Northwest/Scouting the girls state track meet
By Michael Eaken
Daily Herald Correspondent
Where: O’Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston
When: Friday preliminary events — Class 2A field events 8:30 a.m., running events 9 a.m.; Class 3A field events 10:45 a.m.; running events 12:50 p.m. Saturday — Class 1A, 2A, 3A finals 10 a.m.
Team Outlook: East St. Louis and Evanston have combined to win 21 state titles and the Flyerettes (14 titles) and Wildkits (7 titles) will be in the hunt for the 3A title. East St. Louis has a balanced attack that can gather points in the field events and on the track. Evanston’s strength is in the relays where the Wildkits come in with the top time in the 800 relay (1:39.86) and 1,600 relay (3:51.69) and second-best time in the 400 relay (47.51). But the two perennial powers will have plenty of company, including dangerous Homewood-Flossmoor. Edwardsville, Glenbard West, Lincoln-Way East, Hoffman Estates and Whitney Young are also poised to make some noise. Individually keep an eye out for Lincoln-Way East’s Aaliyah Brown, the sophomore is the top seed in the 100 (11.96) and 200 (24.21) and anchors an explosive 400 relay (46.83). In 2A, Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie has been turning heads and is the top seed in the 1,600 (4:49.08) and 3,200 (10:06.15). Class 1A also has its share of game-changers including Breese Central senior Jena Hemann, who won the long jump, high jump, triple jump and 100 dash last year. This season Hemann holds the top seed in the high jump after clearing an impressive 6 feet. Also keep an eye on Carlinville senior Kelsey Card who holds the top seed in the shot put (48-1.5) and discus (164-8) in Class 1A.
Area Schools
Hoffman Estates
State qualifiers — Precious Ogunleye (shot put, discus), Emily D’Amico (100, 200), Haley Goers (1,600, 3,200), Haley Worman (1,600), Brittany Love (100 high hurdles), Banke Oginni (shot put), 400 relay.
Outlook — Senior Precious Ogunleye, junior Emily D’Amico, and junior Haley Goers lead Hoffman, which has looked impressive all season and capped it by winning its third consecutive sectional title. Ogunleye is seeded third in the shot put (42-10) and fourth in the discus (138-7). East St. Louis senior Ashley Gaston and Edwardsville sophomore Emmonnie Henderson look to be her toughest competition in each event. D’Amico has taken it up a notch this season after finishing seventh in the 100 last season, now the question is can the electric junior hang with some of the state’s best, including Lincoln-Way East’s Brown. Goers has turned the proverbial corner and has shot up the ranks to become one of the state’s top distance runners. The junior is ready to take over the distance crown in 3A and enters the state meet with the second-best time in the 3,200 (10:49.51) and top time in the 1,600 (5:02.20).
Palatine
State qualifiers — Meg Jump (long jump, triple jump), Jessica Del Re (shot put), Courtney Brown (3,200), Tess Wasowicz (800), Laura Schweikert (200, 400), Morgan Quinnett (300 low hurdles), Sarah McIntosh (1,600), Becca Sund (1,600), 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay.
Outlook — Palatine is coming off Mid-Suburban League and sectional titles. Now the Pirates are looking to rise up for the state challenge. Schweikert leads the way and is looking smooth in the 400, last year she took fourth in Class 3A. Jump also has progressed well this season in the field. McIntosh, Sund, Wasowicz and Brown carry on a long Palatine distance tradition. Keep an eye on the 1,600 relay.
Conant
State qualifiers — Jessica Przyby (shot put, discus), Jennifer Donnell (shot put), Sarah Gorden (100 high hurdles, 300 low hurdles), Tara Goehrke (300 low hurdles), Angella Herrmann (100, 200), Alison Gallo (800), 400 relay, 800 relay.
Outlook — Gorden enters with the top seed in the 100 high hurdles (14.60) and fourth seed in the 300 low hurdles (44.72). The battle between Gorden, Evanston junior Margaret Bamgbose, East St. Louis senior Markita Rush, and Glenbard West senior Kathryn Pickett in the 300 low hurdles will be epic. Przyby is a force in the throws and is hitting her peak at the right time.
Schaumburg
State qualifiers — Britten Petrey (800, 300 low hurdles), Jen Pomagier (200), 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay.
Outlook — The loss of senior Karen Lesiewicz, to a foot injury, was heartbreaking. Lesiewicz was the defending Class 3A 1,600 champion. Petrey picked up the pace for the Saxons and will be a threat in the 800. It also will be interesting to see how the senior attacks the hurdles; it is her first year competing in that event. Petrey will also be key for the Saxons’ 3,200 relay team that is looking to win its second consecutive state title. Lesiewicz is still eligible to run on the relay and could give the Saxons a spark. Pomagier has been a pleasant addition to the Schaumburg attack. The senior qualified in the 200 in her first year of track.
Prospect
State qualifiers — Lauren Yearian (high jump), Samantha Sturm (shot put, discus), Kiley Shelley (300 low hurdles), Laura Maibuecher (1,600), 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay.
Outlook — The Knights have won a medal in the 3,200 relay for five consecutive years — they enter this year’s state meet with the third-best time (9:22.76). Sturm is a threat in the shot put as the senior finished ninth last season. Also keep an eye on a surprising 1,600 relay team.
Rolling Meadows
State qualifiers — Morgan Keller (shot put, discus), Bridget Collins (long jump), Vicky Pavlou (triple jump), Christina Gastfield (1,600, 3,200), Rebecca Zych (800).
Outlook — Gastfield has three state medals in cross country; the senior will be seeking her first state medal in track this weekend. Gastfield enters with the fourth-best time in the 3,200 (10:55.88). Keller has already secured one state medal, finishing eighth in 3A in the shot put last season. The sophomore is primed to add more.
Hersey
State qualifiers — Michaela Dwyer (long jump), Haley Scott (triple jump), Dana Markech (100 high hurdles), Danielle Perkins (100 dash), 400 relay.
Outlook — Katie Croak and Laura Kempf will combine with Dwyer and Perkins giving the Huskies an explosive 400 relay. Scott has been a threat in the triple jump all season.
Other state qualifiers
Fremd — Stephanie Uhrich (high jump), Kelly Breen (3,200); Barrington — Rachel Simon (3,200), Melissa Madden (300 low hurdles); Wheeling — Jessi Zuba (discus), Sydney Keith (200).