satisfied with the success they had - they kept working harder."

And it showed on Saturday. Junior Carly Loeffel took first in the high jump (5-4) and added a first in the 400 (61.3).

Loeffel has shown plenty of potential but her first two years have ended early due to injuries. This year the junior is hoping to stay healthy and make a splash at the state meet.

"It has been so aggravating," said Loeffel of a pair of stress fractures that have cut short her first two seasons. "Today was about making sure everything felt good. Winning was a bonus."

Annie McGarrigle, Kathie Wollney, Jenni Maki, and Sarah Ryan picked up where Loeffel left off by combining to take first in the 400 relay (50.8) and 800 relay (1:49).

Ryan edged Neuqua Valley's Courtney Berry at the finish line in leading the Trojans to first in the 400 relay.

"I just wanted to keep pushing," said Ryan of her final flourish. "If I needed to dive across the finish line, that is what I was going to do."

The Trojans had a bit more cushion in winning the 800 relay as McGarrigle and Wollney set the tone on the first two legs.

"We have great chemistry," McGarrigle said of the four sophomores. "We push each other in practice, so I know we can get better."

Cary-Grove added to its fun with second-place finishes by Megan Cummings in the 3,200 (11:51.9), Kelly McCoy in the 100 high hurdles (15.7), Jessica Warnecke in the 300 low hurdles (48.6), and the 1,600 relay (4:13.8).

"The hallmark of the Cary-Grove team has always been about using our depth in taking second and thirds," said Anderson, "That's what we did today."

Fremd showed a bit of depth too. Junior Kelsey Onesto hit 17-0 in winning and leading the Vikings to a sweep in the long jump, and she took third in the 300 low hurdles (48.7).

"The team has really been working hard and we're all motivated," said Onesto of the Vikings' attack. "We all know what we have to do to make it to state and we're just concentrating on doing it."

Junior Stephanie Resis came on strong in taking first in the 800 (2:24.6), with junior Nickolette McKenzie taking second in the 200 (26.7) and third in the long jump (16-01). E. Fujii added a second in the long jump (16-1.5) and senior Ashley Fullerton took second in the high jump (5-3).

"We lost some key people from last year," said Fremd coach Hali Henderson. "But were coming back and making a good team effort."

Senior Sarah Drozdowski has started the outdoor season with a bang for Lake Park. Last year Drozdowski took eighth in the discus in Class 3A and the Lancers senior was in high gear on Saturday, setting a school record in winning the shot put (41-6) and adding a first in the discus (122-09).

"This year is looking good," added Drozdowski, who finished second at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Meet in the shot put. "I'm very confident and I'm hoping to keep pushing it further."

A pair of freshmen powered Lake Park in the 1,600 as Kaylee Flanagan (5:28.3) and Brianne Murphy (5:29.2) went 1-2. Diane Fru took second in the triple jump (33-8.75) with the 3,200 relay also placed second (10:02.3) in helping power the Lancers.

Lake Zurich may not have Olivia Allen this year, but the cupboard isn't bare for the Bears. Junior Kelly Doheny took first in the 100 (12.6), second in the 400 (62.50), and third in the 200 (26.75) to pace LZ.

Doheny felt a bit of heat in the 100 dash, but the junior was able to close the deal.

"I definitely felt the pressure," said Doheny, "I could see the shadows, but I just threw it into gear and finished hard."

Julia Rossdeutcher added a second in the pole vault (10-0) for Lake Zurich.

Neuqua Valley coach Gretchen Parejko is excited about the potential of the young talent the Wildcats offer, and they showed a glimpse of that on Saturday.

Daylyn Diverny, Gina O'Brien, Stephanie Jackson, and Caitlyn Summers, all sophomores, combined to lead the Wildcats to first in the 3,200 relay (9:55.8).

And Courtney Berry added to the optimism by taking second in the 100 (12.65) and anchoring the Wildcats to a pair of second-place finishes in the 400 relay (50.85) and 800 relay (1:52.2).

"What's great about the young kids is they really don't know how to compete yet," added Parejko, "They're going on guts and heart."

Carmel also made quite an impression. The Corsairs lost sophomore stud Megan Paul to a right hamstring cramp after she had posted the top qualifying time in the 100 (12.1) and 200 (25.0), but that didn't slow their attack.

Senior Shannon Howell stormed to a pair of first place finishes, setting a school record in winning the 100 high hurdles (15.2) and adding a first in the 300 low hurdles (47.6).

The senior then combined with senior Hilary Halford, Katie Housner, and junior Marybeth Berg in taking first in the 1,600 relay (4:13.20).

Last year the Corsairs took third in the 1,600 relay in Class 3A, and when Paul is added to the lineup there is no reason they can't improve their place this year, possibly even taking home the state title.

"We're all just doing what we can do," said Howell, "All of us have potential, so anything is possible."

Stephanie Richartz also has one eye on state for Carmel, and the senior made a statement on Saturday by hitting a school record and taking first in the pole vault (10-10).

"So far I'm proud of my accomplishments and hopefully it will only get better," said Richartz, who advanced to the state finals in the pole vault last season.

Stevenson also made a bit of noise on Saturday as sophomore Christina Pritchett took first in the 200 (26.3) and third in the 100 (12.7).

"I realized with the times I was hitting at the end of last year that if I worked harder I could even go even further this season," said Pritchett.

Mackenzie Levy finished 10th in Class 3A in cross country for the Patriots, and showed plenty of potential on the track by taking first in the 3,200 (11:42) on Saturday.

Rachel Redmond did it for Patriots on the field by capturing second in both the shot put (39-10) and discus (109-9).

Senior Linda Dunne (34-02.75) and Christie Wellbank (33-08.75) went 1-3 in the triple jump to lead host Buffalo Grove.

"Linda is just an athlete," added BG coach Steve Gibble. "It was her first time triple jumping and she did awesome."