Hard work’s paying off at Hoffman Estates

There seems to be a different buzz in the air these days for the Hoffman Estates girls track and field team, and why not?

After years of mediocrity, the Hawks have thrust themselves into the mix as a legitimate state trophy contender.

Hoffman Estates won its first Mid-Suburban West title last year, followed it up with its second consecutive second-place finish in the MSL meet to perennial power Palatine, and kept its momentum going by winning its second straight sectional title.

The arrows are definitely pointing up for the Hoffman program, and with the return of three state medalists the Hawks are looking to raise the bar again this season.

Senior Precious Ogunleye and juniors Emily D’Amico and Haley Goers are primed to keep the Hawks rising.

And coach Dan Andersen, who is entering his sixth season of directing the resurgent Hawks program, has no reason to believe there will be a letdown.

In 2006, Andersen’s first year, Hoffman finished ninth in the MSL with 28 points, with the Hawks qualifying three individuals to the state meet.

Last year Hoffman scored its highest point total (124.5 points) in securing second place in the league meet. Then the Hawks qualified six individuals for state in nine events, along with entrants in the 400, 800, and 3,200 relay.

Hoffman Estates capped its year with Ogunleye taking second place at state in the shot put, D’Amico adding a seventh-place state finish in the 100 and Goers gaining a fifth-place medal in the 1,600.

Now the Hawks want more.

“I tell the kids all the time we’re winners,” said Andersen. “We win, and that is what we do. You have to have that mentality. We work all year for conference, sectionals, and state. Anything else in between doesn’t matter.”

Ogunleye has won two state medals in the shot put. She took first in both the shot put and discus at the MSL meet last season and also holds the school record for the shot put (45-4) and discus (142-0).

The Central Florida-bound senior is ready to close her high school career with a bang.

“I’m feeling really positive about this season,” said Ogunleye. “This could be the best team that we ever had. It would be great to be part of it and making history.”

Ogunleye also is eyeing a medal in the discus. Last season she entered the state meet with second-best qualifying mark but missed qualifying to Saturday’s finals.

The senior is off to a good start this season. She took second in the shot put to defending state champion Emmonnie Henderson of Edwardsville at the Illinois Prep Top Times Meet.

“She is probably one of the most talented throwers I’ve coached,” said Hoffman Estates throwing coach Keith Peak, who was the head coach from 1989-2003 and has coached four individuals to a total of seven state throwing medals. “She is so consistent in the shot put, and someone is going to have to throw a really good one to beat her.”

D’Amico’s forte is speed. The junior has won two state medals, including helping the Hawks to a ninth-place finish in 2009 in the 400 relay. She also is the MSL’s two-time defending champion in the 100 dash and the defending champion in the 200 dash.

“Coming in freshman year it was like ‘What is state?’” she said. “It really wasn’t that familiar.”

D’Amico is much more polished now. She holds the school record in the 100 (11.8) and 200 (25.6), and was a member on the school-record 400 relay team (48.3).

“Now it is expected,” D’Amico said of the program’s anticipation of success in the championship meets. “Everything we do is geared for May.”

The junior is returning from a back injury but flashed her speed at the IPTT meet by taking sixth in the 55 dash (7.1) and 200 (26.2).

“Emily is my first true 100-meter sprinter that I’ve coached,” said Andersen. “There are not many girls that are true 100-meter sprinters, but that is what Emily is.”

Goers, meanwhile, adds the grit. The junior has won three state medals combined in cross country and track, including finishing 23rd (2009) and 13th (2010) at the Class 3A state cross country meet.

“We all have a lot more to learn, but we are doing well,” said Goers of the Hawks’ progress. “I’m pretty sure if everyone has their race, we are capable of big things.”

Goers also came up big last Saturday at the Top Times meet, taking fifth in a loaded field in the 1,600 (5:06.90).

“This fall she took a whole other step up,” said Hoffman distance and cross country coach Kirk Macnider, who led the Hawks to the MSL cross country title in 2007 and has had four state medalists in cross country. “Now we’re working on things that a year ago weren’t even possible. We’re still learning. To me, I feel like she is just getting started.”

And the fun is just starting for a Hoffman Estates program that had never won a sectional title until 2009 and was a consistent middle-of-the-pack finisher in the MSL.

In 2006 only 40 girls came out for track. More recently, the Hawks are consistently pulling in 75-80 athletes.

Ogunleye added to the Hoffman Estates program by starting a big sister/little sister program to help transition the younger athletes. And Kristen Houle has fortified a talented coaching staff by assisting with the sprinters and jumpers.

But the biggest thing that has changed for Hoffman Estates has been its expectations.

“We’re starting to fill the gaps,” said D’Amico, “My freshman year we were just starting to build the program. Now it’s completely different. We’re close as a team and we work well together.”

And each of the Hawks understands their roles.

“It is my duty to do well,” interjected Ogunleye, “I don’t want to let the team or Andersen down, so I strive to do the best every meet.”

“Little things used to scare me,” said Goers. “But I’ve made it a lot farther than that, now it’s really more exciting than anything.”

The sun was shining brightly on cold late March afternoon while the Hawks prepared for the upcoming season. But Andersen didn’t blink when asked the direction of the program.

“I won’t be satisfied until we win the state championship — that’s my dream,” said Andersen, “I want kids that want to work and contribute. The only way you’re going to get better is to run harder, and lift harder. It’s not for everybody, but I feel the team is starting to get that.”

And the Hawks’ eyes are wide open for a season that offers so many possibilities.