Prospect adjusts, edges Wheaton Warrenville South

Prospect was a bit thin on Friday night, but the Knights were still able to stretch out their talent and find success.

The team isn’t as deep in the sprints as in past years, and Prospect was also missing star distance runner Brooke Wolfe, who is out with a foot injury.

Despite some gaps, the Knights showed plenty of promise on a cool and overcast evening by taking first with 128 points to edge Wheaton Warrenville South (124) at the seventh annual Prospect Relays.

Deerfield (103 points) took third, followed by Warren (87), Wheeling (57), Rolling Meadows (47), and Elk Grove (8).

Prospect showed plenty of depth, winning five events and taking second in six.

“We made some progress on Tuesday,” said Prospect coach Dave Wurster of his team’s opening Mid-Suburban League triangular win. “And we came back and did it again tonight. They really were able to race and it was a fun test.”

Sophomore Lauren Poplawski helped out by anchoring the Knights’ victorious 1,600 sprint medley (4:23).

Poplawski closed the door on the race with a slick 800 (2:20.9). The sophomore also took second individually in the 1,600 (4:11.9).

“I am just trying to fit in, the other girls have a lot of experience in track,” said Poplawski of her first track season. “We miss Brooke (Wolfe), but we’re just trying to hold it together until she gets back.”

Junior Christi Grossman helped the Knights add a first in the distance medley (13:15.4), and then combined with sophomore Lizzy Simon, senior Savannah Snead, and senior Kiley Shelley to win the 1,600 relay (4:10.7).

“The seniors are trying to set the tone,” said Snead. “I think it really came together tonight.”

Shelley took second individually in the 300 low hurdles (47.8), which helped the Knights take first in the 300 low hurdle relay (3:27.4)

“We have contributors in every single event,” Shelley said. “We are all working together and we’re going to keep building.”

Senior Samantha Sturm took second individually in both the shot put (38-3.25) and discus (119-7), leading the Knights to first place in the shot put relay (104-6.25) and second in the discus relay.

Wheaton Warrenville South definitely has a promising future in distance. The Tigers took third in the Class 3A state finals last fall in cross country, and they kept the momentum going on Friday.

Junior Amy Yong, sophomore Mikayla Kightlinger, sophomore McKenna Kiple and sophomore Hope Schmelze combined to lead WW South to first in the 3,200 with a crisp time of (9:31.1).

Kiple (5:14.1) and Kightlinger (5:17.4) then finished 1-4 individually in the 1,600, leading the Tigers to first in the 4 x 1,600 relay.

“I don’t know if we really have any expectations, we just want to go out there and try our best,” said Kiple, who finished 11th in Class 3A cross country. “Cross country brought us together as a team and now we know we can count on each other.”

WW South can also count on its sprinters. Senior Kelly O’Dwyer, freshman Maggie Dansdill, senior Emily Householter and freshman Jennifer Fiola combined to lead the Tigers to first in the 400 relay (51.7).

Emily Phillips then joined O’Dwyer, Dansdill, and Fiola to help WW South win the 800 relay (1:48.4).

“Were all just trying to give our best,” said Dansdill, who anchored the 800 relay victory.

Junior Emily Schwartz cleared a career best 11-6 in leading Wheaton South to first in the pole vault relay, and Phillips cleared 4-10 to help the Tigers to first in the high jump relay.

Schwartz, who was a state qualifier last season in pole vault, is looking for bigger things this season.

“It has been a long time since I set a personal record, I really needed it,” said Schwartz of her mark. “It gets my head back in the game and now I can focus on the rest of the season.”

Senior Allie Boudreau helped lead Deerfield to victories in the 800 medley relay (1:53.2) and 4 x 100 shuttle hurdle relay (1:11.4).

Deerfield won its first ever Central Suburban North indoor conference meet, and now the Warriors are looking for more.

“We’ve definitely have stepped it up from previous years,” said Boudreau who took first individually in the 300 low hurdles (47.7). “We never really had a reputation of having a strong track team, but now people know we are coming hard.”

Deerfield also took first in the frosh/soph 400 relay (53.0) and triple jump relay (94-6).

Amber Cook (15-10.25) and Alyssa Phillips (15-10) helped Warren secure first in the long jump relay (43-10.25).

“I think the state experience has really helped Amber (Cook),” said Warren coach Ryan Dunn of Cook, who qualified in the triple jump last season. “She has been very consistent in the jumps and if she continues on that path, it’s going to be a special year for her.”

Morgan Keller showed she is going to be a threat in the throws for Rolling Meadows. The sophomore took first individually in the shot put (39-9.25) and discus (123-11) to lead the Mustangs to first in the discus relay and second in the shot put relay.

Keller, a state qualifier last season, has improved her technique. It showed Friday.

“Last year I was basically just going with power,” said Keller, who has improved her footwork. “Now I’m going with a glide. State experience has definitely given me an edge and now I’m working my way toward that big meet and that big opportunity.”