Surprising Vernon Hills wins sectional

Vernon Hills' track and field girls had more to pack on their way home from Richmond-Burton than just their brand-new team tent, which their generous boosters provided.

The Cougars also had to safely stash - surprise - the Class 2A sectional championship plaque.

A week after a disappointing performance in the Mundelein-hosted North Suburban Conference meet, Vernon Hills went from worst to first.

Led by freshman Alli Tran, who qualified for state in four events, the Cougars pulled off a shocker by totaling a meet-best 94 points to comfortably best runner-up Woodstock (78), Prairie Ridge (73.5) and Belvidere North (72) on a comfortable Friday in Richmond. Lakes (62) placed fifth.

Vernon Hills had tied for 11th place (last) at the NSC meet.

"I did place a lot of emphasis on conference," said Cougars first-year coach Jason Rush, who never won a sectional title in six seasons as head coach at Ridgewood before coming to Vernon Hills. "But I don't know. It was a cold night. The bus arrived late at Mundelein. There were just a bunch of things that didn't go well at conference.

"We were better prepared this time, and the weather was better."

The Cougars' new tent might have aided their performance, too. It arrived just the previous day.

"It kept us out of the elements, which I thought was huge," Rush said.

The Cougars began the finals auspiciously, winning a fast 3,200 relay in 9:57.97 with Carley Umphress, Tara Rooney, Abbie Letz and Kelley Gallagher. Six relays, in total, qualified for next weekend's state meet.

Included were St. Viator (Kelli Wosick, Hanna Winter, Shannon Cooney, Carolyn Hutyra; 10:03.01) and Grayslake Central (Mia Gomez, Sammy Wong, Becky May, Cassie Wessely; 10:07.66).

Lakes then won the 400 relay (50.69) with Kecia Morway, Sarah Goth, Shanna Hertz and Peyton Kirkland.

Both Vernon Hills (first, 1:46.59) and Lakes (third, 1:48.54) advanced in the 800 relay. Vernon Hills' winning foursome featured Taylor Krue, Fallon Faia, Ali Peacock and anchor Tran.

"If we hit our handoffs, we probably win," Lakes coach Matt Rife said. "They were brutal handoffs."

Tran also won the long jump (16-feet-3.75) and finished a surprising second in the 100 hurdles (16.33). She finished the night in dramatic fashion, passing Lakes' Kirkland with less than half a lap left in the 1,600 relay to anchor the Eagles to a winning 4:06.71.

"As the anchor, it's kind of on you to finish strong," Tran said.

"I just knew I had to go give all I had. It's the last race. You don't have to save any energy."

Her 4-for-4 effort surprised her.

"Hurdles and long jump, I was like, maybe I'll make it, maybe not. Who knows?" Tran said. "I did not expect to win long jump or take second in hurdles. We've been training this week (focusing on) more technique. That helped, I think."

Vernon Hills' winning 1,600 relay also featured Umphress, Peacock and Krue.

Besides Kirkland, Lakes' runner-up 1,600 had Rachel Terry, Morway and Hertz.

"Vernon Hills, they did awesome," Rife said. "Pretty good sectional. (Class) 2A or whatever, I thought it was pretty darn tough. It was real hard."

Vernon Hills freshman Peacock also qualified for state in the 300 hurdles (second). She's been running with Tran since they were seventh graders.

So much for the Cougars' rough night at the conference meet.

"It was almost an incentive, that we had to prove ourselves and show that we could come in first," Peacock said.

"I didn't think we'd win, at all," Tran said. "I'm shocked. I'm so excited."

Lakes senior Katie Mulloy overcame what she described as "motion sickness" to win the shot put with a throw of 36 feet, 11 inches, which was shy of her season best.

"Lots of hills on the bus drive here," Mulloy said with a sheepish smile. "I haven't had it in a really long time so it was really funny."

She overcame a queasy stomach thanks to some crackers and Gatorade, then went out and secured her second state berth in as many years.

"I figured if I still gave it my best I could finish top two (to qualify automatically)," said Mulloy, who plans to throw in college at Missouri State. "I'm very excited."

Antioch's Erin Poss didn't win either the 3,200 or 1,600 but qualified for state in both events. The Sequoits' Catharine Long made it through in the pole vault.

The high jump qualifiers included Vernon Hills' Shannon Nugent and Lakes' Melissa Lewis.

Vernon Hills' Ali Marks made state in the 3,200. The Cougars' Krue also got through in the 400.

Vernon Hills' Gallagher qualified also in the 1,600.