Scouting DuPage County girls track and field
Addison Trail
Coach: Dave Pytko (second year)
Last year: Seventh in West Suburban Gold; tied for 15th in Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Jazmine Acosta, jr., sprints, hurdles; Jamie Borsha fr., sprints; Cathy Chavez, soph., distance; Zoe Dianandopoulos, soph., hurdles; Jenny Farius, sr., distance; Kishara Ferguson, jr., sprints; Kayla Foster, sr., sprints, throws; Chandlyr Kulpa, soph., sprints, hurdles, triple jump; Janely Sanchez, fr., sprints; Kaleen Smith, fr., sprints; Melissa Zygowicz, fr., sprints, high jump.
Outlook: Acosta and Ferguson are the team leaders for the Blazers. “I have coached them since (they were in) sixth grade,” Pytko said. “They are the type of athlete that you want. They will help make the team better all around.” Addison Trail has had a lone state qualifier in the last decade. “We want to get the program back to where Addison Trail hasn’t been in a long time in girls track,” Pytko said. Borsha headlines the newcomers.
Benet
Coach: Scott Brooks (17th year).
Last year: East Suburban Catholic Conference champion; Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South champion; 10th at state meet.
Top athletes: Tahler Bandarra, sr., throws; Audrey Blazek, soph., distance; Darcy Cadman, jr., high jump; Chiarra Calicdan, sr., sprints; Haley Channell, soph., sprints; Maddie Girard, jr., sprints; Kaileen Healy, sr., middle distance; Nini Marchese, jr., middle distance; Jenna Muftin, fr., sprints; Loren Riedy, fr., sprints; Anna Tessiatore, sr., pole vault; Anne Yahiro, jr., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: The Redwings had a monster year in 2010, claiming the second sectional crown in program history while extending the consecutive conference championships to four. Even with significant graduation losses, Benet figures to be a team to reckon with this spring. “We have some very good top-end athletes,” Brooks said. The area is loaded with quality triple jumpers, and Yahiro should contend for a medal. Tessiatore is another returning state qualifier in the pole vault. The Redwings’ long sprinters and middle distance crew also stand out.
Downers Grove North
Coach: Tim McDonald (sixth season, 13th overall).
Last year: Fifth in West Suburban Silver; third in Class 3A Downers Grove North sectional.
Top athletes: Gaby Effrein, sr., distance; Sami Fry, sr., distance; Kilani Gaston, sr., sprints; Gabbie Hesslau, sr., distance; Tess Johnson, jr., jumps; Jillian Kothanek, soph., distance; Allison Proffitt, sr., distance; Rebecca Ridderhoff, soph., sprints; Nicole Sebo, sr., sprints; Stephanie Urbancik, fr., distance.
Outlook: The Trojans cover the dozen track events extremely well behind returning state qualifier Gaston in the sprints and a plethora of middle distance and distance standouts, headed by Fry. “We have a nice team,” McDonald said. “As we go along, we’re going to have some events that are very good.” Johnson anchors the Trojans’ field events. The Trojans should be particular dangerous at 800 meters and the 3,200 relay behind Effrein and Hesslau.
Downers Grove South
Coach: Katerina Claiborne (fourth year, ninth overall).
Last year: West Suburban Gold champion; fourth in Class 3A Downers Grove North sectional.
Top athletes: Samantha Baeten, soph., sprints; Jada Franklin, soph., sprints, triple jump; Tori Franklin, sr., sprints, jumps; Melissa Radek, sr., sprints, jumps; Kathleen Riordan, sr., high jump; Amy Rotuno, soph., distance; Rebecca Stearns, sr., sprints, high jump; Kate Strelau, sr., distance; Jacquelyn Thate, sr., distance; Raven Wilson, sr., sprints, hurdles.
Outlook: The Mustangs are overwhelming favorites to win their eighth consecutive conference championship. Tori Franklin, the defending state champion in the triple jump, is among the most versatile athletes in the state. The Michigan State-bound star “could score as many as 36 points at the state meet,” predicted Hinsdale South coach Dave Guritz. “We’re keeping our eyes on the state meet in May,” Claiborne said. “(The girls are) really state-oriented this year.” Radek is a top contender in the 300 hurdles.
Fenton
Coach: Frank Kedstadt (fourth year).
Last year: Fourth in Metro Suburban Conference; eighth in Class 2A Glenbard South sectional.
Top athletes: Ariel Beck, soph., sprints; Ashley Dawson, jr., throws; Ashley Falco, sr., sprints; Kayla Kottra, fr., sprints, jumps; Taylor Patton, fr., sprints, high jump, pole vault; Clare Santos-Gacal, soph., hurdles, high jump; Sheridan Witt, fr., sprints, pole vault; Allison Wright, sr., sprints.
Outlook: Kedstadt is itching to get the outdoor campaign unleashed. “This is shaping up to be the most enjoyable season in my seven years of coaching track and field,” Kedstadt said. Schaub is a viable threat for all-state status in the high jump. “We’re starting to build a tradition in high jump,” Kekstadt said. Falco has designs to make the state cut in the open 400. Kottra and Witt should have an immediate impact for the Bison sprint-relay quartets. Kekstadt hopes to be more competitive with Glenbard South at outdoor conference meet.
Glenbard East
Coach: Joe Latala (third year).
Last year: Third in the DuPage Valley Conference; seventh at the Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Maggie Angst, jr., distance; Stephany Flores, fr., sprints; Val Gonzalo, sr., jumps, pole vault; Kelly Kevil, soph., middle distance; Kelsey Kovach, jr., pole vault; Nia Joiner, jr., sprints, jumps; Sarah Murphy, sr., throws; Bridget Peters, sr., sprints; Lindsay Rakosnik, jr,, sprints, middle distance, distance; Maddie Smith, fr., high jump.
Outlook: Rakosnik is the face of the program. The Rams’ junior sensation made a critical decision after placing runner-up at 400 meters last spring. “(Rakosnik) really believes her best chance at the next level will be in the half and the mile,” Latala said. Rakosnik has made the transition seamlessly, dominating the field at 800 meters to win the Prep Top Times indoor championship. Eight-hundred meters has become the domain for local athletes: four different athletes have won the large-school prize eight times since 2001. Joiner is a threat at long jump; Smith is an impact freshman in the high.
Glenbard North
Coach: Gary Heilers
Last year: Fourth in the DuPage Valley Conference; fourth at the Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Simone Carr, fr., sprints, middle distance, long jump; Amanda Hilliard, sr., throws; Kailey James, soph., sprints, jumps; Carson Jones, sr., sprints, middle distance; Christina Rini, sr., hurdles, jumps.
Outlook: The Panthers have their sights on a solid season behind their balanced cadre of state veterans James, Jones and Rini. “We’re getting better every week,” Heilers said. “Our strength is in the field events.” Hilliard putted the shot nearly 42 feet to place third at Prep Top Times, and Rini is yet another triple jumper to watch. The senior is also among the top 100 hurdlers in the state. “If we can get better on the track, we should be competitive,” Heilers said. Carr is among the top freshmen newcomers in the area.
Glenbard South
Coach: Mark Tacchi (22nd year).
Last year: Fourth in the Western Sun Conference; Class 2A Glenbard South champion.
Top athletes: Talia Benward, jr., pole vault; Shannon Cadagin, soph., distance; Ashley Ellis, sr., sprints; Sarah Englehardt, sr., sprints; Sam Howard, soph., throws; Melissa Nelson, jr., hurdles, pole vault; Mary Kate Sippel, jr., jumps, pole vault; Quirstin Snow, sr., sprints.
Outlook: Glenbard South dominated its new rivals in the Metro Suburban in claiming the indoor conference by more than 100 points. Ellis and Englehardt are returning members of the Raiders’ all-state 1,600 relay. “We’re better in the distance than we have been and we’re stronger in the field events,” Tacchi said. Benward is one to watch in the pole vault. Glenbard South is hosting the sectional again this year in its bid to defend its team title. “We’re going to need some young kids stepping in (to repeat),” Tacchi said.
Glenbard West
Coach: Kelly Hass (eighth year).
Last year: Tied York for second in West Suburban Silver; third in Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Kinn Badger, jr., sprints; Bridget Flanagan, sr., sprints; Caroline Maloney, jr., sprints; Cynthia Mote, soph., hurdles, middle distance; Maddie Nagle, jr., distance; Madeline Perez, fr., distance; Kathryn Pickett, sr., hurdles, jumps; Emma Reifel, soph., sprints, middle distance.
Outlook: The Hilltoppers’ expectations were dramatically expanded by the indoor season. “We’re coming off our first indoor conference championship in school history,” Hass said. Pickett, Badger and Flanagan had monster performances in the state series last season. “This is a very balanced attack we have. Our biggest goal is to stay healthy,” Hass said. Nagle figures to be prominently featured in the distance-rich West Suburban Silver. “They have no weaknesses,” Benet coach Scott Brooks said after observing the Hilltoppers at indoor state.
Hinsdale Central
Coach: Pat Richards (22nd year)
Last year: West Suburban Silver champion; Class 3A Downers Grove North champion; state champion.
Top athletes: Paris Bates, sr., sprints, hurdles, triple jump; Marissa Bronowicki, jr., sprints; Laura Culler, soph., sprints, long jump; Jill Hardies, soph., distance; Rita Kuckertz, sr., distance; Becca Marcotti, fr., distance; Lauren Paul, jr., sprints; Kayla Schwarz, sr., sprints; Leah Tarabour, sr., pole vault; Kelsey Truedson, sr., pole vault.
Outlook: Hinsdale Central captured its first state title in program history last year behind its explosive sprint relays. The Red Devils were decimated by graduation losses, but there is still plenty of talent in the cupboard. Hardies is a legitimate state champion threat at 3,200 meters after her at Prep Top Times. DePaul-bound Schwarz anchors the Red Devils’ always dangerous sprinters. “We’ll see if the Red Devils can step up to the plate,” Richards said. “We’re going to obviously keep developing our kids. That’s our job as coaches.” Bates and Tarabour are the Red Devils’ other returning individual state qualifiers.
Hinsdale South
Coach: Matt Guritz (second year)
Last season: Third in West Suburban Gold; seventh in Class 3A Downers Grove North sectional.
Top athletes: Emelyn Barrientos, jr., sprints, long jump; Olivia Blumenstein, fr., sprints, jumps; Meagan Desalvo, sr., distance; Jessica Hawken, fr., high jump, pole vault; Uzo Okoro, jr., sprints, jumps; Maya Rodrigues, jr., sprints; Megan Rossio, sr., throws; Rachel Steinhaus, soph., hurdles; Allie Thiel, jr., distance; Sarah Warren, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Okoro, sixth in the triple jump last year, is the Hornets’ unquestioned leader. Guritz hopes to develop better relays while expanding the Hornets’ depth. “Our No. 1 goal is to qualify at least one relay (for state) with the individuals,” Guritz said. “We had a good indoor season.” Desalvo is one to watch in distance events. Guritz also said that competing with Downers South at conference is unlikely. “We’re not quite there yet with Downers Grove South,” Guritz said.
Immaculate Conception
Coach: Bob Cronin (eighth year)
Last year: Tied for 10th in Suburban Christian Conference; participated at Class 1A Lisle sectional.
Top athletes: Michelle Erpelo, sr., sprints; Alexis Heit, soph., sprints, jumps; Rachel Hill, fr., sprints; Cara Horan, fr., sprints, jumps; Ashia Johnson, sr., throws; Marissa Mesnard, soph., sprints; Demetra Spell, fr., sprints; Stephanie Stahl, jr., sprints, hurdles; Katie Steifbold, sr., distance.
Outlook: Cronin has been successful in his drive to encourage more athletes at Immaculate Conception to come out for track and field. After falling to as few as six team members in the last six years, the number has quintupled. “We’re thrilled to have greater participation,” Cronin said. “We’ll be competitive in many of the events.” Cronin is particularly excited about an influx of youthful sprinters. Stahl is the best all-around athlete in the program. “Stephanie Stahl is definitely our best bet for producing an athlete in the state meet,” Cronin said.
Lake Park
Coach: Brian Hesik (eighth year)
Last season: Fourth in the Upstate Eight Conference; sixth at the Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Shayna Clark, jr., throws; Kaylind Cook, sr., sprints; Meghan Duggan, jr., middle distance; Kaylee Flanagan, soph., distance; Tyshai Freeman, soph., jumps; Maya Golliday, soph., pole vault; Elise Gross, sr., jumps; Sam Montalbano, soph., middle distance; Brianne Murphy, soph., distance; Sarah Nickison, soph., jumps; Monica Smith, jr., throws; Jessi Thorne, sr., sprints, hurdles.
Outlook: The two middle classes will constitute the Lancers’ core scorers this spring. “Our sophomores and juniors are going to be our top athletes,” Hesik said. Flanagan is the best of the Lancers’ underclassmen. The sophomore is among the top 3,200 runners in the state after bettering 10:50 at Prep Top Times to finish second. “Kaylee is in a class by herself,” Hesik said. Freeman, meanwhile, opens the outdoor season after sweeping the long jump and high jump at indoor conference. The area has been historically rich at 800 meters, and Lake Park has designs behind Murphy individually and the 3,200 relay as a whole. “(The 3,200 relay) has become very difficult to qualify in and get into the (state) finals,” Hesik said.
Lisle
Coach: Myanna Thompson (first year).
Last year: eighth in Interstate Eight Conference; ninth at Class 1A Lisle sectional.
Top athletes: Jessica Abenante, middle distance; Vanessa Del Real, middle distance; Morgan Fairley, sprints; Hannah Groce, middle distance; Amanda Hagen, middle distance; Kaelin Laue, sprints; Darian Payne, middle distance; Caroline Smith sprint, hurdles; Kelsey Wilhelm, sprints, long jump; Michaela Wright, sprints, long jump; Dawn Yackley, distance.
Outlook: Wilhelm and Wright, who were members of the Lions’ last state-placing unit, the 800 relay two years ago as sophomores, are the mainstays at Lisle this spring. The duo led the Lions’ performance at indoor conference with a third- and a fourth-place finish in the 55 dash. “This is the start to a promising season,” wrote Thompson, who was unavailable for comment, on the Lions’ athletic website. Lisle has a deep core of middle distance runners, and Smith is one of their most versatile performers in the sprints and hurdles.
Metea Valley
Coach: Jim Braun (second year, ninth overall).
Last season: Did not compete as varsity in Upstate Eight Conference; 14th place at Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional.
Top athletes: Crystal Butler, jr., sprints; Kendall Cast, fr., distance; Emily Cowan, fr., sprints; Jasmine Cowan, soph., throws; Jasmine Davis, fr., throws; Amy Nealon, soph., middle distance; Rachel Harris, fr., sprints; Amira Turner, jr., sprints, jumps; Andre’az Williams, jr., sprints.
Outlook: Even without any seniors, the Mustangs are not bereft of talent and potential. The quartet of Harris, Williams, Emily Cowan and Waubonsie Valley transfer Butler stunned the field at the Upstate Eight indoor championship in qualifying for Prep Top Times. “It’s nice to have Crystal back,” said Braun, who coached Butler her freshman year at Waubonsie. Braun concentrates much of his coaching time with the throwers, and the veteran coach is excited by Jasmine Cowan and Davis. “They both have an outside chance of getting downstate,” Braun said. “To add three feet (to their indoor throws in the shot put) isn’t impossible.”
Montini
Coach: Pete Connelly (third year)
Last year: Third in the Suburban Christian Conference; fifth at the Class 2A Glenbard South sectional.
Top athletes: Clare Biederman, jr., throws; Bridget Bodee, soph., sprints, high jump; Hannah Borris, jr., hurdles, pole vault; Tiana Brown, jr., throws; Theresa Connelly, soph., hurdles, middle distance, triple jump; Brittany Fisher, fr., distance; Ericka Laviste, jr., distance; Bianca Maduko, jr., throws.
Outlook: It has been some time since the Broncos have had an athlete as versatile and talented as Connelly, the daughter of the head coach. Laviste joins the 800-meter medalist as a returning state qualifier. “We have a large number of girls who are capable of going downstate,” said coach Connelly. “If we had a little more (team) speed — which we are in the process of developing — we would be very strong. At certain events we have very, very good athletes.”
Naperville Central
Coach: Mike Stine (17th year).
Last year: Fourth in the DuPage Valley Conference; fourth at the Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional.
Top athletes: Liz Chrissy, sr., jumps; Alex Cushing, sr., middle distance; Emily Dierking, sr., jumps; Amanda Fox, jr., distance; Kailey Mikulec, jr., middle distance; Tina Norris, soph., throws; Eileen Porter, jr., middle distance; Hannah Wood, sr., middle distance.
Outlook: Diminutive in size, Fox has had the heart of a lion during her cross country and track career at Naperville Central. The junior will be seeking a third straight trip to state in the 3,200 meters. Norris was one of the better surprises for the Redhawks last year, qualifying for state in the shot put as a freshman. Chrissy was threatening the high jump standard during the indoor season. The Redhawks also return yet another 3,200 relay from a year ago.
Naperville North
Coach: Chuck Hoff (eighth).
Last year: Eighth in DuPage Valley Conference; 12th at Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional.
Top athletes: Bukky Adesanya, sr., high jump; Lexley Adesanya, soph., sprints; Ellie Gschwendtner, soph., middle distance; Mel Heggmer, jr., sprints; Anne Herber, sr., middle distance; Alexis Hyshaw, fr., sprints; Stephanie Mueller, fr., jumps, pole vault; Addie Muleya, sr., long jump; Rachel Weathered, jr., distance; Abby Witmer, sr., sprints.
Outlook: Naperville North looks to rebound after an uncharacteristic last-place conference finish last spring. “This is second year in a row where we have 120-plus kids out for track,” Hoff said. Wittmer returns after qualifying in the open 400, and the Huskies’ 800 runners always seem to deliver. Naperville North has two impact freshmen in Mueller and Hyshaw. The former won the indoor high jump championship, and the latter, currently injured, was eye-popping speed at 100 and 200 meters. “We think we’re going to end the season very, very well,” Hoff said. “We hope to qualify a couple of relays and, maybe, four or five individuals.”
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Gretchen Parejko (ninth year).
Last year: Fifth in the Upstate Eight Conference; 10th at the Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional.
Top athletes: Courtney Berry, sr., sprints; Savannah Carson, soph., sprints; Eleanor Ervins, soph., jumps; Stephanie Jackson, jr., sprints, hurdles, middle distance; Linda Jiang, soph., jumps; Kate Kondry, jr., jumps; Jasmine Maclin, jr., throws; Seleste Mosley, soph., sprints, jumps; Aman Rehal, sr., middle distance; Alex Rozgony, jr., sprints; Alyssa Weber, sprints, middle distance.
Outlook: Neuqua Valley has arguably the top newcomer in the area this spring when Berry elected to join the track team after playing soccer as a freshman. The sophomore made a splash at Prep Top Times last weekend with her third-place finish at 55 meters. “I am very excited about the season,” Parejko said. After its poorest conference finish in years last season, the Wildcats will rebuild around long sprinters Jackson and Weber. “They’re really coming together as a team,” Parejko said.
St. Francis
Coach: Scott Nelson (23rd year).
Last year: Second in the Suburban Christian Conference; second at the Class 2A Glenbard South sectional.
Top athletes: Katie Garcia, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Anne Kolker, jr., middle distance; Kelly McShea, sr., middle distance, distance; Joelle Nelson, sr., distance; Alyssa Robinson, sr., middle distance; Anna Spatz, jr., pole vault.
Outlook: McShea is the unquestioned star for St. Francis’ program. “She is healthy and training well,” Nelson said of his all-state returnee. Robinson is another ace runner for the Spartans, who will rely on Garcia to score in the high jump, triple jump and hurdles. “We have kids who could have a great season, but right now it’s too early to tell. I think we have a shot at getting some kids into the state finals.” St. Francis’ 3,200 relay cannot be discounted.
Timothy Christian
Coach: Kevin Hackert (15th year).
Last year: Third in the Metro Suburban Conference; second at the Class 1A Lisle sectional.
Top athletes: Brittany Alston, sr., sprints; Kate Ardinger, sr., middle distance, distance; Ashley Barak, sr., throws; Kelah Freeman, jr., sprints; Jordan Platt, sr., middle distance; Julie Schram, sr., middle distance.
Outlook: Timothy has an unrivaled tradition in small-school girls track and field in the area, and Hackert has many state-seasoned seniors to lead the way this year. Alston returns to not only seek a consecutive berth at 100 meters but also power the Trojans’ sprint relays. “We’re going to be better than last (year),” Hackert said. Ardinger plays the Alston role at the other end of the running spectrum. The senior made the state field in the 1,600 and leads the Trojans’ 3,200 relay qualifiers. The squad will seek to reduce its deficit at the hands of first-year member Glenbard South in the outdoor league championship.
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Dave Gowing (second year).
Last year: Second in the Upstate Eight Conference; third at Class 3A Plainfield Central sectional; eighth at state meet.
Top athletes: Chantise Adams, soph., jumps; Ayo Adewole, sr., sprints, hurdles; Morolake Akinosun, jr., sprints; Ashley Bruner, soph., middle distance; Kristina Chapman, soph., distance; Aja Devaney, jr., sprints; Tina Marie Frantation, soph., sprints; Brianna Gatto, sr., pole vault; Chloe Gines-Hamilton, sr., throws; Heather Julifs, sr., sprints, hurdles; Nia Williams, sr., jumps.
Outlook: Akinosun sent shock waves throughout sprinting circles with her fifth-in-the-nation indoor 55-meter time of 6.9 seconds in defeating reigning outdoor 100 champion Aayilah Brown over the weekend in Bloomington. “She is very special,” Gowing said of his two-time sprint medalist from a year ago. “She hates to lose. She is another coach for us.” Waubonsie Valley, with back-to-back top-eight finishes at state, has another chance for elite status with Akinosun, hurdles ace Adewole and rising star Bruner at 800 meters. “Get yourself to Saturday (of the state finals),” Gowing said. “That is our mantra around here.”
West Chicago
Coach: Bob Maxson (third year).
Last year: Seventh in the DuPage Valley Conference; eighth at the Class 3A Bartlett sectional.
Top athletes: Liz Carrilo, fr., sprints; Carla Dannug, soph., sprints, long jump; Kelsey Sayner, jr., middle distance; Lindsey Sayner, fr., middle distance; Lali Zatalia, jr., sprints, triple jump.
Outlook: Maxson was hoping to build the team around the 800 run after Annette Eichenberger became the first state champion in school history last year. Eichenberger is now at the Air Force Academy, but Maxson wanted the Sayner sisters to continue the tradition after qualifying for the 3,200 relay last spring. The IHSA, however, made qualifying in the 3,200 relay much more difficult by cutting the qualifying standard by seven seconds. “That’s really going to make it difficult,” Maxson said. “Realistically, what I would like to accomplish this year is to show improvement for next year. We’re really kind of a young team.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Pete Macabobby (fourth year).
Last year: Sixth in the DuPage Valley Conference; 11th at the Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Shenelle Burnett, sr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Jamica Cozzens, jr., sprints; Julie Curie, fr., sprints; Alison Farnsworth, fr., distance; Laura Gann, jr., middle distance; Emma Grisanzio, soph., sprints, high jump; Mikayla Hartell, soph., distance; Karen Jensen, sr., distance; Raven Kelly, soph., throws; Anna Obert, jr., throws; Kelly O’Connor, jr., sprints, triple jump; Alexa Reinecke, sr., middle distance; Arica Secrest, soph., sprints, pole vault; Maggie Westwater, sr., distance.
Outlook: Macabobby has high expectations for Burnett, one of the top athletes in the area. “I would expect her to go downstate in three events,” Macabobby said. “It kind of depends if we keep relays together or separate them.” The quartet of Burnett, Grisanzio, Cozzens and Secrest established an 800 relay school record. “We have a lot of up and coming 200 and 400 runners,” Macabobby said.
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Rob Harvey (12th year).
Last season: DuPage Valley Conference champion; fifth at Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Cassie Arenz, sr., sprints, hurdles; Miranda Dillon, sr., pole vault; Kasey Gassensmith, jr., high jump; Clare Kelly, jr., distance; Mikayla Kightlinger, soph, distance; McKenna Kiple, soph., middle distance, distance; Lauren Mordini, jr., distance; Kelli O’Dwyer, sr., sprints; Emily Phillip, jr., sprints, high jump; Desirae Ranberg, jr., throws; Hope Schmelzle, soph., middle distance; Emily Schwartz, jr., pole vault; Jessica Spera, soph., sprints, hurdles, long jump; Amy Yong, jr., middle distance.
Outlook: WW South will seek to defend its outdoor conference championship with balance and depth. “We have a good mix of fast runners and wily veterans,” Harvey said. The Tigers’ middle and distance runners are coming off an elite finish at state cross country, and the track squad was further invigorated when Kiple, part of three indoor conference titles, joined the squad after playing soccer last spring. The Tigers’ 1,600 and 3,200 relays are among the best in the area.
Willowbrook
Coach: Scott McKinney (23rd year).
Last year: Second in the West Suburban Gold; eighth at the Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Grace Flood, jr., sprints; Julia Garcia, jr., middle distance, distance; Marissa Klaassen, soph., sprints, high jump; Colleen Krawczykowski, soph., sprints, jumps; Molly Krawczykowski, fr., distance; Lizzy Lundine, sr., distance; Chirese Porter, jr., sprints; Erma Udota, soph., throws; Sedequa Walker, sr., sprints.
Outlook: Willowbrook has exceptional individual talent, especially in the person of Porter, who was denied the 200 title last year by four one-hundredths. “I’ve never seen a girl dominate a meet like she did,” Hinsdale South coach Dave Guritz said of the Warriors’ speed demon. The elder Krawczykowski is one of the premier long jumpers in the state, and Flood is another returning state qualifier for Willowbrook. “I am looking for them to repeat (their state finishes), Krawczykowski and Porter,” McKinney said. “No one knows the future, but there’s a chance we could reach the finals (in a sprint relay).”
York
Coach: Annette Schulte (18th year).
Last year: Tied Glenbard West for second in West Suburban Silver; second at Class 3A Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.
Top athletes: Mel Dunne, sr., middle distance; Emma Fisher, soph., distance; Michelle Frigo, jr., distance; Alex Harrell, jr., hurdles; Stephanie Huster, sr., middle distance; Carlette Johnson, sr., throws; Erin McCugh, jr., sprints; Amy Nosek, jr., sprints, high jump; Erin Romito, sr., sprints, long jump; Ashley Scheffer, jr., sprints; Stephanie Sorrentino, jr., sprints; Kayla Spencer, jr., middle distance; Tanisha Tate, soph., throws; Becca Zaiter, sr., sprints, middle distance.
Outlook: York could do some serious damage at the state meet. The galaxy of middle-distance stars — Zaiter, Huster, Spencer and Frigo — all return after placing second in the 3,200 relay. Fisher should be a major threat in the open 3,200 for the Dukes. “We have a really good team,” Schulte said. “They’re hard working and they’re tenacious.” The Dukes also have quality long sprinters, meaning the 1,600 relay could be within reach as well as a return trip in the 800 relay. York and Glenbard West will look to end the Hinsdale Central stranglehold in the unrivaled Silver.
Back in action:
Marks in parentheses are 2011 fully automated qualifying standards for Class 1A, 2A and 3A, respectively.
*** — 2010 Class 3A state qualifier
** — 2010 Class 2A state qualifier
a — hand-time converted to fully automated time (FAT) by adding .24 seconds
100 meters (12.94, 12.64, 12.44)
(T4th-3A) Morolake Akinosun (Waubonsie, jr.) 11.94
200 meters (27.04, 26.24, 25.94)
(2nd-3A) Chirese Porter (Willowbrook, jr.) 24.30
400 meters (1:02.04, 1:00.64, 59.44)
(2nd-3A) Lindsay Rakosnik (Glenbard East, jr.) 56.33
800 meters (2:26.64 2:23.34, 2:19.74)
Lindsay Rakosnik (Glenbard East, jr.) 2:18.07
1,600 meters (5:35.14 5:25.24, 5:15.24)
(7th-2A) Kelly McShea (St. Francis, sr.) 5:10.01
3,200 meters (12:12.24, 11:48.04, 11:22.00)
(3rd-3A) Jill Hardies (Hinsdale Central, so.) 10:45.02
100 high hurdles (16.54, 15.94, 15.34)
(6th-3A) Kathryn Pickett (Glenbard West, sr.) 15.01
300 low hurdles (48.84, 47.84, 46.94)
(6th-3A) Melissa Radek (Downers Grove South, sr.) 45.05
400 relay (51.94, 50.84, 49.44)
(1st-3A) Hinsdale Central 47.02
800 relay (1:50.34, 1:48.04, 1:44.74)
(1st-3A) Hinsdale Central 1:38.82
1,600 relay (4:14.34, 4:10.04, 4:04.24)
(3rd-3A) Downers Grove South 3:52.29
3,200 relay (10:22.24, 10:05.04, 9:38.24)
(2nd-3A) York 9:10.91
Pole vault (9-0, 9-6, 10-3)
(14th-3A) Emily Schwartz (WW South, jr.) 11-0
High jump (5-2, 5-2, 5-3)
(7th-3A) Rachel Cagnina (Glenbard North, sr.) 5-5
Long jump (16-4, 16-11, 17-3)
(4th-3A) Colleen Krawczykowski (Willowbrook, so. 17-11½
Triple jump (33-8, 34-8, 35-6)
(1st-3A) Tori Franklin (Downers South, sr.) 40-¼
Shot put (35-6, 36-6, 37-6)
*** Tina Norris (Naperville Central, so.) 39-6¼
Discus (108-0, 112-6, 117-6)
** Samantha Howard (Glenbard South, so.) 111-0