Barrington looks sharp, wins MSL indoor

Barrington dominated the girls track season last year from start to finish, punctuating it with the Class AA title.

It was business as usual for Barrington on Friday night at the 28th annual Mark Saylor Mid-Suburban League indoor meet as the Fillies won six events in securing its second straight title with 108.5 points at Wheeling.

"We definitely rose to the occasion," said Barrington coach Jody Gitelis, whose team started the meet with a victory in the 3,200 relay and finished things with a win in the 1,600 relay. "It's trickled down to the younger kids, everyone is putting forth their best effort."

Conant (71 points) edged Palatine (67.33) and Hoffman Estates (65) for second. Prospect (44.33) rounded out the top five.

Barrington will have a target on its back this season, but the Fillies are taking it in stride.

Senior Molly Glantz, junior Rebecca Tracy, junior Jayne Jaderholm and junior Kala Bingham combined to win the opening 3,200 relay (9:44.70).

Then Sarah Bach combined with Glantz, Jaderholm and Bingham to close the meet with a victory in the 1,600 relay (4:15).

"We didn't want to back down," added Glantz who took first in the 55 hurdles (8.9) followed by Jaderholm (9.3). "We rose to the challenge -- that's what this team is about."

Tracy (5:16.8) held off Hoffman Estates' Hannah Worman (5:17.5) to capture the 1,600.

"You get different people every year," said Tracy, "there's a different personality, but I think every year we bring back a lot of the same energy."

Senior Samantha Learch added a victory for the Fillies in the 800 (2:21.4) and junior Jenny Schnack captured first in the 400 (1:02.4).

So what about that target on the Fillies' back?

"We wouldn't want it any other way," added Glantz whose team also picked up three second-place finishes. "That's the fun way to do it."

Conant finished fourth in state last year and the Cougars didn't miss a beat on Friday.

Senior Toni Graham took first and set a meet record in the 200 (26.3) and added a first in the 55 dash (7.2).

Graham also combined with Brianna Millar, Joelle Lein and Destiny Arps to capture the 4-lap relay (1:21).

"We're all back and I think we're faster," added Graham of the Cougars. "Missing the team trophy by 1 point I think we have a lot to prove this year."

Palatine's Martha Shepard also has a lot to prove this season and the junior started on the right foot by taking first in the shot put (40-6¼) holding off Hoffman's Ashley Chervinko (39-10), Prospect's Emily Gruendel (37-6¼), and Rolling Meadows' Mandy Stern (37-05).

"This year I'm working on competing and it was good to have the competition," said Shepard, who hit her winning mark on her last throw. "I was pretty relaxed on my last throw."

Palatine also took second in the 3,200, 800, 1,600 relay, and high jump.

Altrese Hawkins took first in the long jump (16-0½) and Victoria Mikszta took first in the high jump (5-3) to lead Hoffman Estates.

"I think we're coming along pretty good," said Mikszta of the Hawks who added second-place finishes in the 3,200 relay, 1,600, and shot put. "We don't have a lot of girls, but we have a lot of strong girls."

Ahsley Ruff took first in the triple jump (33-5½) and Elizabeth Mellado took first in the pole vault (10-0) to lead Fremd.

Senior Amber Stack led host Wheeling to a victory in the 3,200 (11:24.5).