Mid Suburban League set for big finish

CHARLESTON - The Mid Suburban League has dominated the headline with its throwers and milers during the girls track regular season.

And it was no different in Friday's Class 3A state preliminaries at Eastern Illinois O'Brien's Stadium.

Palatine's Martha Shepard enters Saturday's finals with the top mark in the shot put (45-2) - where five of the top dozen qualifiers are from the MSL.

Palatine's Katie MacFabe has the third best mark (133-10) in the discus - with four MSL girls in the top 12.

Four of the top 12 qualifiers in the 1,600 are also from the MSL.

Saturday's finals will begin at 9 a.m., featuring the parade of competitors. Class 1A and 2A field events follow at 10 a.m., and finals on the track begin at 12:10 p.m.

Shepard hit her leading mark on her second throw. Pirates teammate Lauren Orris has the fourth-best mark (41-2.25).

"That was nice," said Shepard of her mark. "I wanted to go into Saturday with a good mark and now hopefully I can do better."

Also qualifying was Hoffman's Precious Ogunleye (40-9.25), and the Prospect duo of Samantha Sturm (39-8.25) and Emily Gruendel (39-6.75). Maine West's Shaneece Nelson (38-6) also made it to the finals.

In the discus Orris (131-9) will join her Pirates teammate MacFabe in the finals. Barrington's Robin Bingham (123-11) and Hoffman's Ogunleye (121-9) also will be in the field.

Barrington's Rebecca Tracy entered Friday's prelims with the top sectional mark in the 1,600, and ran a conservative race en route to winning her heat - almost too conservative.

"A little scary," said Tracy, who won her heat in 5:08.06. "I was surprised no one wanted to take the lead, I felt I better go. Tomorrow definitely will be a different plan."

Buffalo Grove's Olivia Jones took second in her heat (5:04.53) to advance to Saturday; the freshman will also be in the hunt for the 3,200.

"It went out a little slower than I thought," said Jones of her heat. "Tomorrow I'm going to push it hard in the 3,200 and see what I have left for the 1,600."

Other qualifiers include Schaumburg's sophomore Britten Petrey (5:06.05) and Conant's senior Kalli Dalton (5:09.88).

Palatine is hoping to be alive for a trophy drive, and with two qualifiers in both of the throws, the Pirates look to be in good shape. Also aiding the Pirates will be junior Ruth Allen, who took first in her heat of the 800 (2:15.63) and helped advance the 3,200 relay (9:15.37).

Allen outkicked Maine South's Kristin Zillmer to take the victory in the 800.

"I didn't sense her," said Allen, "but I knew I had to kick it in the final 100 meters, hopefully I can go a little lower tomorrow."

"The kids did everything I could have asked for," said Palatine coach Steve Currins, whose 800 relay (1:43.09) and 1,600 relay (3:57.34) hit quality marks but did not advance.

Barrington's Anna Etherington, Fremd's Bizzy Mellado, and Prospect's Christie Kollias all cleared 10-6 to advance to the pole vault finals.

Fremd's Jamie Notaro has the second-best mark in the long jump (17-9) and will be joined by Hoffman's Simone Hawkins (17-3).

Schaumburg's Karen Lesiewicz took third in her heat of the 800 (2:14.66) to qualify for the finals. The Saxons were disqualified in the 3,200 relay for not reporting on time, but Lesiewicz came through after falling behind early in the half mile.

"I wanted to let it all out the final lap," said Lesiewicz of her fast heat. "I'm happy to qualify, but tomorrow is what it is all about."

Also qualifying in the 800 is Leyden's Jaime Johnson, who posted a 2:17.02.

Junior Jorie Frey qualified for Barrington in the 400 (57.39).

Hoffman flashed its speed in qualifying in the 400 relay (48.60). Sharron Jones, Jada Stotts, Katie D'Amico, and Emily D'Amico combined to lead the Hawks to second in their heat.

Jones gave the Hawks a quick start and Emily D'Amico finished the deal.

"The handoffs were great," said Emily D'Amico. "We just wanted to compete with the best today."

Savannah Snead, Kasey Krum, Jeannette Wochinski, and Emily Salzman combined to lead Prospect to the finals in the 3,200 relay (9:22.49). Last year, the Knights took second in the 2-mile relay.

Conant's Sarah Gorden, despite jumping on the wrong foot, took second in her heat (44.96) in the 300 low hurdles.

"Hopefully I'll get off on the right foot tomorrow," said Gorden, "But it was nice to be pushed today."